The Best Kept Beauty Secret: Face Masks

Clay mask, sheet masks or gel masks... they are all over Instagram.

Why this buzz?

It's not just a buzz, it's a ROAR.

If your skincare regime doesn’t include face masks, you are probably missing out on something important. From slapping your face with your favorite face mask to walking out all dewy and rejuvenated, it has been among us since ages.

ANCIENT FACE MASKS

Have you ever wondered just how long people have been applying face masks in the pursuit of beautiful skin? The simple answer is, a long time. For thousands of years, people have been using face masks with all kinds of ingredients in them, in the hopes of achieving flawless skin. In fact, we know that the first cosmetic product ever made was a face mask. Face masks have the power to nourish, cleanse, hydrate, and treat a range of other skin issues. 

Ayurvedic India 

The earliest records of face masks go back 5,000 years to India. In ancient Ayurveda tradition, face and body masks called ‘ubtan’ were made using a combination of herbs, plants, and flowers chosen according to skin type and desire. The skin treatment became popular across India and was adopted as a ritual for religious festivals and Indian weddings.

Ancient Egypt 

Reports claim that Cleopatra and many other Egyptians used clay as face masks to draw out impurities. The Ancient Egyptians are also reported to have made face masks out of crocodile dung, as it was believed to improve the appearance of skin.

Imperial China 

Face masks were also popular in Ancient China. Women would make their own face masks, by creating a paste using ingredients such as - ground pearl powder, crushed tea leaves, mung beans rice water, and mint leaves. This paste would be applied all over the face to help protect from wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging.

16th Century Europe

From the 16th century, women across Europe applied a paste of lead and mercury on their skin to bleach it, and give them a more radiant, fair complexion. However, these products were banned once the connection was made between these ingredients and heavy metal poisoning.

MODERN FACE MASKS

Now, let's talk about the recent evolution of masks. Only in our lifetime, masks have changed many forms.

Today, we are quite spoiled for choice when it comes to face masks, with a huge variety of different types available including - clay masks, peel-off masks, self-warming masks, and sheet masks. No matter what you skin type and concern, there is a face mask out there to suit you!

Clay Masks

Clay masks have been used for thousands of years to draw impurities out of the skin, reduce oil production, and unclog pores. This skin care staple is great for keeping skin blemish-free by absorbing excess oil, but they don’t add any skin-nourishing ingredients into the skin and can be drying.

Peel-off Masks

Peel off facial masks work by gently removing the outermost layer of your skin to relieve dullness and dead skin. They are great for clearing out pores and removing acne-causing dirt and bacteria. However, like clay masks they don’t contain any ingredients that will nourish your skin.

Sheet Masks

Sheet masks are the Korean skincare phenomenon that took the rest of the world by storm - and it’s easy to see why! The cotton sheet mask is drenched in skin-loving ingredients - you simply apply the sheet over your face and let it work its magic. This product soared in popularity due to its ability to deliver skin a potent hit of nutrients in a short amount of time.

Try the sheet face masks made from special ingredients to freshen your skin.

HOW TO USE SHEET MASKS?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SHEET MASKS?

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