During lockdown, many people didn’t have to worry about a facemask ruining makeup since we mostly stayed home anyway. Now, if you need to wear a mask because of allergies or just to protect yourself, you have to think about how it affects your makeup when you go to work or to run your errands. 

The last thing you want is to take off your makeup at work only for your face to be all smudged with foundation and your lipstick all over the place and staining the mask. So here are our best tips on how to wear a facemask without affecting your makeup. 

Go Light With the Makeup 

The best advice we’ve seen from women and guys who wear makeup is to go light. Putting on too much foundation and concealer makes it easy for it to transfer onto the mask. Not only does this ruin your makeup, it also stains your mask. 

So go very light with your makeup. In fact, I recommend switching to a different makeup that’s specifically formulated to be lightweight. There are lots of lightweight moisturizers, concealers and foundations you can get in stores. 

Also consider trying airbrush makeup. Instead of the usual sponges and brushes, airbrush makeup is applied using an airbrush machine. Many people have reported that it goes well with masks because of how light it is. It’s less likely to smudge or transfer onto the mask. 

Another advantage of switching to light makeup when you wear a face mask is that it reduces the risk of skin breakouts. A face mask can trap sweat and dirt on the skin, while also causing friction. Add in thick makeup and you have the perfect recipe for clogged pores and, eventually, acne. 

Wear Light and Neutral Lipstick 

Take the light approach with your makeup as well. Avoid anything thick and sticky as it will smudge easily and stain your mask. 

Another tip is to wear neutral lipstick shades with a matte look. Any smudging is less noticeable and you stain your mask less. Bullet lipsticks are the best when wearing a mask. They are less lighter, thinner and smudge less easily compared to liquid lipstick. 

Another tip from ladies is to use a lipstick primer. It allows lipstick to last longer on your lips and when there is a bit of transfer onto the mask, it’s barely noticeable.   

Applying a very light brushing of face powder on your lips (after applying lipstick) also helps set your lipstick and reduces transfer onto the mask. Place a thin layer of tissue over your lips and brush the powder onto it. This ensures you don't apply too much powder on your lips. 

Wear the Right Mask 

Your choice of face mask also matters when it comes to keeping your makeup looking good. A face mask that’s too tight is likely going to smudge or rub off your lipstick and concealer. Same goes for a mask that’s too rough on the skin. 

We recommend a well fitting face mask that’s gentle on your skin like our silk-based Aplu beauty mask. It is super smooth, so it doesn't mess up your makeup. It’s also comfortable to wear for hours and it’s designed to keep away acne breakouts.  

Skip Makeup on The Lower Half of Your Face

There’s no solution that is completely foolproof. Even with the best mask and the lightest makeup, there will still be a bit of makeup transfer, though it may not be noticeable on your face. 

If you want a foolproof option, you could always skip makeup on your entire face or just the lower half. This can work if you don't plan to take off your mask. 

You can just do your eyes and brows and leave the rest of your face untouched (other than the usual cream and moisturizer). You’ll look good without worrying about any smudging. 

If you still want to do a bit of makeup, you can apply a bit of bronzer around your forehead and temples. It adds depth to your face and looks better than applying foundation or concealer only to the top half of your face. 

Additional Tips

• Remove your mask as soon as you are in a safe environment to let your skin breathe and reduce the risk of smudging. 
• Wash your face mask daily to prevent skin breakouts. After wearing it for hours, your mask accumulates with dead skin cells, bacteria, sweat, oils and makeup. All these can transfer back onto your face and clog your skin pores if you don't regularly wash your face mask.