Written by: Blaise Geyer PA-C
The year of 2020 has brought about some interesting changes in our day-to-day life. One of the most noticeable being the need for constant mask wearing in public. Those that have never struggled with acne are suddenly having acne eruptions on their face! “Maskne,” referred to as acne mechanica in the medical world, is thanks to the heat, friction and occlusion of the skin combined with the moist environment created from talking, sweating and breathing with your mask in place. This combo is the perfect storm for clogged pores that lead to pimples and acne cysts.
Enter in toners. Toners exist to gently refresh the skin and prevent acne breakouts. They rid the face of dead skin cells that can clog pores without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. Using a toner is also a great way to prepare your skin to soak up all of your other post-cleansing products, allowing them to penetrate deeper and work more effectively.
ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads
Though I have combination skin, I have always struggled on and off with acne and noticed that my breakouts definitely increased with the adoption of daily mask wearing. ZO Complexion Renewal pads are textured pre-moistened pads that contain glycolic acid and a botanical extract blend to minimize surface oils and exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells and dirt while soothing irritated skin.
This toner fits great into any daily skincare routine after washing +/- exfoliating your face, prior to using your other skincare products. ZO recommends twice daily use of the pads, however, I generally use the product once daily during my nighttime routine and then up it to twice daily when I am having problems with pore congestion, oiliness, and acne. If your skin is normally oily and you consistently have problems with acne, I would pursue ZO Oil Control Pads which also contain 2% salicylic acid which provides additional acne fighting and prevention.
Even though you’re wearing a mask, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer with unwanted acne. Give ZO Complexion Renewal Pads a try and see how your skin clears!