Two words: Mask. Acne. Or as everyone is calling it, "maskne". 

COVID 19 has brought us many new changes, and unfortunately one has to do with our skin - "maskne" has been termed due to everyone's increased breakouts and clogged pores in the areas covered by our masks.

This is definitely not a topic we ever thought we'd be writing a post on, but then again 2020 isn't a year any of us thought we'd be living through. Everyone's talking about it, rightfully so. It's a pain, and it probably seems like something you can't prevent since you have to wear a mask in most public places, and many wear it all day long at their place of work.

Well, we've got good news for you! Maskne can totally be prevented, and in case you're past the point of prevention and just need a treatment, we've got you covered for that too! 

Let's start with prevention:

Prevention can actually start with the cause itself, your mask. If you're using a disposable mask, you should be doing just that, disposing of it after each day. If you're wearing a cloth, reusable mask, you should be washing it daily. If you aren't washing it daily we definitely suggest to have enough masks to get you through so you're only wearing each one once.  Additionally, if you work in the heat or in a sweaty environment, you should really change it half way through your day, washing your face during your lunch break.

Another great step to prevention is having a good skincare regimen on a daily basis. We'll get to specific products we recommend in a bit, but as for a simple yet effective routine to help prevent maskne, these are the things we recommend: a cleanser, a clay mask, an exfoliating scrub, and natural makeup. 

Of course cleansing is a given, but it is even more important now.  A new trend is to double cleanse, meaning you wash your face twice back to back.  We have several amazing all natural product options when it comes to daily cleansing, but one that we especially recommend for this is the Honey & Chamomile Tea Facial Bar. This soap is calming, soothing, and hydrating. It can help reduce inflammation, but most importantly, the honey in this soap acts as an anti-bacterial on the skin.  *When doing a double cleanse, we highly highly (highly) recommend that you use a moisturizer when done.

A clay mask is a great step to add in 2-3 times a week. A clay mask focuses on detoxing the skin, and pulling out impurities. This includes dirt and oils that could cause breakouts, and sweat and oils that are being trapped in your skin by your mask. We have three clay masks to choose from, but if you're wanting the ultimate detox, we recommend the Dead Sea Clay Face Mask. If you tend to have drier skin, our Matcha Face Mask is another great option for this!

 The masks do a fantastic job of detoxing the pores, but we equally recommend using an exfoliating scrub within your routine, focusing on the areas under your mask.  An exfoliating scrub removes the top layer of dirt and grime as well as dead skin.  Dead skin (especially when suffocated under a mask) can get trapped in your pores, giving you blackheads and pimples.  Removing that top layer of dead skin is a very important step in making sure that doesn't happen - primarily in the areas there is friction from your mask like around your nose and jawline.  We suggest the Matcha Sugar Scrub or the Spirulina Sugar Scrub to best balance the skin's pH that relates to oil production.  

We have had so many women ask us about options for makeup while having to wear a mask. Traditional makeup can already have a tendency to clog pores, and having it on, plus a mask can make matters even worse! We totally understand how makeup can help us to feel our best and more put together, and you don't have to sacrifice that. You can try our all natural makeup. This won't clog your pores, it has a natural SPF, & it's quick and easy to apply. We offer Cheek & Lip Tints. There's a variety of shades to choose from, so we're sure you'll be able to find the one for you!              

Now let's say you've already been dealing with the consequences of maskne & you just need a way to treat it.

The 4 steps we mentioned above are still a great place to start, but you can also add in our Acne Spot Treatment. This product works wonders and many of our customers have shared their results with us and their high levels of satisfaction in this product. Apply it as a spot treatment over pesky breakouts, or if you feel your more acne prone you can use it all over as a face oil. This product isn't designed for a relaxing or enjoyable scent experience, so we always let everyone know the scent isn't everyone's favorite - but that just tells you it's designed to WORK.

Another great tip we have for you is to use our Hand Sanitizer as an on the go mask disinfectant. This can help with prevention, but also with treatment as it will keep you from adding more bacteria to active breakouts. For example, say you've been wearing your mask all day, but you go out to eat so you remove it for a few hours. Before putting your mask back on, spray some Hand Sanitizer on it to kill any active bacteria. We also recommend using the Hand Sanitizer on your hands before putting your mask on or taking it off. This ensures any bacteria you may have on your hands, won't get onto your face. 

2020 has been nothing but curveballs, but maskne is one curveball you can dodge with these tips and tricks!