Right now, no salons means we aren't getting regular facials and aren't as in touch with our beauty gurus as we normally would be.
It's also a stressful time for some, our good healthy habits may have fallen off the radar and as a result our skin is paying for it. I don't know about you but most days I'm not drinking enough water and definitely not doing as well as I should in the diet department. And my skin is telling me loud and clear that I need to pick up my game. During this uncertainty, a chance to have some me time (and maybe even a sneaky glass of wine in the bath) is pretty tempting. And a great way to do that is with a face mask.
Now before we get into the process of applying a mask and how long you should leave it on for, first its a good idea to understand how different masks work and what they specifically do for YOUR skin. Not some girl on instagram or YouTube. You.
At home masks are a great way to target specific needs of your skin but your whole face isn't going to need the same thing every time. To help you break it down you can pull your masks into three different categories. Hydrating, Calming, and Clearing.
- Hydrating masks are usually Creamy and don't set on the skin. These are best for deep hydration and often can be slept in because the soak into the skin over a long period of time. Hydrating masks are recommended for normal to dry skin or the dry areas of a combination skin type.
- Calming masks are great for irritated or inflamed skin like sunburn, rosacea and eczema. We love our gel mask for this exact need. Being gel, its brilliant on sunburn or windburn and it can be kept in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
- Clearing masks normally come in the form of a clay mask. These masks are made to help balance out oil and detoxify the skin by pulling impurities to the surface so they can heal without the inflammation. Clearing masks however aren't really a good idea around your eyes as they draw excess moisture out of the skin, something we never want to do around the eyes. For this reason its a good idea to apply an eye cream first around your eyes to protect the skin.
- Hot Tip: Use your clay mask in your oilier areas and on angry spots to help draw out impurities without over drying the rest of your face.
The other type of mask we love is a Collagen mask. The collagen masks we use in salon are a great hybrid of all three masks. Containing Vitamins A, C and E as well as Licorice root extract to help hydrate, plump and brighten your complexion. Pop them on clean skin before your moisturiser and relax for 20 minutes while they work their magic. The Serum inside the sealed pack is tomorrow's treat to pop on after cleansing and help the mask benefits last longer.
How to get the most out of your at home mask
- Remove any makeup and cleanse your skin thoroughly
- Rinse with warm water and pat dry
- Using clean hands or a flat foundation brush apply your chosen mask in a smooth even layer
- Leave on your skin for 10-15 minutes and Rinse to remove just like you do when you're cleansing.
- Complete with the rest of your regular skin care regime. Eg: Toner, Serum and Moisturiser.
Depending on your skin needs we recommend using a mask at home roughly once a week.
If you have any questions about what masks are best for you or for any skincare advice, feel free to get in touch. We aren't at the salon but we are always here to help.
Stay Safe
Liv & Co
xx