UnMasking the Art of The Face Mask

I was apprehensive about the at home mask. My memories of at home masks are flashbacks of middle school with drug store scented muds that left my face red and irritated. Like myself, I know things have changed since when I was in middle school but my face still stings a bit when I think of the at home mask. But, I took a big girl breath and decided to give the at home mask another shot.

Actually I gave multiple at homemasks a try and I wanted to share with you my three favourites. They all offer something different and vary from one time paper mask, to clay to a clear one that will not scare a boyfriend or roommate away. So let's delve deeper and unmask the art of the mask.

When I started this search for an at home mask I started with those one time Korean paper masks that you have seen everywhere. I figured the million women raving about them can't be wrong, right? Well half right. This is where the addage of you get what you pay for comes in, or just look for quality. I tried a couple of different brands and my sensitive skin was not appreciative, however I did find a winner and I am sharing that with you. The Face Shop makes AMAZING face masks (their name maybe should have been the clue) they offer a wide range of masks for a variety of diiferent skin types but they all use high quality ingredients(pomegranate, aloe vera, etc.) my personal favourite is the Real Nature Face Mask Kelp. You simply open the one time use mask, carefully place it on your face and leave it on for 10-12 minutes. This mask contains a serum with moisturizing and nourishing properties. It left my skin feeling hydrated and relaxed. Using the mask is also easy cleanup, just peel off and toss when you're done.

Only downside to these revolutionary, easy to apply masks, is you do look like a mummy. When I was testing these masks out, my friend and I decided to do one each while at my family's cottage while our boyfriends were working on some yard work. Being girls, we were completely unfazed as we wore the masks and flipped through magazines and chatting. When my friend's boyfriend unexpectedly walked through the door and saw both of us wearing the masks...well the very well put together young man was speechless, turned around and did a 180 saying he needed a picture.

Next, the clay mask. Probably the original facial mask, clay has many benefits for your skin and even natural clay will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. I didn't think you could improve on the clay mask or that there would be much of a difference between brands. I was proven wrong. Though I have never had a horrible experience with a clay mask, Charlotte Tilbury without a doubt has captured and bottled a gift from the gods with her Goddess Skin Clay Mask.

This mask smells divine and goes on smoothly onto your skin and when on your skin it feels nourishing and not tight-like the other clay masks that I tried. Charlotte Tilbury may be known for her make up but she really should be equally as well known for her skin care, her Magic Cream is stuff of legends, and this clay mask left my skin glowing an my skin texture smooth and even. I felt as though Aphrodite had nothing after me. Only downside, though the clay came out of my pajamas when it smeared, like any clay mask you just want to be very neat.

Finally, I have a little something-something to share with you. Remember those concentrated vitamin E capsules that your Grandmother or Mother had set out on their bathroom counter that they would have to break before applying? No? Well talk to them, I'm sure they did and chances are the luxurious ones they used were made by Shiseido, a longtie innovator in skincare. Coming this January Shiseido is revamping some of their all time best sellers, all still offering their legendary affectiveness but with some of our modern day scientific advances.

Enter their new mask which will be available early next year, the Firming Massage Mask, it's easy to use and now instead of getting the Vitamin E in those capsules to deliver the serum, there are mini beads of Vitamin E that burst as you apply onto your skin, delivering all of the vitamin E benefits with a lovely massage. This mask is clear and is simply wiped off with some water when you're done. You can barely see it when it's on so completely boyfriend and roommate friendly as they won't know you have it on unless you tell them. This mask left my skin feeling rejuvenated, definitley a wonderful mask to be using in my twenties to remedy those fine lines that start to creep up on you and the nice massaging exture and refreshing scent made it a great mask to use in the morning and kick off my day. Definitely keep your eyes open for this Shiseido innovation coming soon.