Ditch the lipstick, there’s a new fashion statement in town!
As a makeup artist, I’ve become quite accustomed to the mask life. The mask perfectly compliments a bold eyeshadow look, conceals unintentional RBF, and allows some rest for lipstick, along with my wallet because of my well-known addiction to Bite Beauty.
Mask Culture is a newfound buzz. Is this really The New Normal? I’m not really a fan of that term, and I see lots of people who are bouncing all over the spectrum with this subject, so here’s:
The Four Steps of Mask Culture:
1. Denial & Disbelief “OMFG they want us to wear masks! What’s the big deal anyway? That mask won’t come near this perfect beat.”
Wow, yet another 2020 bombshell: we’re all of a sudden front-and-center witnesses to a global pandemic. With no warning, and now they’re ordering us to wear masks! Hey, I get it… But the truth is, no one really knows how to perfectly navigate such a sudden, widespread pandemic, so medical professionals did their best: they urged everyone to wear a mask to prevent the spread of infection.
Change is uncomfortable because we like things just the way they are, neatly wrapped with a bow on top. I had issues coming to grips with wearing a mask myself, but whether we like it or not and irrelevant of what we even think, for the time being, masks are now required to be worn in most businesses outside of our own homes.
2. Anger & Annoyance “I look like shit in this mask!” *flips table*
So you finally put one on so you could go to Sephora! Go you! This was after you forgot it the first few times at home or in the car, though.
I have a feeling your first mask was a little, flimsy white one, so of course it’s easy to forget. Well, ditch the basic white masks, unless it’s made of a visually appealing texture, of course! A black, or any darker colored mask can really compliment a striking makeup look.
If you’re a fan of texture like me, you’ll love one of my favorite makers, Jungle Tribe, who creates badass, apocalypse-worthy accessories.
Now is a prime time to bring up Mask Etiquette:
- Just stop touching the damn mask. Once it’s on, make sure it’s comfy and fits snugly from the start, before you start touching anything and everything else.
- Make sure it fully covers your mouth and nose.
- Why am I seeing tumble-masks in the street? Throw them away when you’re done, like any decent human being would!
Seriously, PPE, which doesn’t biodegrade well, is all up in our oceans, as if we didn’t already have issues with that.
3. Depression “I can’t see through my foggy glasses and this maskne makes me feel ugly AF :(“
My co-workers at Sephora and I have been faced with the dreaded “maskne,” acne caused by the friction of the cloth against the sensitive skin on our faces. More formally called “acne mechanica,” this is nothing new to dermatologists. Factors like humidity, makeup, sweat, and the moisture from our breath are all a dream come true for bacteria just itching to use your face as a breeding ground.
I embarked on an online quest for answers. I needed to help eradicate this displeasure of maskne for myself and all I can reach, because it’s not something anyone would want to feel or see when they look in the mirror. Some also suffer from foggy glasses, so here’s a brief list of tips to help remedy these side effects that may not make us feel so hot:
Foggy Sight
- Tape the top of your mask along the bridge of your nose and your cheeks using medical tape (or regular tape if that’s all you’ve got)
Maskne
- Wash and moisturize your face twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. Be generous with toner, serums and moisturizer, your face will love it! (Hopefully, you already do this!)
- Wash your masks regularly after each use, using a fragrance-free detergent
- Add an anti-acne face mask to your skincare routine
For oily skin: opt for clay/charcoal products
For dry skin: use gel or cream-based products, or a tea tree oil spot treatment
- You can also freshen up during your lunch break with an anti-acne toning wipe
- Switch out your pillowcases often
- Ditch the full face makeup, no one can see it anyway
- Buy lots of cute masks, to… you know, save some washing time 😉
If none of these seem to prevail, consider checking in with a dermatologist, especially if you begin to experience pain and scarring. Some dermatologists recommend over-the-counter treatments that contain salicylic acid, adapalene (a Vitamin A derivative), or benzoyl peroxide, but don’t use all three of these at once!
If you don’t want to wash the same one or two reusable masks over and over, you could just, you know, buy many fashionable yet functional masks/face covers. Wear once and toss it in the laundry basket! It’s for the greater good! Which brings us to:
4. Acceptance & Adaptation “OMG, check out these masks on Akira!!!”
I love so many of these, I couldn’t include them all on this post. Click the photos to view on Akira’s site!
Thanks to stores like Chicago-based AKIRA, their functional-fashion sense eases us into trying new styles. If we have to wear masks at our favorite stores and places of social gatherings, why not get a cool mask that matches our outfit, or one that makes the entire outfit? I think the ravers were on to something from the beginning!
Let’s face it though (see what I did there?), masks and face coverings have been around long before coronavirus. Centuries-long across many cultures and parts of the world.
Today is another notch in our time here, and we do what we always do: adapt (and absolutely slay the fashion side of things.) And remember: it’s temporary.
Prettylife 