Skin Care

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10 Min Read

‘Maskne’: Face Mask Acne Treatment & Prevention

Face masks: Love em or hate em, they’re a huge part of our everyday lives for the foreseeable future. “Maskne”, or acne that comes from wearing a mask, doesn’t have to be, though! Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks on how to avoid dreaded “maskne”: 

Whether you’re wearing it for an hour, or eight hours, your mask collects oil from your face. This goes without saying, but this totally contributes to clogged pores and acne. Face masks also tend to rub on the skin throughout the day, causing irritation from friction. And with the winter coming, this rash-like acne is more likely to happen since the cold weather causes drier skin. 

 

How Can You Prevent “Maskne”?

 

Wash Your Face Twice a Day

Washing your face twice a day is imperative for healthy skin! And now that we’re all masked up like awesome ninjas, it’s important to continue washing your face every day to keep your skin as clean as possible. Before washing your face, however, always remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap to ensure the cleanest-clean. Be sure to moisturize after washing your face, especially in the winter months, to keep your skin from drying out. 

 

Stay Clean Between Washes 

Speaking of the cleanest-clean, keeping clean during the day can also help prevent “maskne”. But you’re wondering, what can keep your skin clean while also keeping it hydrated and soft? Intrinsics has got you covered with our wonder-wipes, AKA the Intrinsics Gentle Cleansing Towels! These towels are made of 100% pure cotton, so they’re disposable and biodegradable. Infused with fresh botanicals, these towels were built for top-notch salon services and were designed to give you the freshest feel possible! 

 

Wash Your Mask Daily 

We’ve discussed the importance of washing your face everyday, but did you know that you should be washing your mask everyday too? Yep, it’s true! Washing your mask with laundry detergent and an antibacterial agent (like vinegar) daily is an absolute must. This will help the mask keep clean of any built up oils or bacteria that has accumulated during the day.

PS: If you have a disposable mask, you should not reuse or wash your mask. 

 

Wear Less (or No) Makeup

This tip almost sounds too easy! Face makeup, especially heavy cream foundation and powders can increase your risk of getting “maskne”. There’s two very simple resolutions to this issue: 1. Wear less makeup, mixed with moisturizer to thin it out. 2. Wear zero makeup! If you’re one of those people who have to don their mask all day, option number two might be the ideal option. 

 

Opt for A Soft Cotton Fabric

If you’re going for a fabric mask, take a longer look at cotton! Cotton is soft, non-irritating to the skin and generally takes much easier to daily-washing than other types of fabrics. This is especially important for those with sensitive skin, cotton can certainly bring skin relief. 

 

When it comes to treating the acne, you’ll want to try exfoliating (hello Intrinsics 12-Ply Gauze!), hydrating, spot treating and other methods like retinol and specially formulated cleansers. The important takeaway from these “maskne” prevention tips is to continually wash your hands, face and mask in order to maintain healthy-happy skin (and a healthy-happy body!) during the mask mandate. 

We love these pointers from Shape Mag. Do you have any tips for preventing mask acne? Share with us on social!

Topics:   Skin Care