Wearing a mask is so important to slow the spread of Coronavirus, though most of us find it bothersome. Part of our annoyance is the dreaded “maskne,” or blemishes that pop up after wearing a mask for extended periods of time. No one knows that aggravation more than the Nuovo Salons team! Our beauty pros spend 8-10 hours per day in a face mask, in order to keep you, and each other, safe. So we asked them to share how they keep their skin clear and fresh under their masks!
How “Maskne” Happens
Contrary to what you might think, “maskne” is not caused by skin being “suffocated” or “blocked” from airflow. (The mask would have to be adhered to your skin if that were the case.) No, “maskne” is usually caused by a breakdown of your skin’s barrier—the skin’s outermost layer, which acts as a shield against environmental factors while locking in hydration.
Here are common ways your face mask can cause breakouts:
- Friction of your mask against the places it touches your face the most; i.e. the chin strap, nose bridge, and upper cheeks. If these spots get irritated, the barrier is weakened, and oil (sebum) and bacteria are more likely to flourish.
- Overzealous skin-care regimens that strip the skin of its barrier. Many people step up your skin-care routine when the first signs of “maskne” shows. However, overdoing it with exfoliating and/or detoxing products usually makes the breakout worse. When the skin’s barrier is stripped, it sends a signal to your hormones to produce more sebum that can clog pores.
- Wearing masks that are not properly clean.
- Wearing masks can cause sweating, leading to breakouts.
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- Choose Your Mask Carefully. When shopping for reusable masks, look for versions that are light, breathable, and fit well while creating as little friction as possible. Ideally, silk (or a silky-textured fabric) is perfect.
- Wear A Clean Mask. Wash your mask after every use, or change disposable masks often. If that’s not possible, spray the inside of the mask with alcohol to kill bacteria, and let it dry thoroughly before putting it on again.
- Keep Your Skin Barrier Intact. No matter what your skin type, don’t skip the moisturizer! This creates an extra protective barrier between your skin and the mask. Choose one appropriate for your skin type.
- Use Only Gentle Skin Care Products. Read on for our recommendations!
- Remove Makeup ASAP When You Get Home. Though makeup provides an extra barrier between your face and the mask (which helps in the short term), it can clog pores if left on for a long time (which causes breakouts in the long term). As soon as you’re inside for the day, take it all off and then moisturize!
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The Best Products For Fighting “Maskne”
We’ve got “maskne-fighting” products for all skin types! Gentle, check. Nourishing and protecting, check. Helps maintain that all-important skin barrier, double check plus! Click on each link to purchase these Aveda products straight from Nuovo’s shelves and have them delivered to your door.
Acne-Prone Skin: Avoid too many exfoliants (like scrubs and acids) and embrace salicylic acid, which gently helps blemishes clear quickly and has anti-inflammatory benefits. Cleanse with Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser, and sweep away dirt, oil and sweat throughout the day with Outer Peace Acne Relief Pads. To add gentle moisture, reduce inflammation and preserve that all-important skin barrier, apply Tulasara Calm Concentrate serum in the morning before donning your mask.
Dry Skin: Cleanse with Botanical Kinetics Purifying Creme Cleanser, followed by Tulasara Renewing Radiance Creme (in the morning) and Tulasara Firming Sleeping Masque (at night).
Oily Skin: Cleanse with Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser, followed by Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Treatment Lotion. Finish up with Botanical Kinetics Oil Control Lotion to moisturize and reinforce your skin barrier while controlling oil production.
Sensitive Skin: Cleanse with Botanical Kinetics All-Sensitive Cleanser, followed by Botanical Kinetics All-Sensitive Lotion. Finish off with the Tulasara Calm Concentrate serum to reinforce your skin barrier while calming redness, irritation and inflammation.
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Shop your anti-“maskne” products in the links above, or let our guest-care team help you with touchless shopping when you come into Nuovo for your next appointment. Yes, you CAN maintain fresh, clear and healthy skin while taking this important step to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
And as always . . . . . . thank you for “masking up”!