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Maskne was not born in 2020, but this year it has become a bit of a buzzword, with many of us donning masks with all different colours, materials and patterns. (Note: we don’t know who needs to hear this, but pulling a sweater over your mouth on the tube does not count.)
Acne can be caused by many things, and everyone’s skin is different. But Maskne, (or “acne mechanica”), is not acne as we know it. Unlike other forms of acne, it is not caused by factors such as hormones, lifestyle, genetics and diet. Maskne refers to breakouts of pimples, blemishes and spots that are caused by the constant friction between a mask and someone’s skin, causing pressure, heat and rubbing, which causes inflammation, irritated skin and spots. Dermatologists suggest that the constant rubbing of masks against skin causes “micro-tears”, that allow bacteria and dirt to enter pores and clog them up. (Yeah, we know...!).
Skincare is makeup’s younger sister in the beauty world, and she has become increasingly popular this year due to many of us spending more time at home, wearing less makeup, and passing the days by pampering ourselves. So you’ve got all the gear and no idea? No one wants to waste all that time, money and energy applying things incorrectly.
Here are our top tips for how to look after your skin to avoid maskne during lockdown.
TREAT YOUR MASK LIKE UNDERWEAR
Wash and change your mask regularly. There is no point in cleasing your skin regularly to remove bacteria, oil and dirt from the day, if you’re wearing a used mask carrying all of the above. *Make it make sense*.
CLEANSE TWICE A DAY (& DOUBLE CLEANSE AT NIGHT)
Clean skin is happy skin. Find yourself a cleanser that preserves the skin’s natural oils and skin barrier, removes excess oil, whilst gently exfoliating dead skin cells and debris. Our Filthy Clean skincare drops are handy, cute and sealed for freshness, so you can get Filthy Clean wherever you are without worrying about scooping/decanting – which is unhygienic and can be extremely problematic for skin.
Do a double cleanse at night. It may sound like a pain, but double cleansing is a great way to fend off breakouts. Use an oil-based or balm cleanser first, to break down the day’s make-up and grime. Then use a milk or gel cleanser to thoroughly clean the skin underneath. Sparkling clean skin at your fingertips!
STREAMLINE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
Falling asleep stood up doing your 15-step skincare routine? We know, skincare and its wonderful potions are addictive. But think about how much product your face can really handle all at once. If you’re struggling with Maskne and you have a lot of skincare, chances are you might be using too much anyway, which can overwhelm the skin. Consider a basic 3-step routine, involving a cleanse, serum and moisturiser, (e.g. morning serum in the AM and evening serum in the PM) to get that glow with half the effort, and half the chance of breaking out.
SANITISE BETWEEN ADJUSTING YOUR MASK
Each time we adjust and touch our mask, we are at risk of transferring oil, dirt and irritants to our skin. To avoid this, stick to breathable materials like silk or silk lined masks. Silk especially is a great choice for sensitive and acne-prone skin, because silk has a very high resistance to the penetration and absorption of small water droplets making it more effective at impeding these water droplets compared to other fabrics (e.g. cotton/polyester) and in doing so helps to reduce the transmission of Covid-19.
Plus silk is super smooth! Smoothness means less friction and tugging on the skin so preventing those tiny tiny micro skin wounds so unwanted dirt, oil and bacteria no longer has a means to get deep into our lower skin layers. As a result, less irritation and outbreaks on your skin. Cute and practical – that’s our vibe.
KEEP SKIN HYDRATED
Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid... HA is a skincare superstar that helps skin to retain water and stay hydrated. Everyone with a range of different skin types can benefit from more hydrated skin. Especially during the winter months, when skin is likely to dry out due to the cooler temperatures. To counteract the dryness, glands beneath the skin produce more sebum. The excess sebum and dead skin can build up to cause acne, – so a good moisturiser is essential when fighting off maskne. Opt for a light formula with a hydrating ingredient like HA to absorb water and keep skin fresh, plump and healthy – this will help prevent irritation from your mask.
DON'T DITCH THE SPF
SPF is still one of the most vital steps in your skincare routine. It sounds silly, but mask tan lines are very real, (even in the U.K.) so to warn off unwanted clown-like tan lines invest in a suncream that reflects UV light.
Always remember to wear SPF, even inside. We may think we're safe indoors in winter on our Zoom calls, but UV light can penetrate through window glass, which means skin can still get damaged overtime.
THE TAKEAWAY
There are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to help to reduce your maskne, or to reduce your chances of breakouts occurring when wearing a face mask.
While it seems quite drastic to switch up our skincare routines, less is sometimes more. Try cutting down on products to protect skin from irritation when wearing a mask.
If you have any concerns or are worried about taking on new steps, feel free to drop us an email or DM. If your maskne is upsetting you, try not to worry too much, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce maskne, and still protect those around you!
Top tip for key workers: take our Bolt Drops to work with you so you can cleanse and moisturise between travel. We've got you covered. ❤️
Stay safe everyone, love The Bolt Beauty Team.⚡️
PS. GET YOUR HANDS ON SOMETHING SILKY AND GENTLE FOR YOUR FACE VERY SOON...
