BEST MASKNE TREATMENTS - ZITSTICKA KILLA ZIT PATCHES, BALM LABS CLEAR BALM SERUM, SKINFIX 911 OINTMENT AND SELF/ish EXFOLIATING PADS
I consider myself lucky for a lot of things. I’ve traveled the world — from Cape Town to Tokyo, Singapore to Moscow. I found what I love to do (write!) early on in my career and it nourishes me every single day.
And, I haven’t experienced maskne — until very recently. My luck ran out I guess!
Two weeks ago, I got a blemish just to the side of my right nostril. It got big and awful! Then, two days later, another blemish formed just below my bottom lip. Ugh, again?!
I knew things were out of whack when one also appeared along my jawline at just about the same time. Suddenly, I had three blemishes going on at once. I was mortified. That hasn’t happened in twenty years.
It was my first attack of the dreaded maskne!
If you haven’t yet experienced maskne, you likely will. I like to think that I take phenomenally great care of my skin, doing everything I know how to to keep my pores clear and refreshed each day. If you’re experiencing maskne now, I feel your pain!
What is maskne and how do you treat maskne?
I found a really good piece in Shape magazine from a couple of months ago titled, 'Maskne' Is a Very Real Thing—Here's How to Beat Face Mask Breakouts. You can catch the full article here.
What is 'maskne' and why does it happen?
Maskne occurs when sweat, skin oils, and bacteria are trapped on the skin while wearing your mask, says Elizabeth Mullans, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Uptown Dermatology in Houston, Texas. Face masks can cause irritation by either physically rubbing against the skin, which can damage the skin's protective barrier, or by trapping moisture, which can cause acne, she adds.
This type of acne is called acne mechanica, which includes any skin issues due to pressure, friction, rubbing, squeezing, or stretching. It's different from other kinds of acne (like the pimples that show up around your period, for example, which are hormonal) because it occurs only in areas where the mask sits against the skin, says Ife J. Rodney, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics in Fulton, Maryland. “In healthy skin, there are normal amounts of bacteria and yeast that live there, but when pores become clogged because of excess sweat and moisture from the mask, these organisms overgrow, leading to pimples or acne cysts,” she explains.
Fortunately, I have everything I need to take care of these new, sudden and irritating breakouts all around my mouth and nose. And I didn’t think it would be very kind of me not to pay it forward, as they say. If maskne can happen to me, it can happen to you!
So, I’ve put together what I call the Skincarma Maskne Essentials — a collection of the best products to treat maskne and best skincare to prevent maskne from occurring in the first place.
Have a look at my go-to treatments for that vexing maskne…
Zitsticka | Killa Patches
Of course the first time you realize you’re dealing with maskne is when you start seeing blemishes, irritation and dryness where you don’t normally experience it.
For me, I normally get a blemish or two each month in my bearded area, the places were I shave. Or don’t shave! If I haven’t shaven for three days — and god forbid, four! — I will likely be dealing with an unsightly zit. Now I have to manage it around my mouth, too?!
My go-to solution for zit-zapping is the Zitsticka zit patches. They’re ideal for the every-once-in-a-while blemish. They’re not the best treatment for blemish prone skin or for regular acne breakouts. If you get a blemish once or twice a week, a Zitsticka zit patch is the perfect solution.
If you deal with blemish-prone skin and more frequent acne, a Balm Labs skin-clearing regimen is what I would recommend. (More on Balm Labs in a minute!)
The second I see an acne blemish, I pop on one of Zitsticka’s KILLA patches and go about my day. Before bed, I do it again. Almost without fail, by morning, if it’s not completely gone, it’s at least not very visible — unless you’re like right up on top of me. Umm which isn’t smart in the time of Covid. So, from six feet away, no one will see you wearing a zit patch — especially with a mask on!
Seriously though, they work every time. In fact, they’re the only acne spot treatment I’ve ever tried that actually works to reliably eliminate a blemish.
Why? Because each of Zitsticka’s KILLA patches isolates the spot to prevent the zit from getting worse — and prevent you from touching it. (You know you always do!) The formula embedded in the patch contains a blend of Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Oligopeptide-76 and Salicylic Acid that combine to stop the zit in its tracks and begin the healing process without drying out and tormenting your skin even further.
