Welp. It seems like we’ll be wearing masks in many public spaces for the foreseeable future. What does that mean for our skin?

Prolonged wear of a properly-fitted (read: tight) mask can sometimes result in the following:

• Irritated and inflamed skin. This is due to pressure and friction from wearing the mask tightly against the skin. This is because the skin on our faces is relatively delicate and not used to such gear. 
   
• Ecosystem imbalance. The humidity from our own breath inside the dark mask can create an overgrowth of bacteria and fungus. 

These effects from prolonged mask wear do NOT mean we should ignore official guidelines and store policies regarding the use of masks, however! It just means we get to spend a little more time on our favorite thing: skincare self care!

How to treat skin post mask-wear:

After prolonged wear of your mask, follow this routine to keep your skin on track:

• Cleanse immediately with a low-pH cleanser like CLEAN. This will remove dirt, oils, grime, and bacteria. 
   
• Exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant like CLEAR, to prevent congested skin and further kill unwanted bacteria and fungus. 
   
• Apply a Vitamin A serum like RESET to normalize the skin’s cellular turnover and sebum production. RESET also contains probiotics that balance good and bad bacteria on the skin. 
   
• Apply a thin layer of CTRL: Soothing Mask and rub in. The triple clays in CTRL will soothe inflammation, irritation, and redness, while CTRL’s hemp seed oil will hydrate. 
   
• Wash your mask daily using non-scented detergent and the hottest water safe for the fabric. Do NOT allow bacteria to accumulate day after day…that’s just m-asking for trouble. (Sorry, we had to.)

Love ’em or hate ’em, it appears we’ll be wearing masks for quite some time in public. But your skin does NOT need to suffer. With fun, playful masks and a vigilant skincare routine, we are unstoppable!