Maskne was not born in 2020, but this year it has become a bit of a buzzword, with many of us donning masks with all different colours, materials and patterns. (Note: we don’t know who needs to hear this, but pulling a sweater over your mouth on the tube does not count.)
Acne can be caused by many things, and everyone’s skin is different. But Maskne, (or “acne mechanica”), is not acne as we know it. Unlike other forms of acne, it is not caused by factors such as hormones, lifestyle, genetics and diet. Maskne refers to breakouts of pimples, blemishes and spots that are caused by the constant friction between a mask and someone’s skin, causing pressure, heat and rubbing, which causes inflammation, irritated skin and spots. Dermatologists suggest that the constant rubbing of masks against skin causes “micro-tears”, that allow bacteria and dirt to enter pores and clog them up. (Yeah, we know...!).
Skincare is makeup’s younger sister in the beauty world, and she has become increasingly popular this year due to many of us spending more time at home, wearing less makeup, and passing the days by pampering ourselves. So you’ve got all the gear and no idea? No one wants to waste all that time, money and energy applying things incorrectly.
Here are our top tips for how to look after your skin to avoid maskne during lockdown.
TREAT YOUR MASK LIKE UNDERWEAR
Wash and change your mask regularly. There is no point in cleasing your skin regularly to remove bacteria, oil and dirt from the day, if you’re wearing a used mask carrying all of the above. *Make it make sense*.
CLEANSE TWICE A DAY (& DOUBLE CLEANSE AT NIGHT)
Clean skin is happy skin. Find yourself a cleanser that preserves the skin’s natural oils and skin barrier, removes excess oil, whilst gently exfoliating dead skin cells and debris. Our Filthy Clean skincare drops are handy, cute and sealed for freshness, so you can get Filthy Clean wherever you are without worrying about scooping/decanting – which is unhygienic and can be extremely problematic for skin.
Do a double cleanse at night. It may sound like a pain, but double cleansing is a great way to fend off breakouts. Use an oil-based or balm cleanser first, to break down the day’s make-up and grime. Then use a milk or gel cleanser to thoroughly clean the skin underneath. Sparkling clean skin at your fingertips!
STREAMLINE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
Falling asleep stood up doing your 15-step skincare routine? We know, skincare and its wonderful potions are addictive. But think about how much product your face can really handle all at once. If you’re struggling with Maskne and you have a lot of skincare, chances are you might be using too much anyway, which can overwhelm the skin. Consider a basic 3-step routine, involving a cleanse, serum and moisturiser, (e.g. morning serum in the AM and evening serum in the PM) to get that glow with half the effort, and half the chance of breaking out.
SANITISE BETWEEN ADJUSTING YOUR MASK
Each time we adjust and touch our mask, we are at risk of transferring oil, dirt and irritants to our skin. To avoid this, stick to breathable materials like silk or silk lined masks. Silk especially is a great choice for sensitive and acne-prone skin, because silk has a very high resistance to the penetration and absorption of small water droplets making it more effective at impeding these water droplets compared to other fabrics (e.g. cotton/polyester) and in doing so helps to reduce the transmission of Covid-19.
Plus silk is super smooth! Smoothness means less friction and tugging on the skin so preventing those tiny tiny micro skin wounds so unwanted dirt, oil and bacteria no longer has a means to get deep into our lower skin layers. As a result, less irritation and outbreaks on your skin. Cute and practical – that’s our vibe.
KEEP SKIN HYDRATED
Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid... HA is a skincare superstar that helps skin to retain water and stay hydrated. Everyone with a range of different skin types can benefit from more hydrated skin. Especially during the winter months, when skin is likely to dry out due to the cooler temperatures. To counteract the dryness, glands beneath the skin produce more sebum. The excess sebum and dead skin can build up to cause acne, – so a good moisturiser is essential when fighting off maskne. Opt for a light formula with a hydrating ingredient like HA to absorb water and keep skin fresh, plump and healthy – this will help prevent irritation from your mask.
DON'T DITCH THE SPF
SPF is still one of the most vital steps in your skincare routine. It sounds silly, but mask tan lines are very real, (even in the U.K.) so to warn off unwanted clown-like tan lines invest in a suncream that reflects UV light.
Always remember to wear SPF, even inside. We may think we're safe indoors in winter on our Zoom calls, but UV light can penetrate through window glass, which means skin can still get damaged overtime.
THE TAKEAWAY
There are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to help to reduce your maskne, or to reduce your chances of breakouts occurring when wearing a face mask.
While it seems quite drastic to switch up our skincare routines, less is sometimes more. Try cutting down on products to protect skin from irritation when wearing a mask.
If you have any concerns or are worried about taking on new steps, feel free to drop us an email or DM. If your maskne is upsetting you, try not to worry too much, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce maskne, and still protect those around you!
Top tip for key workers: take our Bolt Drops to work with you so you can cleanse and moisturise between travel. We've got you covered. ❤️
Stay safe everyone, love The Bolt Beauty Team.⚡️
PS. GET YOUR HANDS ON SOMETHING SILKY AND GENTLE FOR YOUR FACE VERY SOON...
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