How To Prevent & Treat Maskne

Maskne - Mask Acne

We are all wearing masks more frequently now, friction, bacteria, make-up and long hours of wear can lead to breakouts and skin irritation. Here’s my guide to prevent and treat these breakouts.

Cleanse your face at least twice a day, morning and evening and ideally after you take your mask off. Wash away the bacteria that has built up in the warm and moist environment beneath the mask. If you suffer from oily or sensitive skin then use a foaming cleanser like La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel. For normal, dry and combination skin use a cream cleanser like Eminence Organics Lemon Cleanser. Remove with a warm flannel and pat skin dry. If you’re wearing a mask all through the day then facial wipes are a quick and easy way to refresh the skin between changing masks.
Use an exfoliating toner like PIXI Glow Tonic containing 5% Glycolic acid to unstick dead skin cells, decongesting blocked pores and blemishes. Gentle exfoliating stimulates the renewal of the surface of the skin, avoid grainy exfoliators at this time as these can further irritate the skin.
Treat breakouts with Tea Tree Oil, apply directly to the blemish to reduce redness and soreness. To prevent breakouts use Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask once a week to draw out impurities, reduces pores and removes dead skin cells.
Nourish and moisturise the skin at night with a light weight non-comedogenic hydrator The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. Wearing a mask makes your skin hot and often sweaty, Squalane reduces Trans-Epidermal water loss from the skin leaving it soft and radiant, without looking oily or clogging pores.
Try not to wear make-up where your mask is covering the skin. A tinted SPF is a good alternative, make-up and foundation can clog the pores and lead to breakouts.
Don’t forget your lips! Wearing lip gloss or lip stick just doesn’t work when wearing a mask! Try an hydrating non-sticky balm. Burt's Bees® Beeswax Lip Balm nourishes with a protective waxey layer that won’t stick to the mask.
Wash or replace your mask daily. Stay safe and remember the importance of your mask!