Take your skincare routine to the next level with a mask (or three)

You don’t have to use them every day, just when you feel like you need a little something “extra”, be it an extra dose of hydration or something that can cleanse your pores better than this morning’s face wash.

With so many different types of masks out there, picking one that’ll give you the most beauty benefit can get tricky. Happily, we’re going to break it down so you can find a favourite.

Traditional masks 

A typical “traditional” mask is usually a hydrating cream or cleansing clay formula. Some of the cream formulas, especially those that aim to moisturise,  don’t require you to rinse them off. Clay formulations, however, will always require a rinse. 

The most popular type of clay that’s used in masks is undoubtedly kaolin. You’ll find it in the likes of Iwori Marula Revitalising Red Clay facial mask and L’Oreal Pure Clay detox mask. It does a good job of absorbing excess oils to reduce shine as well as draw impurities from your pores. If you’ve got oily skin or are prone to blackheads, a clay mask could be your new BFF. 

Sheet masks 

If you’re not keen on messing with mud, you’ll appreciate a sheet mask. They’re essentially a thin piece of fabric cut to fit your face that has been infused with a serum. Depending on what’s in the mix, they offer various benefits. For example, The Body Shop Seaweed Balance sheet mask hydrates while drawing out impurities, making it a great pick for those with oily skin. Garnier Moisture Bomb tissue mask, however, contains mega-moisturising hyaluronic acid, so it’s ideal for anyone with a drier skin type. 

Because the mask sits on the surface of your skin, its serum can’t evaporate as quickly, allowing it more time to penetrate your skin. To get the most out of your sheet mask, apply any of the remaining serum to your neck, chest and hands. 

Peel-off masks 

A peel-off mask is exactly what it sounds like. Apply it to your skin, let it dry and then peel it off after 20 minutes to half an hour. Due to their film-forming ingredients, peel-off masks can gently lift away dry, dead skin cells, leaving your skin less dull-looking and feeling a little smoother. They’re also infused with beneficial ingredients that can do different things. For example, Sorbet’s Charcoal peel-off mask contains activated charcoal to absorb excess oil and cleanse your pores.

Eye-masks 

Don’t forget about your eye area! Eye masks have been specially designed to use in your delicate eye area so they won’t contain any harsh ingredients that could sensitise your skin. Many eye masks aim to soothe tired eyes and reduce puffiness with anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe lead juice. Others contain skin brightening ingredients such as vitamin C that can improve dark undereye circles, provided they’re caused by pigmentation. You’ll find both of these ingredients in Sorbet Vitamin Brightening under-eye mask.

Multi-masking

Life gets busy so don’t be afraid to mix things up in the mask department, using several all at once. For example, If you’ve got an oily T-panel, this is where you’re to apply a pore-cleansing clay formula. You can then apply an eye mask before patting a more hydrating cream mask on your cheeks that are likely to be a little more dry. 

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