When treating acne, it is essential to develop a gentle, well-rounded regimen of skincare in order to cleanse and moisturize skin. As a part of this, certain products like face masks can be included to better address problem spots.
Face masks can be effective against acne, but only if your face mask uses high-quality ingredients. Five ingredients that truly have an effect on acne when used in a face mask are:
An acne face mask will work best if all these ingredients are included together to work in tandem. Acne has various causesand thus requires multiple ingredient solutions.
Also read: How to choose the best acne treatment
How to Use Face Masks for Acne
A facemask is left on the skin for a short amount of time before being washed off or removed, which allows powerful, acne-fighting ingredients to penetrate your skin more deeply.
Because facemasks are more potent than many cleansers, moisturizers, and serums, they should only be used occasionally, about once or twice a week max. Nonetheless, your face mask should never irritate your skin and the active ingredients should still be gentle yet effective.
Face masks come in a variety of applications, like sheet masks and rinse-off masks, with varying goals. If your goal is to treat or prevent acne, only certain face mask ingredients are likely to help you do so.
Ingredients to Look Out for
Sulfur
Sulfur is primarily used to reduce excess oil and is one of the most gentle yet effective ingredients you can find in a face mask for acne. It is one of the oldest acne-fighting ingredients due to its ability to remove pore-clogging sebum.
In over-the-counter products, sulfur's antimicrobial abilities are enhanced by the chemical resorcinol, which breaks down rough skin or old, hardened tissue that could be clogging your pores. Our Clarifying Mask utilizes sulfur wither resorcinol as the primary ingredient to purify skin and leave pores smaller and blackhead-free.
Charcoal
Charcoal, another key ingredient in the Exposed Clarifying Mask, is a classic ingredient that helps to draw out, or adsorb, dust and impurities from the pores and then absorb that excess oil from the skin without drying it out.
This is a great ingredient to look for in a face mask, especially if you have oily or combination skin.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural ingredient with inherent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Because the improper use of tea tree oil may lead to irritation, it is important to make sure that you don't try to use tea tree oil on your own, and instead opt for products that use a specified, healthy amount of this ingredient.
When used correctly, tea tree oil is a gentle and effective ingredient which is why chose to include it in our Acne Treatment Serum.
Bentonite clay
Bentonite clay is a type of adsorbent clay that has been used by various cultures to treat skin for centuries. It works by drawing out dirt and sebum and absorbing it into the clay, helping to clear out pores and heal acne wounds.
We use bentonite in our Clarifying Mask to help you remove toxins and impurities.
Benzoyl peroxide
One of the most common and useful ingredients in acne skincare is benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide works by introducing oxygen into your pores. P. acnes, the bacteria that, in excess, causes acne, is anaerobic, meaning it can die when exposed to oxygen. So when benzoyl peroxide brings oxygen into your pores, it can reduce the amount of P. acnes without you worrying about nasty side effects like antibiotic resistance.
These features make benzoyl peroxide a great ingredient in an acne mask, though it should also be accompanied by soothing, natural ingredients like tea tree oil that can reduce inflammation.
Rounding out your Routine
Face masks are an effective addition to your skincare routine to prevent breakouts, but it is necessary to maintain a comprehensive approach with various other steps.
In addition to a face mask every once in a while, one should use a cleanser and moisturizer daily, along with gentle yet effective serums and tonics. At Exposed Skincare, we offer a variety of products that work in sync, designed for everyday use.
The Exposed Basic Kit is perfect if you’re looking for a strong basefor your skincare routine. If you prefer a full line of products to ensure clear skin, we recommend our Ultimate Kit. This kit contains nearly all of our products, from our simple Facial Cleanser to our own Clarifying Mask, which should be used twice per week.
