The pandemic has changed absolutely everything, including how you do your makeup. Before anyone throws nasal swabs in my direction, I readily admit this “how-do-I-do-my-makeup-when-I-have-to-cover-my-face” concern is certainly not the worst problem to have.
So, my sincerest apologies if you or a loved one have caught this horrible novel coronavirus, or lost a job because of it, or have been pressed into service to help homeschool your grandkids and have been forced to acknowledge a newfound respect for your otherwise annoying daughter-in-law’s patience. But still, the makeup-in-a-mask problem is real: How do you wear lipstick under a mask without smearing it all over your face? (Spoiler alert: You don’t.) And what do you do about those eyebrows that disappeared years ago, when suddenly that real estate is pretty much the only part of your face anyone sees these days?
For answers, we turned to makeup artists, cosmeticians and others who, while they may not be able to cure COVID-19, can at least give us some easy fixes to look our best while we wear masks to avoid spreading the virus.
Lose the lipstick, but remember the ChapStick.
Celebrity makeup artist Matin Maulawizada says the heat from our breath dehydrates our skin under the mask. “The thin skin on the lips is especially vulnerable to masking,” he told AARP’s The Ethel. Instead of useless lipsticks that look gross anyway when they rub off on your mask, pull out your tried-and-true hydration lip balm. Yes, ChapStick.
Maulawizada is partial to the ones made with naturally sourced ingredients like sunflower seed oil or Shea and coconut butters. He notes that some even come with color tints, should you be missing your lipstick too much.
A lip pencil may be your new best friend.
Actress, aging guru and author Suzanne Somers agrees that lipsticks and masks just don’t tango together. As a compromise to forgoing lipstick altogether, she suggests using a lip pencil to outline and then fill in the lips. “Less smudging! Use a lip pencil and blot it with natural powder and avoid gooey lip glosses,” she says.
Shift the focus to your eyes and eyebrows.
There’s no getting around this one, since what is above your mask is essentially all that people will see of your face. This poses a challenge for many older women whose eyebrows and lashes have thinned out. The coronavirus slammed the door shut on two of the remedies for eyebrows gone MIA: Tattooing them on or getting an eyebrow transplant. Tattoo shops have largely been shuttered, and pretty much all hair transplants — including plugs — are elective surgeries that are discouraged right now. Once things open up again, actress Somers suggests getting your eyebrows professionally shaped and dyed. It is also a good idea to have your thyroid levels checked, especially T3, she says. When T3 is low, the first clue may be the loss of the outer one-third of your eyebrows. There are plenty of cosmetic products that can help regrow and strengthen your lashes and brows.
Myiesha Sewell, beauty director for the Sephora line, suggests you check out brow gels, which she calls “a great way to cover any pesky grays” and fill in the gaps. If your brows need a little extra attention, there’s the Sephora Collection Microblade Effect Brow Pen. Use a mascara with short-bristled brushes that have a conical tip, she says. “They work best on mature lashes.” There is also Latisse, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat inadequate lashes. If you are looking for something simpler, you can always cut bangs to cover the space where your eyebrows used to be. As L.A. hair and makeup stylist Elva Nitta says, bangs — she calls them “fringe” — are like getting an instant facelift. ”They take 10 years off.” Go, fringe, go.
Splurge and buy a real makeup mirror.
Even before the pandemic, many of us were struggling to see details close up without our glasses, which made applying eye makeup an interesting exercise. “I encourage my clients to invest in a good mirror that has a magnifying capacity,” says makeup artist Maulawizada, who recommends this one by RIKI.
Get yourself a good makeup setting spray.
If you are 50-plus, there’s an excellent chance you may not have even heard of this beauty product. Doreen Bloch, CEO at Poshly, says that only about 10 percent of women over 50 use a makeup setting spray. About one-third of Gen Z and Millennials use it “frequently,” she told us. “It's a newer product type, but one that is really important when it comes to keeping makeup in place when wearing a mask,” she says. She recommends MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist and the higher-end Spritz Mist ExtreMIST.
Earrings are the new lipstick.
Melissa Panszi Riebe, designer/owner of A D'Zine buys masks to coordinate with her clothes, a trend perhaps started by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Riebe takes it one step further: She also tries to coordinate her earrings with her masks, she says. While many of us may fear getting our earrings tangled up with our mask’s ear loops, Riebe thinks this may actually be a good thing. After all, you may stop readjusting your mask once you’ve learned the hard way that pierced earrings can tug and hurt if you keep playing around. Put the mask on and leave it alone, like the medical experts say. Riebe likes earrings that are colorful. “Earrings are the new lipstick of your wardrobe, she says. “People can’t see you smile, but you can pass along good cheer with the right earrings.”
Forgo foundation, but use concealer.
If you are wearing a mask properly, no one will be seeing your cheeks, chin, mouth or nose. So, for the most part, you can give your foundation a rest. Concealer, however, is another story. Apply it as you normally would and don’t forget under your eyes. The coronavirus stress is real, and you have those dark circles to prove it.
The Ethel is a great resource. But AARP members also get access to an array of programs, resources and discounts.
Tomi Um
