Skincare During Covid-19: Mask-ne
With mandatory mask laws in place, you may have noticed your skin experience some undesirable changes due to prolonged wearing of a mask. Possibly an unfamiliar rash, irritation or most commonly, an acne breakout in the areas your mask covers your face, which has now been coined the term mask-ne. Although the mask is to blame, other factors such as stress, lack of sunshine and fresh air, and frequent touching of the face aggravate our skin as well, leading to unwanted congestion and breakouts.
What is mask-ne? Simply put, it is a breakout that occurs from wearing a mask, and can be completely unrelated to other acne breakouts you may have been facing previous to wearing a mask. This of course leads us to the next big question, how exactly does mask-ne occur? Wearing a mask effectively inhibits oxygen when worn, and this negatively affects our skin's microbiome, the billions of beneficial bacteria that protect, regulate and keep our skin balanced. With oxygen exposure at a significantly lower level, our skin is thrown off of balance, which thus leads to irritation, rashes and/or acne.
There are of course other factors involved in mask-ne. The type and material of mask you are wearing can additionally irritate the skin, leading to breakouts. Touching your face frequently to adjust your mask to drink, eat, and so on, is another cause of irritation to the skin. Wearing the same, unwashed mask daily also encourages the spread of unwanted bacteria. Makeup is also a culprit, as it sits on top of the skin and can lead to clogged pores. So how can we prevent and effectively deal with this new type of acne, while keeping our skin's health and radiant glow in top priority?
We need to first ensure that we are taking the necessary steps to be wearing a mask that will least irritate the skin, such as an organic cotton or silk mask, and wash it every evening with a natural detergent and warm water. While the mask is being worn, try your best to be diligent not to repeatedly touch your face, and when you have to, thoroughly sanitize your hands with the Sanitizer to minimize any spread of bacteria.
A consistent, simple yet multi-correctional skin care routine is crucial and is really the foundation in keeping your skin in its most optimal state. Good skin is truly a matter of discipline! The Daily Essentials Set (includes the Cleanser, Toner, Serum + Microfibre Cloth) is a wonderful place to start to deliver powerful, multi-correctional results to all skin types, especially those of us with sensitive skin. My intention when formulating the Daily Essentials was to develop a simple ritual that included the finest, nutrient dense botanical and essential oils to address all skin concerns from inflammation to regeneration; feeding the skin with the nutrition it needs to thrive, resulting in healthier, more resilient and radiant looking complexion.
The newest addition to our collection, Clear Beauty Booster, is a powerful, intensive serum targeted towards quickly reducing any inflammation, such as acne, eczema, rashes, to promote a clear, luminous complexion. It contains a potent blend of nutrient-dense, botanical oils known for their strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties. I have recently been adding 3 drops of Clear to the Serum, morning and night, and no longer feel the need to wear any foundation or coverup!
I share more of my tips and recommendations for mask-ne and overall clear, acne-free skin in my recent video below:
Your skin care routine doesn't just include the products you apply topically. As a Holistic Nutritionist, I teach, and of course personally believe that what we eat, think, do and apply to our bodies affects us as a whole. It is always important to ensure that you are nourishing your body with the right foods, minimizing stress as best you can (I'll be honest to say that it has been especially hard with everything going on right now), getting outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air, exercising, using good quality, clean body care products, and also taking the time to enjoy what you love. Always remember, just do your best, that's all you can do!If you have any tips or suggestions you've found helpful for mask-ne, let us know in the comments!
In health,
Shelby