Wearing masks all day is saving lives and it’s causing some skin issues for many of you. 

I get it that this is becoming something that some of you can’t ignore anymore, and you’re looking for ways to prevent irritation and acne and all the other not-so-fun side effects of being a good human being and wearing your damn mask. 

Please keep in mind that I’m not an esthetician- I’m a clinical herbalist who has been in the making and using of natural botanical skincare products for over a decade, so I offer these insights from my own mind and experience. May it be helpful!

Cleanliness of Masks: first things first! Keep your masks clean! If you’re using the reusable cotton/silk kind of masks that are ubiquitously made now by all sorts of small makers, that’s awesome! Just make sure you wash them as regularly as you wash your underwear. Because you’re breathing into that all day, your skin is sweating into them all day, and if they’re dirty, they’re going to up the irritation factor for your skin. So get yourself a small collection of masks and rotate them very, very often. And wash them with a detergent that isn’t full of harsh chemicals, because the skin on your face is sensitive and you don’t want it getting irritated by that stuff. Similarly, if you’re using the disposable kind, you’ll want to swap those out at least every day. On hot days, maybe even multiple times a day. 

Material: from my experience, my favorite mask for breathability are the ones my friend made me out of 100% cotton. And apparently, they’re also really effective at filtering. It seems that in general, natural fibers are better for both breathability and filtration. So choose cotton or silk over polyester!

Cleanliness of Face: the same way you want your masks to be clean, you want to make sure you’re only wearing a mask over clean skin. Because dirty skin and clogged pores equals irritation. Wash your face in the morning and moisturize with a light, emollient oil. This way your skin is primed for the friction of the mask, and hydrated without being too densely covered. From my product line the best oils for this season and mask wearing would be: 

Handsome Serum (emollient and moisturizing but quickly and efficiently absorbed)

Sea Buckthorn Serum (repairing for pores and soothes irritations/breakouts while moisturizing). This is something I've guided several people to since opening the new shop, and they've all written back saying it's been majorly helpful!

Wide Awake Serum (usually recommended for eye area, but can absolutely be used all over. This is light and moisturizing and really great for sensitive skin- hence it being perfect for the eye area)

Makeup: don’t wear makeup under masks! Just don't. Even the nicer more natural face makeups do clog your pores, even if only slightly slightly, and the addition of a mask on top of that is going to cause irritation. The best situation for wearing masks is a clean face that’s lightly moisturized and nothing else. 

Skin Care: even with precautions, breakouts will still happen sometimes. I recommend doing a facial steam once or twice a week to open and clear out pores. Depending on your skin constitution there are different herbs that can be extra repairing/nourishing/helpful. Part of the Facial kits I’m releasing soon will have tins of herbs that are blended for different skin types. Soon, soon! 

I hope these tips help you and your beautiful face while you do your part to be a good human being and wear your mask!

Spring time. Element of air. First breaths springing forth. Spirituality, the image of air/ being in spirit. Feelings of renewal. Spring cleaning. Birds come back out and things start blooming. So when we talk about self care for this season:

• Lots of slow stretching, our bodies have been tight and now is a good time to get the oxygen flowing in our blood to wake up all our organs and stir the brain.
• Breathing exercises. Since traditionally the element for spring is air, doing some good breathing exercises is a great idea.
• Decluttering. There’s a reason why spring cleaning is such a widespread thing. These days it’s not just about clearing out our closets, dusting forgotten corners, and readying the garden for the season. These days we have an extra opportunity to clear out our inbox, the millions of photos from our phone, and the more technological clutter that creeps into our lives.

I think living in the Pacific Northwest, with such intensely rainy grey dark winters, I always am still somehow amazed when Spring is here. It's kind of like there's a big confusing dark storm and then BOOM! blossoms and flowers everywhere. I don't know if it's just me, but I think since moving here I'm struck more by how sensitive I am when Spring arrives- there's almost a whiplash. So though Spring might feel like a push forward right away, it's also important to take care. 

Along with this change of season, often comes uncomfy allergy symptoms for some of us. 

Please remember that every body is different, and allergies are unfortunately a reality that takes trial and error, but hopefully the things that have worked for me can help you, too.

1. Probiotics. From everything I've read, it looks like the reason why probiotics help, is because they help balance the general inner ecosystem, so when there is an onslaught of foreign allergens and anything the body reads as toxic, the balanced inner ecosystem helps. Basically this means that probiotics should always be taken regularly to keep the body and immune system functioning at top-notch. Also, make sure you get on a good quality probiotic. Get one that is actually kept refrigerated! I know there are some shelf-stable probiotics out there, but I definitely notice a difference when I'm on the good ole' live probiotics that are kept alive in the refrigerator. 

2. Regular drinking of water and allergy-easing herbal tea. I blend and sell this one! 

3. NETTLES! Gosh I cannot encourage this enough. For the past few years since being in the Pacific Northwest, my allergies have been worse than ever, and I notice a significant difference when I take Nettles + Quercetin capsules. 

4. Eyebright/Euphrasia. The other thing I've struggled with a lot, is really itchy irritated eyes from allergic response. Last year I found out about Euphrasia, homeopathic remedy style, and it really does help. This remedy, in conjunction with some good homeopathic eyedrops, and I'm good to go! 

5. Eyedrops. Pretty self-explanatory. I like the brand called "Similasan." 

6. Apple cider vinegar. Besides for having probiotics (assuming you get the good stuff that has the "mother" in it!), ACV contains compounds that help balance the PH of the body, and in turn has been shown to be a wonderful remedy for allergies. 

7. Bee products. Pollen, honey, propolis. Obviously only if you're not allergic to bee products! But if you're cool with them, they do have natural occurring antihistamine properties- especially if you get pollen, honey propolis from a local beekeeper. Bees are magic and their medicine is nuanced for their local habitats. 

8. Since allergies is your body's way of expressing its feeling of being invaded by something undesired, it's important to keep things extra anti-inflammatory when your system is already compromised by histamines. I hate to say it, but gluten and dairy are two of the main inflammatory culprits in this way. I have a lot of experience and studies under my belt within the holistic nutrition field, and I'm not one who preaches any one particular diet, but during allergy seasons, it makes sense to avoid food products that the body would usually be able to process more easily. 

9. Due to all I just wrote in #8, adding in herbs that support the liver, ease inflammation and heat, and support the immune system as it manages the histamine reactions, is also helpful. I just released a tincture blend that I find perfect for this combination of goals. Check it out! 

Here are some products that I make that will be supportive during this season:

• Detox Bitters
• Spring Thing
• Lung Tonic 
• For Allergies: Herbal Tea
• Skin Ease 

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