Month: August 2020

Breakouts can happen to anyone. In a world where the new normal means wearing a face mask throughout the day, people have quickly begun to realize that pesky pimples and blackheads aren’t always reserved for adolescent years. While mask-related acne isn’t a new concept (as many hardworking healthcare professionals know), there are a few extra steps that maskne newbies can take to help alleviate redness and blemishes. Help ease blemish woes and learn all there is to know about causes, skincare treatments, plus COSMEDIX customized ‘Maskne’ skin care routine below!

What Causes Maskne?

Maskne is the trending term for “mask acne”—the not-so-lovely blemishes that seem to multiply every time you take off your mask. While a face covering is often required, constant use can create a less than ideal environment for your skin. Think of your mask like the protective barrier that it is, designed to let nothing in and nothing out. This means when you breath or cough, heat and humidity encompass your skin often leading to redness and sensitivity. Pair that with the straps of your mask rubbing against your skin and you have the perfect combination for maskne madness.

What Can You Do to Tame Maskne?

Everyone’s skin is unique. Different skin types will react to different skin care treatments in different ways, but prioritizing hygiene is a fool-proof way to help your complexion look and feel it’s best. If you are struggling with Maskne, the first and most obvious step is to ensure that you are regularly washing your face mask to avoid build up or contamination. For skin types that experience stubborn blackheads or congestion, consider scheduling a trip to your aesthetician’s office for a professional extraction. Extractions are an ideal way to gently refine congested skin and clear pore-clogging impurities. But remember, as tempting as it is, DO NOT pick! This can cause even more irritation and redness over time.

What COSMEDIX Skin Care Products Can Help?

C.P.R | A Skin Recovery Serum that helps ease the look of redness and aids in the recovery of dry skin. Powered by a soothing blend of Blue Agave, antioxidants and peptides, C.P.R helps promote healthy skin recovery while restoring the look of clarity to the complexion. If you are experiencing sensitivity or dry patches after wearing your mask, apply C.P.R. to a clean face for a boost of replenishing skin care ingredients that help soothe the skin.

Affirm |Antioxidants pack a punch when it comes to potential skincare, hair care, and body care benefits—which is why it’s the powerhouse behind Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum. Formulated with antioxidants, peptides, Vitamin E and more, Affirm works to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone while protecting the skin from age-accelerating environmental stressors.

Correct | COSMEDIX Rapid Relied Acne Treatment is ideal for stubborn blemishes that need a bit of targeted attention. Correct contains an exfoliating blend of Salicylic Acid and calming Aloe Vera to help deep clean pores and prevent buildup of pore-clogging impurities. You can easily treat blemishes caused by maskne and encourage a clearer-looking complexion without stripping the skin of essential moisture.

Restore | This Moisture-Rich Mask doubles as a deeply nourishing overnight treatment for skin that needs a surge of hydration. If constant mask wearing has your skin feeling dry, apply a thin coat of Restore to your face before bedtime and wake up to suppler, smoother looking skin. Hydrating ingredients like Mango Seed Butter and Squalene work to lock in moisture, while Papaya Fruit Extract gently exfoliate the skin for a refined look that feels soft and restored. 

Oily skin can be a little tricky when it comes to picking a skin care routine. Unlike your dry skin and normal skin counterparts, you can’t simply load up on uber-moisturizing ingredients or skip a cleanse (we definitely don’t recommend that) just because you feel like it. An oily complexion is a balancing act and, as many people with this skin type know, using the right skin care products is key to helping reduce the look of oil and preventing blemishes.

So, what skin care products should you incorporate? Before we talk about skincare must-haves, it is important to understand what the cause of an oily complexion could be. Most often, oily skin is just what it sounds like—the result of the skin producing too much oil (i.e. sebum). The good news is that oil helps naturally hydrate and condition the skin, potentially leading to a healthier and smoother-looking appearance, even in later years. The bad news is that excess oil can promote congested pores, blemish-prone skin, blackheads… and general frustration.

Help take charge of oil and help balance your complexion with  3 skin care products COSMEDIX recommends every oily skin woman (and man) needs in a skin care routine:

Multi-Tasking Exfoliator

Exfoliating is an important step for every skin type, but it is a VITAL step for oily skin types. As we mentioned before, oil sitting on top of your skin can cause an array of skincare problems that can lead to blemish-prone skin. Using a gentle exfoliator 2-3 times a week will help lift away dirt, oil and other pore-clogging impurities while helping to clarify the complexion.

Reach For: Purity Detox Scrub Multi-Layer Detoxification System is the ultimate exfoliating cocktail, containing both physical and chemical exfoliants to help polish the look of skin. Poppy, jojoba and date seeds combine with Salicylic Acid for a multi-tasking exfoliator that helps smooth the look of skin and promote a clearer-looking appearance over time.

