Throughout the last year, maskne became an inevitable part of life. Snugly fitting face coverings protect us from a potentially deadly virus, but they also gave rise to a new skincare concern: Maskne (acne brought on my continually wearing a mask). Makeup, oil and sweat can get trapped beneath your mask, and if that mask is also dirty, you’re looking at a recipe for breakouts, especially when sweating or working out. 

We’re not out of the maskne woods just yet, so it’s important to make a few tweaks to your skincare routine to prevent and help cure those breakouts.


  1. Start Double-Cleansing

More than ever, it’s imperative that you double cleanse. That doesn’t just mean washing your face twice, but rather, washing your face with two different agents. You might choose to start with micellar water, a makeup wipe, or this cult-favourite Makeup Melt, then follow up with something that won’t just get the gunk and grime off—it’ll refine your skin too. This AHA Cleanser, which has fruit acids that gently slough off any dead skin cells laying around, is a great option. 


  1. Shower Right Away

Even if you’re able to wash your face right away, there’s no better feeling than jumping into a lukewarm shower after a hard workout. Prevent acne on common problem areas like your shoulders or back—especially along your bra line—by choosing a body wash that has moisturizing ingredients that cleanse as they hydrate, aloe, like sunflower seed oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.  


  1. Clean Your Konjac Sponge

If you’re using your konjac sponge to exfoliate after you work out, there’s a good chance it’s harbouring some bacteria. Make sure to wash it regularly—whether you're active or not—to be sure that you’re not unwittingly contributing to even more breakouts.  


  1. Change Your Mask

It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to change your mask every time you work out, as they can harbour gross bacteria that’ll latch onto your skin. Sure, at the beginning of the pandemic, you may have had no choice but to wear disposable masks until you could get your hands on one that was suitable for working out. But now, there’s no excuse to use single-use masks. These machine-washable iterations are pre-washed in California and ready to use straight from the packet. They come in sets of 5 so you can change them every weekday. 


5. Don’t put it down!

Putting your face mask down on a restaurant table while you eat is a bad idea. We like these mask straps, because they keep this mask safely around our necks when not in use. They make any mask with ear loops fit better, too, which is super important. 


Face coverings are going to be with us for a while. But with a few tweaks to your skincare routine, they don’t have to negatively impact your complexion, so can remove your mask with confidence! 


Xx, LC