In the midst of a pandemic, your skin might be experiencing erm… changes. First of all, staying indoors all the time decreases our Vitamin D intake, suppressing the skin of sunlight. With temperatures rising, air conditioners are turned on higher, causing our skin to dry out. And to make matters worse, our face coverings that are to protect us from the virus, are giving us acne! If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. So how do we fix this challenge while still wearing a mask? Read on to find out. 

Why is my mask giving me acne?

Most cities require the mask to cover your mouth and nose, allowing bacteria to be trapped in the air you breathe between your face and your mouth. If you have sensitive skin, the friction from the mask moving can worsen your chances of acne and clogged pores. Prevent this with the steps below:

1. Wash your face before and after you wear a mask: we highly recommend starting with a clean slate, or face – make sure your face is cleansed with a gentle oil-free wash and with lukewarm water. 
2. Moisturize: making sure your skin is properly hydrated is essential in dry heat summers but more so when your face must be masked. Indulge in a good non-comedogenic cream to avoid pores clogging and promote hydration. 
3. Wear cotton cloth masks only: cotton is known to be more breathable and has less bacteria buildup.

We’ve compiled a list of some heat-friendly face masks for those that are on the move and exercising.