Today's post is going to be about facemasks, I love using a mask about once or twice a week. It's like giving yourself an at home 'facial' and is a great pick-me-up for your skin. Plus, you can put one on and get on with your housework, or watch tv, etc. It doesn't have to be an 'effort'.
There are a few different types of masks on the market, and the most common ones are;
6. Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra Gel Eye Masks, £46.00
A box comes with 6 sachets of these masks in, and they are designed specifically for under the eyes. They are gel like, and feel really cooling upon application, and are packed full of hyaluronic acid. They are great to depuff and hydrate the eye area, are really smoothing and tightening, and have been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of lines & wrinkles. I like to use these before a special occasion or when I know I'll have my photo taken, as they really help brighten your eyes.
There are a few different types of masks on the market, and the most common ones are;
- Hydrating masks - typically creamy or gel in texture, glycerin based, or hyaluronic acid based.
- Purifying masks - typically clay texture, and almost always contain kaolin clay.
- A mixture of the two above - clay, plus glycerin/hyaluronic acid and carrier oils (sweet almond oil, or similar) and essential oils.
The best time to use a mask is directly after exfoliating, this ensures the mask can do it's job effectively, rather than sitting on top of a build up of dead skin cells. Using a mask regularly really improves the condition of your skin, as they are usually very concentrated to give the immediate results.
You can apply different masks to different areas of the face, for example; a purifying clay mask down the T-zone for oiliness and open pores, and a hydrating one on the rest of the face. I also like to apply a purifying one all over the face, then a hydrating one all over the face directly afterwards, as purifying ones can sometimes leave your face feeling tight, so hydrating the skin directly afterwards is essential.
Below are some of my recommendations:
HYDRATING MASKS
1. Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask, £18.00
This one is a really brilliant hydrating, plumping mask, it contains hyaluronic acid (which I'm sure if you've read some of my other posts - is amazing for dehydration). This one is designed to be applied after cleansing and toning before you go to sleep, and left on overnight. When you wake up your skin will feel lovely and soft.
Hyaluronic acid is your skins natural hydration molecule, it holds a thousand times it's own weight in water, and also acts like a humectant, so it takes water from the air, and locks it into the skin, and helps prevent water loss from the skin. If you have dehydration, this is the best ingredient to look for in your skincare.
2. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, £23.00
This is a lovely one for dry and dehydrated skin. It's mainly glycerin based, with a lot of hydrating oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil and apricot kernel oil, plus many essential oils (which can be an irritant to some skins if you have allergies to essential oils). It smells gorgeous, and can be left on for 10-15 mins or left on overnight.
3. The Body Shop 'Drops of Youth' Bouncy Sleeping Mask, £24.00
This is another lovely option to be left on overnight. This one again is mainly glycerin based, and is great for dehydration and dry skin. The texture of this is quite thick and almost jelly-like, you only need a very small amount of this, otherwise it can feel slightly sticky. It has a fresh, almost cooling sensation, which is really comforting if your skin has been feeling particularly dehydrated.
4. Elemis Absolute Eye Mask, £31.00
This one is a hydrating mask, to be used around the eye area. Most masks are best not applied directly around the eye area, so this one is great to put on before you apply your facemask. It's great for dark circles, lines & wrinkles, dehydration and helps brighten and revitalise your eyes. You can also apply this and leave it on overnight. This is great for when you're tired, and when you're hungover it really helps to depuff the eye area. I really like this one as it provides instant results.
4. Clarins Hydraquench Cream Mask, £33.00
This one is designed to be left on between 5-10 minutes, however it can also be left on overnight. It has a creamy texture, and again contains hyaluronic acid. It also smells lovely, which is always a bonus. This one is also radiance boosting, leaving the skin with a lovely glow, which is great for hungover skin.
5. Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, £34.00
This one is glycerin based, with oils such as jojoba seed oil and sunflower oil to hydrate, honey and mimosa, plus some essential oils. It's lovely for dull, dry and dehydrated skin. It can be used as a leave on mask for 10-15 mins, or left on overnight. It's a lovely creamy texture and is very smooth to apply, and feels very comforting upon application. Again, this is great for when you've had a few drinks and need to replenish the skin. It can also be applied to dry areas of the body, like the elbows, knees and hands.
PURIFYING MASKS
1. Super Facialist Anti Blemish Clay Mask, around £10 from Boots
This is a great budget option for a mask, if you suffer with spots and oiliness. It's mainly clay based, and also contains salicylic acid which is amazing at reducing spots and preventing them. It helps to purify and shrink the pores, and can also be applied directly onto a spot and left overnight. I'd use this about once a week.
2. Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask
This one is available in a 100ml tube for around £10, or in single sachets for around £2, which is a great idea if you want to try it out before you buy the full size.
It's mainly clay based, kaolin clay is really great for purifying the skin and reducing oil production in the skin. It also has a lovely warming sensation upon application, the warmth actually feels really nice, rather than a burning feeling!
3. Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, £23.00
This one is a really active, charcoal based mask. It has grains in it that feel almost like a scrub, but when I used it I didn't scrub my face with it, I just applied it to my face for about 10 minutes and removed. (Any regular readers will know how I feel about scrubs!). It really helps clear out any 'bad stuff' like excess oil, dirt and pollutants, and helps shrink the pores.
4. Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask, £30.00
I have mentioned this mask on here before, it's one of my all time favourites. For more info, read my PM skincare routine post here.
5. Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask, £30.00
I really like this one for an instant boost (before a special occasion or something) as it's a really brightening one, which contains strawberry and kiwi, and helps to draw out impurities as it is clay based. Although this one is clay based, it's non drying, which I really like, as it also contains shea butter. This one is best left on for about 10-15 minutes then removed, I wouldn't sleep in this one. It smells absolutely gorgeous too. I'd say this one is suitable for all skin types, not just oily/combination.
6. Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra Gel Eye Masks, £46.00
A box comes with 6 sachets of these masks in, and they are designed specifically for under the eyes. They are gel like, and feel really cooling upon application, and are packed full of hyaluronic acid. They are great to depuff and hydrate the eye area, are really smoothing and tightening, and have been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of lines & wrinkles. I like to use these before a special occasion or when I know I'll have my photo taken, as they really help brighten your eyes.
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Until next time x
