What Are Facial Masks For?

Face masks are another treatment used for cleansing and rejuvenating the skin. Facial masks  come in more than one type and are used for more than one reason. Many work best for those with acne or for those with mature skin to help stop the aging of their skin.

We will look briefly at each type of mask starting with clay or mud masks.

Mud masks are used as a way to remove impurities from the skin including flaking skin, dead skin cells and even excess oil. Face masks made with clay, hardens as they dry and can cause a tight feeling once removed.  You need only to mix a small amount of clay with warm water. It does need to remain till completely dry. The mud is applied to the skin and allowed to harden for between 15 and 45 minutes.

 Treatment masks are somewhat more convenient and for many people more effective. They consist of sheets that are applied to the skin. Many types are offered by dermatologists and can become costly because they are once time use only.  These sheets have ingredients infused in them that assist in face cleansing. These ingredients often include moisturizers, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids. There is also the type that is just a strip that removes blackheads but does nothing for the skin itself.

 The sheets offered by dermatologists are for those with more mature skin. Often they are part of a longer facial treatment. These are good for people who have sensitive skin as they can deliver the required cleansing properties with less chance of irritation.

Non-hardening masks are applied to the area to be cleaned and left for a few minutes before being removed with a cloth along with any impurities. These often are creams that once left on for a period of time draw out the impurities as well as brighten your skin color. They can be used more than once a week and are wonderful for those who have sensitive skin.

The final mask in this group is the peel-off mask.  They can come in a tube that you buy at the drug store or the higher end peels are offered by your dermatologist .  There are even more than one type of face peels. Chemical peels are used to help exfoliate your skin to help penetrate further breakouts for those who have acne.  Peels cause a burn in the skin similar to sunburn, depending on the type of compound is used as well as the concentration of ingredients.

Most superficial to moderate peels are not done in your home but done by your doctor. The procedure takes about 30 minutes are often called ‘lunchtime’ peeling because it can be done in the time it would take to eat lunch. These types of peels revitalize the outer layers of your skin for a smooth, rejuvenated appearance.  Did you know that a series of peels made with glycolic acid, beta hydroxyl acid, and trichloracetic acid (TCA) can be used in varying strengths to improve the appearance of scars left over from acne you had in your youth?

Depending on what you need the facial mask to do as you can see there are many choices. I hope this article help give you a better understanding about face masks and what they are used for.

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