BEST MASKNE TREATMENTS - BALM LABS CLEAR BALM SERUM HYDRATOR, BEST TREATMENT FOR MASKNE IRRITATION
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Best Maskne Treatments - Zitsticka Killa Zit Patches, Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum, Skinfix 911 Ointment and Self/Ish Exfoliating Pads. You can catch the full piece here.
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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.
My maskne essentials include: Zitsticka Killa Patches, SELF/ish Exfoliating Pads, Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum Hydrator and Skinfix Remedy+ 911 Ointment.
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.
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
