There is nothing like a face mask to improve your skin care routine. In addition to being a treat, the right mask can treat key skin problems and conditions, from dryness and dehydration to large pores and acne. Read on to learn how often to use a face mask and choose the right one for your unique complexion.
Advantages of masking
A face mask, like a serum or moisturizer, is a skin conditioner. It delivers highly concentrated active ingredients, vitamins and nutrients to the skin to improve its overall health. The difference: face masks are occlusive – they create a physical barrier that locks in beneficial ingredients and allows them to absorb more efficiently.
Face masks are designed to be used intermittently to give your skin an instant boost. Depending on what your skin needs, there is a mask that can do one (or a combination) of the following:
- Hydrate and moisturize dry skin
- Refine large pores
- Improve the skin structure
- Absorb excess oil and dirt
- Clogging clogged pores
- Minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Increase the elasticity
- Enhance the appearance of breakouts
- Lighten dark spots
Types of face masks
With so many options, how do you choose the right face mask for you? Here's What You Need to Know About Each Type.
cream
Think of the texture of a rich moisturizer – this is the best way to describe the feel of a cream-based mask. These face masks work wonderfully at adding moisture and nutrients to the skin and keeping it plump and hydrated. Eminence Organics International educator Brian Goodwin Let's reveal a secret of skin care: “An insider tip is that most of our cream-based masks can be used as a leave-on treatment.” Cream-based masks such as our Snow Mushroom & Reishi Masque or our Bamboo Age Corrective Masque are ideal to replenish and smooth dry, dehydrated, or aging skin overnight.
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Snow Mushroom & Reishi Masque
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Bamboo time corrective mask
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gel
Gel masks, on the other hand, have the consistency of jam or jelly. With their light texture, they're an excellent choice for normal to oily skin types. Many gel masks contain astringent ingredients like raspberries and blackberries that will minimize the oil and narrow pores. Others are formulated with soothing and moisturizing ingredients like stone harvest and honey that replenish dry and dehydrated skin.
Whichever choice you make, this skin care tip from Brian can help improve your results: apply your favorite gel-based mask (our pick is the Citrus & Kale Potent C + E Masque) before showering to enable active treatment in the shower.
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Potent C + E mask for citrus fruits and kale
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Clay
It's not a secret Clay is a miracle worker for acne prone skin. With its absorbent, exfoliating, and astringent properties, clay fights the root causes of acne and treats lingering symptoms such as excess oil and inflammation. Pro tip: did you know that a clay mask can act as a spot treatment? Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar recommends using the Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque for treating bumpy and clogged skin: "It's got a nice and creamy texture and you literally need a little … just hit those little spots and let them dry."
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Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque
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peeling
Exfoliating masks are designed to remove dead skin cells and improve your skin's natural turnover process. This type of face mask can take the form of a scrub that uses alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids to break up dead skin cells and remove them from the surface of the skin. Or finely ground particles like the corn flour in our rose hip and corn peeling mask are used to gently buff and buff your complexion.
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Rose hip and corn peeling mask
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Heat
Heat masks contain active spices like paprika and cinnamon that warm the skin. These masks work immediately: they cause a tingling sensation and with some masks the skin can turn bright red. The immediate effects last 20 to 60 minutes before a healthy, rosy glow is visible. Just as increased energy is a benefit of exercise, invigorating your complexion is a great workout for your skin.
Note that these masks are not for everyone: if you have sensitive skin, it is better to choose a cream-based or gel-based mask that will not make your symptoms worse.
In particular, our Eight Greens Phyto Masque – Hot was called Winner of the Allure Best Of Beauty Award 2020, within the Clean Beauty category. With our signature hot paprika and a formulation rich in phytoestrogens and antioxidants, this mask brings your skin back to a youthful glow.
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Eight green phyto-mask – hot
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In addition, our turmeric energy treatment is designed to awaken dull, tired skin. It consists of turmeric, citrine gemstones and zeolite. You simply add water and turn your treatment into a fluffy, energetic mousse.
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Turmeric energizing treatment
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How Often Should You Use a Face Mask?
How Often Should You Use a Face Mask After Learning the Basics? We recommend adding a face mask to your face mask Skin care once or twice a week. Masking should be done after cleansing, toning and applying a facial essence. These steps remove impurities and excess oil, add a base layer of moisture, and prepare your skin to better take advantage of your face mask.
