A system and method for authenticating a face mask with a user for providing secure access to a user device whereby received on the user device is a request from the user to pair a user face mask having a pre-printed unique identifier with the user device for user authentication purposes. The user device captures an image of the pre-printed unique identifier on the user face mask so as to associate the captured image of the unique identifier with the user device. Afterwards, when the user requests access to the user device in a locked state, the user device is caused to capture of an image of the unique identifier affixed to the user face mask. The user device may further be caused to capture an image of at least a portion of the user's face to authenticate the captured unique identifier affixed to the user face mask with the captured portion of the user's face to verify the captured unique identifier and the captured portion of the user's face are associated with the user device.