Full-bodied beauty masks
No longer just for the face, CLAIRE COLEMAN tests the new trend for...
You’re probably au fait with slathering on an indulgent face mask, but have you tried a body mask? The idea is that in exactly the same way you’d treat the skin on your face to a mask designed to purify, exfoliate or hydrate, you can now offer your body some care, too.
Body masks have been a part of beauty rituals for millennia — think mud packs in Turkish baths — and have been a core part of salon and spa treatmentsfor some time.
‘But lockdown really accelerated the growth of body masks as a home-use product, as the concept of self-care exploded,’ says beauty expert and broadcaster Alison Young.
of course, part of the appeal of the body masks offered in a spa is that you get to lounge on a heated bed and someone else is cleaning the towels. But even in your own home there’s a huge mental benefit to this indulgent treat. We test six of the best . . .
Sleep soother
Lush Beauty Sleep Face and Body Mask, £13, lush.com DesigneD to be used before bed, simply cleanse skin and splash with water, then pat dry and apply. Leave on the skin for ten minutes so the ingredients have time to soften and moisturise, and the essential oils have time to relax the senses. VERDICT: Lush suggests using this in a warm bath, so before bed one night i applied it to my face, shoulders and anything that wasn’t submerged. The fragrance was a bit sweet for me, but not unpleasant, and the idea is that the valerian and lavender have a soporific effect.
With most of me in the bath, i wasn’t too cold after ten minutes and it was easy for me
to rinse it off. My skin was left soft and slightly fragranced — and yes, i slept deliciously well. BEST FOR: A pre-bed treat. 4/5
Chilly cleanser
Rituals The Ritual of Hammam Body Mud, £9.90, rituals.com MADe with mineralrich rhassoul clay and eucalyptus, thisclaims to purify and polish the skin. rituals recommendsmassaging a thin layer on to damp skin and leaving for two minutesbefore rinsing off.
VERDICT: i liked that i only needed to hang around for a few minutes with this one, so i dared to apply it all over my body. The eucalyptus made it feel invigorating and cooling and the slightly chilly feeling continued after i showered it off. My spa experiences of hammams (steam baths) have been more relaxing than this, but it left my skin very soft for minimal effort. BEST FOR: A luxurious pep-meup morning shower. 3/5
Simply turmeric
Soap N Skin Skin Cashmere Face & Body Mask, £35, soapnskin.com This formulation of chickpea flour, turmeric root, sandalwood, rose and yoghurt powders isapparently based on the bridal rituals of Kashmir. Activate it with your favourite (floral) water, mix into a paste and apply to cleansed skin. Leave for five to seven minutes and remove with a warm cloth before it dries. rinse with plenty of fresh water. VERDICT: i wasn’t a fan. When i added water (i didn’t have any floral water), the yellowy-orange paste smelled strongly of turmeric. My fears it would turn my skin yellow were unfounded, but i didn’t feel it gave me the radiant glow it promised. BEST FOR: natural fans. 2/5
Fruity formula
Kopari Pink Souffle Body Mask, £32, koparibeauty.co.uk This is a whipped body mask that’s infused with niacinamide (which promises to help reduce
the look of pores), kaolin and bentonite clays (supposed to clarify skin), antioxidant-rich dragon fruit and hydrating coconut oil. Kopari claims this can soothe body acne, reduce the appearance of cellulite and refine skin tone. VERDICT: While the company suggests spreading this fruity cream all over or using it as a spot treatment, the ingredientsare confusing.
The niacinamide and the clay would be good for treating spotson the back or chest, but to attack cellulite, you’d want to use it on your thighs and bottom, which don’t tend to be oily. it feels like it’s trying to be a jack of all trades.
i tried it on my stomach to see if it can improve skin tone and texture. After ten minutes, my skin was definitely softer, but hanging around for that long with it all over would turn any spots to goose pimples. BEST FOR: When you’re in hotter climes. 2/5
Combat cellulite
Margaret Dabbs Black Leg Masque, £45, margaretdabbs.co.uk FroM the queen of manicuresand pedicurescomes a charcoal mask that claims to help fight water retention, cellulite and inflammation. Apply a thin layer from the feet to the top of the thighs and leave for 15 minutes.
Remove with a warm flannel. VERDICT: This was a breeze as i could sit on the edge of the bath while it dried. it felt cool and tingly when i applied it, and the minty scent continued to feel invigorating. i’m not sure it did much for my cellulite, but it wassuper refreshing after a long day on my feet. BEST FOR: Tired legs. 4/5
Chocolate clay
Rabot 1745 Cacao & Kaolin Clay Thermal Body Mask, £14.95, hotelchocolat.com This ‘selfheating’ mask supposedly draws out impurities aswell as moisturising with cacao butter. Massage it all over to feel the gentle rise in temperature. VERDICT: This didn’t smell of chocolate, more generic spa product, and it was quite gritty and oily to apply. it has an ingredient that makes it feel warm on the skin, but it’sdefinitely not warm enough to stand around naked for long. After a few minutes i showered it off, leaving my skin feeling surprisingly well moisturised. BEST FOR: Dry skin. 3/5