Taking care of your face before and after wearing a mask

Is your skin condition worsening from wearing a mask for long hours? Well you are not alone! Since mask-wearing is the new norm these days, it is important to know how to protect your face from dirt and impurities and keep it hydrated. As our skin is unable to breathe under the face mask, it sweats and causes the PH of the skin to alter, which in turns accentuates the visibility of enlarged pores. The daily wearing of masks also exerts pressure on the skin and this causes irritation which affects our skin's wellbeing.

Here are some tips on helping to get your face back to pre-covid days:

• The same steps applies for both before and after wearing a mask - Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize and Sunscreen.
• Avoid Makeup! It is not advisable to wear makeup under the mask as it can clog your pores, which leads to more blemishes. To be fair, our face masks would have covered up more than half of our faces so people are unlikely to notice our uneven skin tone or pimples. Instead on putting on a full makeup, it is highly recommended to skip the concealers and foundations and go au natural. However, if you insist on using some cosmetics, we suggest making your eyes the focus with a lil bit of mascara and eye shadow and you are good to go.
• Always wear a sunscreen under your mask! It is the protective layer over our skin which shields us from harmful UV rays, blue light, Infrared and pollution

CLEANSE

Before wearing a mask, it is important to prep your skin by cleansing with a gentle cleanser to remove existing dirt and oil on the face. A gentle cleanser is recommended for acne-prone or sensitive skin as it does not strip away the skin's moisture barrier nor does it contain harsh chemicals which further aggravates your skin's condition. After wearing a mask, double cleanse your face with a makeup remover or cleansing oil to remove the makeup first followed by your usual cleanser.

THERMES MARINS FACE AND EYE CLEANSING GEL 

HOMMAGE GENTLE FACIAL CLEANSER: BALANCE

TONE 

Using a toner is important as it helps to remove the remaining impurities left on your skin after cleansing while restoring the skin's PH at the same time. They also help to absorb your subsequent skincare products better. Facial mists can be used as a substitute for a toner. They are convenient as they can be used on the go and can double up as a moisturiser to hydrate your face anywhere! 

GAYLIA KRISTENSEN HEAVÈN HYDRATING FACIAL MIST 

Moisturize

Choose a lightweight moisturiser if possible which contains soothing ingredients or packed with antioxidants so that it can help to reduce inflammation and calm your skin.

THEMAE MOISTURIZING FACE CREAM 

HOMMAGE AGE DEFENSE LOTION: RESCUE

Sunscreen 

As mentioned above, sunscreen is very important and should always be applied under our masks before stepping out of our homes. It is recommended to choose a sunscreen which contains zinc oxide as it provides broad-spectrum sun protection, improves synthesis of collagen and prevents skin-aging.

COOLA SPF30 FULL SPECTRUM 360° MINERAL SUN SILK CRÈME ORGANIC SUNSCREEN