COVID-19 vaccine rollout has begun, pharmaceutical giants are progressing through trials, and vaccinations are finally underway. Needless to say, this sure does give us a ray of hope to possibly reach normality by 2021! Yes, there is still a long way to go in terms of vaccine production and distribution, but a girl can dream, right? Nevertheless, I’m sure most of us can already see ourselves venture out in a mask-free world, hopefully some time before the end of 2021.
But hold up. Don’t forget about all the maskne you’ve been hiding beneath your mask. In fact, it’s the perfect time to start prepping and giving your skin the extra attention for the day we’re freed from the clutches of soggy masks! After all, there’s no such thing as ‘too early’ when it comes to rescuing your skin. So, with that in mind, here’s a guide to help you find the top pick ingredients that will show visible results from your skin care regimen. Here’s to healthier days and confident, maskless faces!
How Masks Cause Skin Damage
Here are a few ways masks can lead to skin damage:
- Cold weather – Drop in temperature already dries out your skin, but with masks, it’s double the trouble! Dryness makes it easier for the mask to chafe the skin, making it more sensitive to friction. The skin’s protective layer is further damaged as the mask rubs against it and becomes easier for bacteria to settle into your pores.
- Moisture – The lack of ventilation beneath the mask creates a humid environment, which becomes a breeding ground for maskne. The heat from your breath also increases sweat and oil production. And the more oil and sweat, the easier it is for bacteria to exacerbate and trigger acne.
- Bacteria – One of the most obvious reasons behind maskne — you guessed it — bacteria. Sweat, makeup, and oil are not the only ones that accumulate bacteria on your skin. Your hands also play a huge part in welcoming bacteria. Adjusting or simply putting on your mask can aggravate pore-clogging build-ups.
Anti-Maskne Essentials to Treat Different Types of Skin Issues
Here’s what you can do to combat some of the most common skin problems:
Skin Barrier Breakdown
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but it’s a different story when it comes to your skin. Maintaining the outer layer in good condition is the key to optimal skin health. On the other hand, a damaged barrier layer is no different from disclosing a Pandora’s Box of problems, including increased sensitivity to environmental aggressors, accelerated skin ageing, and susceptibility to dehydration.
Now that you know how important it is to have that strong layer of protection, let’s get down to the meat. How do you pick the right product to accelerate your barrier restoration? 2021’s top pick ingredient to fortify the skin barrier goes to ceramide! Easily put, you can think of ceramide as the glue that holds skin cells together. In fact, ceramides are found naturally in the skin surface, but are depleted by external factors that weaken its effectiveness. Thus, products that contain ceramides — even more than niacinamide and retinol — have a more significant impact on restoring what has been diminished.
Does your skin feel tight post washing or look dull even with consistent moisturizing? This is a sign that your skin is craving more hydration. Masks consist of materials that tend to absorb natural oil from the skin, causing dryness and sensitivity. Even worse is the residue under and on your mask which leads to flaky, peeling skin and even inflammation.
In this case, hemp seed oil is what your skin truly needs. Extracted from the hemp seed itself, it is considered one of the world’s healthiest oils. It is packed with essential omega fatty acids best suited for all skin types. Not only that, its lipid profile closely resembles that of our own skin meaning it can hydrate, reinforce and nourish the deepest layers more easily than any other ingredients.
Looking for a product with highly concentrated hemp seed oil? Try Vita Hemp Cell Energy. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes on your complexion. It’s the perfect product to go out into the mask-free world with glowing skin!
Has maskne taken over the lower half of your face? Bacteria and occlusion are inevitable when wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t heal your breakouts. And don’t pretend like you don’t know — there’s nothing harder than resisting the urge to squeeze and pick at the pimples. Did I catch you touching your face right now?
What these annoying little bumps need is hydrocolloid dressing. Hydrocolloid can be found concentrated in pimple patches since it is ideal for drawing out secretions and healing wounds. Rather than ingredients such as retinol and benzoyl peroxide, which can be quite harsh to use under a mask, hydrocolloid is much more gentle on the skin.The best thing about it is that it creates a moistened environment, preventing dry and crusty pimple traces. Just patch one on discreetly underneath your mask just until the day we will no longer need our masks nor our patches.
If you’re looking for a hydrocolloid pimple patch that’ll keep blemishes under control and erase your pimples one by one, our favorite is obviously, Glam Up’s Blemishield Patch. Made with beveled edges that surround the hydrocolloid formulation, the patches ensure intensive blemish care!
Our skin has been affected adversely by the pandemic. But with signs of hope that 2021 has been giving us, invest a little more time on your skin with top trending ingredients. The right ingredients in your skincare routine will significantly lessen mask-related skin damage. Let’s all emerge from this quarantine with our skin looking ever so confident!