Making Masks Work for You at Home

There are a lot of products you can incorporate into your home care, but one of the best products to incorporate are masks. The advantages of face masks are often underestimated! They give skin wonderful benefits and are easy to add into any skin care regime. Masks have the power to instantly improve your skins complexion by increasing hydration, drawing out impurities, lifting, firming, brightening, and refining pores. As a skin care professional, I know that skin issues differ based on the facial zone. For that reason, multi-masking emerged as a trend to address different skin issues with different masks at the same time. Let’s explore some of the options we have in the mask family.

CLAY AND MINERAL MASKS

·        Ideal for oily or acne-prone skin and contain mineral-packed clays like bentonite, French green clay and kaolin absorb excess oil and rid pores of dirt and dead skin cells, while improving circulation and skin oxygenation.  Clay masks help to decongest the T-zone, regulate bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) and impurities on the skin as well as help with a shine free complexion.  These are ideally applied to the forehead, nose, and chin.  They are more effective than a cleanser and should not be used more than once or twice a week. If clay and mineral masks are overused, they can lead to increased sensitivity by interrupting the natural barrier protection of the skin.  Pore Refining Masks include Green Envee’s Clear Complexion and Face Reality’s Soothing Mask.

RELAX AND STRESS REDUCTION

·        Relaxing aromatherapy ingredients indulge the senses and reduce stress while actives and vitamins and minerals feed your skin with nutrition.  Typically, these masks not only have healing benefits to the skin, but also have the same impact on your sense of well-being.  It is important that we find time in our busy schedules to relax and destress and applying these types of masks can achieve both benefits.  Mask suggestions include a variety from Green Envee, Sorella Apothecary and Sothys.

BRIGHTENING

·        These masks are designed to revitalize and renew skin by illuminating your complexion and giving skin a radiant boost. You can look for natural ingredients such as mulberry, bearberry and licorice, to eliminate the side effects and contraindications of chemical lightening ingredients. Other natural ingredients such as pumpkin enzymes, vitamin C or AHAs can instantly brighten and give skin a fresh, new, healthy glow. If using one of these masks, don’t forget to follow it with sunscreen.  Mask suggestions include Green Envee Pumpkin Glycolic Peel, Potent -C Superfoods Mask and Rejuvenate Brightening Mask, Sorella Apothecary’s Papaya & Pumkin Mask and Peach & Honey Mask, and Face Reality Brighten-C Mask. Though this is not a mask, try Jan Marini’s Resurfacing Pads to lengthen the time of you facial or at home routines.

HYDRATION

·        Designed to apply on dehydrated cheeks, neck and décolleté, these are generally gel or cream based and are easily washed off. Our goal is to rebalance the natural acid balance in the skin, which has been depleted due to the environment and/or improper skin care. Using natural ingredients is simple and effective and will trigger the rebalancing process of rehydration. Look for plant-based ingredients such as cucumber, watermelon, chamomile, or aloe for cooling, rehydrating, and replacing the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in skin. Also, avocado is packed with natural vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that are beneficial for dry, dehydrated, mature and sensitive skins.  Mask suggestions include Sothys Nutri Soothing Mask and Hydra-Plumping Mask, Green Envee’s Firming Mask, and Bio-Therapeutic’s Sheet Masks.

FIRMING OR LIFTING

·        Our skin often requires a pick-me-up, and there is no better way than a firming mask to achieve that goal. They are ideal for maturing, dehydrated, dry and stressed skin. These masks address those concerned with fine lines and wrinkles. Apply around the eye area, forehead, jawline, brow and temple area for a freshly toned complexion. Mask suggestions include Green Envee Firming Mask, Bio-Therapeutics Sheet Mask.

LED FACIAL MASKS

·        LED facial masks are one of the top trends in masks, and they can be used in a facial treatment, stand-alone service, or at home.  LED facial mask devices are available for professional use and have been cleared by the FDA. These masks use a combination of red and blue LED therapy. The red light penetrates deeper into the skin and encourages blood circulation and promotes new collagen production to address fine lines and wrinkles. The blue light diminishes the acne-causing bacteria and promotes healing. If planning on purchasing an LED for home use, they are generally used after cleansing, the device is placed over the face, and some need to be secured around the head with straps. LED facial masks are programmed and shut off when the treatment is concluded. There are also a variety of LED light therapy masks on the market that offer a myriad of LED light colors, each color treating a different concern, as outlined below.

o   Red. This anti-aging LED increases collagen and elastin production, improves blood circulation, increases cellular turnover, and tightens and tones skin.

o   Blue. This LED shrinks’ sebaceous glands, reduces inflammation and scarring, destroys acnes bacteria, and promotes oxygen formation within the follicle.

o   Green. Green LED promotes lymphatic drainage; therefore, it balances oily skin, relieves mental stress and aids with hyperpigmentation.

o   Purple. Red and blue light are combined to create this LED light.

o   Cyan. Reduce distended capillaries, reduce inflammation and scarring, balance skin texture and relieve mental stress with this LED light.

o   Yellow. This LED stimulates red blood cells, reduces An LED mask can be used to double down on other mask offerings. hyperpigmentation, balances skin texture, reduces redness and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

o   White. White LED penetrates the deepest into the skin and speeds up skin metabolism. It tightens and tones skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and helps with hyperpigmentation while reducing inflammation.

At Water and Leaf Skincare, Celluma LED Masks can be ordered and purchased for home use. An LED Mask is a forever staple and can easily be incorporated into every treatment and recommended with every home care regimen.