Face red or breaking out after a mask? What to do
Rinse with cool water, stop using the mask, and leave out everything except a plain moisturiser until your skin settles. Pinkness that fades within an hour or so may just be from the peel. If it stings, itches, spreads or lasts, take it as a reaction and don't use that product again. Swollen lips or trouble breathing is an emergency: call 111.
Right now
- Take it off gently and rinse with cool or lukewarm water.
- Pat dry. Don't rub.
- Use only a plain, unscented moisturiser. No serums, retinoids, acids, scrubs or new products.
- Stay out of the sun and keep heat to a minimum until things settle.
- Note what you used, and take a photo. It helps if you need to see someone later.
How to read what's happening
- Short-lived pinkness. Peeling, rinsing and warmth can bring up some colour that's gone within the hour. It may not mean much, but use masks less often for a while.
- Stinging or burning. The American Academy of Dermatology is clear: stop using a product that stings, burns or tingles. A tingle doesn't mean it's working.
- Itchy, red, maybe swollen. This points to contact dermatitis. DermNet describes two kinds: irritant, usually limited to where the product touched, and allergic, which may spread beyond it and can appear with something you've used before without a problem.
- Dry and peeling a day or two later. This could be retinoid dermatitis, which DermNet describes as redness, peeling and dry skin. Our Hyaluronic Acid jar contains retinol, so stop and moisturise.
When to get help
- Call 111 if your lips, tongue or face swell, or you have trouble breathing.
- See your GP if there's blistering, severe pain or a spreading rash, if it doesn't improve within a few days, or if it gets near your eyes. Take the product with you.
- Need advice now? Healthline is free on 0800 611 116, any time.
DermNet says patch tests are important in any severe or persistent case of contact dermatitis, so if you keep reacting to products, ask your GP about one.
New spots after a mask
- Coincidence. Hormones, sweat, stress and other products all play a part. A spot that appears tonight probably started before tonight's mask.
- A reaction. Small, itchy red bumps may be irritation rather than true breakouts.
- The product itself. Not every product suits every skin.
You've probably heard of "purging": the idea that retinoids bring spots to the surface before skin improves. It's a popular explanation, but the sources we read disagree and the evidence looks thin. Don't assume new spots are a good sign, and don't push through. Stop the product and see how things go over a couple of weeks. If acne bothers you, a GP can do far more than a mask.
Going back to masks later
If it was a true reaction with itching, rash or swelling, don't go back to that formula. If it was mild and short, wait until your skin is entirely comfortable, then patch test before trying again. If you'd like to try a different formula, compare the full ingredient lists on our formula pages first, and steer clear of anything you suspect. Check you're not mixing it with other strong products on the same day.
Tell us
If an Omorfia mask has caused a reaction, please let us know. If it's your first jar, our First-jar promise explains how to get your money back without sending it back.
Questions
Is it normal for your face to be red after a mask?
Mild pinkness that fades within about an hour can happen, particularly after a peel or rinse. Redness that stings, itches, spreads or lasts isn't something to ignore. Stop using the product.
Is a tingle a sign a mask is working?
Not usually. The American Academy of Dermatology says to stop using a product that stings, burns or tingles.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your skin, see your GP or a skin specialist.
Sources
- How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care products, American Academy of Dermatology
- Contact dermatitis, DermNet
- Topical retinoids, DermNet