Masks are nothing new for me in my shop. Over the Holidays, I flew a little too close to the sun and the combo of no mask, nail dust and my asthma hit me HARD. I had an awful lingering cough for over a month, it was awful and to add insult to injury, it all went down during my busiest month of the year. Since I couldn’t (/wouldn’t) cancel on my clients’ holiday appointments and the doctor said I was ok to work, I had to learn to love a mask. While I could vibe with it, my skin, notsomuch and it was BAD. So bad in fact, I ended up having to go on antibiotics to clear my skin up because my lack of preventative care left me with a very embarrassing bacterial infection (tip: if you are finding that you’re getting clusters of breakouts, redness and your skin is warm to the touch- call your doctor).

Once my skin returned to homeostatis, I set out to find the best products to give my skin a fighting chance. There’s no doubt that since we’re in masks mandatory mode for the foreseeable future- you may be experiencing probs as well. I should preface this by saying, I’m not a skin care expert or an Estie. But I sure love to bug my favorite Esties, health care professionals and skin care experts all the time for product advice and questions. Thankfully with their input, I’ve been able to find a regimen that works for me.

GlyMed Plus Cell Protection Balm ($29)

Admittedly a super emollient balm may not be the first thing that comes to mind when avoiding breakouts but this literally saved my chin-skin. It gives the skin a nice barrier, not only against the friction of the mask but from the moisture caused by chatting, breathing or coughing into your mask while you’re wearing it.

GlyMed Plus Oxygen Treatment Cream ($57)

My Estie friend Mila put me onto this treatment and it’s become a staple of my evening routine. The oxygenating properties help decongest the skin and enforcing the cell’s detox process. It also has a really decadent soufflé texture that just makes my skin (theoretically) breathe a sigh of relief at the end of a long day in the studio.

Dr Brandt Oxygen Facial Flash Recovery Mask ($70)

Bubble masks were a thing like fie years ago, remember the crazy puffy charcoal masks? I’ve found a renewed need and interest in these as a treatment a couple times a week just to keep my skin clear. I like to use this in the morning on my days off just to give my skin that little extra pep and glow.

Kopari Coconut Detox Mask ($38)

Clay masks and my skin have a complicated relationship. I’m one of those combo-oily skin girls that prefers to engage with the oils in my skin (I use a lot of oils lol) vs attempting to eradicate them. Most clay masks just leave me feeling SO dry, depleted and tight. This mask is the perfect balance of my skin clarification and deep pore cleansing needs but with the added benefit of coconut oil and plant-based Squalane to keep the skin nourished and flexible. This mask is a good end of the week treat.

Khiel’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate ($50)

One of my clients gifted this to me over the Holidays and it’s been an absolute god-send when my skin starts to give me problems. This oil is calming and non-comodegenic, it helps reduce inflammation, redness and calm down sassy skin.

Malin + Goetz acne treatment nighttime. ($22)

I’m 36 years old, I thought part of growing up meant that zits were dunzo. While it doesn’t happen too often in general, it’s happened more often since mask-wearing has become part of my daily life. I picked up this spot treatment last year when I was in London and it’s become an indispensable addition to my medicine cabinet. The combo of sulfur and salicylic acid really helps cut the lifetime of the occasional breakout.