Facial masks are a complementary skincare step to add onto your regular skincare routine. Seen as an additional treatment to help with specific skincare concerns, facial masks are a way to hydrate dry skin, remove impurities from the skin, and brighten dull, lacklustre skin. On top of that, we can't deny that applying your favourite facial mask gives you a feeling of having your skin pampered by the nourishments of all the goodness that goes into that mask.

Types of Facial Masks

There are plenty of masks that you can use - from sheet masks, wash off masks, peel off masks and also the interesting bubble masks that you should give it a try at least once.

Why are there different types of face masks?

As beauty evolves, the methods of applying skincare changes. Hence, the variety of facial masks available over the years. But there is one thing that has always been constant with facial masks, and that is the way facial masks improve your skin.

In reality, if you were to categorize all the masks in the world there are actually only 2 types of facial masks - detoxifying masks and nourishing masks. Allow us to enlighten you with how these 2 masks are different.

Detoxifying masks

Their speciality is to expel, remove and strip off all the unwanted impurities from the skin. This includes excess sebum, blackheads, whiteheads, makeup residue and grime and dirt from the environment. It is a total cleanse from deep within the pores - something your regular facial wash can't achieve. Detoxifying masks greatly benefit those whose skin is more on the oily scale as oily skin tends to have more clogged pores. Those with normal skin or matured skin can also benefit from detoxifying masks as the removal of dead skin cells will also reveal newer, brighter and more youthful skin underneath.

Some of the benefits of detoxifying masks are:

• Remove excess sebum
• Remove blackheads and whiteheads
• Unclog pores
• Brighten the skin
• Remove dead skin cells

Nourishing masks

Nourishing maks do the opposite of detoxifying masks. They replenish the lost nutrients that were taken away from the skin, namely hyaluronic acids, facial oils and vitamins. Did you know that when you use a facial wash that is too harsh for your skin type, it strips away the good nutrients too? That is why it is important to find products that match your skin type. Nourishing masks are usually soaked in serums and are most commonly found individually packed in sheets to retain its moisture. That being said, these masks provide intense hydration to thirsty skin. Its moisture-soaked sheets also give your skin a soothing experience, making it an ideal choice of mask for sensitive skin and dry skin.

Usually, nourishing masks would be able to do the following:

• Increase hydration levels
• Plump the skin
• Improve signs of ageing
• Reduce inflammation

What good do facial masks do to my skin?

While it is not recommended to apply facial masks every day, it is highly advisable to do it at least once a week. This is so that your skin does not accumulate any unwanted impurities from the week's worth of environmental pollutants and also to ensure that your skin is kept hydrated on the inside. You can alternate between detoxifying masks or nourishing masks depending on how your skin is feeling. Maybe go adventurous with a little multi-masking for different areas of the face while you're at it? Whatever the mask type you have on your face, you know that your skin is well taken care of.