Hey all,
I decided to write a post regarding mask care since there are many new mask-collectors that just joined the hobby! Here it is:
GUIDE TO MASK CARE:
Sunlight:
Sunlight is one of the worst enemies for masks. They emit ultraviolet (UV) light as well as heat that can melt, disfigure, yellow, and make a mask rot. Any exposure to sunlight is not good for the mask, but if you want to take outdoor pictures of your masks that can be exposed to sunlight, make sure these are quick photoshoots. Over time, prolonged exposure will start the damages to take effect, and this process cannot be reversed. It is best to keep your masks in a dim, cool room where your collection is hidden away from sunlight. If your masks are in a room where there are windows and sunlight can get through, purchase black-out curtains or blinds that prevent direct sunlight from coming in. You can search these online, and there are plenty of stores that have these available. I do most of my shopping at Home Depot. But anyways, sunlight is a big NO! Quick photoshoots in sunlight won’t cause damage to your masks, only if you leave it out in the sun for a long period of time. The strength of the light and heat from the sun is at it’s weakest during dusk. I’d suggest it is safer to bring your mask out during sunset. Members also suggest spraying 303 Aerospace on the inside of your masks to have extra protection from UV light. You can find these on Amazon. Finally, you can purchase UV resistant Acrylic Cases or film to apply to your windows for extra protection.
Indirect Sunlight:
I’ve asked over a dozen veteran collectors and artists about this topic. What I mean by indirect sunlight is natural light exposure from the outside environment. I’ve gotten mixed answers on this, though more members agreed that it is best not to keep your masks in direct or indirect sunlight just to be 100% safe. One side states that indirect sunlight still has UV light from the outside environment where there are reflective surfaces that can reflect the light towards your masks, therefore, it is best to keep your masks in the dark area. Another side states that from their personal experiences, they have latex masks that are exposed to the indirect light, but there have not been any effects on their masks, and no signs of damages occurred. One member said he has a Nightowl Psycho and a John Fuller Bub mask exposed to indirect sunlight at least a year, yet there are no signs of any kind of damages. Additionally, no heat emits from indirect light.
I think it is best to display your masks in a dark room. Keep the curtains or blinds shut as much as you can to prevent any kind of light coming into your collection room. Exposure to indirect sunlight won’t cause any damage initially, but over a long period of time, say years, it may. However, there have not been any confirmed cases whether indirect sunlight can lead a mask to rot, have other damages.
Wearing your masks:
Skin oil, moisture from your breathing, and sweat will also lead a mask to rot. A long-time member here had a NAG 2K mask rot on the neck from constant wear for his cosplay and killer photoshoots. If you want to wear your masks, mask sure to powder the inside with cornstarch after wear, especially at the areas where you breathed on. This way, the moisture is absorbed by the powder, keeping your mask safe. After powdering your mask, make sure to stuff it with plastic bags so the mask can retain its shape, and put it on a paper towel stand. Or, after stuffing the mask with plastic bags, put it in a box. Make sure to keep your mask away from sunlight and heat!!!
Displaying your masks:
Dust can be a danger to your masks because it consists of dead skin cells which carry skin oil. There are also pollutants from the outside environment if you open your windows. Moisture can also get on your masks. I suggest when displaying your mask, cover your mask with a plastic bag, or put it in a display case. You can find display cases from IKEA or Tom Spina Designs for individual acrylic cases with a base, though these are expensive. There are also acrylic cases from Amazon. Here are the links:
IKEA DETOLF CASE: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/detolf-glass-door-cabinet-black-brown-10119206/
Tom Spina Desings:http://www.tomspinadesigns.com/shop/hat-stands-foam-heads-acrylic-display-cases/medium-acrylic-display-case/
AMAZON:https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Holders-Clear-Acrylic-Display/dp/B00ORUS02O/ref=sr_1_26?dchild=1&keywords=acrylic%2Bcase&qid=1589925897&sr=8-26&th=1
Smoking:
It is important to keep your masks away from smoke. Smoke exposure can cause extreme yellowing to your masks. Make sure to keep your collection smoke-free!
Getting Dust off Your Masks:
You can use a microfiber duster to remove dust from your masks. They are soft, easy to use, and you can find them anywhere. Target and Walmart carries these items. Make sure that the microfiber duster does not touch the hair of the mask. Sometimes, the material of the microfiber can get stuck on the hair, and if you pull the duster off to hard, you can rip off strands of hair. You can also use a can of dust-off if that works.
Handling your Masks:
If you want to keep skin oils off your masks from your hands, wear gloves. There is a huge inventory of gloves that you can find at Costco.
Saving your Mask from Rot:
If all does not go well and your mask starts to rot, I am so sorry 
What you can do is plastidip your mask to slow down the rotting process according to some members. You can trim the neck of the mask if rot starts there so you can prevent the rot from spreading to other parts of the mask. Foam fill is also another option, but you cannot wear your masks after it has been foam filled.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This is all I have for mask care tips. These are the basics of caring for your masks. If you follow these steps, your masks can last you a lifetime! If not, forever. Latex made these days are very durable and stronger than before. If you want more, let me know! 
