Seeing as it’s been a while since I touched on the subject of face masks, I joke I joke -Â it’s been approximately two weeks since one made an appearance – I thought I’d revisit one of my old favourite techniques, ‘The Triple Threat Facial’. First mentioned here, it’s a method which gets dragged up on a Sunday whenever my skin is looking super sad: too dry, too dull, too congested. Whatever the problem, three targeted masks self-prescribed from my collection depending on my skins need, applied in succession always sorts me out just in time for Monday. So here’s the theory: a cleansing pick, following by something a little exfoliating, finished off with a hit of hydration is the original menu, but depending on your skintype, sensitivity (sensitive souls may like to skip the sloughing step) and needs there’s room to mix things up a little. I tend to stick with the original bill and here’s my current trio that I’m calling into action…
Step 1: Cleansing – Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask. Alternatives: Borghese Fango Active Mud, Origins Clear Improvements, Una Brennan Facialist Pore Purifying Clay Mask. Ingredients to look out for: Bentonite, Kaolin, Manuka Honey. The classic, ‘get the gunk’ out step. These are my favourite kind of masks due to their statuesque, ‘laugh till you crack’ appearance and for the fact that my skin is almost always congested and requires some clay-based attention. As with all the steps I apply with an old foundation brush, leave on for the specified time and rinse off with a warmed up muslin. The Antipodes Manuka offering is a particularly good one as it’s an all-rounder, cleansing, while not lacking on the hydration front. One I reach for when my skin is feeling a little spotty, but also a little scaly.
Step 2: Exfoliating – Elemental Herbology Facial Glow. Alternatives: REN Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask, Oskia Renaissance Mask, NUDE Miracle Mask. Ingredients to look out for: Lactic Acid, Papaya Extract, Glycolic Acid. Corrrr, these masks give your freshly cleansed skin a good polish, with AHA’s chomping away dead cells like little pacmans in the wind leaving a smoothed and renewed complexion behind. Usually only left on the skin for a few minutes, and with an unusual marmalade texture I wipe away to find things vastly glowier beneath. E.H’s Facial Glow is my current pick, and scores points for sloughing action thanks to it’s jojoba bead content, whilst still being gentle and sting-free to my skin (and smelling edible).
Step 3: Hydration – Origins Drink-up Intensive Mask. Alternatives: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Hydrating Overnight Masque, The Body Shop Vitamin E Skin-in Moisture Mask, SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Intense Hydrating Mask. Ingredients to look out for: Hyaluronic Acid, Avocado Oil, Rose Flower Water. Instead of continuing on with my usual evening skincare regime, I skip my nightly steps for a slather of an overnight mask offering instead; like a heavy duty moisturiser that doses up the hydration while you dream away. I’ve given a few others a go, but nothing even comes close to the Origins original. Non-greasy, non-heavy and will make your face smell of peaches and cream. I have also been known to substitute a light layer of this in to my daily routine on Sahara-like skin days.
As always, caution and a spot of googling is advised when it comes to such a souped-up routine; ain’t no trained skincare professional here, just a girl with a Sunday stretching out before her and a bevy of masks in her possession. And what better to get my full use of them than to whip out three, right? On with step one…
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