Along with coronavirus and masks, 2020 has graced us with a lesser, but still annoying problem. Combine sweat, sunscreen and a mask and chances are you’re dealing with irritated skin on your face.

Even for those of us blessed with trouble-free skin, this summer’s unique challenge of frequently wearing masks is wreaking havoc on our faces. All the sweat and dirt trapped against the skin doesn’t do anyone any good. But masks are important, so we need to figure out how to deal with it as best as we can.

I have a confession. I’ve never had acne. One little pimple is a skin crisis for me. I know I’m lucky. But at the beginning of this summer, the lower half of my face was an angry mess. I went into a pharmacy and stared at all the products that promised gentle facial cleansing. I remembered that Renee had recommended Cerave facial moisturizer in this skincare post, so I figured I’d try that brand. 

I picked up this Cerave facial cleanser for normal to dry skin (in winter my skin is super dry but in summer I only need a light moisturizer) and figured I’d give it a try. Literally, one washing later my face felt transformed. Within 3 days of using this cleanser, my skin was back under control and has been clear ever since. 

But here’s my tip. Don’t keep the cleanser by the sink. Keep it in the shower. Assuming you shower whenever you’re at your sweatiest, that’s when you’ll be most likely to cleanse your face. This cleanser is gentle enough that even if you use it multiple times a day, you’ll be fine. And you avoid that hassle of making the whole counter and your sleeves all wet. Trust me – you’ll love that clean feeling afterward!