Our skin is the first thing people see when they look at us. The maintenance of skin is important not only for aesthetic purposes but also because the skin protects us from the harshness of the environment. It acts as a defense against pathogens, UV rays, and pollution.
The best way to maintain your skin is by developing a proper skincare routine which consists of a number of products that help you keep it plump and healthy. A normal skincare routine starts with the aim of cleaning the skin without stripping it of its natural oils. This involves the use of oil cleansers or cleansing balms followed by water cleansers. Water cleansers should always be low pH and gel-based so as to not dry your skin out.
Once the skin is clean, the next step is to apply a good toner. A good toner will help set the pH of the skin and prevent it from drying out. Some toners contain fermented elements along with skin calming ingredients that quickly hydrate the skin. After applying the toner, it is time to use an essence and a serum. Essences and serums can be of different types and properties depending upon what you want from them or what your primary skin complaints are. Many essences provide hydration along with the boosting action of serums to fight aging, hyperpigmentation, and dryness. Rojank skincare has a wide variety of amazing products that you can check out for your skincare routine.
When your skin is all ready and hydrated, the next step, which is the most important one, is the application of a face mask. Face masks are of different types. Some you can wash off, some you can keep on overnight and some that act as potent concentrated serums you wear for 30 minutes and then dab into your skin (sheet masks). Masks are easy to apply and fun to use and packed with amazing benefits for your skin.
Here are 5 benefits of using face masks:
- Unclog Your Pores
Your skin contains small openings on its surface usually for hair follicles to grow or for the production of sebum and skin oils. Due to the presence of dust particles in the environment which mix with the sebum on your skin, your pores can get clogged if you don’t cleanse properly. This can very easily lead to blackheads and whiteheads that you often see on your nose and cheek area. Pores that are clogged due to dead skin cells and bacterial or fungal infections ultimately lead to acne or milia.
Applying a mask that contains Bentonite clay as the main ingredient not only helps remove and suck out dirt from your pores but also helps detoxify the skin. Bentonite clay is produced and collected from the volcanic ashes and contains unique properties. Before applying the mask it is important to exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead skin cells. Once the exfoliation is complete, you can steam your face to open up your pores and then apply a Bentonite clay mask.
The clay mask will soon dry and suck the oil and dirt right out of your pores. If you feel Bentonite clay is too harsh for you, mugwort or salicylic acid mask can help achieve the same results.
- Provide Hydration
The majority of wash-off masks and sheet masks are designed to provide hydration to your skin. Hydration doesn’t only come from the amount of water you drink in a day. Hydrating face masks contain moisture that is penetrated deep into your skin when applied, leaving your skin hydrated and super soft. This result cannot be achieved by moisturizers alone. If you apply a moisturizer on top of dry or patchy skin, it will result in flakiness and you will never see the smooth, glowy look you have always been obsessed with.
Always try to read the ingredient list before purchasing a hydrating mask. There are certain ingredients specifically found in hydrating masks like aloe, snail mucin, Centella Sciatica, ceramide and most importantly, hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is the king of hydrators as it possesses the ability to hold 10 times its weight in moisture which means that it will hold in hydrating molecules from the ingredients in the mask and lock it in for a longer period of time so that your skin can remain hydrated throughout the day. A hydrating sheet mask or an overnight hydrating mask works better than a normal wash-off hydrating mask.
- Anti-aging effects
You don’t need to wait till a certain age or see a few signs before you start your anti-aging journey. Ideally, one should start after the age of 25. This not only ensures the addition of more beneficial ingredients into the skincare routine but also slows down any signs of aging one would normally see pretty quickly.
Many masks carry anti-aging properties that focus on strengthening the skin barrier while penetrating into the deeper layers and keeping the skin cells healthy and happy. Ingredients that one should look for in an anti-aging mask include glycolic acid, retinol, and antioxidants.
Glycolic acid is an AHA or Alpha Hydroxy acid. These are chemical exfoliators that help remove dead skin cells, improve cell turn over and bring out new and fresh skin cells from underneath. All of this also helps in the treatment of any scars and blemishes.
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and the most important ingredient in any anti-aging product. Retinol helps with cellular turnover in the skin while promoting the production of collagen fibers. This collagen is what makes your skin plump and prevents it from sagging or developing wrinkles. A combination of glycolic acid, retinol, and antioxidants is exactly what you need in your dream antioxidant mask.
- Repair sun damage
Sunlight consists of UV radiations that break the core DNA protein molecules in our cells, causing them to produce free radicals that not only spoil the texture of our skin but also break the skin barrier. The maintenance of the skin barrier and elimination of free radicals of the skin can be achieved with the incorporation of a good antioxidant in your mask with the added bonus of Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin. This will also help stimulate collagen production and prevent the skin from any sun damage.
If your skin has spots or scarring, make sure the mask contains vitamin E and C; not only do they help relieve hyper-pigmentation but also boost collagen production to give your skin the glow it’s been missing.
- Treat acne-prone, dry or sensitive skin
The biggest benefit of investing in good face masks is that you get to pick out the ones you need to target the problems your skin is currently facing. The most common problem among teenagers and adults alike is the presence of acne along with sensitive skin. Anti-acne masks with salicylic acid, snail mucin, bee venom, and aloe not only penetrate deep into the skin to dismantle any clogged gunk but also help soothe the skin and relieve redness with an added boost of hydration.
The Bottom Line
Face masks are fun to apply especially when they come with such amazing results. It is recommended to use face masks twice or thrice a week and you can conveniently use a combination of a few that suit your skin type. Give it a try and you are sure to be pleased with the results!
