Face Masks 101

FACE MASKS

Face masks nourish the skin, remove dead layers of the skin and help to improve circulation. They pull toxins and impurities out of the skin. Face masks smooth, tighten, brighten and tone the skin. If you want more radiant and glowing skin, try a face mask.

Types of Masks

Nourishing
Nourishing masks add vitamins and moisture to the skin. Try dried fruit and plant fiber powders like cranberry, pumpkin, blueberry, banana and green tea, plant-based milks like coconut milk powder, rice milk powder, soy milk powder, grains like oat flour, ground oatmeal and colloidal oats.

Detoxifying
Detoxifying masks contain highly absorbent clays such as green clay. Clays are rich in minerals and enzymes. They pull out and absorb excess dirt, oil, and toxins. Clay masks exfoliate, tone and strengthen the skin and improve skin circulation. Clay masks can be drying and work best with oily and congested skin. Some clays are not so absorbent and can be used for most skin types, try rhassoul clay and white clay.

Combination Nourishing and Detoxifying
A mask containing nourishing and detoxifying ingredients to detoxify and add nourishment back into the skin are great for most skin types.

Consistency Of A Face Mask

A face mask should be a little thick to adhere to the facial skin, about the consistency of pudding. If the mask is too thick it will not spread easily on the skin. Pour a little liquid at a time as it takes time for the mask to absorb the liquid, mix and add more liquid until you reach the desired consistency.
 

How To Apply A Face Mask

One of the best ways to apply the face mask is with a clean large makeup brush with soft bristles. It feels so soothing and relaxing to paint the mask onto the skin. And it’s fun too. Make sure and source a cruelty-free makeup brush. There are natural bristle brushes made from plants and synthetic bristle brushes that are better than animal-derived brushes from the suffering of animals.

You can always use your fingers to gently apply the mask onto your skin. Massaging the skin while applying the mask feels so good.

Best Time To Do A Face Mask

Face masks can be applied to the face, neck and décolleté. It is easiest to put the face mask on before your shower or bath. The mask washes off easily while taking a shower or bath. A washcloth can be used but it is messier.

How Long To Leave A Face Mask On

It depends on the type of mask and the person for how long to leave the mask on the skin. Generally 5-10 minutes. Some masks dry quickly and don’t feel comfortable on the skin and should be washed off.

How Often To Do A Face Mask

It depends on the type of face mask and the person’s skin, generally a nourishing face mask can be applied once a week, a detoxifying mask containing green clay about once a month.

How To Make a Face Mask

There are countless ways to make a mask and numerous combinations of ingredients with what you have on hand in your kitchen or pantry.

Fruit and Veggie Masks

Fruit and veggie masks gently dissolve the dead skin and brighten the skin. Use seasonal fresh fruits and veggies, eat the fruit or veggie and save a small amount to apply to the face. Be careful not to be in direct sun after you do a fruit mask as your fresh new skin cells exposed to the sun will sunburn easily.

Grain Masks

Many grains work nicely for a face mask once they are moistened. Try millet, barley or oat flour. Grains gently exfoliate, cleanse and brighten the skin. Oats even skin tone and lighten the skin. Make sure the grains are not jagged and harsh on the skin. The grain should be ground very fine. Do a pre-test before applying the grain to the facial skin. Pour a little grain in the palm of your hand and moisten it with water and rub it onto the back of your hand. If it is too harsh with too much exfoliation, don’t use it on the face.
 

Plant-Based Yogurt Masks

Try coconut yogurt, soy yogurt or rice yogurt for instant radiance. The yogurt gently dissolves the dead skin cells, softens and brightens the skin.

Simple Base Mask

one time use

1 tablespoon oat flour (or finely ground oatmeal)

2 teaspoons liquid (plant milk, fruit or veggie juice, hydrosol, water, plant yogurt)

Slowly add and mix the liquid into the oat flour until the desired consistency for the mask.

These mask formulas are available in the Professional Natural Skin Care Product Making Course.


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  • I find when I use a mask, it gets messy as it dries and leaves little pieces of whatever is in the mask all over. Any ideas (besides not walking all over my house!) how to combat this? I usually use water and different clays.

    • So true Angela, that is why I don’t like to leave masks on until they get to that dried out point. If it has clay in it, it will dry quickly. Adding some agave or aloe vera gel helps to keep it from drying out so much.

      • For some reason I always thought you had to leave it on until the mask was totally dried out. I’ll try some aloe vera gel, thanks for the tip!

        • Let me know how your mask is after you try it with aloe vera gel. In my opinion, I have found leaving a dried mask that pulls on the facial skin is too stressful for the skin.

  • I love using dry masks but I never thought of adding yogurt, I think that’s something I am going to try. Thank you for the post :-)!

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