Wondering why your face has been breaking out lately? Did you know that wearing a face mask can actually cause acne breakouts?
Whether you’re acne-prone or not, mask-induced breakouts can totally suck (trust me, I’ve been there).
If you ask me, wearing a protective face covering is completely necessary for the health and safety of our community. However, I know that masks can be uncomfortable and annoying to wear, whether you’re studying for hours at the library or working an 8-hour shift at The Gap.
After chatting with a bunch of friends about practical, affordable, and protective masks, my friend shared her struggle with ‘maskne’ and asked for our advice. When I looked up what causes ‘maskne’, I realized that ‘maskne’ is related to the friction that occurs when wearing a mask. Because the weather is still super hot in some countries (I wish), individuals have been experiencing irritation and inflammation due to excessive sweating.
Well…I have some good news for you!
Luckily tons of face masks are breathable, fashionable and comfortable. Not every mask is suited for all types of skin, so you just have to find a fabric and style that works for you.
Here are a few more tips on how to ditch your ‘maskne’ this season, and how to pamper your skin after you’ve spent many hours covered up.
Invest in a silk mask or two.
To help prevent ‘maskne’, invest in a few masks made of silk. Silk is a natural fibre that doesn’t clog your pores the way that other masks do. Silk masks are also hypoallergenic so they’re the perfect option for people with sensitive skin. Silk pillowcases began to trend a few years ago when people realized that silk could help prevent breakouts. Who knew that a few years later not only would we be shopping for silk pillowcases, but also for silk masks?!
Some workplaces ask their employees to wear specific brands or styles of masks while working, but if you’re free to wear a mask of your choice, I would definitely recommend a silk one!
Check out the options on Etsy, Amazon or the Hudson’s Bay Company website. The ones I’ve come across have been reasonable in terms of cost, especially because they’re reusable. My recommendation is to find one with adjustable straps to ensure that it fits so that you won’t be disappointed when it arrives!
Wash your masks!
Make it part of your routine to wash your mask regularly. Use a fragrance-free detergent and rinse your mask twice before putting it in the dryer.
Treat your masks like underwear. Change them and wash them every day!
Ditch the makeup.
There’s nowhere to go! So use this as an opportunity to go low key on your makeup ritual and give your face a break from cakey foundation that suffocates your skin every day. No need to spend 2 hours contouring your cheekbones when your mask is covering your cheeks.
If you feel like getting dressed up, put on a thin layer of mascara and some eyeliner and you’re set. If you wear foundation under your mask it can suffocate your skin, and your makeup will even rub off onto your mask and leave a stain. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me :)
Because this year’s all about self-care, make it a habit to take care of your skin, wash your mask, and even if you find yourself breaking out, don’t stress about it!