Beauty and the Mask.

Ok folks….here’s a topic I really never thought I was gonna write about! Then again, I never thought we’d be going about life wearing masks as the “norm”. This wearing masks thing seems to be something we’ll be doing until 2021 depending on who you listen to….so, I thought I might as well share some beauty and skincare tips to help make face coverings a little less harsh on your skin!

After a bit of trial and error, these are some tips that have helped my kids and I keep our skin healthy and happy even if nobody in the outside world gets to actually see what our skin looks like anymore ha! Seriously though, just because you get to cover your face up doesn’t mean you get to skimp on your skincare!

–When using cloth masks and face coverings, make sure you wash them on a regular basis. Even after only one use, bacteria, sebum, cosmetic product residue, and mildew spores can accumulate on your mask leading to rashes, acne, and infection. I recommend using an unscented, or essential oil scented detergent to avoid putting any harsh chemicals on your face via your mask.

–Maintain good hygiene, washing your face in the morning and evening before bed. Use all natural toners like witch hazel or rose water to hydrate and cleanse your skin, after cleansing with a gentle face wash. Tea tree oil face wipes are also great for cleansing and refreshing your skin.

–Use a moisturizer that works best for your skin type (light moisture for oily skin, extra humectant for dry skin, etc.).

–If you use serums, make sure that they dry fully before putting on your mask. I like using a jade roller to ensure that my serums and moisturizers really sink into my skin quickly.

–Don’t forget to use an all natural sunscreen….even if your face is half covered, you want to keep your eye area and forehead protected.

–If you don’t have to wear make-up then don’t. Play up your eyes and use a good lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and skip anything else. Powders, make-up, blush, etc. will just accumulate inside your mask and lead to clogged pores. Let your skin breathe as much as possible! If you feel like you have to use a little something to even up your skin tone, try a lightly tinted moisturizer.

–Use a face mask (the clay or sheet kind!) once or twice a week to prep and cleanse your pores. Our faces aren’t used to always having something ON them like a face covering, so it’s nice to pamper your skin and keep it happy.

–RELAX YOUR FACE! Yep…this is an important one, and one that I wouldn’t have thought of until I spoke to an aesthetician friend. She has had clients calling asking for help with newly formed 11’s, forehead lines and crowsfeet like crazy. When we wear masks, we tend to overcompensate with our eyes and foreheads to express ourselves. Be mindful of the movements you are making with your face, and take time to massage your forehead and eye area in the evenings. Again, a jade roller kept in the freezer is perfect for this!

–In keeping with the above….make sure you use an extra moisturizing eye cream to keep those crowsfeet at bay. I love Young Living’s Wolfberry Eye Cream (which you can find in my link below). Super hydrating and smoothing for stressed out eyes.

–Use a face spray to refresh your skin in between mask wearing trips. Plain witch hazel is good with a few drops of essential oils, as are some of the fun new face sprays you can find at Trader Joe’s. They have a Rose and Watermelon spray. Just mind the ingredient lists of anything you buy to ensure you don’t load your face up with unnecessary toxins.

–If you find yourself developing chafing from your mask, try using calendula ointment before bed in the affected spots. All natural and extremely soothing, calendula is an amazing healing salve for your skin.

–For breakouts, I’m a fan of using a simple salicylic acid ointment on the affected area.

–Add skin nourishing essential oils to your regular moisturizer to soothe and protect your skin even more. My favorites are Carrot Seed Oil, Vetiver Essential Oil, Rose Essential Oil, Geranium Essential Oil, Frankincense Essential Oil, Tea Tree Oil, and Lavender Essential Oil.

–Keep your mask in a clean place rather than shoved into the bottom of your purse, glove box, or backpack. Whatever gets on your mask will be sitting on your skin for however long you wear it….leading to, yep, you guessed it….breakouts!

–Drink lots of water, eat healthy, try some facial exercises (plenty of examples on YouTube)….basically keep yourself healthy overall and your skin will follow suit.

So, there you have it! A few little tips and tricks to keep your skin looking and feeling great even if no one gets to see it anytime soon! 😉

For Wolfberry Eye Cream, skin loving essential oils, all natural sunscreen and laundry detergent check out my shop at: MY YL SHOP

For the salicylic acid ointment and jade roller I use try the Amazon links below:

header photo by Karolina Grabowska for @pexels

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