Beauty unmasked

Deep cleanse? Firming? Radiance? Treat your face to a beauty boost with one of the many masks on the market

By John Gustafson
So you have five minutes to yourself? God only knows when the next time will be, so I would advise you to make the most of it. So how about a bit of self-pampering for a nice change? I used to think that facemasks were an arduous task. You still have to cleanse your face, then apply the mask and sit around for a half an hour before you can finally remove it. But as it turns out it's more than worth taking the time… you get a break and so does your skin.

So what can a facemask do for you? Well, for starters it forces you to do something for yourself. Skin dull? Try a radiance mask. Feeling a bit on the droopy side? Firm that skin up in a heartbeat. Need a really deep and thorough cleanse? Decongest and purify the part of you that is on show the most. You don't have to use the most expensive product, nor does it have to take up the entire afternoon. Pick an area of concern and address that with a five to ten minute beauty boost.

Cleansing and detoxing
This is one of the most popular types of masks as the results are immediate and skin is left looking clearer, pores unblocked, blackheads removed, and dull grey skin is brightened by the exfoliation that many of these provide. Clay or muds are common ingredients of cleansing masks, and although some will become dry and hard when applied this is not always the case. Some you will need to apply and then rinse, some you leave to set and then peel off (I love these!) and a few you will need to rub off once they dry. Just read the instructions and find one that will fit into your lifestyle and time schedule.

Cleansing masks: Lancôme Pure Focus Self Heating Masque; REN Multi Mineral Detoxifying Facial Mask; Johnson's Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Facial Mask; Darphin Purifying Aromatic Clay Mask; Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask; Lancôme Pure Empreinte; Caudalie Purifying Mask; Clarins Aromatic Plant Purifying Mask; LaPrairie Cellular Deep Cleansing Mask; Estee Lauder So Clean; Eve Lom Rescue Mask; Guerlain Issima Purifying Mask; Dior Clarifying Cleansing Mask; Chanel Masque Purete; Sisley Radiant Glow Express Mask; YSL Instant Pur Deep Cleaning Masque; The Sanctuary Spa Warming Charcoal Detox Mask; The Sanctuary Spa Peel Mask; Shiseido The Skincare Purifying Mask; Natura Bisse Oxygen Finishing Mask; Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask; Boots #7 Deep Cleansing Purifying Mask

o what can a facemask do for you? Well, for starters it forces you to do something for yourself. Skin dull? Try a radiance mask. Feeling a bit on the droopy side? Firm that skin up in a heartbeat.Firming
If your contours aren't what they used to be, or your skin is a little looser than you'd like you should indulge in a firming facemask. Most firming masks are creamy or gel-like in texture, and usually require you to either rinse or wipe off the remainder. But the end result should be skin that holds to the contours of your face just a little bit better, and doesn't wobble around quite as much!

Firming masks: Lancôme Renergie Intense Lift Masque; Ole Henricksen Firm Action Pore Refining Mask; Boots Time Delay Firming Face Mask; LaPrairie Cellular Hydralift Firming Mask; Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extra Firming Revitalizing Mask; Shu Uemura Balancing Mask; Shiseido Benefiance Firming Massage Mask; Darphin Predermine Mask; Chanel Masque Lift Express; Boots #7 Uplifting Firming Mask; Clinique Anti Gravity Firming Lift Mask; Dior Masque Stretch

Radiance
When skin is dull and lifeless, radiance masks are a tremendous boost (though this radiance-boosting action is also often included in other types of mask). Ingredients for radiance boosting masks can include vitamins to boost the radiance to light diffusers to enhance the way light plays with your skin. Once again, these are great as pampering products before you go out. And they will make sure that your make-up and skin glow.

Radiance masks: Paul & Joe Serum Mask; Dior Masque Cocoon (iridescent), Givenchy Black for Light

Anti-fatigue
This type of mask has a variety of benefits. They can help to bring radiance to the skin, improve hydration and circulation, and a smooth texture. Anti-fatigue masks are particularly good for the morning after the night before. When you have had a few too many, or have been in a smoky atmosphere, or just didn't get your required eight hours of sleep, an anti-fatigue mask can be like an SOS for your skin, brightening, tightening and getting you ready to face the world with your best face forward.

