Mask: The Exfoliator

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 at 12:57 PM

A mask is an essential part of your daily skin care. It is considered to be the exfoliating step in your daily facial skin care regimen.

Adding a mask after you use the cleanser will help you to exfoliate dead skin cells which will expose newer, younger-looking skin. Certain mask formulas can also hydrate and moisturize the skin, remove environmental impurities, clear excess surface oils, and minimize the appearance of pores. All of these benefits help to create healthy, younger-looking skin.

Here’s what you should look for based on your skin type:

Dry and Normal Skin

Look for a moisture rich mask that will remove dead surface cells, hydrates and moisturizes the skin, and helps to remove environmental impurities from the skin’s surface. If you want botanical ingredients in your mask, look for flax seed and sea kelp extract, which contain vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are important to maintain your moisture balance. Silymarin and Luo Han Guo are botanical ingredients that defend against environmental damage and help promote healthy skin.

Combination & Oily Skin

Find a revitalizing mask that will absorb excess oils and helps removes impurities from the skin’s surface. This is especially beneficial for women with oily skin. The mask should also remove dead skin cells, refines your skin’s texture, and minimize the appearance of pores. Silymarin and Luo Han Guo are botanicals that are helpful for this skin type as well as water lily and Frangipani Flower Extract, which protect against environmental stressors and provide minerals to help maintain healthy-looking skin. Kanuka and Guava Fruit Extract are additional botanicals to look for as well. Kanuka extract (white tea tree) is known for its purifying benefits and Guava Fruit Extract is an exfoliant. (For more information on botanicals for your skin type, click here: best products for your skin type.)

Blemish-Prone Skin (e.g. acne, pimples, blackheads)

You want a mask that will clear excess surface oils, gently exfoliates skin, and leaves your skin with a soft, matte finish.

A mask should be used once or twice a week especially if your cleanser does not have exfoliating properties in it (some cleansers do have this). You can use the mask as a facial scrub but not on sensitive skin. In other words, the dry-normal, combination, and oily skin types, but not the kind of mask used for women with blemish-prone skin.

Before you purchase a mask skin care product, know what type of skin you have by clicking here… Your Skin Type.

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