Face Masks – The mortgage of skincare products.

Face Masks – The mortgage of skincare products.

Face masks, they are rather a twee concept aren’t they?  Reminiscent of girlie sleep-overs, that really did bugger all for your skin, but you felt oh so sophisticated and grown up while you were doing it.  When I was younger it was just one of things that you did because that is what girls do isn’t it?  I would go to boots to buy one of those 99p sachets that has something bright blue or green to plonk on your face.  Or even better that tea tree peel off stuff, that was quite fun to play with. 

I remember pretending it was bogeys and flicking it at my friends, or have it dangling down my nose and chasing someone around with it, screaming “I LOVE YOU KISS ME NOW!”

Ahem, yes I was pretty random when I was younger…….

My previous Post was about skin care that bits that I felt really changed my skin to fully fledged glow-i-ness in couple of weeks.  So if you think of those bits as a short term loan on boosting your skin, a face mask is the mortgage  for maintaining your skin.   Why a mortgage I hear you ask?  Well you have to spend time using them once a month at least, (or once a week) they take up time, and they are a boring essential part of your skincare regime.  Now I have explained that metaphor this post is about all the long term bits that I have been using to improve my skin care as well. 

So why do you use a face mask?  I didn’t really understand why you did it, it was just something you did.  Basically a mask is like a treatment for your face to do something.

A clay mask will generally draw out all  the dirt on your face, and be a preventative measure against spots.  A moisturising mask will put moisture back in your face if it is dry. A Glycolatic acid based mask will brighten your face by exfoliating it.   Caroline Hirons recommends using a clay based mask followed by a moisturising mask.  I haven’t actually tried this yet but I intend to one Sunday afternoon. 

(FYI Sunday afternoon is when I get my masks on, do my nails and toes and shove a mask on my hair as well.  This all followed by a soak in the bath.  My other half thinks I am hilarious and totally OTT, psskt Men what do they know, hey?)

Origins Drink up Intensive overnight mask. £20 from larger Boots in store and online, Origins website, House of Fraser in store and online, John Lewis, and Selfridges in store.  – Moisturising Mask.

I pop this on my face an hour before bed and leave it on.  The next morning I really see a difference.  I haven’t been using this lately as the sun has decided to grace us with its presence. 

“What is that large ball of light in the sky?”

During the winter it was such a god send and really got me out of some horrid, flaky, eczema situations.  The smell is incredible!  It smells of peaches, and I seriously want to eat it when I put it on my face. 

Wild Rose Beauty Balm £37 available from Neal’s Yard in store and online, John Lewis in store and online. 

I bought this on a whim a couple of months ago.   This is not technically a mask, but it’s a does everything product.  Cleanser, mask, moisturiser in one.  I have used it as all three and it does what is says on the tin.  This is good for travel if your skin is behaving itself, you can save space in your bag.  I especially love this as an intensive moisturiser mask night treatment.  So I will slather loads on as a mask go around like a grease monkey for 30mins, and then start massaging the excess in my skin.  It feels like a really indulgent treatment.  I have actually decanted about half of this and given it to my Mum as she loved it so much.  It does smell of roses, not my fav smell in the world but still nice.

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti Blemish Mask £33.00 available in Aesop Store, online. 

This is the best on the spot, spot treatment there is.   If you have a large zit on your face, that has erupted, about to erupt or, is still in its foetal bump stage, STICK a bit of this on it and leave overnight.   It will guaranteed clear it up, or soothe it depending on what stage you are at, and how much you have been picking /squeezing.  As a face mask is pretty drying, but I will use this the week before my period when I tend to explode in spots.  It pretty much will draw most of the crap out of my face early on, or prevent my menstrual spots all together.   I do feel a bit guilty about this product as it tends to stay unloved on my shelf until I have a spot emergency. It’s not a key part of my skincare regime but I wouldn’t be without it.

Ren Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask £30 available in Space NK in store and online, John Lewis, Marks and Spencers online. 

 

This is like putting marmalade on your face.  Smell fruity and feels a bit tingly when you apply this, but I quite enjoy this sensation as I feel like it’s doing something.  This sloughs away at all the dead skin on your face to leave you with a  sparkling clean face.  You can see a noticeable difference on your face after using this.  This is another treatment that is totally luxurious.  I like to use this before a big night out as I feel like it really shows on my skin.  Again not a key player in the skincare regime, but it’s like your favourite pair of shoes, handbag or that sexy set of undies you have to boost your confidence.

Ren Clear Calm 3 Anti-Blemish £30 available in Space NK in store and online, John Lewis, Marks and Spencers online. 

This a less harsh version of the Aesop Chamomile mask.   I tend to use this once a week every Sunday just to keep the spots in check.  It’s lovely and cooling on, clay based so it really soothes any irritations you have.  Strangely for a clay mask I find this really moisturising as well, definitely not as astringent as some other clay masks I have used.

This mask falls in the category of “I don’t know what my face is doing at the moment” due to its soothing qualities. 

Hope that helps you with your decision on masks.  Like most of my skincare bits, really expensive.  However I feel like I am investing in my face, as it’s what I wear every day.  Some of these I feel definitely are not necessary, and depending on your skin type you probably don’t need 5 face masks!  So if you are dry  I would go for the Origins, if you are bit spotty I would go for the Ren Clear Clam.  If you are looking for that little be of radiance in your life go for the Ren Glycolatic mask.  I am not a skincare expert, however I am expert on my own skin.  So keep in mind what works for me might not work for you.  The best advice is available from Caroline Hiron’s blog Beauty Mouth.  http://www.beautymouth.com/

Thank you for reading

Carrie x