The new generation face masks can take
you from looking like Frankenstein’s sister to Cleopatra’s mother...
in a matter of minutes. So get the scoop on the gloop with Femina’s list
of super efficient face
masks
Cleansing and Tightening
Masks
Ingredients:
Mineral-rich muds or clay like kaolin, bentonite, Fuller’s earth (may also
contain algae, seaweed and essential oils).
How they work:
They draw and
absorb excess oil from the skin; tighten the skin and make pores look
smaller.
For what skin type:
All,
except very dry.
Good choices:
Aesop Primrose Face Masque, Ahava Advanced Mud Mask, Aveda Deep Cleansing Herbal
Clay Masque, Princess Marcella Borghese Fango, H2O Sea Mineral Mud Mask, Origins
Clear Improvement, Revlon 5-Minute Mask and Chanel Gentle Cleansing
Mask.
Exfoliating
Masks
Ingredients:
Scrubbing particles like AHAs, enzymes (papaya or pineapple extracts), plant
gums or balsam.
How they work:
They peel or slough off dead surface skin cells, surface oil, and
debris; they also loosen clogged pores.
For what skin type:
Ageing,
normal or oily.
Good choices:
Elizabeth Arden Milennium Hydra-Exfoliating Mask, Clarins Gentle Exfoliating
Refiner, Clarins Gentle Facial Peel, Educated Beauty 10-Minute Cranberry Peel
and Lancôme Masque Controlé
Peel-Off.
Moisturising
Masks
Ingredients:
Emollients like essential oils, calendula, chamomile, aloe vera, ginseng, dong
quoi, evening primrose oil, sweet almond oil and
glycerine.
How they work:
These
masks soften lines and wrinkles; smooth flaking skin and soothe irritated
skin.
For what skin type:
All
Good choices:
Gels like Aveda
Intensive Hydrating Gel Mask, Christian Dior Instant Radiance Purifying Mask. Or
you could try creams like BeneFit Mint Firming Mask, Guerlain Issima Aquamasque,
Origins Drink Up, Yves Rocher Chamomile Soothing Mask and Shu Uemura Utowa
Moisture Mask.
Blemish-Busting
Masks
Ingredients:
Antibacterials like sulfur, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfates,
tea tree oil, clay and AHAs.
How they
work:
They dry excess surface oil and kill acne-causing
bacteria.
For what skin type:
Very
oily and/or acne-prone skin.
Good
choices
: Clarins Absorbent Mask, Neutrogena Acne Mask, Origins Out Of
Trouble, Penny Island Papaya and Honey Facial Mask and Estée Lauder So
Clean Deep Pore
Mask
For-Your-Eyes-Only
Masks
Ingredients:
Anti-inflammatories like algae, amino acids, cucumber extracts and
glycerine.
How they work:
Reduce
puffiness, lighten dark circles and soften lines and wrinkles.
For what skin type:
All.
Good choices:
Carita Eye Contour,
Clarins Eye Mask, René Guinot Instant Eye Mask and Shu Uemura Utowa Face
Pads.
Glow like blossoms with the help of super masks!