This post is the third of five individual posts that will explain, in-depth, the steps of my OE Signature Facial. Feel free to try each one as it’s delivered to your inbox or simply introduce the steps that speak most to you and your individual skin care needs.
Today I’ll be talking about treatment masks. In almost every facial ever performed, treatment masks are applied toward the end of the service. Some facials include two. Treatment masks are a fantastic way to give your skincare routine a boost, target specific skin concerns, and indulge in a little relaxation. I’ll be sharing some of my all-time favorite masks in addition to some fun ways to enhance their application and results.
Make sure you’ve learned How To Give Yourself A Spa Worthy Cleanse At Home and How To Exfoliate Like A Pro.
|
|
|
Masking how to
Whether it’s to start your day or to enhance your nighttime routine, as long as it is applied to clean skin, there isn’t a wrong time to use a face mask. Masks can target specific concerns in the skin, from promoting anti-aging to clearing up breakouts. Used after exfoliation and extractions during a facial, masks soothe calm and moisturize, supporting the lipid barrier.
During my OE Signature Facial, I either use a calming white clay mask, loaded with antioxidants, that increases cellular activity, or I use a mask that doubles as a conductor for microcurrent, which we’ll talk about more during my next post. At home, you could easily use a mask daily if you have the time to target each days’s specific needs. But let's be real; even in quarantine, finding time for daily masking can be a challenge, shoot for one mask a week.
Pro Tip: To increase calming and soothing effects, pop your mask into the fridge before applying or use a chilled gemstone tool over your mask. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, decreasing redness while firming the skin, in addition to stimulating the arrector pili muscle in the hair follicle, expelling barrier protecting sebum.
Using a tool, like a gemstone roller or the backside of your cleansing device, over your mask increases product penetration and can stimulate drainage, removing waste while depuffing the face.
There’s A Mask For That
Whether you’re looking to detoxify your skin, reduce inflammation, add hydration or minimize aging, there truly is a mask to treat every skin concern. Below I’ll list a few of my favorite products, highlighting ingredients and usage tips. Feel free also to check out my shop for even more mask options.
Moisture Masks
Where your skin is dry, sensitive, or just in need of a little extra hydration, moisture masks are a great option.
-
Sircuit Skin’s tropical Cool Lychee Wa is an intensely hydrating and anti-aging mask, packed with antioxidants from Mangosteen, Lychee, Goji Berry and Resveratrol, while menthol adds a cooling freshness. Fantastic for all skin types.
-
Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Rosewater Mask, a cost-effective option for sensitive skin, calms dryness related irritation. Great for sensitive and dry skin.
-
Josh Rosebrook’s rich and nourishing Advanced Hydration Mask offers a blend of plant oils and butters loaded with moisturizing factors, in addition to nutrient-dense herbs and plant extracts. Ideal for dry skin in need of deep moisture.
 |
|
 |
Sheet Masks
Possibly my favorite type of mask to use, think of sheet masks as an intensive serum delivery system. There are thousands of sheet masks out there, but the four masks below are the best I’ve tried.
-
Whamis’s Organic Hydrogel Masks come in a variety of organic ingredient bases and are made from hydrogel, a thick transparent material that’s great for locking in moisture. But my favorite is their Organic Kelp Mask, made from real kelp, with this mask you can add Vitamin C, E, and Minerals that moisturize, protect, balance, brighten and lift your skin, all while looking like the creature from the Black Lagoon. Great for all skin types.
-
Orgaid’s Organic Sheet Masks, made from Ecoderma, a hybrid of fabric and hydrogel, come in a variety of options, but their Vitamin C & Revitalizing Mask is my favorite. They are made with pomegranate, rosehip, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a form of vitamin C known for its brightening properties. Great for all skin types in need of brightening.
-
Respekt Korean Organic Masks come highly saturated, are made with actives well known in traditional Chinese medicine, and leave your skin dewy AF. Great for all skin types.
-
Andalou Naturals makes a selection of sheet masks, but their Instant Pure Pore, made with coconut water and organic willow bark, is fantastic for hydrating the skin while also neutralizing bacteria. Best for break-out prone skin.
|
|
|
|
I Know You Have 90 Seconds
If you’ve been reading this while holding a baby, walking a dog, and making dinner, you’re really good at multitasking. You are also probably thinking, “I don’t have time for masks!” But what if you gave yourself 90 seconds a day? I know you have 90 seconds!
Meet your new best friend, the Foreo UFO. This little gadget is a multitasker’s best friend. With T-sonic pulsations, Thermo-therapy, Cryo-Therapy, and LED therapy, this device optimizes your masking experience, cutting it down to a 90-second treatment. Simply turn on the app, pop in a UFO Activated Mask, and let this Bad Boy do its’ thing.
I’ve been absolutely loving my UFO and will have a full tutorial up on the channel shortly.
Clay Masks
Clay masks can be used in two ways, applied thinly to draw out impurities or, my favorite, applied thickly to calm and soothe. Alternatively, some clay masks can even be used as a detoxifying cleanser, like Luzern Labs La Defense Urban Protect Detox Masque.
-
Luzern Labs La Defense Urban Protect Detox Masque is one of my all-time favorite masks. With a base of Kaolin and Bentonite clays and an active ingredient called isoleucine, this mask not only detoxifies the skin of heavy metals and other pollution but also firms the skin. Use it as a mask or as a cleanser to neutralize age-inducing stressors. Be prepared to turn pink. Not ideal for sensitive skin.
-
Wilder North Green Goddess Clay Mask is a purifying and anti-inflammatory green clay paired with a blend of green superfoods, Spirulina, Chlorella, wheatgrass, and kale. This stimulating mask tightens pores and removes impurities. Good for normal to oily skin, but not ideal for sensitive.
-
Fig & Yarrow’s Organic White Clay Mask is soothing for dry, sensitive skin in need of nourishment and balance. Good for all skin types, especially sensitive.
|
|
|
Powdered Masks
Whether it’s clay, dried flowers, or even chocolatey cocoa, powdered masks offer a lot of customization. Mix them with honey, yogurt, tea, or simply add water to activate their ingredients and create an intensive skin treatment.
-
Ranavat’s Kiss Of Royal Tea, this hydrating bath of botanicals, minerals, and natural-sourced vitamins, leaves skin smooth and glowing. Hibiscus gently exfoliates, rose clay, and rose petals soothe, while amla and Indian Gensing infuse skin with antioxidants.
-
Dr. Alkaitis’s revitalizing Organic Cellular Repair Mask the skin fortifies the skin against UV and environmental damage with a blend of dried berries and oat buds. Great for environmentally damaged or aging skin.
-
May Lindstrom’s The Problem Solver is brimming with ingredients that increase circulation. These include cinnamon, clove, turmeric, and cayenne pepper, plus Fuller's earth clay to detox pores, nourishing marshmallow root, and brightening vitamin C. This powder to mouse formula is good for most skin types. Expect tingling and heat.
|
|
|
DIY masks
Looking to get crafty during your Coron-antine? Why not make your own mask?! I love using my powdered supplements as mask ingredients to give my skin a dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and adaptogens. Make sure to check out my DIY Face Mask blog post for my go-to recipe and tons of ingredient suggestions.
Hope you’re all well and safe. Tag me if I’ve inspired any masking sessions. Sending you all lots of OE love ❤️
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
