By Angela Langford, beauty expert & founder of Angela Langford Skincare
Mask wearing has been here for a while and it looks like it’s here to stay, hopefully not forever but for a while anyway. Even people with normally clear and well-balanced skin are finding that their skin has become tricky and temperamental from all the mask wearing. Common skin issues include breakouts, spots and blocked pores – especially around the mouth, chin, cheeks and nose where our masks cover our faces. This is now commonly referred to as ‘maskne’. Many people are also finding that their skin has become dry, flakey and also sore, red and inflamed. These skin problems are largely due to a combination of masks rubbing against our skin, limited airflow and hot, sweaty skin and trapped moisture.
With mask wearing being such an important part of our daily life now, it’s important to find ways to protect our skin and keep it in the best possible condition. So if you are experiencing mask-wearing skin issues, here are five tips to help your skin look and feel its best.
1. Always wear a clean mask
Perhaps the most obvious and simple thing is to make sure you always wear a clean mask. Treat your mask like you would your underwear – wash them regularly and change them every time you wear them. Not only can this help keep your skin clear by preventing the build up of bacteria, it can also help your health too. Have multiple masks so you always have a clean one to wear. As well as being clean, make sure your mask fits you too. Not too tight, not too loose – a snug and comfortable fit is best and opt for cotton, silk or natural materials rather than synthetic ones.
2. Don’t wear foundation under masks
If you can, try to go foundation-free when you are wearing a mask – particularly if you spend hours at a time wearing a mask due to your work. The reason for this is that under a mask, air flow is limited, your mask can make you sweat and make-up is more likely to clog your pores and cause breakouts.
3. Cleanse
Whether you are make-up free or not, make sure you get into a good cleansing routine. Cleanse your skin every morning and evening using a cleanser that you rinse off with warm water, rather than one you wipe off. Cleansing is key to great skin any way – mask or no mask.
If you have been wearing make-up, a double cleanse would be even better for you at the end of the day. Use an oil cleansing oil or Clean Sweep cleansing balm to remove make-up and then a second cleanse will remove daily grime, dirt and debris and cleanse your skin. If you have maskne and are suffering from breakouts and blocked pores, use a balancing non-foaming face wash like Sweet Cheeks as your second cleanse and also use this to cleanse your skin when you wake up. A lot of people think you need foam to cleanse your skin but you really don’t – foaming face washes are often harsh and they strip your skin of all its oils and our skin then over compensates and produces excess oil.
4. Keep your skin hydrated
Drink plenty of water every day – this can help with hydration as well as help with congestion too. Apply a moisturiser or face oil after you have cleansed your skin. Use a hydrating skin tonic that you spritz over your skin can also help to cool, calm and hydrate your skin throughout the day too.
5. KISS
KISS but not with your lips! KISS stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. If your mask is making your skin inflamed and irritated, a simple, pared back skincare routine can help.
Cleanse your skin in the morning and again at night and follow with a hydrating toner if your skin is dry or a more astringent toner to clear congestion.
In the morning apply a moisturiser or face oil and at night use a face oil or night balm. Using a moisturiser with hyaluronic acid can help to hydrate your skin; look for products that contain rosehip, chia, kiwi or evening primrose oil as these are all rich in skin-loving omegas to nourish, balance and help your skin retain moisture. Sea buckthorn is an amazing ingredient – particularly if your skin is inflamed, congested or sensitive. Try Angela’s Bloom & Glow face oil with rosehip, chia, evening primrose and sea buckthorn to help balance your skin, clear congestion and reduce inflammation.
For more information about how to keep your skin looking and feeling great and for product suggestions, visit www.angelalangford.com
About the expert
Angela Langford began her journey into creating natural skincare products in 2008 when she was living in Spain and did not have access to good natural and organic skincare. Angela’s favourite brands of skincare were simply not available to her where she was living, so she decided to do what most people wouldn’t do – she would make her own!
Being a passionate and talented cook, her reasoning was that creating skincare products must be very similar to creating delicious recipes to eat: both involve combining the very best ingredients, in the right quantities that are either heated, emulsified or folded into each other to end up with a product that either feeds your skin or your body.
And so Angela embarked on a journey that would see her being taught skincare production by the best in the business, travelling back and forth to the UK to complete her studies. What was originally just a hobby quickly escalated to making them for her family, her friends and friends of friends – to a point where the original Angela Langford brand was born.
As word got out, more and more people plugged into Angela’s ethos and Angela now helps thousands of women with their skincare choices, many of which are looking for a natural alternative to the mega brands that they may have used in the past.