I love using face masks, as they can make such a difference in such a short amount of time. I love using moisturizing face masks overnight, as you wake up to super plump and hydrated skin.
If you’re looking to improve your skin’s hydration levels, add a moisturizing face mask into your skincare routine.
What Happens When Your Skin Gets Too Dry
The skin has a natural protective barrier, and when this barrier begins to break down, it loses its ability to retain moisture effectively.
When this happens, moisture escapes the skin more easily, and external irritants (like pollution) can penetrate the skin, leaving it feeling tight and irritated, and looking dull.
Dry skin can be caused by different factors, like humidity, having hot showers, using harsh cleansing products, excessive exfoliation, or forgetting to apply moisturizer, after cleansing.
During the winter months, cold air also draws moisture away from the skin, and indoor air conditioning also has a similar drying effect.
You’ll know if you’re dealing with dry skin, as you’ll notice your skin flaking, a rough texture, itching and redness.
When my skin’s particularly dry, it tends to sting whenever I apply my skincare products, so I like to use more calming and moisturizing products, like a Cica relief cream.
Why Regular Moisturizer Is Sometimes Not Enough
When you have a weakened skin barrier, the skin doesn’t just lose water faster, it can also make your everyday skincare routine less effective.
With skin barrier damage, it causes rapid hydration loss, which leaves your skin feeling tight, even after applying rich formula moisturizers.
Moisturizing face masks create a protective seal over your skin, locking in hydration from the concentrated humectants, emollients and skin barrier supporting actives.
Although, you might still notice your skin stinging, flaking, or your makeup clinging tom your dry patches, as the skin’s surface isn’t holding onto water the way it should.
How Moisturizing Masks Work Their Magic
If you have hydrating skincare products within your skincare routine, using a moisturizing mask can improve your routine even further, by sealing in water.
Moisturizing masks create an “occlusive cushion” in the skin, helping to increase hydration levels. Humectants attract water into the surface layers of the skin, emollients soften rough patches and any flakes, while lipids strengthen the skin barrier to ease tightness and flaking.
Choosing the Right Mask for Your Skin Type
You need to choose a face mask that’s designed for your skin type. If you’re dealing with flakes, look for masks containing ceramides, glycerin and/or squalane.
If you have dry skin, that is also prone to breakouts, look for a gel formula face mask, with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, for a lightweight yet hydrating effect.
When you’re applying your mask, apply them to damp skin to boost hydration, avoid over-drying clay formulas, and use a moisturizer after rinsing post-mask, to seal in the hydration benefits.
If your skin is particularly dry, like mine, you can always leave the mask to work its magic overnight, whilst you sleep, to wake up to super plump and hydrated skin.