The Ultimate Skin Care While Wearing A Face Mask

With our faces being partially hidden under the mask, having a specific beauty routine for this area became a must.  Virginie Couturaud, Scientific Director of Institut Esthederm, provides us with an update on the different needs of our skin during this complicated period and with masks still mandatory.

Between acne breakouts and other irritations that result from wearing a mask, your skin has not been feeling very well for the last months, all this in addition to the change of season and of temperatures, so it’s time to take matters into your own hands. “In fact, in addition to the friction between the face and the mask, the face is subjected to a difference in temperatures, hot and humid at the bottom since the skin is covered and colder at the top” explains Virginie Couturaud, Scientific Director of Institut Esthederm. This requires adapting your routine and considering that the two zones should be treated differently. A little bit like “multi-masking”, where you actually choose your products based on your skin needs. But trust us, your skin will thank you.

The "Tulip" zone

Yes, we are aware of the T-zone, but now we have the “tulip zone”, the one that’s always hidden under the mask and that goes up to the level of the outer ends of the cheekbones and on the nose, like the shape of the tulip flower. This concept is already known to Asians and it requires our full attention at the moment. For this area that will be covered for long hours, it is better to use non-comedogenic and non-greasy care. While some recommend a barrier cream, Virginie Couturaud reserves it for the exposed part of the face and prefers a lighter serum (the Intensive Vitamin E² Serum, from Institut Esthederm) for this area which suffers from a moist and hot environment. “If your skin is dehydrated or dry, it is better to use a serum that will hydrate the skin while remaining light. Because friction damages the cutaneous barrier of the skin, it must therefore be strengthened but not get oily.” adds the specialist.

The importance of cleaning

The difference in skin care is not just the products that will be applied in the morning. Virginie Couturaud also insists on the importance of cleaning the skin in the evening. If you remove makeup around the eyes to get rid of product excess and pollution particles, cleaning the cheeks, nose and chin is also essential. The goal? Remove dirt, oil, and sweat. "Be careful, however, when rinsing with tap water, it has been more chlorinated since the start of the pandemic in several large cities” warns the scientific director. You can use isotonic thermal water such as Avène or the Cellular Water Mist from Esthederm Paris "which reinforces the microbiome so that the skin can better defend itself against new aggressions".

Finally, you need to make sure the skin is regenerating at night. It is important to allow your skin to breathe. You can massage it to tone it and then apply a regenerating treatment to let it infuse when you sleep. And do not forget to apply a moisturizer on the very fragile and particularly exposed eye area (also to be applied in the morning).