A friend recently reached out to ask about mask productions on behalf of someone in the business. Halfway through the conversation, we realized that she was not talking about the hydrating sheet masks or face masks but rather, about protection masks (PPEs- like the N95 or three-ply dental masks) for COVID19! 

The word “mask” has exploded on search terms and in the media lately with what’s been going on with corona, so today, I want to talk about (sheet/ face) masks for (protective) masks! 

I’ve been in Seoul, Korea the last two months and EVERYONE has been wearing protection masks to shield their face, especially since we are past the lockdown phase here and a high percentage of people have returned (albeit slowly) to fairly normal lives.  The idea is to create an extra layer of barrier to prevent the spread of contamination- both from lowering the chance of passing and catching germs including coronavirus that travel through droplets. Earlier in the US, whether one should or should not wear masks was up for debate, but it’s becoming more commonplace across the cities. I’m sitting in a fairly well occupied cafe as I write this but the staff have been turning away anyone not wearing one of these masks.

While these masks serve as preventative equipment, there are unintended side effects that affect your skin. A few weeks into wearing these masks regularly, I started getting itchy on the areas where the mask touched my face, and soon enough, I started seeing a breakout right along the outline of the masks!

You’ve seen the pictures of healthcare workers who have had to wear tight fitting masks for long periods. They have sores, skin tears, indentations from wearing PPEs for hours. While it provides an extra layer of protection, wearing these tight masks will increase dryness, irritate sensitive skin, and can cause acne. Studies also show that this can increase risk for developing infections of the skin (bacterial, fungal, viral) from poor barrier function and open sores.  And when you have damaged skin, the masks may not seal properly, increasing exposure to the coronavirus. Over 97% of healthcare workers on the frontline will experience skin issues! 

If you are dealing with this or know someone who is, please take a Mask Moment! The friction from the PPE (masks and goggles too) along with the humidity trapped inside the mask makes your skin drier. The fact that the weather has been changing (aka allergy season) does not help! 

For relief, the idea is to focus on strengthening skin barrier, hydrating your skin and relieving inflammation and redness.

Here are the DO’s and DON’Ts!

DO NOT:

1. Wear heavy makeup. Instead, skip the heavy foundation that can clog pores and worsen acne. 
2. Sleep in makeup and be sure to remove it as soon as you can. (This is true for all times, actually!)
3. Exfoliate too hard but go easy on the overly physical kind of exfoliation. The friction from the masks can cause microtears in the epidermis and you don’t want to be exacerbating the area with scrubs or gommages. I would stick to enzyme washes if you must exfoliate.
4. Touch your face!! And please wash your hands before applying anything!
5. Put on anything you might be sensitive to. Even if you use it in your normal skincare routine, this may be the time to take a break from retinoids or hydroxy acids or strong vitamin C’s.  You can always come back to them once you recover but avoid anything you are sensitive to during this time.

DO:

1. Use hydrating serums with active ingredients, morning and night! 
2. Lubricate the area with petroleum jelly before putting on protective gear.
3. Frequently apply an occlusive agent (lotions, moisturizers, oils) to prevent water loss.
4. Remember to apply lip balm for chapped lips.
5. Use Mask Moments for hydration, restoration, relief from inflammation and redness. Our masks have ALL the ingredients that are your best friends right now: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5. And both the niacinamide and biocellulose (coconut jelly) will help reduce inflammation and redness. 

Know any healthcare worker who can use Mask Moments?  Nominate a hero to thank them for their service and we will select a winner everyday throughout the rest of April to receive a FREE mask to offer some relief as a sign of appreciation! 

Here’s how it works:

1. Follow our IG account @maskmoments and tag your hero in the healthcare field on our post.
2. Have them FOLLOW our account. Increase your chance by DMing us your stories and pictures. Multiple people voting for the same person will also count towards the entry.

For those of you curious about the history and development of sheet masks, here's a little handy chart that shows you the different between the older generation masks and the most advanced technology of masks today.  

In summary, the oldest generation of masks are those made of some sort of microfiber- the ones you are most familiar with and sold in drug stores.  The second generation masks are gelled serums called, hydrogels.  

The newest developed material used for Mask Moments, are called bio-cellulose.  They are all natural, made of fermented coconut water and are therefore biodegradable. These work very differently from the previous generation masks, as they hold the serum in the body of the mask and work to transfer the serum to dry skin.  As they transfer the nutrients, the material thins. You'll find that the part of the mask on drier parts of your skin will thin out faster. Using nano bio-cellulose technology, these sheets can hold up to twenty times their body weight and help skin absorb nutrients ten times better than the microfiber masks.   

Fact: These sheets were originally used to treat burn patients, because they had the ability to cool skin, facilitate restoration, and molded well to contours.  They are also compatible with sensitive skin, as they are an all natural material. 

Because of their effectiveness, the effective biocellulose masks are the most expensive.  Lucky for you, Mask Moments sells the masks directly to the consumer without the middle man, brand, or retail mark ups (that charge up to 80%!) so that luxury beauty can be made available to all. 

Mask Moments Masks

Jam-packed with vitamins B, C, proteins, peptides and amino acids, our coconut bio-cellulose masks put paper masks to shame with their soothing, porous structures and state-of-the-art technology. 

Developed with the goal of utmost absorption, these little guys feel light as a feather, but hold 20 times their dry weight, allowing for the highest volume of nutrients, like those from licorice root and lavender, to be transferred from each delicate fiber directly to your skin. Where topical moisturizers evaporate into thin air, our masks seep deep into your pores, making themselves at home and your skin, buttery soft. What’s more, our masks are made with zero artificial fragrances, so you can inhale all the heavenliness without a care. 

Yep, we’re basically quenching your skin with scientific superpower technology and a whole lot of naturally-derived goodness—think essentials oils made from ingredients like Mexican juniper and skin restoring agents like sodium hyaluronate. Thoughtfully crafted to cool, lift, moisturize and more, our masks combine a variety of expert-recommended ingredients into one magical, wearable potion.

You have to try it to know it.  I challenge you to try Mask Moments for a week. Your skin will be transformed!  Best recommended to be used routinely. Because masking should be like brushing teeth.

Try it for $1 

I've lived in Asia for five years now, and the one question I get asked most consistently State-side is, "What's the latest and greatest in Korean skincare?"

There's no secret: the truth is prioritizing skin health. Many Korean women are devoted in their commitment to skin care, and quite honestly, it's awe inspiring. Skin health is not magic -- it's just consistency in good habits, like drinking enough water, sleeping, eating well, exercising, cleansing, and of course, moisturizing—frequently! In fact, my response to that big question has come down to, "“Just don’t give your skin a chance to dry up... especially when you’re in a dry environment, like on a plane!" I'll typically follow that statement by handing out a sheet mask (yes, I carry them around). Why, you ask? Sheet masks are portable, effortless, and simply effective! I have personally found that frequent, regular use of face masks delivers visible results, and I found myself on a constant hunt to find the best.