| Always apply facial masks to cleansed
skin, and only leave on for as long as the instructions recommend.
‘Mask ingredients are more concentrated than those in lotions
or cleansers, so they produce more noticeable benefits,’
observes Aida Thibiant, whose European Day Spa in Beverly Hills
attracts famous faces like Rachel Hunter and Bette Midler.
The Perfect Fast Fix for:
Oily skin, or skin that’s broken
out
Key words in the name: Deep
Cleansing, Clarifying, Mud, Clay.
Ingredients to look for: kaolin
(oil-absorbing clay), aluminium magnesium silicate (talc),
bentonite (white clay), witch hazel or zinc oxide (antiseptics),
eucalyptus (draws out impurities).
How to use them:
most oily skin masks start off as a thick paste and
then dry on the skin to a hard crust. Apply, avoiding eye
area. A clean, hot washcloth is best for removing all traces
- the skin feels temporarily tightened.
How they work: these clean
the skin and absorb excess oil, so cutting down shine. Antiseptic
ingredients inhibit the growth of bacteria, while clays cause
the skin to perspire, bringing out impurities with the sweat.
Dry skin that’s rough, flaky and
feels tight
Key words in the name: Moisturising,
Hydrating.
Ingredients to look for: buttermilk,
milk protein, vegetable proteins, collagen, vitamin B Panthenol,
amino acids, water, oil, lanolin, hyaluronic acid, urea, algae.
How to use them: apply, and
tissue off after the recommended time. Masks for dry skin
shouldn’t set hard.
How they work: by delivering
a concentrated mix of moisturising ingredients to parched
surface cells, the mask temporarily reduces the appearance
of fine, dry lines.
Dull skin that looks tired, greyish,
lacks translucency
Key words in the name: Perfecting,
Botanical, Replenishing.
Ingredients to look for: menthol,
peppermint, eucalyptus. N.B. avoid masks containing AHAs unless
you know for sure your skin can cope with them without triggering
sensitivity.
How to use them: smooth on;
if the mask is a cream, tissue or wipe off. Some of them are
peel-off formulations: once the mask has set, pull downwards
(gently), starting from the forehead.
How they work: plant ingredients
slough off dead surface cells and dirt partly responsible
for the dull look, and stimulate the skin, giving a (pleasantly)
tingly feeling.
Blotchy skin (i.e. sensitive)
These masks are appropriate for any skin type suffering tightness
or red patches.
Key words in the name: Gentle,
Soothing, Relaxing.
Ingredients to look for: kaolin,
caffeine, azulene, chamomile, aloe, grapefruit seed extract,
honey (all soothing).
How to use them: smooth onto
skin; wipe away with tissues or a
hot washcloth.
How they work: caffeine and
grapefruit seed extract reduce redness. Chamomile extract
and aloe tackle inflammation (which is why they’re often
found in after-sun treatments), and have a cooling effect
on the skin.
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