Over the past several months, the world, as we know it, has changed. As a new mom to my beautiful son, my entire life is different.  From having an hour to complete my makeup to now only doing 20-minute looks, my skincare routine became longer. As we all strive to stay healthy and safe, our faces are covered with masks for hours each day. And since my normal Target run has turned into a curbside pick-up, there’s no need for a full face of makeup. It’s only my Embryolisse moisturizer and MAC’s Prep+Prime lip that I use as a lip balm. How exciting? When you take a day off from makeup, you can feel amazing in your skin. I always tell my clients, “your makeup will only look as good as the skin underneath.“ I’ve been using this time to take those words to heart and focus on my skin’s natural glow.

Here are a few tips to help you take care of the skin underneath your mask:

1. Wash your hands before touching your face. This can eliminate cross contamination and decrease skin irritation.

2. Cleanse your skin at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple is a one-step cleanser that removes all impurities and excess oil. 

It’s very mild and smells fresh. Avoid stronger cleansers that can strip the skin of natural oils.

Use a toner to soothe, deep clean, and prep your skin to receive moisture.

3. Hydrate and protect your skin from the sun by using a moisturizer with SPF daily. Even if you have acne, you need a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. Balance is a must to keep the skin at its optimal state.

4. Use a washable mask that you can clean after each use, or use a new disposal mask when you leave home.

By Brenita (Chicago Based Makeup Artist)