In comes new innovation that tackles the issue head-on: You can now purchase a face mask (that is, the fabric kind) infused with shea butter and copper—so your covering can protect in more ways than one. Here’s how it works: The technology infuses shea butter into each individual yarn fiber, making for an ultra-moisturizing mask. Shea butter is an excellent emollient, meaning it can soften the skin and fill in microcracks; it’s also been shown to seal moisture into the skin and protect the skin barrier1. If you’ve ever faced a bout of mask-induced irritation, you likely know that the contact friction can cause some dry, flaky skin—a shea-butter-infused fabric can minimize the friction on that delicate skin so you won’t have to do as much damage control after the fact. And just so you know: The ingredient is infused within the fabric fibers themselves, so you don’t have to worry about a glob of shea butter residue on your face every time you venture out in public. Additionally, those fibers are infused with copper, which has its own skin-healthy benefits: Studies have shown that copper can enhance wound healing and reduce signs of facial aging2 (like fine lines and wrinkles). Copper is also naturally antibacterial, and it even has a significant role in killing viruses—makes for pretty impressive protective gear, no?
