Masking This Weekend? Make Sure You Do This First.

When winter rolls around, I sometimes tend to kick back and take it easy with my skin regimen.  Oil production slows and my skin isn't as hyperactive so I'm not as diligent as in summer.  With colder weather, activity in the skin seems to slow down.  This can be good and bad.  I don't experience the same amount of breakouts but it feels like the stuff in my pores don't reach the skin's surface.

Because we don't sweat as much, perhaps that affects our skin's ability to purge via our pores.  One way I'm combating this issue is to mask more frequently.  Masks are awesome, aren't they?  In just a few minutes they have the ability to erase a multitude of skin sins.  What I love about clay masks that they're diverse.   You can try a drug store priced brand like the cult fave Aztec Healing Clay or you can splurge a little and try a multi-mask like Glam Glow.

Whatever product you decide, make sure you include this step for maximum results.



Ages ago I worked with a girl who was going to school to become a massage therapist.  While interning at a spa, she had a chance to play around with some of the high-quality skin products used on their clients.  One time she told me that they had a clay mask that worked so well, that you could see it pulling out "toxins" as it dried on the client's skin.   I wasn't into skincare back then so I didn't ask any follow-up questions but, at that moment, I formed a belief that all clay masks had the ability to perform miracles.

While masks are effective, most of them don't have the ability to draw out impurities right before our very eyes.  In reality, masks need a little help to reach their maximum potential.

Here's how we can do our part to take our masking routine to the next level.

In theory, masks are supposed to "clean out" our pores.  But here's the issue, our pores are probably congested with dead skin cells and other stuff.  Think of a mask like a housekeeper you hired to clean your home.  But when she gets there, the door is locked and she can't get in.  All you gotta do is unlock the door to give her access so she can effectively do her job.

If we incorporated a simple step to our routine, we just might enjoy clearer skin in the long run.  To prep our skin for our best masking experience ever we have to do one thing first --- exfoliate.

By exfoliating, you are removing dirt and dead skin that block pores at the surface.  If clay masks are supposed to draw out impurities from below the skin's surface, it needs access.  A gentle peel will do wonders for removing dead skin layers prior to masking.  It doesn't have to be fancy peel, if you're short on time, you can simply use some peel pads to quickly remove surface dirt and oils. If you don't have a chemical exfoliator, try a manual exfoliating facial scrub instead.

Honestly, I haven't tried exfoliating before masking yet, but I can't wait to do it.  In the past, I've incorporated steaming before masking which produced impressive results. Steaming prior to applying a mask helps open everything up and gets the pores ready to receive.  It's a great alternative if you have sensitive skin and want to try a gentle pre-mask option.

If you love the look of your skin after a good masking sesh, wait till you try this!

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