MARVELLOUS MASKS
Party season means long days and even longer nights – make friends with a mask to keep skin healthy and happy
How skincare masks work
Compared to, say, a night cream, a face mask is only on your skin for a relatively short period of time. So how is it they actually do anything? Masks, in general, have a much higher concentration of active ingredients, which work their magic in a matter of minutes.
Sheet masks
To give you an idea of just how popular sheet masks are in K-beauty, there are stores in South Korea that sell them exclusively. You can usually count on this type of mask to treat any skin problem you might have, but it’s the material the sheet is made from that sets them apart.
Cotton is the most common sheet-mask material, drenched in serum or essence, which transfers to the skin during application. Like a thick sheet of jelly, hydrogel face masks are infused with — as opposed to drenched in — active ingredients, allowing them to carry a higher dose of the good stuff. Lastly, bio cellulose masks are made from cultured bacteria and adhere extra-snugly to the skin, which means ingredients don’t evaporate as quickly.
Clay masks
Masks enriched with clay are great for oily skin and can help absorb excess sebum. Similar but different are mud-based masks, which also have healing properties. This makes them gentler and better for people with drier skin.
Charcoal masks
Since it also helps remove excess oil, charcoal is another handy option for oily skin and these types of masks are great used as a spot treatment if you have a breakout, instantly making the area less inflamed.
Cream masks
If it’s a wash-off mask that doesn’t fit the profiles above, it probably could be classified into this catch-all category. Creamy wash-off masks have a wide variety of benefits depending on their active ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is a good bet if you’re after hydration,
or alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids if you require exfoliation.
Sleeping masks
A sleeping mask is meant to be applied before bedtime and works while you dream. But what’s the difference between a sleeping mask and a night cream? The concentration of active ingredients that go to work while you snooze.