Dealing with Maskne: The Face Mask Face-Off
A note from Connie…”I don’t think spots are something to feel bad about in the slightest; the skin you are in is beautiful regardless! However, if you are feeling irritated by your face’s new friends – read on.”
As we emerge from quarantine, we are faced with a new normal, and part of that is wearing a mask. However, sometimes when the mask comes off, redness and stinging lurk beneath. A whitehead takes its first breath, and a new bout of Maskne welcomes both the world and the chin.
We’re all human, and we all get spots, but if you want to get rid of them with a natural remedy and the contents of your fridge, then this is the list for you. Who knew everyday kitchen ingredients were so multifaceted?
Mask 1: 1 banana (mashed into smooth paste)
On first impression, after a decent amount of mashing, you would expect this to smell a lot better than it does! Not a great smell at all. I won’t talk too much about this one, as it wasn’t too bad but also wasn’t too great either. I left it on for about 20 minutes, and while yes, my skin did feel smoother after the banana, I honestly could have used the food in many better ways for a better outcome. If you’re in a pinch, have no moisturizer, and for some reason a banana, maybe this is the one for you? Otherwise, it felt a little lacklustre.
Overall score: 6/10
Mask 2: ½ teaspoon turmeric + 1 tablespoon honey
At first glance, I was a little sceptical of this mask. The stickiness and orange residue did not look the most appealing. However, I slapped it on my face, and it began its 15-minute staycation on my pores. My main first impression was that if this were in a tube with a name brand on it, I wouldn’t question the product’s validity at all! It looked a lot like a store-bought treatment when on the face.
As the minutes passed there wasn’t much to it – no tingling, no tightening… and to be honest, no nothing. I was a little concerned we had a time waster on our hands. However, when my timer rang and I started washing it off, I did notice an exfoliation beginning, and actually, my skin felt amazing when it was all washed off!
However, unless your desired aesthetic is “I’m auditioning for The Simpsons”, I would only leave it on for 10 minutes! It didn’t stain my face, but my hands had a questionable tinge.
Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and I would say that was clear in its results. The fabric-mask-induced spots did appear less red, and it even brought some to the surface through its cleansing quality. I would say this one worked well, but don’t do it right before you need to be somewhere. This is a day-before kind of treatment.
Overall score: 8/10
Mask 3: Leftover porridge (oats + milk)
Got problems with accurate portion size when cooking? Well, this one is for you! (If not, you can always just make porridge and do this anyway. I used porridge that literally consisted of oats and milk – nothing fancy. The application of this one was more difficult than the prior two – the oats don’t exactly want to merge with the skin. Regardless, once it was on the face I left it on for 15 minutes, and the results were quite surprising as my skin felt very tight. A bit like those unbearable skin treatments that offer an unknown wax on the house! Just with lots of cooked oats in the equation.
Whilst I thought the end result was a desirable one – the next and final mask was MUCH faster and easier for the same result. A point has to be deducted for that; however, if you’ve got some leftover porridge, this is a great way to ensure no wastefulness and glowing skin.
Overall score: 9/10
Mask 4: 1 egg (beaten)
I was quite hesitant upon reading the short ingredient list of this one – a humble egg. However, this one surprised me the most – immediately upon application, my skin tightened. I left this one on for about half an hour, and my skin was noticeably brighter, smoother, and tighter! I used a pastry brush and applied an even light layer. The egg goes a long way, so I would suggest that if you were cooking with eggs, you could just leave a tiny amount to the side and that would do. Or, if you’re with your friends and want to do something a little bit different, what could be more entertaining than brushing raw egg on each other’s faces!
I think this one would be great for before makeup application, as my skin felt so smooth and the tone was more even. Highly, highly, highly recommend this egg-centric mask hack!
Overall score: 10/10
Overall, I think the egg takes the cake here. Each of the mask alternatives provided a pretty similar result, though, so if you have these items hidden in the cupboards, I would recommend trying them out. It’s a good way to ensure less wastefulness in your household and in this weird time. And hey! It’s always fun to try something different!
