Great masks to give your hair, face & skin a glow-up
As recent snowstorms prove, winter is not done with us yet. That’s not good news for our hair and skin. We speak of “hat head,” static, and dryness.
So it’s time to pull out the big beauty guns. That’s right: masks. These days, masks are made for every part of us — not only hair and face, but feet and hands, too Here are some of my favorites.
Hair
When it’s brittle: Open up a jar of L’Occitane Intensive Repair Mask ($39 on loccitane.com). Slather it on in sections, from the middle to the ends of your hair, and leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing out completely. The cream-based, silicone-free blend softens everything right up, but also coats hair to protect it the next time you go out.
When it’s dry: Those of us with medium to thick hair know the value of a truly moisturizing treatment in the winter. Moroccan Oil’s Intense Hydrating Mask ($42 on moroccanoil.com) is extremely creamy and rich, and delivers a deep condition. Its many fans credit the amount of antioxidantrich argan oil that it contains, which dramatically help improve hair’s elasticity and shine.
Face
When you’ve got breakouts: Clay masks are the undisputed O.G. of acne prevention, and Keihl’s is one of the undisputed heavyweights of reliable skin brands. The company’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask ($45 on ulta.com) is a Godsend if you’re dealing breakouts and blackheads, thanks to its Amazonian white clay mixed with aloe vera and oatmeal. It diminishes surface oil production, clears clogged pores, and seems to shrink pores. It can easily be used as a spot treatment, too.
When you want to banish spots: Whether you’re dealing with built-up melanin or scars, the niacinamide and bearberry in Hyper Skin’s Fade and Glow AHA Mask ($48 on sephora.com) help fade dark spots. It also contains alpha hydroxy acids— those are the AHAs in its name, which are glycolic acid and mandelic acid—and they work together to exfoliate skin and get it glowing.
When your skin’s dull: When skin gets dry, it gets dull. One antidote is overnight masks like the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask with Squalane ($29 on sephora. com). At bedtime, apply it evenly across your face until it’s completely absorbed and head to bed. The formula is paraben- and sulfate-free, and contains squalane (which adds intense moisture) and a probiotic-derived complex that leaves you visibly hydrated the next morning.
Body
When your knees and elbows feel like sandpaper: Leave it to Lush to come up with Beauty Sleep ($18 on lushusa.com). The tub of thick and creamy stuff is full of lemon verbena and valerian root extract, alongside honey, coconut, wheatgerm oil, and avocado and evening primrose oil to push the moisturizing to the max. Rub it into knees and elbows at night, hop into bed, and wake up without a scrap of sandpaper to be found.
When your cleavage needs a boost: When your décolletage and neck are looking drab and showing fine lines, it’s time to pull out some Goodnight Moon Chest/Neck Sleep Mask ($27.90 on trulybeauty.com). Smooth it in wherever you need it; the hyaluronic acid will help skin retain moisture, and the ginseng will amplify circulation to create more natural collagen. Better still, it contains collagen for tightening and firming.
Feet and hands
When feet resemble a desert: Sometimes when feet get as dry as they do in winter, they crack. Just massage in some Reinventing The Heel Mega-Moisture for Dry, Cracked Feet ($32 on origins.com). It’s a heavy duty cream for a heavy duty job, complete with rose, fruit and jojoba oil, plus salicylic acid to slough off dead skin. Shea butter leaves things velvety.
When hands are looking worse for wear: The thin skin on our hands loses collagen and elastin every day. Keep some Coconut Milk Hand Mask by Lapcos ($10 on treat.com) nearby, and use it liberally. Leave it on overnight or use it in small bits over the day (keep it on—don’t wash it off) and watch its blend of ceramides and coconut milk—and all the Vitamin C + E) restore your hands till they’re soft as a baby’s.