Each patch is loaded with good stuff that treats your skin well — as the formula kills the zit. So, as a solution for incidental acne, Zitsticka is the best treatment for maskne blemishes.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Zitsticka Killa Patches for $29 here.
SELF/ish | Exfoliating Pads
One of the best ways to treat maskne is to prevent it from occurring in the first place! How? Well, by keeping skin in balance, keeping skin healthy, and making sure pores are fresh and clear. It means giving the area around your mouth and nose a little extra TLC throughout the day.
An acid-soaked exfoliating pad is ideal for just that. I always have a jar of my favorite SELF/ish AHA-infused exfoliating pads on hand. In fact, I have a jar in my backpack so I can give my mouth area a quick swipe after removing my mask at the office.
Unlike those famous acid-infused Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peels from Dr. Dennis Gross, the SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads are affordable — and better for your skin.
Because of their high alcohol content, were you to use an Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel around your mouth twice a day, you’d only exacerbate the situation by excessively drying out the skin.
Plus, at $88 for 30 pads, the Dr. Dennis Gross pads are just too expensive for my taste. That’s almost $3 per pad! The SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads are just $25 for a 30-count jar, less than one dollar per application.
The SELF/ish formula contains 10% Glycolic Acid — an equivalent dose to Dr. Gross’ Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peels — in addition to Lactic Acid and the more gentle Mandelic Acid and Malic Acid.
Keeping pores clear under the mask is essential. And the SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads are formulated with an ample amount of natural BHA in the form of Willow Bark Extract. Similarly to Salicylic Acid, it works to flush out pores of sebum and gunk that can lead to blemishes and weaken skin barrier function.
The clean SELF/ish formula also contains multiple skin soothers and soothing antioxidant botanical extracts.
As I like to say, as important as what’s in it is what isn’t. No drying alcohol! The use of denatured alcohol is how the Dr. Gross Daily Peels achieve such great results; yet, over time, they can dry out and damage the skin.
Rather than using drying alcohol, the SELF/ish chemists had the wisdom to opt for Dimethyl Isosorbide, a legitimate alternate to denatured alcohol. DMI is a 100% pure substance, sustainably extracted from corn sugar. It’s used to stabilize, solve (or dissolve), and deliver active ingredients into the skin, similarly to alcohol. DMI has been proven to deliver significantly higher efficacy — without damaging the skin barrier.
I love these pads and have found them effective at helping me to prevent maskne around my mouth and nose. You will too!
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 20% off all clean skincare from SELF/ish. Code: SKINCARMA20. Purchase the SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads for $20 (reg. $25) here.
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Balm Labs | Serum Hydrator
My absolute favorite skincare for the treatment of acne is Balm Labs. It’s my go-to recommendation for anyone who asks. In fact, I believe it’s the best acne treatment and best skincare for acne-prone skin. The Balm Labs formulas are powered by a complex of cannabidiol (CBD), alpha hydroxy acids and a soothing, purifying botanical extract called Bixa Orellana Seed Extract.
The Clear Balm Serum Hydrator is the perfect treatment for re-balancing, soothing and nourishing the skin in the area covered by a mask. It’s powered by a potent blend of Niacinamide, Squalane and full-spectrum CBD (300mg) to help sooth irritation and restore skin’s equilibrium.
Why CBD — and what makes it a particularly effective ingredient in the treatment of maskne and irritated, blemish-prone skin overall?
For the answer, I turn to the trusted experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
Cannabidiol has been shown to offer numerous benefits related to calming skin. Skin has specific receptor sites for cannabinoids (referred to as its endocannabinoid system). It seems CBD can “talk” to these receptor sites on skin, sending unique signals to stop firing the wrong messages, which in turn leads to healthier, better-looking skin.
This benefit makes cannabidiol an intriguing ingredient for interrupting the progression of damage within skin’s uppermost layers that can lead to visible problems; however, more research needs to be done to gain a greater understanding of how CBD works on skin.
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(For more, there’s a fantastic article about CBD in skin care in the Skincare Advice section on the Paula’s Choice website titled, CBD Oil's Benefits for Skin: Can it Help With Acne, Anti-Aging, & Other Skin Issues?)
