With so many skin care methods available, how do you find the right one? Here’s a guide on how to find the best facial mask for your skin type.
Getting a facial is no longer a luxury. With easy-to-use facial masks lining shelves at pretty much every store, you can pamper your skin as often as you like from the comfort of your own home.
But with so many options available, choosing the perfect facial mask can feel overwhelming, to say the least.
Below, you will find three methods to help you discover which type of facial mask is best for you. That way, you can pick out a mask to add to your beauty regimen that makes your skin look and feel like you just spent a day at the spa.
1. Figure Out Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type at home is pretty simple if you know what to look for. You can do it by examining your bare, clean skin or by using blotting paper.
With both methods, you are looking at the amount of oil on different areas of your face.
Here’s a quick rundown of how to determine your skin type:
Bare-Faced
Wash and dry your face without adding any moisturizer or treatments.
After 30 minutes, look at your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead for shine. After 30 more minutes, see how dry your skin feels, especially when you smile or make other expressions.
Dry skin will feel tight. Combination skin will have a shine on the nose and forehead. Oily skin will have a shine on the cheeks, as well as the other spots.
Blotting Paper
All you need to do with this one is press the blotting paper of your choice on the different areas of your face.
Now hold it up to the light. Dry skin will show little to no oil. Combination skin will show a moderate amount of oil. Oily skin will leave a considerable amount of oil on the blotting paper.
Once you know what kind of skin you’re working with, finding the right facial mask to treat it becomes much easier.
Just remember to do a regular check-in with your skin. It’s entirely possible for your skin type to change along with your beauty needs. Knowing when to make changes will keep your face looking its very best.
Which Mask Is Best for Your Skin Type?
Let’s take a look at what types of masks get along with each skin type:
Oily Skin
When looking for face masks for oily skin, find packaging that says purifying, clarifying, or detoxifying on it for the best results.
Clay-based masks are amazing for oily skin because they help absorb excess oils, prevent sebum secretion, and keep your pores from getting clogged — all of which is a huge problem when your skin is extra oily.
Exfoliation is super important to aiding cell turnover and preventing excess sebum build-up in your pores that could potentially lead to breakouts.
And if you want to take it a step further, a mask that contains activated charcoal will help even more in drawing out bacteria and dead skin cells from your pores.
Combination Skin
For combination or normal skin, you need a mask that will hydrate your dry spots without making your T-zone too oily.
It’s a delicate balance.
Instead of searching for a mask specifically for combination skin, you can focus on your skincare goals (such as acne prevention) instead. Then you know you’ll be getting the benefits you want to see.
You can also try using more than one mask at a time to spot-treat each area of your face. Put a purifying mask on your oily T-zone and a hydrating mask on the rest of your face.
It may take some extra trial and error to find the right mask for you,
Dry Skin
The main concern for soothing your dry skin is getting enough hydration to make your skin look and feel healthy.
You definitely want to choose a mask with moisturizing, nourishing, or hydrating somewhere on the label for the right properties.
Look for something like a rich cream that includes ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, plant oils or butters, and algae. Avoid clay masks as they dry you out even more.
Sensitive Skin
No matter what type of skin you have, it could also be sensitive. You have to be much more careful when choosing a facial mask if you have sensitive skin. If the ingredients are too harsh, it could very well leave your skin angry and irritated.
Find a mask that includes the words soothing, calming, or non-irritating on it.
Be very aware of what ingredients are in any mask you consider. Put an emphasis on anti-inflammatory ingredients such as aloe and oats. Avoid sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can cause irritation.
Even when you think you’ve found the best facial mask for your sensitive skin, always spot test it before going all out on your face.
Start by trying it on the inside of your forearm. Leave it for the same amount of time you would on your face and then check for any reactions. If it clears this stage, give it another test on a spot behind your ear, just to be super sure it won’t cause your face to react negatively.
Taking care of any type of skin is important, but sensitive skin just needs a little extra TLC.
2. Decide Your Skincare Goals
Second to your skin type, but no less important, are your goals for your skincare routine. There’s usually one major concern or another you’d like to address when it comes to your face.
Knowing exactly what you want your facial mask to do for you can help you narrow down your options even further.
Managing Acne
Because acne is usually caused by an excess of oil and build-up on the face that blocks your pores, you need a purifying mask to clear all of it up.
Fighting acne generally overlaps pretty perfectly with anyone that has oily skin, and your facial mask needs will probably be the same.
Clay or mud masks do wonders to help prevent breakouts.
Look for hyaluronic acid and antioxidants in your acne-fighting face mask to really pack a punch against the bacteria causing the problem.
Brightening
To brighten your skin, find a face mask that exfoliates to help in cell turnover to bring out a fresh, new layer. It will help keep your face looking young and healthy by revealing your best and brightest layers.
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and hydroxy acids are amazing ingredients to look for in a brightening face mask.
Hydration
Hydrating masks are great for giving your dry skin a boost, but they should always be used in combination with moisturizer or hydrating cream. They’re an aid, not a replacement!
You will usually find the best hydrating facial masks in a gel or cream form.
Anti-Aging
Antioxidants are your best friend. They keep your skin smooth and plump while also preventing lines.
Search for an anti-aging face mask with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, collagen, and retinol to keep your skin hydrated, prevent inflammation, and hold off wrinkles.
3. Explore Different Kinds of Facial Masks
Even if you’re fairly certain what type of facial mask is best for you at this point, it always helps to know what you’re looking at when you head to the store.
There are so many kinds of masks on the shelves that it would be impossible to list them all here. But, these are some of the most common you’re likely to come across in your search:
Sheet Mask
Sheet masks are made of thin fabric that lays on your face and is always single-use. Once you’re done with it, you simply take it off and throw it away. Nothing fancy required.
They lay the ingredients directly on your skin and prevent them from evaporating away during use.
You can pretty much find a sheet mask for every skin type and skincare concern if this is the route you want to go. And they are generally a really affordable option!
Clay Mask
Clay masks, or mud masks, draw out oil, dirt, and impurities from your pores to leave your face feeling clean and refreshed. Because of that, they are best for oily or acne-prone skin.
Gel Mask
Gel masks deliver a punch of hydration and are lighter on your skin than a heavier cream mask. They are perfect for dry skin, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive skin as well.
Rubber Mask
Rubber masks, sometimes called modeling masks, come with two parts that you have to mix together with water to form the rubber-like substance. It’s like your very own science experiment.
These are fantastic because they create a tight seal on your face to really force hydration into your skin.
If you have insanely dry skin, rubber masks are a lifesaver.
Not to mention, they are fun to peel off after they are done working their magic!
Overnight Mask
Overnight masks penetrate active ingredients deep into your skin while you sleep. They are great for adding more moisture to your skin and warding off fine lines.
In Conclusion
Discovering the right facial mask for your skin can certainly be a journey, but it’s one that’s well worth it. Once you hit that perfect match, you’re really going to notice a difference.
Your face will look and feel better than ever!
Use these three methods to find the best facial mask to suit you and your beauty regimen today and start giving yourself a spa day every single week. You deserve it!
If these methods do not work for you, you can always opt to seek professional guidance, consult a dermatologist through marhampk to discuss your issues related to skin, nails, and hair.
Author Bio:
Adam Marshall is a freelance writer specializing in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with Grove at Waco to help them with their online marketing.
