Depending where you are in the world, things in your city may be opening back up and you might be transitioning out of working from home. If you are, then it’s very likely that you spend the majority of your days wearing a mask. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you how to prevent maskne in 14 simple tips.
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Masks save lives, and as of right now it is essential that we wear them to prevent any further spreading. However, while wearing a mask is good for our communities, it seems to be equally as bad for our skin. Personally, I was only about a week back into work when I started to notice a toll on my skin. However, I have found that by altering my daily skincare routine I have since helped my skin get back on track. Most of the breakouts I had are now gone and there’s no sign of any new ones forming (knock on wood). Knowing how to prevent maskne will save you in the long-term throughout this pandemic!
Below are all of the changes I made to my skincare and daily routine. If you follow all of these tips, then you too can know how to prevent maskne and keep your skin glowing under that mask (while simultaneously saving lives)!
1. Avoid masks that itch your face
When I first started wearing masks, I was only wearing them for short periods of time while I ran errands. It wasn’t until I went back to work and began wearing a mask for hours at a time that I realized the masks I had were irritating and itching my skin. Especially if you’re at a job where you’re talking a lot throughout the day, avoiding masks that seem to itch your face is the first and most important step.
2. Stick to masks made of smooth material
A follow up of the first tip, finding masks that are made of smooth material is the best way to avoid irritation. The reason why my previous masks were irritating me was because the inside was a slightly fleecy material, which can very easily itch your face while talking and causing friction. Stick to materials that are smooth, like cotton. While avoiding more rough materials, like linen. The face masks I have now switched to and find the best are the Amazon Washable Cloth Face Masks. These are made of a great material and don’t irritate my skin whatsoever! This cloth masks have been essential to me figuring out how to prevent maskne.
3. Avoid masks that are too tight
If you are wearing a mask that is too tight, the more unnecessary friction that is caused onto your skin. If you give your skin more room to breathe under the mask, you’re less likely to leave your skin feeling irritated. The best way to avoid masks that are too tight is to choose a mask with adjustable straps. Think of it this way, if we all have different size faces, why wouldn’t we need different size masks? The Amazon Washable Cloth Face Masks that I listed above also have adjustable straps, so a total win-win.
4. If you get sweaty, change your mask throughout the day
Having to talk behind a mask all day causes a ton of humidity, and possibly sweat, under the mask. Leaving your face covered in a sweaty mask all day will play a huge role in causing breakouts. Although you can’t completely prevent the sweat, switching out your dirty mask for a clean one gives your skin a nice clean surface. If you find you get sticky and sweaty under your mask, then changing your mask throughout the day would be really beneficial for you.
5. If you can, wash your face halfway through the day
Like I said above, masks sometimes leave us sticky and sweaty. By washing your face halfway through the day, you can clean out your pores and avoid having to sit in sweat all day. I recommend filling a travel size container of your favourite cleanser and popping that in your bag or keeping it in your desk. That way, whenever you have time during the day you can give your face a quick wash. My favourite travel containers for cleanser are the Amazon Leak Proof Silicone Travel Bottles. These squeeze out the perfect amount of cleanser, and more importantly they’re super cute!
6. Wash your mask after each use
Making sure that you’re putting on a clean mask every morning is going to prevent breakouts caused from dirt and sweat. This tip is especially necessary if you’re wearing makeup everyday. Putting on a mask covered in old makeup is going to do serious damage to your skin. By wearing a clean mask, you’re ensuring that you’re not covering your face in yesterday’s sweat, which will help you avoid those breakouts. To clean your masks, wash them in the machine (without using softener) and hang to dry.
7. Have enough masks to wear throughout the week
In order to wear a clean mask everyday and avoid having to do doing laundry every few days, make sure you have enough masks to last you throughout the week. I currently have about 10 masks in my collection. That way I can switch throughout the day if I need to and still have enough to last the rest of the week.
8. If you can, avoid wearing face makeup under your mask
Because our faces tend to get sweaty and humid while wearing masks, our pores can open up throughout the day. Remember when your pores are open, they’re prone to soaking in whatever is on your face. So if you’re wearing makeup under your mask, then all of that gunk is going to get into your skin. Plus, not wearing makeup cuts off a ton of time in your morning routine which means getting to sleep longer!
9. Wash your face as soon as you get home
I talked about why you should wash your face as soon as you’re home for the day in this blog post here. Feel free to check that out (there’s a bunch of more skincare tips there, too)! But in short, your skin will thank you SO much for making sure you’re not sitting in dirty skin for longer than necessary. This also allows more time for all of your skincare to actually soak into your skin, instead of just being wiped off on your pillow.
10. Scrub your face with cleanser for at least one minute
This one might sound weird, but just think of how long it takes for you to brush your teeth. The same goes for washing our face. Lifting up all the dirt from your pores can take a while. By scrubbing your face for at least 60 seconds, you ensure that your face is actually clean. The absolute best cleanser that I absolutely swear by is the CeraVe Foaming Face Wash. I’ve been using this cleanser for years and think it’s great for anyone who is acne prone, regardless of your skin type.
11. Use a pore cleansing toner after you wash your face
This is something I recommend always doing throughout the week, but especially if you feel your skin needs some extra love. Wearing a mask can really clog your pores, so using a toner that targets that area will help clean out what a cleanser can’t on its own. My absolute favourite toner pads are the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. If I feel a breakout coming on, I use these pads and the next day my skin is smooth and the breakout is nearly gone. If you use these pads regularly, you can help keep breakouts at bay and your pores clean!
12. Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer
Non-comedogenic simply means that it isn’t going to clog your pores. Using a lightweight moisturizer is always a necessity in my opinion, but especially when trying to avoid maskne. Moisturizing your skin while also letting it breathe is crucial for preventing breakouts from clogged pores. The best moisturizer that can do this is the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. Just like the cleanser, I’ve been using this lotion for years and have hooked everyone in my life on this. If you have acne-prone skin, or just skin of any kind, buy this!
13. Use a gentle detox mask throughout the week
This tip is the one that really helped my skin get back on track. Wearing a clean mask and washing your face can only do so much. Sometimes you need to take that extra step with your skincare. Using a detox mask 2-3 times throughout the week will do everything that the rest of your routine can’t. The key here is to avoid any really harsh masks because they’ll just strip your skin and end up doing further damage. Finding the right mask will help you so much in figuring out how to prevent maskne. The best detox mask that you absolutely need in your collection is the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. I’ve gone through probably 10 tubes of this. This mask works wonders but is also super gentle, so it won’t over-strip or dry out your skin. I have really dry, acne prone skin and can still use this throughout the week as many times as I need. Seriously, give this mask a try.
14. Don’t skip on your exfoliating routine
Making sure you keep up with the rest of your skincare routine is super important to keeping your skin on track. Keeping up with your exfoliation routine is essential in knowing to to prevent maskne. If you find you have too many active breakouts to safely exfoliate, then use the detox mask a few times and then exfoliate once your skin calms down a bit. I go more in depth into safe and proper exfoliation in another blog post here, so definitely check that out!
And that’s it! Let me know if any of these tips on how to prevent maskne work for you! While you’re here, check out my latest blog posts listed below: