Face Masks 101

I will never forget buying Freeman's Facial Masks when my mom would take me shopping with her as a kid. Even though we didn't have a lot of extra money growing up, she 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, one of my favorite parts was doing a facial mask or applying that Freeman's Mask, and letting it sit there for 10 minutes before removing.

The mask's I would use back then were either the Freeman's Avocado Clay Mask (way too 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, and 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.

Back to 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. To understand their purpose, we first need to know the types of masks to choose from and why.

In the world of masks, there are many different kinds to choose from, the most common being cream, gel, and clay. But there are more nowadays like sheet maks, overnight masks, and even exfoliating masks!

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, are 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 your skin will soak 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 IG and take my Skin Type Quiz!

Tips For Using Facial 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 silicone brush, this helps limit waste and contamination the jar

• Remove with either a disposable facial sponge or damp face cloth, don’t drag or pull the skin

• For Clay Masks that harden, rinse the face with warm water and massage water into the mask with your fingertips. This will soften the mask and make removal easier.

This is just a brief overview of the types of masks and how to use them. Check out the Collagen Peel-Off Masks I retail here, and for more DIY tips and tricks head over to my Pinterest Skincare board!

Till next time, be good to your skin and even better to yourself,

xx eri