Skincare Success Story: How Marisa Hunter Tackled Maskne For Good

7 min
August 30, 2021

September of 2020, we received an Instagram message that read, “Being fully transparent with you guys, my skin has been WRECKED from mask-wearing. I’ve never had acne like this in my entire life,” wrote Marisa Hunter. After speaking with her more about her skin, we learned Marisa had developed red, inflamed cystic acne on her cheeks.

However, since then, she has seen impressive improvement after starting a DDG regimen. “My ‘maskne’ was improved after just one day of using DDG products,” Marisa told us. “The Alpha Beta Peel pads were absolutely transformational for my skin. Pure magic!” We’re so excited to share Marisa’s results with you and show just how far her skin journey has come since that first Instagram message.

Before using DDG, what was your skincare regimen?

Before using DDG, my skincare regimen consisted of drugstore acne solutions to try and tame my breakouts, to no avail. I combined them with random, trendy serums and treatments. My regimen included a cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream, with the occasional serum sprinkled in. 

How did you feel about your skin before using DDG?

It’s been a hard year for everyone and even my skin! The stress from the state of the world and the constant mask-wearing just destroyed my complexion. I’m in my thirties, and I felt like a teenager going through puberty mixed with a middle-aged adult dealing with signs of aging and stress. I actually found myself THANKFUL for having to wear a mask in public, because it was hiding my awful skin. I moved to a tropical climate this year, and much like when on vacation, I hardly ever wear makeup. All I wanted was a glowy, clear, bare face, but I got the total opposite. Before I started my DDG regimen, I was feeling really hopeless and bad about my skin. I realized how much the quality of our skin can really have an effect on our confidence.

What was the length of time between your before and after shots?

The first photo was taken before I started DDG, the second photo was after one week and the third was after 3 months!

For clear, glowing skin, what changes did you make to your routine?

The biggest change I’ve made in an effort to clear my skin is using a quality skincare regimen – enter Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. Getting the acne to calm down is great, but to lighten and even out the complexion from all that trauma to my skin is a whole other thing!

The Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum has made a MAJOR change in my skin and has given me the glow I’ve been looking for. I have a very clean diet, so I knew that wasn’t an issue. The recent mask-wearing in the last year has really done a number on my acne-prone skin. I try my best to replace masks often and never let anything (besides my face) touch the inside of the mask to reduce more bacteria from getting in.

What did you like about each product in your regimen? What results did you see?

I love the Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel and the Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion. They are staples in my regimen because they really work. They aren’t your average moisturizer and cleanser! I love that the cleanser is packed with AHAs and BHAs.

The Acne Eliminating Gel is a must-have product for me. When I use the Acne Gel on my breakouts, I wake up to less of a raging breakout and more of a recovering blemish. I also love that it reduces the redness and inflammation on my breakouts, which is honestly the worst part of them.

If my skin starts acting up, I immediately know what to do – use the Alpha Beta Universal Peel! They are like magic. My skin looks better after ONE use. After a few uses, I feel like a new woman with a clean, glowing complexion. I’m blown away by the power of these little pads every time I use them. I just can’t believe how good they are!

Also, the Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum has been a game-changer for me. In the last few years, I’ve noticed dark spots (gasp!) under my eyes and above my lip. Even with tons of concealer, foundation, and powder, they were still visible! I found myself editing them out of photos because it was so bad. Whether it was sun damage or melasma, I immediately started researching ways to get rid of it. This included prescription creams and expensive laser treatments. I had seen that DDG had a dark spot corrector and when I saw that it was clinical grade, I decided to give it a whirl. All I can say is, if you have dark spots – run, don’t walk, to get your hands on this serum. It lightened my dark spots after a FEW uses and gave me so much confidence back! 

What are your DDG product essentials? What is on your wishlist?

My holy grail DDG products are the Alpha Beta Universal Peel and the Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum. The Peel pads are my desert island product because they treat ALL of my skincare issues; acne, dark spots, dullness, uneven skin, signs of aging – you name it! The Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum is like the finishing touch that brings all the DDG goodness together. It gives me professional quality results, and the results are DRAMATIC. I’m talking 1-2 days of use and I’m like “WOW.” Honestly, that’s what we’re all looking for: products that work and work fast.

What’s the best skincare advice you’ve ever received?

The best skincare advice I’ve ever received (but don’t always listen to), is to not pick! With acne, it’s so easy to want to squeeze and pick until your face looks like a red, welted, inflamed mess. Most of the time, squeezing and picking at my acne just leaves marks and ultimately results in an uneven, dark spot ridden complexion. I’m still working on this bad habit!

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Written By

Alyssa Keller

Alyssa Keller is the Director of Content & Communication at Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. She is a self-prescribed skincare enthusiast and takes sun protection to a whole other level.

Read More from Alyssa Keller

Written By

Alyssa Keller

Alyssa Keller is the Director of Content & Communication at Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. She is a self-prescribed skincare enthusiast and takes sun protection to a whole other level.

Read More from Alyssa Keller

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