Isabel’s Blog #2: Making the ZONE Soft Mask
#2: Making the ZONE Soft Mask
It is no mystery that face masks have changed the nature of daily skin care. Long hours of mask wearing impact the normal healthy functions of the skin. It also adds more stress by creating pressure on nerve endings in the face. Throughout the pandemic, I have been very particular on choosing which mask I use for the day. There are so many types, opinions and factors to weigh.
The company I founded with my son, HEALING ZONE WORLD (HZW), is a global resource for skin care and wellness professionals. We are committed to helping our members during these challenging times. With that goal in mind, we decided to find out the best type of mask to produce, and then have it fabricated. Thankfully my son's girlfriend and her Mom are excellent seamstresses. After figuring out a design, they were the amazing team that meticulously handmade each mask.
During my research, I read several articles and one interesting piece by WebMD highlighted this important concept:
"How well you can breathe through a material is as important as how well it stops the spread of disease. If it’s too hard to breathe, it can be dangerous for people who have respiratory problems.”
With that in mind, I ended up going with cotton as the mask fabric because of a recent CNN article on a Duke School of Medicine study. One author of the study stated:
"…very simple masks, like these homemade cotton masks, do really well to stop the majority of these respiratory droplets…”
I saw on The Today Show that ‘Hepa filters’ are frequently recommended and even sold pre-cut. So I made sure that my mask was designed with a pocket for filters.
The final result is the ZONE SOFT MASK which is a very comfortable, 100% cotton, washable mask that is extra gentle on the skin. The lightweight material is breathable, tightly woven, and layered for extra protection. I made it wire-free for comfort, yet it still has a snug fit. The professional navy blue exterior, and light jade green interior simply represent the HZW brand colors.
Skin care professionals are accustomed to wearing a mask as part of their daily lives. It is my hope that estheticians, and others, enjoy the safety and comfort of these new masks.
Please see pictures below:
Here are the Top 10 Tips I Learned:
1. Give skin a fresh wipe with warm water mid-day to keep pores clean, and re-apply a light moisturizer.
2. Skip face make-up and focus on emphasizing eyes.
3. Minimize layers of product during the day and save serums for night time.
4. Prioritize skin soothing products, such as the ZONE SKIN SOOTHER, on face and behind the ears.
5. Use acne patches over breakouts.
6. Wash mask every night to start the next day with clean mask.
7. At the end of the day apply a very warm washcloth to face and clean pores.
8. Do not scratch or rub face with actual mask.
9. Use mouthwash to keep mouth area protected and hygienic.
10. Use aromatherapy to lightly scent the mask corners: eucalyptus, lemon, lavender are my favorites (watch video below).
