Dealing with maskne

Now that our new normal involves wearing masks or face coverings in shops, bars, restaurants, pubs, on public transport and in schools/other educational institutions, some people are finding that they're suffering with breakouts. As someone who's had acne since I was about 12, I feel like I'm in a pretty good position to offer some recommendation for products to help you deal with maskne, as people are calling it. So here some products I can wholeheartedly recommend for keeping blemishes at bay!

Products marked with a * are press samples; please see my disclaimer for more info.

Tropic Pure Lagoon Serum*

I've had this in my collection for a while and I love it - it's a ride or die for me, and one I'll always repurchase. Use it after cleansing and before moisturiser - it can be quite drying but you want to use it sparingly anyway, just directly onto your more spotty areas. It really works to reduce the size and redness of blemishes! Buy Tropic Pure Lagoon here.

Pixi Glow Tonic*

The original and the best - this glycolic acid toner is amazing for exfoliating the skin without using a physical exfoliant which will only spread bacteria. Pop this on a reusable cotton pad and swipe it over your affected areas, and you're good to go. It smells nice, doesn't dry the skin out or leave a weird film, and works well to reduce redness. Superdrug do a dupe of this which is, in my opinion, a little bit more harsh on the skin - but definitely more affordable. Buy the Pixi Glow Tonic here.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clay Mask*

I love the Effaclar range from La Roche-Posay, and this mask is no exception - I use it twice a week and I've definitely noticed a reduction in the amount of oil my skin produces, which leads to less blemishes. A little goes a long way and you can quite often find this on offer if you look hard enough. Buy the Effaclar Clay Mask here.

L'Oreal Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask

Another clay mask that really works, this is one of my favourites and I've repurchased it many a time. It's bright blue so it's fun to use and again, really works in terms of keeping oil at bay and leave your skin feeling nourished and clean at the same time. Buy the L'Oreal Blemish Rescue mask here.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

I haven't used this one for a while but did use it when my skin was a lot worse - it simply dries out your spots, which is great if you're getting big red ones caused by wearing your face mask. It is quite expensive but you only need a tiny bit per spot and this is something everybody raves about in the skincare community! Buy the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion here.

More thoughts on dealing with maskne

Some other ranges I would recommend trying include the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions range and the Vichy Normaderm products; I've tried a few of these over the years and got on well with them. If you are needing help for dealing with maskne, I hope this post has given you a few ideas for products you can try to solve it! Sudocrem works if you're on a budget, and tea tree oil is great for spots too - both of these can be harsh and drying though, so be careful to use a good moisturiser alongside them. 

Try to stay away from scented creams and anything too thick & buttery that might clog your pores. If you're wearing make up, be sure to take it off completely and do a second cleanse. I love the Pixi x Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse as it has a balm cleanser and a cream cleanser in the same pot, meaning you'll be sure to finish the day off with completely fresh and clean skin. Don't shy away from oil cleansers either, which are great at breaking down make up - if you use oil on your skin, the less oil your skin will need to produce and therefore (in theory) the less spots you'll get!

Stay hydrated and take some vitamin D supplements, which you can buy over the counter, as I found vit D to really help my acne - and they're worth having in your life anyway, especially as we head into the colder and darker months.

There's some advice for dealing with maskne; I'm not a professional, but I've had acne for over 10 years and have tried so many products in that time. These are some of the best, and I wouldn't recommend anything I don't think works. But remember everyone's skin is different! If there's anything you've found to really help when dealing with maskne, please put it in the comments below and share the love.