Anti-fatigue masks: Lancôme Hydra Zen Masque; REN Jaiogulan Cell Energising Facial Mask; Prada Reviving Mask; LaPrairie Cellular Energizing Mask; ROC Hydra+ Destressant Anti-Fatigue; T. LeClerc Radiance Purifying Mask; YSL Temps Majeur Masque

Re-texturising
These are almost a cross between radiance masks, anti-fatigue, and deep cleansing. They reveal fresh new skin in a similar way to exfoliation and there are a lot of ingredients that are employed here from enzymes, to AHAs, BHAs, glycolic acid and Retinols. Some of these ingredients are quite powerful and you'll need to build up a bit of resistance to them as your face can go a little bit pink on initial use (but not always). Make sure if you are sensitive that you check what this sort of product will do exactly and perhaps even do a little patch test.

Re-texturising masks: REN F10 Enzymatic Skin Smoothing Facial Mask; Bobbi Brown Exfoliating Cream Wash; Estee Lauder Idealist Micro-D; Natura Bisse Ananas Finishing Mask; Prada Exfoliating Mask; Elizabeth Arden Peel and Reveal; Boots #7 Pamper and Peel Radiance Mask

Moisturise
One of the most popular types these can even be used straight after one of the other masks for a final moisture boost. You can choose between ones that will give you hydration (water) and others that will give the skin more nutrients (food) and all skin types can benefit from both sorts. You will find that the action is normally stated in the name of the product.

Moisturising masks: Lancôme Nutri Intense for Dry and Very Dry Skin; Clarins Thirst Quenching Mask Hydra Care; Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask; Estee Lauder So Moist; Caudalie Moisturising Cream Mask; Prada Hydrating Mask for Dry Skin; Chanel Masque Force Hydration; Jurlique Deep Penetrating Cream Mask; Guerlain Issima Moisturizing Invigorating Mask; Shu Uemura Moisture Face Mask; Shiseido The Skincare Moisture Relaxing Mask; Boots Botanics Vitamin Night Recovery Mask; Sisley Botanical Mask with Linden Blossom; T. LeClerc Gentle Hydrating Mask; Nuxe Hydrating Mask for Face and Eyes; Ole Henricksen Blueberry and Blackberry Enzyme Mask; Boots #7 Heavenly Hydration Moisture Mask; The Sanctuary Spa Mint and Rosemary Mask

Oil control
Very good masks for those anyone with oilier complexions. These masks usually do double duty in that they can not only deep cleanse the skin, but they send through a message to tell the skin to slow down its oil production. Not enough to stop it or make it feel tight and uncomfortable, but they are excellent if you have a big day coming up and want to make sure the shine stays low maintenance. Or as you are getting ready to go out for a big event in the evening, this sort of mask will get the oil under control so you stay fresher looking for a longer time. A few of these I have even used as pre-makeup bases to absorb shine as it comes through - though don't try this for the first time on the actual event…make sure that it is all compatible before you set out to experiment!

Oil control masks:LaPrairie Cellular Regulating Mask; Sisley Botanical Facial Mask with Tropical Resins (this one I use as a makeup base – a very thin layer); Estee Lauder Clear Difference Purifying Facial; Clarins Normalizing Face Mask

Others
There are a few masks that defy description. They may take down your redness for a few hours or reduce puffiness for an evening out.

Best of the rest:LaPrairie Cellular Balancing Mask (anti-redness); Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask (it does a bit of everything – so I couldn't decide!); Natura Bisse Sensitive Skin Mask (desensitise); Darphin Intral Mask (sooth and desensitise); Biotherm Hydra Detox (detoxifying).

So what will it be tonight? Cleanse, firm, radiance? I think I will do what I always do; apply a bit of all three and let them fight it out! May the best man, I mean mask, win…