From social media to retailers, Face Masks became not only hype but a lifestyle for women and men in concern of their skincare regime. You might have gone through few social media stories, advertisements or posts of face masks or people with facial masks posing and having fun. Not only people in this era are taking their facial skin problems seriously but also enjoying the funky and playful masks that are commercialized by brands, retailers and influencers. So the question arises, What is Face Mask?
Face Mask is a cosmetic skincare product that is formulated and produced in different forms depending on what type of face mask is manufactured. It is supposed to be applied on a cleansed face and left on it for the recommended time mentioned on the product and then peeled/washed off/massaged. Face Masks are known to nourish, moisturize, cleanse and tone the skin while providing beneficial components to the skin. Face Masks contain essential active ingredients to fulfill product purposes. As there is a huge competition among skincare brands, modified and improved varieties of face masks are being formulated for each skin type with new and amazing discovering ingredients. But let's rewind a little first...
There has been a long time when masking was used by people living hundreds of years ago. Egyptian people have been using Clay masks, it is said that one of the ancient rulers of Egypt named 'mixture of lentils, barley, honey, oregano seeds, etc. There has been a broad use of Ubtan not only face mask but also as a body mask from the past 5000years in India as a ritual in the skincare regime. Ubtan is a mixture of various herbs, plant's roots, selected flowers in powdered form and mixed with the liquids such as milk, honey, lemon juice or rose water concerning skin type. As we know the south Asians have dual skin tone and to make the tone even, the Ayurveda recipe for ubtan does wonders.
Now we have a good idea that the face masks are actually derived from ancient beauty rituals and still used for their effectiveness and popularity and for sure are fun to use, but How do Face Masks actually Work?
The skin does absorb the ingredients in the mask but actually, a small layer of product penetrates into the skin rather than the deeper layers of the skin, as the outermost layer of the skin i.e; Epidermis is used to provide protection from the outside environment. so the masks act as a time to time package that delivers the active ingredients to the skin to improve the skin texture or appearance while treating skin problems like acne, scars, dullness, and dryness, etc. So What kinds of Face Masks are out there and Which ones suit you Best for your Skin Type?
1.Sheet Mask
As the name itself tells that the mask is in the sheet form, basically soaked and absorbed in nutritious serum with actives. The sheet can be made up of cotton, fiber, paper, gel-type material, etc. The wet sheet has holes and cuts in it to adjust on the face, so the mask doesn't irritate eyes and you'll be able to breathe easily. The cuts in sheet help to set according to one's face shape. One of the reasons people love it is that it gives a cooling effect, and so why they are mostly used by people with sensitive skin, though it can be used by all skin types, it is actually great for dry and dehydrated skin types. Sheet masks work as a physical barrier that prevents the hydrating material from getting out and the moisture to evaporate rather infuse the skin with it. It makes skin look moisturized, hydrated, brightened, radiant and plumed.
2.Sleeping Mask
These masks are used to intensely hydrate the skin, again as the name suggests, when the body in sleep mode it tends to regenerate the skin and shed off dead skin cells which are usually between from 10pm to 2am, and so these masks works. And of course, you don't need to worry that the mask might spread all over the pillow because it is made in a way that it gets absorbed into the skin completely and so you wash it off the next morning without using a cleanser. They are used as a replacement to your night cream from twice or thrice a week to every night. They can be used for all skin types especially for anti-aging skin because they restore all the good ingredients in your skin all night.
3.Peel-off Mask
This mask is known to be the most satisfactory mask or the most playful ones because it is peeled off once it is dried and doesn't work like other masks as it just gets to the very upper layer of the skin and kind of works as physically exfoliator. It peels of any dead skin cells over the skin surface and less likely to hydrate the skin like other types of masks. But if you look forward to a more clarifying and hydrating mask, this one is not for you.
4.Gel or Cream Mask
Gel masks are Usually very lightweight and can be used for all skin types but they are good for combination to oily skin types because they are more of a non-oil-based product and more likely to moisturize the skin without leaving the skin greasy and end up producing more sebum which leads to acne and breakouts. Whereas cream masks can be from lightweight to thick consistency product, the thicker and moisturizing it gets, the better it is from combination to dry and dehydrated skin types.
5.Exfoliating Mask
There are 2 kinds of exfoliating face masks, first one is the physical exfoliator mask which has a base of gel, cream, clay or mud mask containing tiny beads, whereas the second one contains a chemical exfoliator that removes dead skin cells chemically. The physical exfoliator mask removes dead skin cells while you massage it with water after it dries but while it was drying, the mask would normally work as the based mask used in it without leaving skin dry and flakey. However, the chemical exfoliator mask contains salicylic acid which gently absorbs the dead skin cells and removes them once the face is washed revealing glowy and fresh youthful skin. Both these masks are good for combination to oily skin, usually, it irritates or gives a tingling sensation to the sensitive and dry skin types, but if the dry skin is taken care of properly and moisturized, then it might work for them.
6.Clay and Mud Mask
Usually, people get confused and find complete similarity between both these face masks however they work differently. The mud mask is more of a healing and hydrating mask thus works best for dry, dehydrated and dull skin types. Whereas the clay mask is the drying mask which basically sucks every dirt, oil and produced sebum out of the skin because the clay itself is used to clear out any impurities and detoxify the skin, which makes it best for oily skin types. Within the types of clay masks, there three main categories of clay used; green clay, white clay and bentonite, and the mask itself can be a mixture of these and can be many more.
Note;- Do not ever put on a mask for more than the recommended time on the product, it fulfills its purpose within the period given and doesn't work more than that unless the product says its a sleeping mask.
So, I hope all the information given above make a basic understanding of why people are going crazy over face masks because not only they are fun to use and try but also they clarify the skin and its problems as well as providing many great and necessary ingredients to the skin to make it look more youthful, radiant and supple.
