With ample time on our hands there’s more time for self-care than just the typical "Self-care Sunday" at the moment, but are we over treating our maskne?

By now, we all know what maskne is but it can still be tricky to treat. Not knowing how much exfoliation is too much or too little can be a little overwhelming so we’re here to break it down for you.

Why Multi-Mask?

We loved to multi-mask pre Covid-19 (and by multi-mask we mean the skincare kind, not doubling up on your PPE), but now it’s a lot more beneficial to add hydration to those areas that may feel tight or flakey, and to detoxify the areas that may have a build up of oil and are experiencing a break out.

We suggest cleansing as soon as you get home and take your mask off. Cleansing immediately will remove the bacteria from the skin and help prevent breakouts. It’s super important to double cleanse (especially if you’re wearing makeup under your mask), not only does this remove that makeup but it also removes the build up of bacteria that your mask collects.

Now that you’ve cleansed, you may continue on with an exfoliation, we suggest a chemical peel such as the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads every other day. Although we may be experiencing breakouts and oil build ups it’s very important to not over use your AHA’s, this could do more harm than good.

What ingredients?

When choosing a skincare mask, our favourite ingredients are Salicylic Acid, Ceramides, Vitamin B and Hyaluronic Acid.

Why Salicylic Acid?

To put it simply, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble and will go into the pore and help clear up the breakout. Salicylic Acid is also great for acne scarring.

Why Ceramides, Vitamin B and Hyaluronic Acid?

Ceramides and Vitamin B will help rebuild the skin’s barrier, lock in the hydration and keep the skin cool, calm and collected. Hyaluronic Acid is great for any skin type even if you find maskne isn’t an issue for you. Hyaluronic Acid is found in the body and as we age it decreases, which causes fine lines and wrinkles. It also holds a thousand times its weight in water so it’s amazing at keeping the skin hydrated.

The what and how

The way to multi-mask using your desired mask is key to helping prevent the feeling of dehydration from reaching Sahara Desert levels and the breakouts from spreading across the skin. Use hydration masks such as the Drunk Elephant F-Balm and Kat Burki Complete B Repair Hydration Blast on the driest areas of the face; the cheeks and forehead. For some you may choose to use this all over your face. Apply detoxifying masks such as the Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask and Goldfaden MD Facial Detox + Clarify Mask to the troubled areas like the chin and
nose. These masks are great as they are still calming on the skin but will help clear the breakout.

Please don't touch the artwork

The key piece of information we cannot stress enough is don’t touch your face. Touching your face will spread more bacteria across the skin and create more areas of concern. We also suggest cleaning and soaking your mask in Tea Tree oil after each use. Tea Tree oil will help prevent the bacteria in your mask from growing.

If possible, invest in a 100% silk mask. Silk is more breathable than other fabrics and helps prevent maskne. Our favourite is the 100% Mulberry silk mask by Saint Jack Cosmetics.

Don't forget about your lips, darling!

Finally, just because your lips aren't shown to the world like usual, doesn't mean you should be forgetting about them. Keep them hydrated! We suggest our gloss balms, subtle in colour and made with Vitamin E to provide the nourishing benefits of a lip balm.