How To Deal With Maskne

I’ll just start by saying, if you’re dealing with maskne, you’re the simplest of heroes. 

And I am here to show you my gratitude - on behalf of myself and all those who are at a high risk of contracting covid. 

*pat yourself on the back* 

And keep wearing yo mask!! 

Because science says they make it more difficult for droplets to spread. 

Also - wear it over your nose. Thanks! 

Okay. So let’s chat. What in the world is maskne and why must it stop us from being great? 

What happens when you are wearing a mask is basically a little inferno of moisture. The result is often a few acne flare ups. 

This type of acne is called acne mechanica and is caused due to friction and irritation from pressure on the skin. Makes sense, right? 

In other words when you’re breathing in your mask and creating a hot, friction inducing and moist environment blockages of your pores can happen as a result. 

So what can you do? Because we are committed to being decent human beings & wearing our masks….

First of all, wash your masks. I heard somewhere you should treat them like underwear and it has stuck with me since. Get yourself 7 masks and you’re good to go. 

Second. We have to talk about ingredients - especially the strong (and harmful) ones. When you’re putting on products and then putting your face into an inferno, you can really intensify the acting ingredients in a product.

So keep it simple. Keep it gentle. 

Moisturize. It not only helps prevent acne (because dry skin is an evil contributor) but it always can serve as a layer of protection between you and your mask.

Alright, so now the goodies. Here are a few products I’ve been using that have been especially helpful the last few months. I’ll also tell you why they’ve been helpful. 

Because you need an exfoliator step and you need to do this two to three times a week. The grains on this one are gentle, plus the use of fair trade cocoa butter means it’s also doing doubletime & offering you some moisture as you scrub.

This multitasking master is all you need to moisturize, soften texture, reduce appearance of dark spots and fine lines due to dryness, and even skin tone. This lightweight but powerful formula delivers a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals that are quickly absorbed by the skin.

Tell me. What have you been using that works? Has it been a struggle for you?

What questions do you have? 

Clean beauty for Black women matters.

Sound off, Queens!