Face masks – the why, the when and the which?

Face masks are an important part of any beauty ritual. Cleansing can only get you so far when it comes to cleaning out your pores. While cleansing is good for removing dirt on the surface of the skin, a good natural face mask will penetrate the epidermis and remove stubborn dirt and grime that gets stuck in your pores and can cause oil build-up, leading to imperfections and blemishes. A face mask can also deeply treat and heal your skin concerns. 

Do face masks really work for skin?

A skincare face mask is essentially a potent form of skincare ingredients that will be targeted to specific skincare goals.  A skincare face mask is a great way to level up your skincare game, practice self-love and improve the effectiveness of your other skincare steps. A face mask will work wonders for your skin if it is natural and organic. Face masks that use lots of filler ingredients or chemicals will not be effective and aren’t worth adding to your skincare routine. A face mask should be used at least once a week to give your skin a big dose of what it needs – be it deep cleansing, hydration anti-aging or balancing.

Do I need a mask in my skincare routine?

Yes. A face mask is essential to your skincare routine. A face mask is the superfood smoothie of skincare – packed with vital nutrients that will significantly improve your skin.  A skincare face mask can come in many different types and the one that you choose will depend on your unique skin type and goals. One of the most common types of face masks is a cream face mask. A cream face mask tends to be hydrating and intended to cool, hydrate and nourish the skin. Another popular type of skincare face mask is a sheet mask. A sheet mask is a cotton or fabric mask that is soaked in potent serum. When applied to the face the serum penetrates the deeper layers of the skin to create longer-lasting skin improvements. The next type of mask that you can use is a clay mask. If you’ve ever been to a spa, you would’ve used a clay mask. A clay mask can help unclog pores and rebalance the skin using natural clay minerals and nutrients. Lastly, an exfoliating mask is one that will remove dead skin cells, clear up skin congestion and clear pores for cleaner and purified skin.

What is the best skin care face mask?

The best face mask for you will depend on your skin and what you’re hoping to achieve with your skincare routine. If you have dry skin, you’ll want to use a face mask that has deeply nourishing ingredients. Those who have dry skin will often complain of their skin looking dull or tired. A face mask that contains lots of vitamin C can help brighten the skin. Vitamin C rejuvenates the skin from the inside out and promotes brightness and hydration. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you might like to try a face mask that has de-congesting and antibacterial ingredients. The Acure Incredibly Clear face sheet mask is one of our favourites for oily skin. This natural face sheet mask is full of white willow and cucumber, which makes it great at balancing oil production in oily and combination skin. This face sheet mask is also free from parabens, silicone and sulphates.

If you’re looking for anti-aging skincare, then you should opt for a face mask that has collagen-boosting properties. Collagen is naturally produced by the body and helps keep our skin taught and plump – as we age, we naturally produce less collagen. The Vanessa Megan Gold & Lime Coconut Membrane sheet mask actively promotes cellular turnover and new collagen production. This mask is great for those wanting tighter and more youthful looking skin. For those with sensitive skin, a pink clay mask is a great option. A pink clay mask gently coaxes out impurities while calming the skin. We love the Butt Naked Skincare pink clay mask as it contains calming chamomile which is perfect for soothing sensitive skin.

When should a face mask be used in a routine?

For best results, we recommend using a face mask at least once a week but no more than three times. If you’re using a purifying cleansing face mask and a more nourishing one, then you can use each once a week. But there’s no need to use a purifying/cleansing face mask more than once in a week if you have normal/dry skin and twice at most for those with combo/oily skin. We also recommend you deeply cleanse before applying a face mask. If you don’t cleanse properly then you could be locking impurities in on the skin’s surface. It’s also important you use a face mask brush when applying your mask. Why? Because the mask will penetrate the skin’s surface, you’ll want to avoid any bacteria or impurities getting on the skin. A face mask brush helps to keep the application process as hygienic as possible. Using a face mask brush also helps to ensure that you can apply the face mask evenly and easily, without wasting lots of product on your hands that you ultimately wash away.

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