Who would have thought, in their wildest dreams, that we would be wearing a mask all day long? Due to this pandemic, wearing a face mask has become the new norm to protect yourself and others.

Your mask works hard to protect you, but what about your skin? How can you avoid skin problems and minimize the unwanted side effects and an array of skin issues, from rashes and redness to breakouts and irritation?

What lies beneath?

When you cover your face for long periods of time, it creates a warm and moist environment because your breathing gets trapped.  Bacteria thrive in these conditions and combined with a buildup of sweat and oil, will contribute to inflammation, rashes, and acne breakouts. 

The disturbance of the skin’s natural acid mantle and the restriction of oxygen can cause an imbalance to the skin. 

Our guide to keep skin healthy and blemish free

Proper cleansing is fundamental! Wash your face before wearing a mask. Opt for a gentle cleansing milk that will not disturb the natural acid mantle of the skin.  

Ultimately, the aim is to gently cleanse the skin of impurities whilst respecting friendly bacteria.  If you remove the good bacteria, the bad bacteria will be free to run wild! Party time!

Probably not the best time to use cleansing balms or oils, as they can often be too rich and result in oilier skin.  Be careful with foaming cleansers, as they can strip the skin completely, leaving a dry, tight and parched feeling.  To correct this dryness, the sebaceous glands work overtime to replace the missing oils (protective layer) and this sudden increase in production often creates blemishes and bumps beneath the skin where oils get trapped in the pores. 

Try our Olive & Castor Bean Cleansing milk, its suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and contains neither alcohol nor detergents.  

Day time routine 

Cleanse once in the morning, followed by a toner and a water-based moisturizer. Try our fountain of youth with hyaluronic acid and Q10. It’s lightweight and specially made for a hot and humid climate. Follow with your usual routine and keep a hydrating spritz to hand. 

Night time routine 

Double cleanse at night, followed by a toner and a good ‘oil-based’ serum.  Do not use water-based products in the evening, as they create an occlusive layer on the skin, so the skin cannot properly detox and eliminate toxins through the pores.  Because the skin is covered all day with a mask, you really need to allow the skin to detoxify and regenerate at night. 

If you really insist on using a night cream, apply it from the cheeks upwards – not on the lower jar area.  Or just use the serum with an eye cream. 

Weekly Routine 

Exfoliate your skin with a gentle exfoliator (alchohol-free), followed by a treatment mask.  This is a very important step during this time, as the skin is lacking oxygen and imbalanced and exfoliating and detoxifying the skin will help shed dead surface skin cells and draw excess sebum from the pores.  

Try our Illuminate Face Polish with 5 natural fruit acids (glycolic, lactic, tartaric and malic) and upcycled dates to gently remove dead skin cells and leave the skin illuminated. 

Follow with The Instant Glow Face Mask – activated charcoal, vitamin c, Beauty mineral MSM, Niacinamide, white willow bark, rhassoul clay, glacial clay and lavender to deeply cleanse your pores and re-mineralize your skin. 

SCO’s Fountain of Youth Face Cream is an effective light moisturizer that gives impressive results—give it a try. Stay hydrated with  Rosewater Hydrating Spritz provides instant hydration at any time of day. 

Ingredients to watch out for

You want to avoid petrolatum derived ingredients and silicones completely, as they can cause havoc on the skin, especially when wearing a mask. They act in the same way as a light covering of plastic.  Choose natural ingredients and again, make sure they are lightweight.  Oils like coconut, shea butter, macadamia and almond are all too heavy to wear under a mask. Choose ingredients like rosehip, argan, camellia, sunflower and pomegranate. 

Our ingredients are all lightweight and absorb into the skin instantly!

What type of mask?

The CDC advises the public to wear cotton face covers. The N-95 respirators, or surgical masks, are best reserved for frontline healthcare workers. Cotton face masks are comfortable to wear; the fabric is breathable and relatively non-irritating for your skin. For added protection, the CDC advises inserting another filter in between the fabrics.

Taking care of your mask to minimize breakouts!

The CDC and WHO advise that a standard laundry cycle is sufficient to wash the coronavirus off the cloth mask. COVID-19 is an enveloped virus susceptible to detergents, says Rachel Graham, a virologist at National Geographic. 

Machine or handwash your mask with a soap that lathers well. I leave mine to soak for a couple of hours. Rinse well and hang in the sun to dry as the heat will further combat any microorganisms. 

Keep safe!

Follow the necessary guidelines issued by the concerned authorities with regards to wearing a mask.  Practice social distancing and nourish your body and skin with superfoods that feed your mind, body, and soul. 

Stay safe and stay consciously beautiful .