Ways You Haven’t Heard To Get Rid Of Maskne!
For those who wear masks for a prolonged period of time, dealing with maskne is a real issue. When you breathe, bacteria gets trapped inside of your mask. The warm, humid environment inside of your mask is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. I’m sharing 5 tips you likely haven’t tried to reduce Maskne. I’m going to just jump right into it, and share the best tip to keeping Maskne under control.
1. The best thing you can do is increase your dental hygiene. I’m not just talking about visiting your dentist! We all know brushing and flossing twice a day is important. However, using Listerine will help kill germs and bacteria, decreasing your chance of maskne! Keep travel sized mouth wash with you, to combat bad breath. This works better than popping a mint.
2. Many are choosing to wear less makeup and go makeup-free underneath their mask. While some cosmetics and lotions can be comedogenic (ingredients that contribute to acne and clogged pores), there are products that are beneficial to combating maskne and are encouraged to be worn. Helping restore your skin’s barrier will keep maskne at bay. At minimum, everyone should be using an oil based and water based cleanser. That means cleansing twice, which is commonly referred to as a double cleanse. Oil attracts oil (like attracts like). When cleansing with just a makeup wipe, a film is left on the skin. Micellar water will likely remove pesky mascara and eyeliner, however it won’t remove all your foundation. First cleanse with an oil cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser.
3. From there you can introduce a toner. Toners help rebalance your skin’s pH level. It gives a layer of protection by decreasing the size of pores, reducing the penetration of impurities and pollutants. Toners are not cleansers and shouldn’t be relied on to remove makeup, oil, or debris. Those with oily or acne-prone skin will see the most benefits from using a toner daily. There are a few toners I absolutely can’t live without. I alternate between the Klairs toner and the Bambu Earth Rosemary Toner. I stumbled upon their Instagram and have been loving their toner, and their website layout. They really make “natural beauty” easy by describing what each ingredient does for the skin, show step-by-step photos (or video) on how to apply the products, and use real ingredients.
4. Make sure you are using the right moisturizer for you skin type. Those with dry skin should choose a creamy heavier moisturizer. Choose a gel moisturizer for those with oily skin. I suggest Dr. Loretta’s Micro-Exfoliating Cleanser which treats acne and shrinks pore size. Hyaluronic acid (HA) soothes redness and acts as a humectant. It will hydrate and plump the skin. When figuring out which products are best dealing with maskne- opt for salicylic acid over benzoyl peroxide.
5. Choose the right mask. The friction from the mask rubbing against your skin can cause flare-ups, acne, and contact dermatitis. Be mindful to wear only a clean cloth mask or new N95 mask. Cleaning your mask frequently will help reduce acne caused by sweating. Avoid hanging your mask outside to dry, which can collect pollen and other allergens. Do not share your mask with your significant other or children.
Figuring out what products to use can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what ingredients are most beneficial for your skin type. I can recommend products and we can work with your skin leading up to your event.
Photo Credit: Yael_Pachino