Caring for our lips behind our masks |23 March 2021
Photo source: Skincare.com
Mask wearing is essential in the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus. However, the constant friction from the fabric and perspiration behind the mask, can cause the area around the mouth and lips to become dehydrated, thus making the skin feel tight and dry. This can lead to sensitivity or increased oil production, ultimately causing congestion and blackheads.
This was explained to us by local beauty therapist and owner of ‘Ocean Beauty’ salon, Delia Mondon, who qualified with an International Beauty Diploma in Beauty Technology while in South Africa in 1992.
Below she shares with us her advice for preventing and resolving skin problems that can arise from wearing masks.
Avoid wearing foundation / concealer
Skip foundation and concealer as these increase the humidity and wearing them can result in clogged pores.
Moisturise
Use appropriate moisturisers recommended by a professional, a barrier cream and lip balm to reduce the friction of the mask.
Soak / change masks regularly
If masks are not changed regularly, bacteria and fungi can accumulate, resulting in acne-type reactions. If you do not change your mask regularly, you simply aggravate the problem. If using a cotton mask, remember to soak in a non-bleach sterilizer daily, and throw away disposable masks after one-day use, more often if required. There are people who are allergic to the type of fabric used or dyes in the mask, and professional advice should be sought for this; rule of thumb, cotton is always best.
Prepare a natural home remedy
*Precautions: Always experiment with small quantities by doing a patch test. Remember natural home remedies have a sell-by date so keep them in the fridge and use within 2 days.
If you prefer connecting to the natural world, here is a simple home remedy for the care of the lip and mouth area, which you can create for yourself and your family.
Lip balms typically do not have adequate hydrating properties. They merely seal in the moisture, already present in your lips. By applying lip balm to already dehydrated lips, you ensure no moisture gets out, but also no moisture can get in.
Ingredients like rose, honey and aloe vera have been known to moisturise the skin, making your skin appear smoother and softer. These ingredients typically found at your home can be applied as a mask before using lip balms.
Before applying the lip mask however, you will want to gently exfoliate your lips by mixing together 1 teaspoon of fine sugar with 10-20 drops of olive oil.
To make the lip mask, mix one or two of the below ingredients together to make a serum or add two to your weekly mask routine.
- Rose essential oil (use as directed), dried rose petals which not only have hydrating properties but are also rich in vitamin C which assists in collagen production, for an extra boost. Not forgetting the beautiful red tone in the rose petals which can leave a subtle tint to your lips.
- Honey is incredibly rich in antioxidants, fighting against free radicals which can cause cell damage. As a natural humectant, it can attract and bind moisture making it both a smooth and hydrating treat for the lips. Additionally, honey has both antimicrobial properties and a low Ph, making it inhospitable for bacteria – ideal for our situation today. It is also important to use raw or unprocessed honey, which I believe is attainable here in Seychelles.
- Aloe Vera gel or extracted from the leaf, can be mixed with either one of the ingredients above. Aloe Vera has essential healing and soothing properties, and is therefore ideal for irritated lips.
If you prefer to mix yourself a mask, adding natural yoghurt to your mixture has the added benefit of gently removing dead cells from your lips. This is due to the lactic acid present and makes penetration of moisture far easier.
To prepare the mask, mix:
- 3 tbsp of crushed dried rose petals
- 2 tbsp of raw honey
- 1 tbsp of plain unsweetened yoghurt
Apply the mask to your lip area for 15 minutes while lying down to keep the mixture from migrating downwards.
Enjoy being creative with nature! While we continue to wear our masks, help restore your skin to a place of healing, balance and harmony, but don’t stop wearing those masks!
For more information, contact Delia at Ocean Beauty, Le Rocher:
Telephone: 2 597 625
F.P.