2020 has been full of surprises. Today, most of us are living a new normal we never would have ever dreamed of before. We’ve overcome obstacles and adjusted nearly every part of our lives, uncertain of what the future holds. The pandemic has challenged us in ways we never thought possible, including our skincare. Enter maskne.
OK, we get it, in the grand scheme of things, skincare really isn’t that important but Maskne is real and it’s not going away. If 2020 hasn’t been hard enough seeing our skin going to ruin seems like the final insult to injury. But don’t worry, there are things we can do to restore our skin to its former dewy glory.
SO, WHAT IS MASKNE?
Maskne is exactly as it sounds; acne caused by wearing a mask. As the pandemic marched on and our masks became permanently attached to our faces many of us started to notice breakouts and bad skin around our mouths, cheeks and nose.
This is because masks create a humid environment where sweat and oil builds up. This leads to clogged pores which then results in spot. Masks can also rub against the skin causing friction; this then opens the pores and increases the chance of them becoming clogged.
So, what can you do to avoid getting maskne?
COMBATTING MASKNE – TOP TIPS
1. Wash Your Mask
It might sound obvious but make sure you wash your mask and wash it often. Buy a couple of good quality, reusable masks to wear in rotation and wash each one after use. Think of them like your underwear; you wouldn’t wear the same pair for a week at a time so don’t do it with your mask. Stick it in a hot wash with your usual laundry or soak it in boiling water for about 30 minutes. If you suffer from sensitive skin try to avoid perfumed laundry detergents which will only irritate your skin further.
2. Avoid Wearing Makeup
If there’s one positive to come from lockdown it’s been the chance to go make up free. With very few reasons to leave the house most of us have ditched the foundation and favoured the au naturel look which is great news for our skin. Masks are already suffocating the skin and creating spot boosting environments, if you add makeup into this mix you’re increasing the chances clogged pores and spots.
You can learn more about what happens to your skin when you go make up free here.
3. Cleanse Your Skin
Ideally, you should cleanse your skin each time after you’ve worn a mask but we know this isn’t always practical. Instead, you might need to up your skincare routine, paying particular attention to cleansing at the end of the day. Make sure you wash your face as soon as you get home and take your mask off.
4. Invest In A Good Mask
Think about what material your mask is made from. Cheap, synthetic fabrics can stop your skin from breathing and are great for creating warm, humid environments which bacteria love. Instead, favour masks made from organic cotton and silk. These allow the skin to breathe and can be washed easily. Make sure you’re wearing a mask that fits your face correctly; you want it to be snug (but not too tight) and that moves as your face does.
If you really want to make sure you’re wearing a mask that will help combat maskne check out these antimicrobial ones from The Light Salon.
5. Adjust Your Skincare Routine
We might have spent years perfecting it but now might be the time to tweak our skincare routine. Your pores are already under threat of being clogged so if you’ve traditionally favoured thick, heavy moisturisers or creams replace these with lightweight, water-based products.
Speaking of moisturisers you’re going to want to put on a nice lightweight one before you wear a mask; this will act as a barrier between your skin and the mask and will offer another layer of protection.
6. Go Natural
Try to avoid harsh scrubs and chemicals during this time. Your skin (and probably your mind!) is already going through a-lot so make sure you’re kind to your skin (and yourself!) Ditch any harsh scrubs or cheap products and instead invest in high-quality organic products.
2020 has been a tough year with much of it out of our control. Do what you can to look after your skin and don’t be too hard on yourself if it at some points it all seems like everything is going south and remember: maskne isn’t going to be around forever.
