They come in all shapes and sizes and you won’t miss the sight of them: surgical, N95, fabric…but start running if you see someone with a full-faced one.
I’m talking about face masks, a current staple for all who fear the COVID-19 pandemic that has been claiming lives worldwide since the start of 2020.
While the purported benefits of wearing a face mask when out and about include defense against any strains of the COVID virus to harm you, what exactly is putting a face mask on for at least 8 hours a day doing to your skin?
Read more: Sanitizers and Excessive Cleaning: The Dirty Truth
Not the Kind of Protection You Need
As of now, there hasn’t been an invention of a full-faced mask that does not make you look like you’re ready to rob a bank, so we’d have to contend with the ones that provide coverage only to our nostrils and our mouths.
What your mask does not cover are the areas above the nostrils. That leaves you exposed to the penultimate aging element – the UV rays of the sun.
UV rays are known skin dehydrators, which will, in turn, lead to the accelerated formation of forehead lines, wrinkles and skin sagging.
In case you think you’re well-protected with your face mask on, there are dangers beyond this viral virus that lurks and waiting to strike.
Always remember to slather on some water and sweatproof sun protection all over your face before you step out of your house.
Not to mention, it also helps you to avoid that dreaded two-tone tan line that will be way too hard to reverse.
Read more: Laser Treatments: Taking Out the Dermal Trash
Something to Pore Over
When half of your face is obscured by a mask of any sort, there is a restriction of air that your skin needs, and also no escape for the dirt and grime that can accumulate on the mask, onto your skin.
What follows next is the sudden outbreak of acne, blackheads, and enlarged pores as the body produces more sebum to offset the lack of oxygen.
There is no need to compromise the quality of your complexion while fighting a dangerous virus. This need to cleanse and exfoliate is something we need now more than ever.
A product like Skin Gym strengthens your masked skin by melting away all traces of oil, impurities and even makeup upon contact with water. It also reaches deeper into the pores and yanks out any form of obtrusive substances that may leave your pores enlarged.
Combine this cleanser with some golden goodness with the Gold Flakes Illuminating Facial Scrub, a potent exfoliator that provides you with all the dermal buffing your skin needs, without feeling like you’re rubbing sandpaper on your face.
For the many people that are working from home, all of these self-care measures apply to you as well. In fact, taking care of your complexion cannot come at a more opportune time.
Online shopping and free shipping deals are littering the market right now with everyone strongly advised to stay home, so jump on these deals, because everyone’s doing the clicking and shipping – fastest fingers win!
Read more: Simple makeovers to know for a new you