Although it protects us from surrounding viruses, repeated wearing of masks can have catastrophic effects on our skin. This inconvenience has a name, maskne (mask and acne). How to get beautiful skin despite the mask? We share with you the good tips.

Covid 19 has disrupted many habits. Physically and psychologically impacted, wearing a mask 24/7 has also had its consequences on our beauty routine. An inconvenience that is certainly small compared to the disastrous consequences of the virus in the world, but which is still worth dealing with. Just to feel (if only) a little better, in relation to all that. Many women (and some men) have been complaining since the obligation to wear a mask 24/7 in enclosed spaces (and sometimes even outdoors), of the appearance of problem skin that they did not have before. Enough to titillate the minds of those who had nevertheless managed to get rid of this damn blemish-ridden skin after high school... Fortunately, there is no need to panic (too much), there is always a solution to overcome any problem. 

Why does the mask highlight our imperfections?

Mask-related imperfections are recognizable. They obviously appear at the bottom of the face, where the mask is worn all day long… These are completely normal reactions to irritation caused by surgical or fabric masks. This is actually a problem that was initially known to caregivers and the medical profession, who have to wear this mask all day long as part of their work. Now, it's a public matter! So public that the phenomenon even has its own name: maskne. A logical contraction of the word "mask" and the word "acne". 

The effects of masks on the skin: 

• it increases moisture on the surface of the skin 
• it increases sebum production
• it increases the skin's natural pH 
• it increases the skin temperature
• it causes irritations (skin inflammations)

All these conditions combined are the ideal breeding ground for bacteria which can form in complete peace... The skin easily becomes oily and encourages the appearance of comedones, linked to the bacteria which inevitably create spots.

Who is mainly prone to maskne?

Maskne does not discriminate. But it will inevitably attack people who already suffer from maskne more easily. fragile, oily with acne-prone skin. If this is your case, then you will need to take extra care of your beauty routine and particularly pamper your skin in these difficult times. This also involves a suitable diet! 

• Please note that maskne should not be confused with other skin problems such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis or folliculitis, which are skin reactions (which can be exacerbated by the mask) that require completely different care. To be sure of being correctly diagnosed, do not hesitate to consult a specialist.

How to treat maskne?

To treat maskne, nothing is complicated, you just need to adopt the right actions and be diligent in practicing your daily routine. 

Avoid comedogenic cosmetics 

Generally speaking, it is better to choose non-comedogenic cosmetics. Brands are paying more and more attention to producing skincare and makeup products that respect the skin. But just in case, it is always better to check that there is the mention "non-comedogenic" on the label of your foundation, cream or whatever the product in question.

Include hydrosols in your beauty routine 

Purifying your skin is important. Even more so right now with the wearing of masks. Hydrosols (or floral waters) are powerful active ingredients for naturally purified skin! The best for problem skin are witch hazel water, geranium water, tea tree water, lime blossom water, lemon balm water or orange blossom water. 

• How to use hydrosol? In a spray container, spray the hydrosol over the entire surface of the face morning and evening after washing it. If you don't have a spray container, you can also soak the hydrosol on a makeup remover wipe and dab it over the entire surface of the face, in order to make the lotion soak in as well as possible.

Remove makeup with micellar water 

On the makeup remover side, micellar water is the friend of problem skin. It brings freshness and above all effectively removes excess sebum! This is the makeup remover that we recommend for oily skin. When you have oily skin, you tend to overdo it and scrub your skin a little too much. Be careful, oily skin is particularly fragile, so go easy, soak a makeup remover wipe in micellar water and gently pass it in circular motions on your face. No rubbing! 

Opt for light complexion makeup

It's hard when you like to wear makeup to say goodbye to foundation and other brush strokes to go out! Unfortunately (or fortunately) with the regular wearing of masks, makeup is a bit out the window. Especially if you want to protect your skin as much as possible! Foundation, highlighter and contouring are to be avoided. Instead, choose a CC cream, a light tinted cream that will not clog the pores further and will allow the skin to breathe a little while waking up the complexion. For a healthy glow, you can add a touch of blush to the cheeks and finish with a repairing lip balm.

Drink plenty of water for optimal hydration 

This is a tip that we shouldn't even highlight anymore because it has to be part of our daily lives. But it's always good to remember it. Nothing can happen (or almost) to properly hydrated skin! In addition to taking great care of it with suitable creams and serums, we help our body fight imperfections with regular hydration. 1l of water per day can work miracles.

Wash your hands regularly 

A gesture that we inevitably ended up adopting regularly (if it wasn't already the case before). In addition to eliminating the potential trace of virus on our hands, washing our hands also helps reduce the risk of skin infections! We don't always realize it, but our hands come into contact very regularly with the skin on our face that we like to unconsciously touch... It is therefore important that they are clean! We favor washing with soap rather than antibacterial gel.

Remove the mask as soon as possible 

As soon as you find yourself alone or in a sufficiently ventilated outdoor area, it is good to be able to remove your mask in order to let your skin breathe. These small intermittent cuts will considerably limit the risks of skin infections and therefore of the famous maskne.

Do not touch the buttons 

We avoid it as much as possible. It's not always easy to keep our hands away from our face when we spot an imperfection... And yet if we don't touch it and make sure to have a good skincare routine, it will eventually go away on its own, without leaving a trace! Magical.

Wash your mask or change it every 4 hours 

This is an essential point that can be quickly overlooked. When wearing a fabric mask, it is important to wash it every evening! The best thing is to change it every day or even use two during the day, one in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. For surgical masks, it is highly recommended to change them every four hours.