ARE YOU MULTIMASKING?

We’ve all heard of multitasking and now smart beauty mavens are applying this to their mask routine, using a myriad products to target breakouts, wrinkles, pigmentation and dark circles all at once. reports on the latest beauty craze

FFrom letting fish nibble dead skin on our feet in a bid to soften our soles, to contouring our complexion so that we end up looking like a clown, beauty trends tend to come and go. So when we tell you that there is a new trend getting beauty buffs excited, we understand your scepticism – but hear us out, as this is one trend that might actually make sense for our skin.

We’re talking about multimasking, which is the art of applying several different masks to areas of your face at the same time to target different skincare concerns at once. Just search for it under #multimasking on Instagram and you’ll know what all the fuss is about: hundreds of pictures of faces slathered in different-coloured facemasks uploaded in their droves by beauty trendsetters. But along with being photo-worthy, dermatologists agree that the idea isn’t as eccentric as it looks.

According to New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Debra Jaliman, it’s a legitimate skincare strategy. She should know – she has several well-known celebrities and models on her client list (though she refuses to name them).

She suggests either applying one mask after another and rinsing them off in between, or applying different masks to various parts of your face all at once, based on your skincare needs. Dr Reem Al Kaddah, Specialist Dermatologist at Dubai’s iCare clinics, agrees. ‘It makes total sense. Why go for a one-beautymask-fits-all if you have an oily T-zone, but dry cheeks showing signs of pigmentation, for example?’

So take a close look at your skin so you can create a bespoke multimask. Maybe you get a breakout on your chin but want to target the dark circles under your eyes and pigmentation on your cheeks?

Dr Reem advises, ‘If you have shiny, oily skin over your nose and dry skin over your cheeks, opt for a clay-based mask for the nose area and a moisturising one, like aloe vera, for the cheeks. You can zone in on various problems with different masks.’

Once you’ve mapped your face, you are ready to pick masks to address those concerns… Why might you need a separate mask for the area around your eyes? The simple answer is that the skin here is the thinnest and most delicate on our body. As collagen production slows, the skin becomes ever more fragile. It gradually loses its elasticity and may begin to sag. It is usually the first area to develop fine lines and wrinkles.

If crow’s feet are a concern, try Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks Dh387, for an instant skin-tightening effect. It plumps the skin and minimises fine lines and wrinkles, while enhancing skin hydration. What about dark circles? Dr Stephen Juan, anthropologist and author of several bestsellers on human anatomy from Sydney University, explains: ‘When someone

‘Why go for a ONE-beauty-mask-fits-all if you have an OILY T-ZONE, but DRY CHEEKS showing signs of pigmentation, for example? You can ZONE IN on VARIOUS problems with DIFFERENT MASKS’

becomes tired, their body is forced to produce more cortisol to keep them awake. When this happens, the blood volume in the body increases and blood vessels enlarge to cope with the extra volume. The smaller veins under our eyes are likely to change more visibly under the thin layer of skin, hence the dark appearance.’

Sephora Pearl Eye Masks Dh20 each, help to banish dark circles with natural white pearl to even out skin tone and broccoli extract to clarify and balance the eye area.