If there’s one group of skin care products that’s shot to fame in the beauty stratosphere in recent years, it’s face masks. Masks are useful, effective and easy to use. They can make you feel like a VIP in your home and help you get gorgeous-looking skin by doing virtually nothing.
Whether it’s a sheet mask, clay mask, gel mask, peel mask or bubble mask, adding a face mask to your regular skin care routine can help you get healthy and supple skin that glows. For us, a mask that actually does what it says it will is everything. So, read on to find out everything you need to know about face masks (and a few tips for using them correctly).
Wait, why should I use a face mask?
Face masks give your skin an instant oomph and can help sort out specific skin concerns. No matter what skin type you have, there’s a mask out there that can pep up your complexion while keeping oil, dryness and breakouts at bay.
It can be overwhelming trying to choose the ‘best’ mask for your skin when there are so many types available. Whether you have dry, oily, maturing or sensitive skin, the most important thing is to know is how each type works and whether it’s for you.
Sheet masks
A sheet mask is a fabric mask soaked in concentrated serums with holes/openings for your mouth, nostrils and ears. You place it on your face for 20-30 minutes and voila! Instantly plumper, brighter, glowier skin, thanks to all the juicy serums your skin has soaked up.
Sheet masks are best for dry and sensitive skin types as they’re ultra-hydrating and non-irritating. They’re also great when you’re on-the-go or travelling as they come in individual sachets. The recommended usage is 2-3 times a week – or whenever your skin needs a moisture surge.
Clay masks
Clay masks are deep-cleansing treatments that help minimize pores, improve skin tone, absorb excess oil and more. They have a natural base and contain either clay or charcoal – both superheroes at decongesting troubled skin and detoxifying environmental pollutants.
Generally, clay masks include additional ingredients to help draw out impurities and protect skin against free radical damage. Be warned though – it’s not advised to let a clay mask dry completely. After it cools and contracts, wash it off! If you wait for it to crack and flake, your skin may get itchy and irritated.
For oily skin types, clay masks are a must. There are tons of options to explore and each one will bring a specific benefit to your skin care routine, so have fun experimenting with them!
Gel masks
Gel masks are cooling, soothing and hydrating. In other words, they're the perfect choice for dry, sensitive or stressed-out skin. Great for helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and transforming tired-looking skin into radiant skin, gel masks are full of collagen and antioxidants.
Ideal for dehydrated skin that needs a little extra TLC, gel masks will plump up your skin cells to leave your skin looking replenished. They’re basically the skin care equivalent of a wheatgrass shot.
Peel masks
Peel masks work by gently removing the outermost layer of your skin to eliminate dullness and dead skin. They can assist in drawing out the gunk from blocked pores and decreasing pigmentation.
Plus, they’re incredibly satisfying to use, particularly if you manage to peel the whole mask off in one layer. Peel masks leave skin with an ultra-smooth and hydrated feeling, and an overall cleaner and brighter appearance.
Because they belong in the deep-cleaning family of face masks, they’re best suited to oily and combination skin types. Hydrating versions, like Sea Side Glow, can safely be used for drier skin types too.
Bubble masks
Bubble masks use a unique oxygenation process to cleanse the skin and lift away dirt. They foam up and create bubbles on your skin, tightening and toning your skin while removing excess sebum and dirt.
Available in cream, clay and sheet mask forms, most bubble masks automatically activate on your skin, much like self-warming clay masks. For those with oily or combination skin who are prone to excess oil build-up, they’re a great way to deal with pesky blackheads while boosting skin’s radiance and hydration levels.
Anything else I need to know about face masks?
Face masks are useful in the short and long term. To achieve your skin care goals, you should use them consistently in your skin care routine. And yes, you can experiment with more than one mask type! In fact, we highly recommend multi-masking.
Try applying a few different masks to different sections of your face at once. For example, if you have combination skin and tend to get a bit of an oily T-zone, you can apply a clay mask to the oily areas and a gel mask to the rest of your face. Magic!
