Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 causing skin-related pandemic outbreak on your face? We feel you. Hurdle and take notes. While you can’t ditch the mask, there are some Korean beauty hacks you can adopt to keep that beautiful face healthy.
Of the regular list of new vocabulary we had to add this year, Mask Acne, dubbed ‘Maskne’ for short, is the newest keyword on the scene.
What causes Mask Acne?
Acne usually develops when pores get clogged by oil, dead skin cells, makeup, dirt, or bacteria. This can lead to blackheads, whiteheads or pimples that can vary in size and type, depending on how they get infected.
This is especially the case in Singapore where the high humidity levels combined with the wearing of masks, create the perfect environment for bacteria growth leading to an onslaught of pimples and clogged pores.
What’s the best way to prevent ‘Maskne’?
Step 1: Know your Mask
Choose a mask that allows your skin (and you) to breathe while also protecting the spread of coronavirus. We recommend soft fabrics like cotton or silk. Synthetic fabric tend to be harsher on the skin.
Uniqlo Airism Face Mask comes in a pack of 3 at SGD 14.90. It’s middle and outer layers have a nano-filter with a bacterial filtration efficiency of 99% and sun protection UV Cut UPF50+ respectively.
Step 2: Think about what you put under your Mask
Choose skin care and makeup that have anti-inflammatory and anti-irrtiant properties like non-comedogenic or oil-free products.
Singapore skincare brand launches Skin Inc Mask Liners. (SGD 28 for a pack of 20 or SGD 108 with 20ml of My Daily Dose serum.) They arehypoallergenic and act as a physical barrier between skin and warm air. It is highly absorbent and wicks away oil and sweat efficiently. Add three drops of My Daily Dose ® of Armour serum to your face before the mask to strengthen, balance and soothe skin. It also reduces chafing and pressure marks by 3.2x!
Step 3: Adopt a simple skin care routine – cleaning, exfoliating, moisturizing
Think gentle, long-term visible results, a holistic approach to deal with root causes not just the symptoms, a hydration focused routine. Dry skin is a common mask-related issue. Make sure to use a gentle cleanser, exfoliator to remove gunk, and moisturize immediately. Choose a moisturizer with ceramides to lock in moisture or hyaluronic acid which has a hydrating effect.
Korean Skincare brand Peach & Lily’s Glass Skin Refining Serum (USD 39, or about SGD 55) is a cult favourite for Poreless, luminous, translucent skin.
Step 4: Practice good hygiene!
Wash your mask after each use to remove oils and dead skin collected inside the mask. Use gentle detergents that are free of added colours and fragrances which are common skin irritants. This reduces skin reaction like contact dermatitis.
Seventh Generation (SGD 17.90) is made with plant-based ingredients. The hypoallergenic formula is dermatologist tested and made for sensitive skin.
Step 5: Your ultimate battle to maskne is to keep calm and face rejuvenate on
The international pandemic is surely to cause stress. However, the bottom half of our face is subjected to a constant bath of sweat, oil, suffocating hot breath which can stem from sensitivity and stress. So try your best to relax.
DR.JART+ Cicapair Face Calming Mist (SGD 31) immediately soothes and calms redness and sensitive, irritated skin with powerful Centella Asiatica Complex while hydrating your skin. Intermittently spritz on while you are about your day.
