How You Can Get Rid Of Unsightly Breakouts, Stat
Fast and effective acne treatments to treat maskne.
In the past two weeks we’ve seen temperatures hitting highs of 36.5°C and 37°C. Coupled with the completely illogical bouts of sun showers, the weather has been unbearably hot and humid – a perfect recipe for triggering mask acne.
Fondly christened maskne since COVID-19 came about, mask acne comes about when humidity, sweat, bacteria, and oils are trapped under that protective face mask that you don daily. At times, it’s caused by bacteria growing on reusable cloth face masks which aren’t properly washed and sterilised. Also, some of us may even have acne-prone and sensitive skin that are allergic to cheap disposable masks.
Maskne solution? A visit to the GP (general practitioner) taught us that if you have maskne, we should drop the reusable cloth mask – at least until your maskne has been resolved. And instead, opt for disposable surgical face masks.
While you make the switch, you’ll want to start on acne treatments to kill the acne-causing bacteria, dry up the pus, reduce the swelling, soothe the skin and clear those unsightly post-acne marks.
Here are 10 fast-acting acne treatments that you can easily find in stores or online:
As its name suggests, the Zero Zit Blemish Solution by Pixi is a one-stop solution for your pimples. Formulated with a potent blend of wintergreen leaf extract, a natural salicylic acid, and sulfur, this skin treatment is said to help control sebum production and treat stubborn blemishes at the same time. More importantly, the spot treatment also comes with a lightweight texture that quickly absorbs into your skin, so it doesn’t feel heavy and it minimises the redness on your face too.
The Acne Pimple Master Patch from Cosrx is an absolute holy grail for obvious reasons. When you do have a pimple that’s about to pop, we highly suggest avoiding popping it with your fingers, or even worse, your nails. Instead, we recommend putting on the pimple patch on the pimple and letting it sit for a few hours. What’s great about this patch is that it absorbs all the pus without scarring the skin. It’s especially effective when you use it until your pimple disappears, and you’ll even notice a huge difference after just one day of application! This is because the clear hydrocolloid patch adheres to the skin firmly and absorbs the pus and oil from pimples. After which, the patch soothes the inflamed area.
Like most of us, we’ve only won half the battle if the pimple goes down, but what about the post-acne marks that we’re left with? Now that’s where Kiehl’s iconic Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector comes in. Formulated with a potent blend of Vitamin C, buffered Salicylic Acid, and Peony extract, this serum doesn’t just banish your marks, but it also helps to brighten your complexion and evens out the discolouration on your skin which includes dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Apply it daily as your daily serum and follow up with a generous layer of sunscreen during the day for maximum protection.
Applying makeup over your spots can at times, worsen acne or cause new breakouts — which is obviously not what you’d want especially if you’ve been trying to get rid of it over the past few days. Instead of reaching out for your concealer, why not try the Cicapair Re-cover CC Cream. All you need is a small dot on the area you’d like to conceal. Then the green-to-beige colour-correcting cream blends seamlessly into your skin, reducing redness from your blemishes while protecting it from harmful UV light as it is also formulated with SPF40.
This dark spot corrector has everything — wild French beech bud extract to accelerate skin’s natural renewal, Vitamin C derivative and Ellagic Acid to target skin discolouration like dark spots, enlarged pores and blemishes. Your skin clears up in a week’s time, and when used regularly, the appearance of dark spots, is also visibly reduced.
If you prefer a fast-absorbing, non-sticky formula, this light and non-greasy Sephora Collection Clarifying Serum is packed with the active ingredient salicylic acid that’s known to penetrate your pores, and kill the acne-causing bacteria. And, if you haven’t tried Sephora’s very own range of skincare products, the Sephora Collection is cruelty-free and some of them are labelled vegan (meaning our Muslim friends will be able to use them worry-free).
Ever heard of a sanitising spray that can be used on your face? Here’s one formulated by the beloved facial joint, Porcelain Skin. The plant-based, cruelty-free Skin Protecting Sanitiser contains key ingredients such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and hypochlorous acid to kill viruses and soothe inflammation.
My Clarins CLEAR-OUT Targets Imperfections is a vegan, plant-based formula that works by drying out your pimples with natural botanical extracts such as meadowsweet, eucalyptus, and hibiscus. Do note that this formula contains salicylic acid, so you will need to use sunscreen afterwards.
If your skin is not that sensitive and is friendly towards acids, try this – the all-time classic Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum. This lightweight, clear liquid formula is a hardcore concoction of acids – glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid – which dries out quickly so you don’t have to worry about sticky and icky creams staining your pillowcase. Again, be sure to slap on sunscreen in the day to avoid burns. Also, be sure to draw those curtains if you’re sleeping in for the morning lest your skin gets sunburnt!
How about a super classic acne spot treatment? Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion contains two key ingredients – calamine and salicylic acid to quickly dry out your pimples overnight. However, you’ll need to read the instructions manual for this one. Do not shake the bottle. You’ll need a cotton bud or Q-tip. Stick it all the way to the bottom to collect some calamine, and dot your pimples and blemishes. Yes, your face will be full of wet, pink dots – not the sexiest, but at least it’s a cute baby pink. You can’t really sleep with it on either. So, you might want to Netflix away while you wait for the formula (and your zits!) to dry.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.