Oil-Free Moisturizer

One of the biggest mistakes made by people who have oily skin is skipping on a moisturizer. It makes sense why some would assume that lathering oily is skin in an ultra-hydrating lotion could be troublesome, but in fact, choosing not to moisturize can cause the skin to produce MORE oil. Again, it’s all about balance. Pamper your skin to proper hydration with an oil-free moisturizer that is formulated to nourish the complexion without causing excess shine.

Reach for: Shineless Oil-Free Moisturizer was specially made with oily and blemish-prone skin types in mind. Powered by Liliac Stem Cells and Niacinamide, this green tea scented moisturizer helps tame excess oil, brighten the appearance of skin, and lock in long-lasting hydration without making the skin feel greasy.

Purifying Mask

The secret to managing an oily complexion is finding that skincare sweet spot that helps refine skin without stripping it of essential oils. Incorporating a weekly mask into your skincare routine can help add an extra boost of “clarity” to your complexion. Look for a face mask that contains purifying ingredients and will help exfoliate the skin without causing it to become dry, tight or irritated.

Reach for: Detox Activated Charcoal mask is a weekly face mask that is both uber gentle and ultra-purifying. Kaolin Clay and Charcoal do the dirty work for you by helping to draw out pore-clogging impurities and refine the look of pores while Diatomaceous Earth gently exfoliates the skin. Combined, this plant-based skincare formula helps hydrate the skin and removes daily impurities for a smoother, clearer-looking complexion.

Exfoliators are a science all their own but understanding the basics can help you craft a customized skin care routine. COSMEDIX is sharing all the ‘need to knows’ and ‘how tos’ on properly exfoliating your face, plus the best products for your skin type! Polish and (gently) scrub your way to a fresher-faced complexion with these tips below:

Exfoliate 2-3 Times a Week

Let’s start with the question we all need answered: how often should you REALLY exfoliate? Generally speaking, it is best to exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week to help lift away the dry skin that can build up from day to day.

But remember, every skin type is different. It is important to listen to your skin and how it reacts to different treatments. If you experience redness or irritation, cut back to 1-2 times a week or experiment with a gentler exfoliant.

Know the Difference in Exfoliants

In the world of skin there are two different types of exfoliants: physical and chemical.

The first type of exfoliant is one we all know well—that textured scrub that graced everyone’s bathroom counter at the wake of adolescence once we discovered rinsing with water wasn’t exactly “skincare”. Physical exfoliants typically contain grainy ingredients that manually lift away dry skin and impurities from the surface of the complexion. Facial brushes and scrubs are common physical exfoliants that should be used gently to avoid irritation.

Chemical exfoliants are bit more technical. Unlike physical exfoliators,  they don’t contain ingredients that can “felt”. Instead, chemical exfoliators rely on acids or enzymes that work under the skin to help shed dry or flakey skin. Because chemical options are not as abrasive, they tend to work best for sensitive skin types and are available as a toner, serum, peel and more.

Understand the Benefits

Even if dirt, oil and impurities aren’t visible to the naked eye, the skin undergoes a lot beneath the surface. Washing your face isn’t enough if you’re hoping to improve the look of uneven texture, redness or decongestion. Exfoliating your complexion 2-3 times a week is the perfect extra step to help:

• Purify the look of pores
• Shed dead skin and encourage healthy skin renewal
• Even the appearance of skin tone and texture
• Boost product absorption

Customize Your Exfoliant to Your Skin Type

Dry Skin: Pure Enzymes

Chemical exfoliants are an ideal option for people with dry or sensitive skin types due to their gentle, non-abrasive formula. Pure Enzymes Cranberry Exfoliating Mask uses fruit enzymes and chirally correct acids to help exfoliate away dull skin and boost hydration for smoother, dewy-looking skin.

Oily Skin: Purity Detox Scrub

Oily skin types can benefit from common physical exfoliants like clay, bamboo stem and seeds to help remove buildup on the skin (i.e. oil). Purity Detox Scrub features both jojoba seeds and poppy seeds to help polish away pore-clogging impurities while Salicylic Acid helps clarify the look of pores. Pro Tip: If your oily skin is causing blemishes, try incorporating a physical exfoliant AND a chemical exfoliant. Salicylic Acid is a popular chemical exfoliant option that helps improve the look of blemish-prone skin and can be used on a more regular basis.

Combination Skin: Purity Clean or Glow

Combination skin types are the lucky few who can choose between using both a chemical exfoliant and physical exfoliant. Purity Clean is an exfoliating cleanser with Lactic Acid that can be used on a daily basis to help balance the skin and reduce the appearance of shine. For areas that struggle with shine or texture, exfoliate the skin with gentle scrub like Glow. This 2-in-1 Bamboo Brightening Mask can be used as a weekly face mask and a scrub to help improve the look of skin texture and tone while nourishing the skin for a brighter-looking complexion.