With the Coronavirus requiring people to wear face masks throughout the day in order to reduce the spreading of the extremely contagious Coronavirus, Terri Vinson, founder of Synergie Skin, has shared her insights on the impacts that face masks have on the skin, and what we can do to cleanse, nourish and rejuvenate after use. She hopes that her tips can especially help bring comfort and relief to those forced to wear face masks for the majority of the day, like nurses and doctors, as they work tirelessly to help the victims of COVID-19.
She says:
“With the increased use of face masks many of you may notice congestion and break outs around the nose and chin. This is because the skin is a barrier that must allow itself to absorb water and remove excess oil and skin toxins. Wearing a face mask reduces this natural process and acts like a block to the skin’s natural processes. The humid environment created by the mask is a breeding ground for bad bacteria and the sweat if not able to evaporate off the skin naturally.
There is also the issue of the material used to make the mask, if there are synthetic additives used in manufacturing. They may include bleaching agents, perfumes or certain materials added to the manufacturing process. Some of you may be allergic to these additives and others may just be irritated by them and notice flaking and redness. Be diligent with your skincare at this time, stay safe and take care, ” says Terri Vinson.
Below is her skincare regimen that can be followed at home
What steps can you follow?
#1 CLEANSE
Ensure you thoroughly clean your face morning and night with a cleanser to remove surface build-up on the skin surface. Opt for a cleanser that is free from sodium laureth sulphate, parabens, artificial colours and fragrances such as UltraCleanse.
“I also recommend using a gentle facial scrub, such as MediScrub twice a week on the congested areas to remove surface blackheads,” says Vinson.
#2 BALANCE
On a freshly cleansed face, apply a few drops of a pre-serum elixir morning and night to boost the skin’s resistance to physical and chemical aggressors. Synergie Skin’s Dermiotic assists in relieving symptoms of skin stress and is a substitute for a traditional toner. The probiotic lysate, together with the prebiotic skin nutrition, restores skin balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria and prevents the triggers of skin inflammation.
#3 SERUM
The most important serum to use is Vitamin B Serum to strengthen the skin, prevent dryness and control excess sebum. This multitasking vitamin serum will also boost the immunity of the skin.
If you are noticing an increase in blackheads and whiteheads from wearing face masks, use one pump of an advanced alcohol-free exfoliation serum such as Reveal to your morning routine instead of your Vitamin B serum until the outbreak subsides. The salicylic acid in Reveal will help to ‘unplug’ the congested pores of oil and debris. Otherwise, use Vitamin B morning and night for a more simplified routine.
#4 MOISTURISE
If you are experiencing dry, red or sensitive skin opt for an anti-inflammatory moisturiser such as Dermacalm in the morning and a soothing facial oil in the evening to reduce irritation. Synergie’s De-Stress calming facial oil is fortified with blackcurrant seed soil, pure olive squalene, seabuckthorn and macadamia oil to hydrate sensitive skin. Otherwise, for all other skin types use a moisturizer with high levels of zinc oxide, a wonderful anti-inflammatory ingredient for the skin – such as ÜberZinc.
Check out Terri Vinson’s Game Changers interview here.
