What it is and what it is for?
Facial or cosmetic masks were invented in England in the 18th century by Madame Rowley. Facial masks usually contain minerals, vitamins and fruit juices, such as cactus and cucumbers. There are different types of masks for different purposes.
One of the most common goals of face masks is to provide intensive hydration to the skin, in addition to maintaining the hydration balance for a long period of time. By forming a barrier over your face, moisturizing masks provide hydration to your skin and help maintain it.
What are the most used ingredients and their function?
Face masks can contain the following ingredients:
Salicylic acid, an ingredient with exfoliating and sebum-regulating properties, that is, it renews the skin, removing dead cells and excess oil. It also offers an anti-inflammatory action.
Benzoyl peroxide, used to fight acne and combined with retinoids, antibiotics and oil absorbers.
Natural ingredients like yogurt to remove dead skin and substances that clog your pores.
Oats and aloe vera to soothe the skin, while clay and coal can absorb excess oil.
Which types exist and what are their differences?
There are several types of facial masks, each with its purpose:
Nutrition: They are able to replace components that the skin needs, such as fats and vitamins.
Oils: There are substances that temporarily clog the pores to reduce sebum secretion or even absorb it.
Hydration: There are masks with substances that are essential for maintaining water on the skin, such as hyaluronic acid.
Relaxation: Ideal for use after cleansing the skin in the clinic. They soften irritative processes that can cause itching.
Blemishes: Lightening areas of the skin takes a long time. As the mask acts in a punctual way, it is not the best hypothesis.
Rosacea: The disease turns the skin pink due to a vascular cause. Masks would only complement the treatment.
Acne: Because it is an inflammation caused by the action of bacteria, medication is the best way to control it.
Wrinkles: They occur due to the degradation of collagen and elastin fibers. To prevent it, you need to bet on more powerful actives.
What is the most used packaging format and what are the most frequent sizes?
The most used packaging in face masks are jars, individual packages, tubes, among others. Sizes vary greatly from 30gr to 500gr.
What to take into account when choosing a face mask?
When choosing a mask, it is very important to assess your skin type and see if the treatment you want corresponds to it. Otherwise, it may cause adverse effects to those desired.
You should choose a care that contains at least some of the ingredients mentioned above, as these ingredients are really beneficial and provide several privileges to your skin.
What are the recommendations for use and tips?
First of all, the face must be properly cleaned and exfoliated before applying any mask. So, start by rinsing your face with hot water (or wet a towel as hot as you can withstand, and let it rest on your face for two minutes), to open the pores, clean well and then apply the mask for the whole face in a single layer. Then just wait for 5 to 15 minutes (each mask specifies the appropriate time). Finally, it is ready to remove everything with water and apply its usual beauty products.
What are the pros and cons of using a face mask?
Face masks improve the condition of the skin, but we must also take into account the disadvantages.
In certain cases, allergic reactions can be triggered by these products. In such cases, it will be important to check the composition of the product and make sure that none of them could be harmful to the skin.
On the other hand, depending on the purpose of the care, it can bring numerous benefits, such as: moisturizing and nourishing the skin; decrease oiliness; treat various skin problems (blemishes, rosacea, acne, etc).
