Confessions of a Mask addict…

I’m a bit of a mask addict. Not in a bad way but I do enjoy a little at-home pampering on a regular basis—so maybe mask enthusiast has a better ring ☺ Whether I make my own or pick up one of the exquisite masks that our boutique offers, I find that taking some personal time and indulging myself is a simple way of both nurturing my skin and my soul. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing while I have the mask(s) on, it’s the fact that I took time to do it in the first place. Sometimes, it’s taking a few extra minutes in the shower; other times, it’s preparing a facial steam bath and line up my masks before I settle in with popcorn and a movie.

Yes, you read correctly…I line up my masks. It’s never just one; I’ll mix them together, layer them, or do multiple masks back to back, whatever I can in what time I have!

My typical mask routine looks something like this:

Prep:
• Cleansing and steaming the face is an important step—I think of it as polishing my leather boots without wiping the dirt off first.
• Steaming prepares the skin in many ways—warms up the skin, enhances circulation, soften debris inside of pores…not to mention is relaxing and great for the respiratory system.

Hot Mask:
• I usually start with a hot mask to open up my pores and bring blood flow to my face. I absolutely adore Eminence’s Hungarian Mud Mask or their 8 Greens Phyto Mask hot.

• With the Hungarian Mud, it’s like a firecracker, getting hot rather quickly but then dying off.
• With the 8 Greens Phyto (hot) it builds up and seemingly plateaus every now and then.
• Either way, once you take a hot mask off, your face should be red. DON’T WORRY! You are not having a reaction…you are increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin, which is exactly what you want from a hot mask.

Purifying:
• You can choose anything – including another hot mask – but I generally do something that’s purifying. Clays are usually my go-to for purifying. They work to draw out impurities.
• A clay mask such as Dr.Hauschka Cleansing Clay Mask can be drying and for acne prone or sensitive skin that might not be such a good thing, so adding in some moisture here can be very beneficial (always making sure that the clay stays moist so as to not over strip my skin),
• Eminence’s Tomato Garlic mask is great for acne prone skin. Sometimes, I’ll add in some of their Strawberry Rhubarb dermafoliant for some light exfoliation. It has lactic acid in it to help eat up dead skin cells.
• Although it not “purifying” per say, the Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask is another one of my favorites to do here. It is a gentle enzyme peel which works to smooth and soften the skin.

Hydrating:
• I’ve done a clay mask, I will usually do a hydrating mask to follow up.
• Personally, I really like Dr Hauschka’s Soothing Mask – which calms and balances the skin.
• Another one to consider might be Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask. Honey is antibacterial, healing, and hydrating; A perfect combo for almost anyone’s skin.

Nourishing:
• Finishing off, I like to do masks that are high in antioxidants such as Eminence’s Firm Skin Acai Mask
• or taking a tablet or two of Intelligent Nutrients’ Intellimune complex with enough of the Intellimune Oil or their serum to make a paste and apply that as a high antioxidant mask as well.

Post Masks:
• With my skin chalk of nutrients, moisture and self-love, I tone and moisturize.
• Personally, I like to use hydrosols to tone (Sandalwood is a fav).
• The final touch of moisturizing depends on the time…during the day, I would opt for a creamy moisturizer; at night, I like a serum or light facial oil.

A couple things to note:
• With the exception of clay masks, most of our masks can be done daily if you wanted. I did a week straight of nourishing masks before my sister-in-law’s wedding and my skin glowed.
• Masking can sometimes encourage the skin to purge that might result in blemishes. Purging is a sign of cleansing and clearing…it’s a good thing (even if it doesn’t look that way).

This may sound like a long process and I admit, sometimes when I’m soaking in the tub, it is—but usually, my masking ritual takes about 15 minutes. It may not be an hour spa facial but its pampering and self-care none-the-less—which is important to me. Masking has become a way I regularly ‘attend’ to myself—it feeds my soul (and my skin).

Much love, always
Ash <3

p.s. – Danielle (one of Kolya Naturals Wholistic Makeup Artists) gave me this super awesome mask recipe and I just wanted to share it with you.

Danielle’s Homemade Hot Mask:

~ 1 tbsp of clay (such as Glacial or French for purifying or any other type that is beneficial for your skin)

~ 1 tbsp or so of raw honey (enough to mix well)

~ Up to1 tsp or so of cinnamon or cayenne (both with bring heat and oxygen to the resurface). Best to err on the side of caution for your first time. Start with a small amount and work for your way until you find a measurement that works well for your skin.

* Feel free to add up to 3 drops of essential oil. Chamomile for sensitive skin, Helichrysum for scars, tea tree for acne, rose for hydration, etc.

Apply liberally. It does get sticky but it’s such a wonderful mask to do at home and one that can be so easily tailored to almost anyone’s skin type. Rinse and apply a wonderful hydrosol or toner and finish off with a moisturizer if your skin needs it.