BEAUTY: BEHIND THE MASK | Lane Crawford

The new normal is here, and it currently includes surgical masks and hand sanitizer. But while ensuring optimum hygiene is an accepted measure of current times, what is to become of our skin?

If you’re washing your hands that many more times a day, and breathing through a mask whenever you leave the house, your skin is bound to need a little more TLC. Hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes are convenient options for when you are out and about, but where possible, your average soap and water combo should remain a go-to as soaps typically contain an ideal mix of moisturising ingredients and antibacterial properties. The Banho - Citron Verbena liquid soap from Claus Porto doesn’t just smell great, it’s enriched with aloe leaf extract to soothe and nourish. Liquid handwash from Aesop and Aromatherapy Associates are also great therapeutic cleansing alternatives that are luxuriously formulated to disinfect.

Make sure to increase the frequency of your hand cream application, too – a non-greasy option is Natura Bissé’s Diamond Extreme Hand Cream which will leave your mitts baby soft no matter how dry they may have become. In the evening, turn on that meditation music and enjoy a little phone-free time with NANNETTE de GASPÉ’s Youth Revealed™ hand mask.

Surgical masks may keep the bad stuff away, but they don’t do much for breathability. Even if the material doesn’t lead to redness, acne or inflammation, you’re more likely to end up with clogged pores and dehydrated skin.

Besides nixing heavy foundations, try formulas with skincare heroes like Dior Beauty’s Diorshow Perfect Light Compact. Toting around a beauty mist to hydrate frequently is also a good idea – Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Hydrating Face Mist delivers intense hydration and revitalization throughout the day with its Hyaluronic Acid-based formula.

Your evening routine should include a few extra steps. Exfoliating gently but more frequently is desired if your skin isn’t already irritated, and cleansing masks such as Tata Harper’s Clarifying Mask help keep your complexion clean of buildup – just remember to only cleanse deeply if you have the time to rehydrate it afterwards or you run the risk of overdrying. For deep winter post-mask masking, we love the Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask. You can even leave it on for more than 10 minutes if you like – the formula is extra gentle.