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With all my adult acne issues, I had plans to discuss my favorite nontoxic spot treatments; however, this post couldn’t have come at a better time as maskne is a real issue right now. “Mask acne” has started to quite literally pop up everywhere. I mean it makes sense. Masks keep our warm breath in which creates a breading ground for clogged pores, bacteria and more, not to mention that it rubs against our skin creating breakouts in an already hormonal / often issue ridden zone.

Keep reading for my favorite nontoxic spot treatments!

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Primally Pure Beauty Cream Palmarosa Mint (get 10% off any PP order with discount code ELLEMULENOS) | Primally Pure Plumping Face Mask (get 10% off any PP order with discount code ELLEMULENOS) | Follain Clarifying Spot Gel (c/o) | Primally Pure Immune Boosting Hand Sanitizer (get 10% off any PP order with discount code ELLEMULENOS)

If you are out about a lot or having to work and such with a mask, I would recommend removing the mask as soon as your can, washing your face immediately, and icing your face (constantly moving an ice cube on it for 1-2 minutes), especially the lower half. After you wash your hands of course! It’s funny, with all the hubbub of washing your hands for 2 minutes, I’ve begun to take note of how long I wash my face. I even have a timed toothbrush and only recently began thinking about how long I actually sit and wash my face. Corrective Skincare LA recently said you should wash your face like you would a “used lasagna pan.” This was a light bulb for me and I have definitely altered my technique of cleansing.

Back to the topic of spot treatments…they are great for treating individual pimples or troublesome areas, both those caused by wearing masks and those that are not. For me I have the issues around my chin anyway and masks are certainly not helping my body’s problem; however, I have been more intentional of spot treating and have found it pretty effective. No this won’t stop you from getting pimples. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…if there was a magic treatment for zits that didn’t have horrible side effects or did more than put a bandaid on a bigger issue, we would all be happy and using it. I’m not saying that these best practices / spot treatments will make you never get a zit again. I am saying that I’ve found these tips to make certain pimples have a shorter lifespan and heal faster. Yes please!

Madewell Scrunch Top (c/o) | Agolde Parker Shorts | Cariuma Sneakers (c/o) | Uncommon James Criss Cross Earrings

Before I dive into everything, I just want to mention that “using all the things” likely will not help you either. If you are using a ton of products, exfoliating too much / using too much acid, or incorporating too many new products at once, allllllllll of those things can create issues. I know having a bunch of steps and / or incorporating new products may feel fun and fancy, but take it slow. Additionally, test things out on your skin before using. I like to test on the soft / under part of my forearm and on the side of my neck. These aren’t too visible if you do have a reaction, but still work as the skin there is more similar to that of the skin on your face.

With that being said, let’s get into my favorites!

Masks: No not face coverings… face masks! I love using a potted / tubed face mask to dollop on a troublesome spot or area. My favorites are Primally Pure plumping mask (get 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS), though I am dying to try their new CBD mask. I do love the Juice Beauty Green Apple peel, but prefer to use that all over my face, not by spot treating. A more budget friendly option I like is the Indian Healing clay mask. I also like a good DIY charcoal mask.
Follain Clarifying Spot Gel (c/o - get 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS): Follain released their acne line almost 2 months ago and it is good. My favorite is their spot treatment! You can use it max 3 times a day, but the most I’ve used it is 2. Again, I recommend not overdoing it. A little goes a long way, though it is all natural and isn’t as harsh as chemical versions. I had this pesky spot on my lip that just wouldn’t go away and within a week of using it, the raised spot subsided and began the actual healing process.
Primally Pure Immune Boosting Hand Sanitizer (get 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS): This was unexpected, but I’ll take it! They came out with a hand sanitizer in spring as a response to the pandemic, but it works as great spot treatment thanks to the oregano and thyme oil! Note that it does include alcohol, so if you don’t like to put this drying agent on your face, I wouldn’t use it. I like to dip a cotton swab in it and place it on that way, as it assures I do not use too much.
Primally Pure Palmarosa Mint Beauty Cream (get 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS):
Contrary to popular belief, if you have acne you don’t want to use less face lotion, as acne that is dry actually creates more of an issue. This is oil based, so a little goes a long way. I love dabbing it on problem areas or spots to keep them moisturized. I wrote a review of palmarosa here, but it basically helps kill bacteria and helps reduce redness and inflammation. I prefer to use this at night and / or on days I don’t wear makeup. I don’t prefer the oil based cream on under makeup, as it tends to accentuate the spot / make it shiny.
Nuderma Wand: I wouldn’t say I have a set schedule for this. I typically use it as soon as I feel a zit pop or or feel the forthcomings in an area. After that I use it max every other day on a continued problem area. It drastically reduces the lifespan of zits and is super easy to use. I wrote a whole review / did a YouTube video here.

