Facial masks have been used to beautify the skin prior to the end of the Western Roman Empire, and to this day masks are still popular. In the old days, a mask consisted solely of clay or mud, but today's masks are more complex and usually have more than one ingredient. Just about any type of skin can benefit from a facial mask, so embrace what a mask has to offer and let the following facial mask tips help you maximize the benefits.
Use Clay For Oily Skin
A clay mask acts like a sponge that takes in oils that are on the skin. It also sucks up impurities and polishes the skin. Use a mask that contains clay if the skin feels greasy to the touch, if pimples frequently appear, if the pores are enlarged or if blackheads are a problem.
Use Almond or Avocado Oil for Hydration
Gently massage almond or avocado oil into the skin before applying a mask. Both of these oils hydrate the skin and avocado oil supplies the skin with vitamins A, D and E. Blot excess oil off the face with a tissue before spreading the appropriate mask on the skin.
Use Moistened Cotton
After applying the mask, cut an 8 by 4 inch square of cotton from a cotton roll, saturate it with warm water, and then squeeze out the excess moisture. Divide the cotton into three separate 8 by 4 inch pieces and lay the cotton pieces over the mask you applied, tearing the pieces to fit each section of the face so that the cotton covers the face, but not the nose or mouth. Leave the cotton on until you are ready to remove the mask. The wet cotton adds moisture to the skin and it prevents the mask from hardening. It also makes removal of the mask easier, and it prevents unnecessary stretching of the skin.
Treat Combination Skin With Two Different Masks.
Some people find that their skin is oily in some areas and dry in others. If this is the case, apply a clay mask to the oily skin areas and a mask designed for dry skin to the dry areas. If one of the masks needs to be left on the skin longer than the other, apply that mask first. Remove both masks with wet cotton rounds when instructed to do so or rinse the masks off with warm water.
References
- "Milady's Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians", Joel Gerson, 1999
- NOWfoods: Avocado Oil, Refined
Member Comments