Face masks are a much-loved skin care solution that have been around for centuries. Generally speaking, these masks are often put on the face for 10 to 30 minutes as they work their magic on your complexion, but can also be worn overnight. There is an endless variety of masks, and they usually contain restorative ingredients such as clay, herbs, aloe vera, essential oils, and fruit extracts. You can purchase the product of your choice over-the-counter to add to your at-home beauty routine, or you can have a professional-grade mask applied by an esthetician during a facial. Depending on their ingredients, face masks can fight acne, hydrate the skin, reduce pore size, tone, nourish, and/or heal blemishes.
Different Types of Face Masks
Rumors have circulated that face masks may not be completely beneficial for the skin as they contain certain pore-clogging properties. However, just like any other health and beauty substance, the advantages and disadvantages of face masks depend on the quality of their ingredients. With so many variations in texture and formulas, choosing a face mask can be overwhelming, but here are some various options from bioClarity listed below to help with your choice:
- Clay masks: These include clay, kaolin, and/or bentonite for their tightening and sebum-absorbing effects. Such masks are designed to draw oil and dirt to the surface of the skin.
- Cream masks or gel masks: Such masks are usually designed to deliver a surge of moisture to dehydrated skin while repairing free radical damage and improving collagen production.
- Exfoliating masks: Exfoliation is a critical step in your skin care routine, and these soothing masks are designed to reduce redness when sloughing off dead skin cells. Many of these masks use glycolic acid as their main exfoliator.
- Enzyme masks: Natural fruit enzymes are great at treating dull or inflammatory skin without creating irritation.
- Peel-off masks: Sometimes called rubber masks, these putty-like mixtures harden after application and are peeled off when removed.
- Sheet masks: Sheet masks, or cloth masks, come from the Asian beauty market and deliver large amounts of active ingredients to the skin, pushing said ingredients deeper into the dermis for even better results.
- Overnight masks: Leave-on masks are usually found in the form of gel or cream. They work while you sleep and allow you to wake up to luminous skin in the morning.
- Natural masks: The internet has plenty of recipes for you to make your own DIY face mask using natural ingredients such as sugar, oats, and honey.
Face Masks for Specific Skin Types
Finding the right face mask to clear acne depends on your individual skin type. For example, if you have dry skin, use a moisturizing mask that’s rich in hydration, and avoid products containing mud or clay. If your skin is oily and congested, find a face mask that removes acne by drawing out impurities. Clay masks are best for oily and acne-prone skin. Those with sensitive skin, which appears red or inflamed, should find a mask that calms and soothes. Look for a nourishing product that contains rose hip to speed up your skin’s healing process. On the other hand, normal skin types can use a variety of face masks depending on its intended usage, but they stand to benefit the most from brightening peel-off masks. Face masks can (and should!) be used by everybody. If you pick the right product that’s formulated to your unique skin type, you shouldn’t have to worry about any of the pore-clogging drawbacks you might have heard or read about.
Face Mask Ingredients
While the different types of face masks are all distinguishable from each other, it is smart to note that the majority of them contain similar ingredients, a few of which are listed below for more reference:
- Tea: Tea-based masks infuse your skin with vitamin C and E to rejuvenate the cells, and remove free radicals that are accumulated throughout the day.
- Coffee: Coffee kick starts your skin’s regeneration and can bring a lack-luster complexion back to life.
- Charcoal: Like a magnet, charcoal removes dirt from the deepest depths of your pores.
- Kaolin or Bentonite: Found in clay masks, these detoxifying ingredients do a fantastic job at expelling toxins and reducing redness.
- Glycolic Acid: This exfoliator is great at removing dead skin, promoting the growth of new cells, and treating acne-prone types by clearing pores.
- Salicylic Acid: One of acne’s biggest enemies, salicylic acid is used to clear and prevent pimples with visible success.
- Benzoyl Peroxide or Colloidal Sulfur: These ingredients can serve as antibacterial agents in face masks to attack the P. acnes bacteria.