When you're done, follow these tips to properly apply a face mask:
1. Apply mask evenly
It may be tempting to put on an inch thick layer of product, but more is not necessarily better. A quarter-size amount is enough to get the right results. Natalie recommends applying this amount evenly in a "pantyhose-thin" layer over the entire face. Pro tip: use Facial Massage Techniques To Enhance The Benefits Of This Part Of Your Routine!
Remember that Eminence Organics face masks contain concentrated amounts of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. We recommend adding two to three drops of water to your product and warming it between your hands before massaging it into your face – especially if the product is gel based. This allows for more slippage, easier application and (bonus!) Less product waste.
2. Remember to include your neck and décolleté
This quarter-size amount is just enough to include your neck and décolleté as well. Due to their environmental pollution, these areas take on visible signs of age much earlier than the face – and are easily forgotten in skin care. Pay special attention to these areas by including them in your face mask application.
3. Leave on for 5-10 minutes
Most masks can be left on for 10 to 15 minutes, but the duration can vary from mask to mask. Some face masks work quickly and can be removed after a short time. others can be used overnight to deeply moisturize your skin while you sleep. We always recommend reading the instructions for using your particular product so that you know exactly when to remove it.
4. Carefully remove with a damp cloth
Don't undo the benefits of your face mask by aggressively scrubbing it off. Instead, be sensitive about your complexion. Use lukewarm water to gently remove the mask from your face. When choosing a washcloth, make sure it is clean and has soft fibers that will not irritate your skin.
See this video for a step-by-step guide on how to apply a face mask:
(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXxWN3X0Fsk (/ embed)
How to combine your face masks
Now for the fun part. One of our preferred masking methods is mixologies, which overlay and mix a variety of treatments. Here are some tips and tricks to cocktails your favorite Eminence Organics face masks:
Layering
When overlaying masks, one mask is applied and another is placed directly over it. The trick with this technique is to choose two complementary face masks. Placing face-to-face masks (such as a clay mask over a moisture mask) negates their benefits (the clay mask absorbs all of the moisture from the moisture mask below). Instead, look for products with ingredients that work together to optimize your results.
Eminence Organics Product Support Officer Alicia Hawthorne recommends applying the lime-stimulating mask over our rose hip and corn peeling mask: “This combination is ideal for blocked skin! And the rose hip and corn peeling mask contains zinc, which minimizes the intensity of the heat you feel from the lime-stimulating mask. "
Mix
Some face masks complement each other so well that you can mix them together. Simply combine a quarter-size amount of each mask with two to three drops of water and mix them between your hands. For this technique, it is best to choose masks of the same consistency (for example, gel with gel or cream with cream).
Alicia and Brian both suggest mixing that up Bamboo Age Corrective Masque and Snow Mushroom & Reishi Mushroom Masque. This mixture is particularly beneficial for ultra-dry skin types as the Bamboo Age Corrective Masque improves the moisturizing properties of the Snow Mushroom & Reishi Mushroom Masque with deeply moisturizing coconut, nutmeg and argan oils. Bonus: You get the additional benefit of our natural retinol alternative.
Multi-masking
With multiple masking, different masks are applied to specific areas of your face at the same time. This way, you can tackle multiple skin problems at once. For example, if you have combination skin, you can choose an oil control mask that soaks up excess oil from your T-zone, along with a moisturizer that deeply hydrates dry cheeks.
Our Balancing Masque Duo is designed for multiple masking. One side of the split vessel contains a Charcoal T-Zone Purifier that removes contaminants, controls oil and refines large pores. The other side includes a grapefruit cheek treatment that replenishes moisture and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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Balancing Masque Duo
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One after the other
You can also apply two face masks in a row. Simply apply one mask first, remove it, and then immediately apply the second mask. For this technique, it's best to follow your first mask one that offers additional benefits.
Our pick: try a flavorful treat like that Eight green phyto masks – hot, which makes your face appear radiant and tingling, followed by the calming feeling of our arnica mask for calm skin.
The best face mask for your skin type
If you prefer to use one mask at a time, it is important to choose the right face mask for your skin type and skin problems. Here are our suggestions for every skin type to keep your wheels turning:
And for certain skin problems and conditions:
Do you have favorite mask mixologies? We'd love to hear them! Let us know in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.
This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.