Mask It!
I will never forget buying Freeman's Facial Masks as a kid when my mom would take me shopping with her. Even though we didn't have a lot of extra money growing up, my mother always made sure we could spoil ourselves every now and then. Every Sunday night, before the school week started up, I would pamper myself and get ready for the week to come, this routine grew extensive as I aged so no surprise I would end up a Skin Therapist co-owning a Day Spa!
One of my favorite parts of my weekly self-pampering was doing a facial mask, or applying a gel or clay like cream to your skin for 10 minutes. The Freeman’s one I would get was either the Avocado Clay Mask (way to drying for my skin type) or the peel-off kind which I loved the most (also still not the right ingredients for my skin). The real purpose of the mask depends on what kind of mask it is, what it is meant to do for your skin. Like most things, not all masks are created equal, and knowing what to look for is a huge part.
“Invest in your skin. It’s going to represent you for a long time.”
There is truth to this statement, but it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank for good skincare. There are so many quality product lines out there that are also affordable. If you’d like to know more, follow me on Instagram as I frequently name products I love, and ingredient knowledge (look for the photos of skincare). Investing in yourself is priceless.
Let’s get one thing clear about masks: masking isn't just applying a product for 10-20 minutes and magically it solves all your skin problems. In the case of treating a pimple, for example, I will treat the area with two or three different masks over the course of a week, each one serving a different purpose. In the world of masks, there are many different kinds to choose from—the most common being cream, gel, and clay.
Cream masks are best for drier, or more mature skin, as most times the nutrients and vitamins packed in will aid in rejuvenating. The hydrators inside will also help to draw moisture into the skin. These can be customized by adding a hydrating or vitamin rich serum before the mask application, or used only in drier areas of your face. I love Farmhouse Fresh Guac Star Mask as an at home boost of moisture while, Laneige Water Sleeping Mask is my all time favorite overnight mask. I love how it feels so light and sleek on my skin, leaving me glowing and hydrated the next day. A good cream mask should leave your skin feeling soft, supple, and very well hydrated, not greasy or with a residue.
A Clay mask is quite the opposite—this type will draw out oils and debris, not push nutrients in. Clay is typically used in oilier parts of the face, like the T- zone or just the forehead. So you can totally have a cream mask on part of your face and a calm mask in your T-zone. There are better clay ingredients in masks now then there were when I was buying my Freeman's sea mud mask though! Like Kaolin or Bentonite Clay are great because they don't harden like others. This allows the skin to maintain some moisture and not completely dry out! Skin Script has an amazing cleanser, the Charcoal Clay Cleanser, that can act as that absorbing mask without leaving on the skin. Please note though, that these masks will not "pull out" blackheads. In order to remove blackheads or clogged follicles, you need to take a trip down to your esthetician and get some extractions done! There are so many options to choose from for clay masks—just make sure to check your ingredients for any petroleum or mineral oil, as these can defeat the purpose of this particular mask.
Gel masks are best used all over and for any skin type, providing both hydration and treatment at the same time. They don't harden, may absorb into the skin if you are dehydrated (lacking water) and typically very hydrating. Gel based masks are great for everybody and they each have their own special purpose. I also put most sheet masks in this category too as they do have a gel on them that they have been soaking in. Keeping one of these around is mandatory for me. Always check the instructions on use and the ingredients, you should be able to decipher if it is meant for your skin type. If you don’t know your skin type, head over to my blog Know Your Type
Tips for masks:
Use once a week at most
Keep hydrating masks in the fridge, makes for a great cooling and soothing treatment
Apply with a fan brush or silicon brush, this helps limit waste and contaminating the jar
Remove with either a disposable facial sponge or damp face cloth, don’t drag skin
For Clay Masks that harden, rinse face with warm water and massage water into mask with fingertips. This will soften the mask and make removal easier.
Till next time, be good to your skin and even better to yourself,
xx eri