When we heard that air pollution had dropped during lockdown, with some cities seeing a 60% decrease in NO2 emissions compared to the same period last year, we breathed a collective sigh of relief for our skin (and the planet of course). But if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that every silver lining has a cloud, and so maskne stormed authoritatively into our lexicon and brought with it a revival of our adolescent skincare woes.
MASKNE noun
[portmanteau: Mask, Acne]
Inflammation of the skin characterised by redness and blemishes induced by wearing a government mandated facial covering.
Maskne occurs as our face masks trap sweat, oil and bacteria close to our skin. So it’s important to be cleaning our masks on a hot wash every day (you wouldn’t wear your socks for days on end).
How then, do we balance the very real need to wear masks in public with the desire for dewy, glowing skin which seems so unattainable right now? We use facial coverings to our advantage! Yes they might keep unwanted oils in, but they also retain and aid the absorption of whatever we put on our skin pre-mask. Think gentle, soothing ingredients; natural oils and multi-tasking plant extracts.
Glasshouse, as ever, has a selection of cruelty free, natural and organic skin saviours waiting to become a part of your essential daily routine. Here we share some of our favourites, each available in the salon and on Glasshouse Shop.
Rainforest Rescue Blemish Serum is our newest addition and has become our in-house go-to for all mask-related complaints. Smooth, instantly soothing and with an uplifting fauna scent, Acai and Copaiba tackle blemishes and enlarged pores head on by reducing sebum production. Willow Bark introduces salicylic acid, a gentle, anti-inflammatory exfoliator which clears all that excess oil build up. A combination of 99.7% natural and 82% organic ingredients make this powerful clarifier suitable for even sensitive skin.
Cleanse it Back Face Cleanser balances the skin without sapping it of moisture and natural oils. The gentle oil-to-milk formula melts away oil-based dirt (remember how masks retain this), makeup and pore clogging SPFs. Cleanse it Back contains only six hard-working ingredients, most notably vitamin E to soothe inflammation, redness, and acne concerns. Combined with essential fatty acids for healthy cell renewal and vitamins designed to balance, moisturise and control oil production this simple yet multi-faceted cleanser is the dream pairing for mask fatigued skin.
The Detoxifying Face Oil is the perfect way to take advantage of your facial covering’s absorption intensifying properties. Have a makeup free day and allow its cleansing Camellia, Black Seed and Eucalyptus botanicals to sink in to soothe and stabilise your troubled skin. Essential anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal ingredients treat the symptoms of maskne at their cause without drying or compromising the skin’s natural oils.
Dagger Rose Cleansing Powder is a journey in texture. Soft powder to foaming cleanser, it delicately exfoliates and lifts impurities. A master of incorporating powerhouse ingredients, Guy Morgan offers us Organic Rosehip to nourish and even skin-tone; Rose Otto and Chamomile to combat bacterial buildup and inflammation; and Organic Baobab to smooth and build elasticity. As well as the lesser known Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, a light and mild surfactant naturally derived from coconut which absorbs dirt and pollutants to be washed away (much like the behaviour of activated charcoal). This is every maskne fighting ingredient you could hope for all contained within an elegant glass apothecary bottle.
The Homemade Solution
Ingredients:
- A spray bottle
- 50ml water
- 2-4 drops of eucalyptus
- 2-4 drops of tea tree oil/lavender oil
Method:
Combine the oils and water in your pocket sized spray bottle, and spritz lightly into your mask before heading out for the day.
Tea-tree and lavender both possess antibacterial properties, perfect for keeping mask-contained bacterial build up at bay. Whilst eucalyptus keeps sinuses clear, a great addition if the restrictive nature of masks is a concern for you
Browse more of our skincare online at Glasshouse Shop
Words: Daisy Morey
Feature Image: Thea Lovstad x Otiumberg for Glasshouse Journal
