Thanks, Oscar Mayer, but are all skin masks bologna?

Walk down the skincare aisle and you’ll see plenty of inspirations for facial masks: cucumber, honey, tea tree.

Now comes a new entry: bologna. Yes, bologna. There’s now a facial mask marketed by Oscar Mayer, the same company that sells the familiar pink lunch meat that goes in sandwiches.

The bologna face masks come in a package similar to real bologna but are actually a hydrogel product that clings to the skin and claims to hydrate and restore and be perfect for “those who used to make masks out of their bologna as kids.” The masks are definitely not for eating any more than real bologna is for skin care.

While it’s certainly a marketing gimmick, the worldwide skin mask market was valued at $257.9M in 2018, according to Grand View, a market research firm. And Oscar Mayer’s masks, created in partnership with a Korean firm, sold out in a day on Amazon, according to CNN. But Oscar Mayer’s new entry into the market left us wondering, are all skin masks just a bunch of bologna?

“People really love them but I don’t tend to recommend them,” said Elizabeth Tocci, MD, a dermatologist based in West Yarmouth. “I don’t think they do much good and then sometimes they can do harm because people can be allergic to all the things in them.”

Masks with fragrance are even more likely to contain allergens, she said. And while skin masks might feel good, they only sit on top of the skin, so ingredients such as collagen don’t get absorbed.

“Your skin will feel nice when you take it off but it’s not something that’s really changing the DNA of your skin or making it better in the long run,” Dr. Tocci said.

Skin toners are another thing Dr. Tocci says are not very beneficial. “People love toners but there's really no evidence that using a toner is really that great for your skin or makes a difference.”

So, what is the best skincare routine for most of us? All you need are four basic products, according to Dr. Tocci:

• A simple cleanser. “Usually, if you just have normal skin - not acne prone - just wash with a gentle cleanser, like a hypoallergenic fragrance-free gentle cleanser morning and night. It doesn't have to be fancy, shouldn't be really exfoliating or anything like that – just gentle, to get the grime off from the day.”
• Sunscreen. A sunscreen that’s 30 SPF or higher is the first thing that should go on in the morning, Dr. Tocci said. If you like, it can be in the form of a moisturizer or tinted moisturizer or follow with a layer of moisturizer if your skin is dry. Some make-ups, including powders, also contain sunscreen. Remember, if you’re out and about in summer, sunscreen does need to be reapplied during the day.
• Retinoid. This molecule is a vitamin A derivative that gets absorbed into the skin and increases cell turnover and regenerates new skin cells. It also decreases the production of sebum, the oil, waxy substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands – one reason retinol, as it’s known in over-the-counter products, is used as a treatment for acne. “For anti-aging processes, the increase in the cell turnover can just help get rid of abnormal skin cells and help encourage new skin cells to grow,” Dr. Tocci said.
• Moisturizer. This can also be basic – no fancy fragrances, for example. But if you're looking for anti-aging moisturizing, there's some evidence that vitamin C serum can be helpful, Dr. Tocci said. “There's a whole multi-billion dollar business in skincare, but really all you need is a gentle cleanser, a good sunscreen, and a moisturizer. And if you're looking to do a little more, then maybe vitamin C serum, maybe a retinol at night. … When you're putting too much on the skin then you definitely are more prone to allergies and just dryness and irritation in general.”