Choosing the Right Facial Mask for Beautiful, Healthy Looking Skin
by Debra Myers
I get quite a few questions about masks for the skin. How do they work? Are they necessary? How do I use one? What type should I buy?
The basic components around these questions aren’t difficult but you first need to know your skin type. Is your skin dry, sensitive, acne prone, mature, sun damaged, or oily? Our skin changes constantly, and simply recognizing this will go a long way in determining what type of facial mask is appropriate.
In very simple terms a mask is a delivery system. The goal is to deliver nutrients, vitamins and the like to our skin. A mask is designed to function in a multitude of ways i.e. moisturize, cleanse, calm, restore tone, and protect.
If you have oily skin chose a mask that cleanses the skin and absorbs oil. These masks usually contain mud or clay, as these ingredients are natural wonders. They pull out the impurities that can lead to acne or blackheads. Other ingredients to look for are alpha hydroxy acids. These assist the skin with exfoliation and cleansing and are particularly helpful for non-sensitive acne prone skin.
If you have dry or mature skin you’ll want to look for masks that will hydrate and restore. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help to fuse hydration into the top layers of the skin while almond, avocado and jojoba oils provide deep intense moisture. Rose and marshmallow help diminish fine lines while CoQ10 and green tea provide amazing antioxidant fighting properties.
Those with sensitive skin need to be very careful as many acids may burn the skin and/or cause redness. You’ll want to look for masks that will soothe and calm. Ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, gotu kola, and arnica all provide wonderful healing nutrients to the skin but usually do not irritate.
Facial masks should be used as directed by the manufacturer but I recommend once weekly. Don’t forget your neck and de´collete´ as these areas are often overlooked. Brands I love: Dr. Hauschka, Jurlique, Mychelle Dermacuticals, and Aubrey Organics. I recommend these products due to their ingredients and commitment to quality.