How To Get Rid of Maskne
To put it plainly: acne sucks. We all know that feeling of agonizing over whiteheads in the mirror only to end up picking and squeezing until you’re all red and repulsed. While there’s definitely something gratifying about watching the “stuff” stream out of your pores, it’s also self-destructive and counterintuitive to the healing process.
So now that we’ve entered the mask age, even women with good skin genes are starting to see pimples pop up around the T-zone. Suffering from maskne in the heat of the summer may seem unavoidable, but fret not—we did some digging and found the best masks and skin products for everyone who is losing their shit over much-detested pimples.
Before we get to the good stuff, let’s have a skincare 101 refresher. Acne normally develops when your pores get clogged by oil, dead skin cells, makeup, or bacteria. Typically you can tackle breakouts by regularly cleansing and exfoliating, which helps dead skin cells shed throughout the day. Unfortunately, wearing a face mask can interfere with that process and instead of those dead skin cells flaking away, they end up getting clogged in your pores.
Now that we know why it’s happening, it’s time to do something about it. Shall we?
Make sure you choose the right mask material
Dermatologists recommend wearing a 100% cotton or silk mask because they’re gentle and breathable as opposed to synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. To add another tedious chore to your day, you’re supposed to wash your mask after each wear in order to prevent maskne. But as a sort-of-alternative, if you’re able to keep a few masks in your arsenal, you’ll be washing way less and still making a sustainable choice. It’s also sort of fun to coordinate your mask with your outfit….(we’re sick, we know). Here are some of our favorite masks to prevent maskne:
Slip Silk Ear Loop Reusable Face Mask
If you’re into fun prints, this Anthropologie 4-pack is crafted from mulberry silk and they’re pretty plush if we do say so ourselves.
Protective Mask
If you’re more into classic-colored basics, Vida makes this 100% cotton mask and it comes in multiple colors. You can buy one or go for the 4 or 8 pack.
Ribbed Knit Mask
Super cute, ribbed and made of 100% cotton, you really can’t go wrong with this Lisa Says Gah mask. They also come in a bunch of other incredible colors!
Keep your face as clean as possible
Now that you’ve found the right mask, let’s talk about what you put on under it. It’s definitely best to avoid wearing foundation or a ton of makeup—and isn’t avoiding makeup one of the best things about having summer skin anyway? When it comes to face products, you can avoid maskne by choosing ones that are non-comedogenic or oil-free. Here are some of our go-to products right now:
SuperGoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Wearing sunscreen is non-negotiable! This SPF 40 from SuperGoop is antioxidant-rich and free of octinoxate (a commonly used cosmetic chemical). You really can’t go wrong with any of SuperGoop’s sunscreens.
Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser
We ride for Tata Harper and this Regenerating Cleanser. It also doubles as an exfoliator that buffs and polishes your skin. Read our interview with Tata here!
GOOPGENES All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream
To avoid maskne, derms say to use a moisturizer that has ceramides, which are lipids that help form the skin’s barrier and helps your skin lock in moisture. This face cream by Goop has ceramides and more.
Ursa Major Essential Face Masks
Lastly, these individually wrapped Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes are great to have in your bag to remove oil and grime without stripping skin of moisture. They also exfoliate all those dead skin cells trapped under your mask! Win, win.