Use of facial lotions etc

Is it better to go to bed with a dry face for a proper seal?

I don't like having a dry face (it's not very healthy either). At night I usually will put on an exfoliant cream and moisturizer.

If I let it soak in for a time before bed, would that be ok?

Also...wondering on the effect it may have on the silicone seals....specifically, the alpha-hydroxy cream. I don't know if that would harm the silicone or if it is absorbed into my skin already it may be ok??

It's recommended to completely avoid any product with petroleum as this will degrade the silicone. I will use the AHA cream a few hours before masking, then I rinse my face off any residue before masking. Looking at the product's contents, so many ingredients probably have not been tested against silicone. So, yes, it's a dry face.

Since becoming a hosehead, I'm only using creams during the day and a few evenings per week, but my skin has IMPROVED with oxygen!

if you like mask leaks and frequently replacing mask cushions & pillow, go ahead & moisturize all you want before going to bed.



moisturizer chemicals and silicone do not like each other.

hot water wash before going to bed removes facial oils and help prevents mask leaks during the night.

I don't use anything with petroleum on my face. I may just moisturize a couple hours before bed and then wipe my face with witch hazel right before bed just where the mask goes.

Hey...you don't need our permission. Do what you want and what you are comfortable with. If you moisturize and get leaks you know you need a clean, dry face. You'll figure it out.

Tigerlilly,

I've been moisturizing before bed every nite. I moisturize at least 2-3 hours prior to masking up. I've been on CPAP 13 years & don't think moisturizer has ever caused a problem. None of my creams have been petrolium based, I'm currently using Wei East, but in the process of switching to Garner, I have tried it and like its results, plus it seems to soak in faster due to the serum & moisturizer being one product instead of two (and its cheaper!).

The key for me is making sure it all soaks in prior to masking up, you don't want residue to come into contact with your mask. It doesn't matter for me now, since I'm using nasal pillows, but I still wait until it is properly absorbed into my skin before going to sleep.

I used the IQ mask for a number of years (until they changed the headgear), and I think its cushion is similar to yours. The main objective is to have cream already absorbed so that it doesn't cause the mask to slide & therefore not seal. Since you don't use a petrolium based cream, that is not a factor, but those who use petrolium should not moisturize in the area the mask contacts the skin.

I'm a big believer in proper skincare, including a good cleanser, toner, serum & moisturizer. I personally would not use witch hazel, it can dry the skin, but if you have normal to oily skin, it may work for you (and you might be using this as your toner?). If you want to wipe off the area priof to masking up, you may want to use toner, whichever one you use for your routine, or one that goes with your skincare line.

Good sleep is the most important factor here as our health comes first. However, good health & good sleep with lead to healthy looking skin too. If you are careful & give some thought to the process, you should be able to maintain your skincare routine and not effect your CPAP treatment.

Good luck,
Jen

One product you can use and is very helpful to help your mask seal better is 100% Aloe Vera Gel. It won't harm your mask at all and your face feels really soft in the morning. Just put a thin layer over your face and let it dry. Then mask up. The Aloe Vera Gel feels just a little tacky when dry so that is why it helps seal leaks.

Thanks Jen & Viking I do have pure aloe gel