Also never underestimate the power of good ol’ polysporin. If have a spot that pops on its own/oozing/has several heads I definitely whip this out as it is more like a wound than a pimple. *Update October 2022, I like to use Active Skin Repair instead of poly or neosporin. You can use discount code ELLEMULENOS for 20% off.

A spot treatment I haven’t tried, but it looks great is the Cocokind Turmeric Tonic. It works similarly to their turmeric stick but it has even better reviews! Another thing I haven’t tried are the zit patches / stickers. These have rave reviews and this was the first brand I ever saw doing it.

As a side note - I use acne medications from Corrective Skincare LA. I used to use them every day (as per my esthetician’s recommendation), but have backed down a bit to let my (now slightly better) skin breathe. I typically do a rolling routine as it’s not an “I do this MWF” but it’s an every other day type of thing. I do use a jade roller / gua sha, but that’s not what I was referencing when I say rolling ;) Anyway, my point in this little paragraph is to say do not spot treat with my acne medication. I put acne meds all over my face, of course avoiding my eyes, nose, and lips. Unless it is a specific spot treatment, most estheticians recommend you not spot treat with acne meds, as it works better by applying it all over and you don’t want to put to heavy of a dose in just one spot. It is more preventative this way!

Here’s a look at what a typical 2 weeks within my skincare routine looks like for reference. Sometimes I switch it up because I like to do a mask after wearing sunscreen/going to the beach, but this is basically it:

Week 1:

S: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / do a face mask / Face Oil at Bed (been using this one or this one with my gua sha)

M: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment
T: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed
W: Cleanse / Ice / Acne Medication / Spot treat with Moisturizer as needed
R: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed
F: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Vitamin a cleanser
S: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed

Week 2:

S: Cleanse / Ice/ Acne Medication / Spot treat with Moisturizer as needed
M: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed (been using this one or this one with my gua sha)
T: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / do a face mask
W: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed (been using this one or this one with my gua sha)
R: Cleanse / Ice / Acne Medication / Spot treat with Moisturizer as needed
F: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Face Oil at Bed (been using this one or this one with my gua sha)
S: Cleanse / Ice / Moisturize / spot treatment / Vitamin a cleanser

For reference, these are the products I’ve been using

Facial Cleansers: Easy Does it Cleanser or double cleansing with Vitamin B Face Oil or Primally Pure Cleansing oil, followed by Easy Does it cleanser if I’m wearing makeup or sunscreen. I use this Vitamin A cleanser once a weekish.
Moisturizers: Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery cream or Beauty Cream for spot treating areas. I rarely put the latter all over my face.
Face Oils: CBD Face oil or Clarifying Face Oil
Acne Meds: Corrective Skincare LA Peeling Lotion and Corrective Skincare LA Peeling Pads
Gua Sha Stone: This is the one I use!

I mentioned it throughout the post, but you can get 10% off Primally Pure and Primally Pure CBD products with discount code ELLEMULENOS. The same with Follain. If you are on their site, use promo code ELLEMULENOS for 10% off. Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite spot treatment I should try? What’s your holy grail item?! Let me know so I can give it a go!