The Balm Labs Serum Hydrator is a super lightweight, silky formula that’s easily layered into any (and every!) existing skincare routine. Besides its soothing, balancing actives, the high concentration of Niacinamide in the formula helps to keep pores clear under the mask. I use it every morning around my mouth and nose. At night, I step things up with my favorite Niacinamide serum, the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster.
The Balm Labs Serum Hydrator’s light, milky texture sinks right in without feeling heavy. It’s natural, deeply nourishing and the perfect daytime maskne treatment.
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 10% off Balm Labs with code SKINCARMA10 Purchase the Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum Hydrator for $75.60 (reg. $84) here.
Skinfix | Remedy+ 911 Ointment
Perhaps the most distressing symptom of maskne is the irritation — the dryness, redness, chafing and peeling. It’s especially disconcerting if that’s not something you regularly manage. Let me tell you, it feels like a three-alarm fire!
I’ve recently discovered an incredibly effective treatment from clinical brand Skinfix, the experts in the treatment of eczema and perioral dermatitis around the mouth. The Skinfix Remedy+ 911 Ointment is the perfect emergency salve for soothing the more serious mask-induced irritation around the mouth and nose.
911 Ointment is a thick, rich unctuous treatment that instantly soothes chafed, irritated skin — exactly what you need for a serious maskne flare-up.
It’s formulated with a deeply moisturizing and protective blend of Cupuaçu Seed Butter, Petrolatum, Sunflower Seed Oil, Beeswax and Shea Butter.
But its star active is the .5% concentration of Allantoin which Skinfix says, “helps promote optimal healing of minor cuts, scrapes and burns and temporarily protects chapped or cracked skin.”
Similar to centella asiatica and cannabidiol, Allantoin is an effective treatment for sensitive skin and skin irritations like the dryness and chafing the mask can cause. In fact, Allantoin is rated among the best ingredients for skin by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team.
What is allantoin?
Allantoin is defined by the Paula’s Choice Research Team as a “by-product of uric acid extracted from urea and considered an effective skin-soothing and skin-conditioning agent.”
Just a few months ago, there was an intriguing piece in Allure magazine titled, Why K-Beauty Ingredient Allantoin Deserves a Place in Your Sensitive Skin-Care Routine. I found this most notable:
Although allantoin has been around for a while, it's recently risen in popularity in Seoul because many Korean beauty consumers struggle with sensitive skin, Soko Glam’s Charlotte Cho tells Allure. “Allantoin is right up there next to the cica and madecassoside trends — all are skin-soothing, skin-calming ingredients used for sensitive skin-friendly products.”.
How does allantoin benefit skin?
Allantoin’s shortlist of soothing benefits include anti-inflammation and hydration, lists cosmetic chemist Ginger King, making it just the gentle ingredient needed for sensitive skin.
The versatile ingredient also acts as a skin protectant much like petroleum jelly. You can often find it in anti-acne, sun care, and lip products for this reason, as it shields skin from chapping and can help improve minor wounds.
For immediate relief of the most serious maskne symptoms, you can’t go wrong with the Skinfix Remedy+ 911 Ointment. Because it’s a heavier treatment, it’s best to apply it around the mouth before bed.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Skinfix Remedy+ 911 Ointment for $24 here.
That’s it, guys! If you’re struggling with maskne, I hope you can find some relief in these four Skincarma Maskne Essentials. Hang in there!
🖤 SKINCARMA
The Ingredient List of the Zitsticka Killa Patches:
sii|h, Oligopeptide-76, Salicylic Acid 
exf|aacne|so|pres, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Tea Tree Oil so|aacne|aox|amic|perf, Vitamin E aox 0-3 0-3, Alcohol 
amic|solv|vcThe Ingredient List of the Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum Hydrator:
Water (Aqua), Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Yeast Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Cannabidiol, Caprylyl Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid.
The Ingredient List of the SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads:
Aqua, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, DMI, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid, Gallic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Ellagic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Bakuchiol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Tocopherol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool.
The Ingredient List of the Skinfix Remedy+ 911 Ointment:
emo 0 0, Beeswax emo|vc|emu|perf 0 0-2, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter emo|vc, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract so|emo|h, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil emo, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil emo|perf 0 4, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emo 0 0-2, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Bisabolol so
