It is no surprise that we at the Shawn Paul Salon LOVE Comfort Zone and cannot get enough of their skin care! Recently, they posted a blog detailing tips on preventing breakouts caused by facial coverings. The experts at Comfort Zone said it best: masks have become a necessary addition to the wardrobe but for some, are creating skincare issues they haven’t had to deal with for years. Whether you are someone who suffers from blemishes caused by face masks or want to learn how to prevent blemishes from forming, we put together a few of our favorite tricks that we learned after reading their blog. Firstly, lets start with what maskne is and what causes it.

Maskne [mask-nee]: acne or other skin irritation that results from wearing a preventative facial covering, especially a medical, N95, or cloth face mask.

So, what causes maskne?

According to Comfort Zone, maskne is caused by the friction from tight straps that tend to rub against the skin after hours of wear, causing inflammation, redness, and dryness. This combination may trigger the skin to produce excess oil to soothe stressed out and damaged patches. As the skin releases oil, the cloth covering of the mask catches that oil and holds it against the skin, clogging pores. What’s more, we really are full of hot air and releasing our breath into the mask creates a humid environment that can take its toll on the skin around our nose, lips, and chin.

Enough with the science lecture! How can we prevent and/or soothe our blemishes? (comfortzone.com)

~Take masks breaks when you can! (safely and away from others).

~Wash your face with a gentle cleanser that is (ideally) fragrance free to help improve and strengthen your skin’s immune system.

~Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! While this tip feels counterintuitive considering the amount of hot air we are breathing into our mask during the day, Comfort Zone assures that properly moisturizing your skin will help improve the skin’s natural protective barrier.

~Treat yourself to a bi-weekly facial mask treatment. So…what they are telling us is: fight fire with fire? Basically! And honestly, you do not have to tell me twice to treat myself to some selfcare. Esthetician’s orders!

~Less is more. Facial coverings and known to cause small micro-tearing in the skin’s surface and over-scrubbing can cause additional irritation. For patches that are especially irritated or any breakout zones, treat with the most kindness.

~Consult your esthetician! At the Shawn Paul Salon, Char is our resident skin expert and is here to answer any and all of your skin questions. Book a facial or waxing service and she would be more than happy to talk with you about your skin type, give you some tips, and recommend a skin care routine just for you. Oh! And did we mention if you book a facial, we are offering 25% off all skin care products purchased the same day as your appointment.