Masks are a proven aid in stopping the spread of COVID-19, and we are full supporters of face coverings as a way to help our fellow humans! Masking up can often lead to breakouts dubbed “maskne", though. Our Skin Care Expert and Makeup Artist Jacqueline Musselman offers up some advice on keeping your skin clear while helping others stay healthy…
Each year a different trend pops up when it comes to the beauty community. In early 2020, a lot of people were diving into skincare even before we were hanging at home much more. Even though big plans may have changed, we still deserve and should focus on self care. Skincare is self care and can help us through these hard times by feeling confident and well taken care of. However, things are slightly different when it comes to skincare because most of us are doing something we have never done before- wearing a mask.
With this new step we're taking to help keep our fellow humans safe and healthy, we need to ensure what we do for our skin supports our new activity. Even though the area around your mouth and nose are covered, we still don't want to get dreaded breakouts known as “maskne”. Here are some steps to ensure you keep your skin happy and clear:
FRESH + CLEAN MASKS
The easiest and best preventative step to avoid mask induced breakouts would be to have multiple masks so you're always putting a fresh, clean one onto your face. We want to keep our mask clear of bacteria, oil, dirt and other factors that can lead to a breakout and putting a used mask on can be counterproductive.WASH YOUR MASK WITH GENTLE CLEANSER
To clean your mask try using a detergent that is free of fragrances and dyes, and you can skip the fabric softener- all of those things can be irritating to the skin.MASKS WITH A SOFT/SMOOTH FEEL
Having interchangeable cloth masks with a soft, smooth surface that doesn’t rub up on the skin causing irritation is important, too. It's ideal to have cloth masks that meet the CDC standard and can be reused so we don't have to use disposable ones that are thrown out and filling up the landfills (if you're able to avoid the disposables, of course). Being eco-conscious is important in all aspects of life and this is no different. If you are using disposables and have access to multiples, be sure to also change it as often as possible.Now that we're keeping our masks clean and putting on a fresh one every time we go out, we can talk about your skin under that mask.
CLEAN SKIN
You'll want to wash your face prior to wearing a mask with a gentle cleanser. Starting with both clean skin and a clean mask is setting you up for success right away. This cleanser from Gerani is worth a try if you are looking for something new.LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTS
After washing your face I'd suggest a hydrating toner like this one from Murad, followed by a lightweight moisturizer like Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel OR a light serum like Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum. We don't want any heavy products on the skin and we don't need a lot of products clogging our pores under the heat of the mask.DON’T SKIP A NIGHTLY WASH
Then we'll cleanse the skin again once we're done for the day. We want to make sure we get the day's dirt, oil, and sweat off the skin. If you've had any serious issues with mask related breakouts you can use a benzoyl peroxide face wash to help combat it. Just be careful that most acne-focused cleansers are harsher on our sensitive skin, so a once a week regimine is a good balance for those more intense options.
We've adapted in an inspiring way to our new normal but sometimes with changes, things can be affected like our skin. There is no reason we can’t take care of our selves while taking care of our community and the vulnerable, too. Thanks for wearing your mask!
XX, Jacque
