What spa mask is right for your skin? There is no such thing as a single spa mask treatment that can be applied to all faces and all skin types. At a good spa, a mask should be a specific prescription applied to a particular set of dermal conditions and problems. At Sonoma Lavender, we have a good understanding of how a mask should be prepared for different skin types, and particularly of how our favorite essential oils can be used as core ingredients.
No matter what treatment or product you select for your face, you should always think about your skin type first. Otherwise, you may find yourself frustrated when you don’t get the results you’re after. An unwisely chosen treatment could even exacerbate any problems you are currently experiencing with your skin.
What Is Your Skin Type?
Before going any further, you need to establish what your skin type actually is. While this may seem obvious, many people aren’t always sure. Here’s a very quick guide:
Combination Skin
If you have this skin type, you have larger pores and more oil production on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and smaller pores with reduced oil production on the cheeks. The main requirement here is finding a balance. You need to be able to reduce the excess oil while moisturizing the dry areas.
Dry Skin
This type of skin has under-active sebaceous glands, meaning that not enough oil is produced to lubricate the skin and lock in moisture. The skin might appear dull and tight. Exfoliation, together with rich, creamy, humectant treatments are the main prescriptions here.
Oily Skin
Enlarged pores across the entire face and an overproduction of oil are the main identifiers of this skin type.
Normal Skin
Blemish-free skin, with no sign of enlarged pores or any signs of aging or damage, is described as normal. It should be maintained with nourishing products that feed and protect the skin, as well as improving the general appearance.
The best way to determine your skin type is to examine it when it is clean and free of any cosmetics, lotions or creams. Cleanse your face and do not apply any products overnight. The following morning, examine your face closely in the mirror. Look at the size of your pores in the different areas of your face – large pores are very easy to spot. Take a tissue and press it to various parts of your face, like the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. By checking the tissue, you can then tell which areas produce excess oil.
Once you’ve determined your skin type, you can choose the appropriate face mask.
How Do You Choose a Face Mask?
Consider the following factors when choosing a face mask for your skin type:
Dry skin
Dry skin sufferers need rich, creamy, moisturizing treatments that will help to hydrate the skin. Since there is a shortage of oil and sebum in your skin, you don’t need to hold back on adding oils to the mask. However, you should remember that most oils are not moisturizers or humectants (compounds that attract water). They mainly act as a barrier to lock in moisture. Ask for – or mix yourself – a mask that contains natural ingredients with humectant properties, such as honey, seaweed or algae.
Lavender oil is a great addition to facial treatments because of its ability to not only combat dryness, but also acne or eczema. Add some lavender oil to the facial mask or make use of a lavende-srcented eye- or face pillow, to enhance the effects of a moisturizing mask.
Oily Skin
Oily skin often comes with clogged pores, so the mask has to serve a dual purpose of drying up excess oil and drawing sebum out of the pores. A clay mask is the best for this purpose and when it comes to adding oils, remember to be sparing, as it’s the oil that has caused the problem in the first place!
Having said that, there are oils that work nicely to supplement the drying and drawing effects of a clay mask. Eucalyptus oil is one of these. This aromatic essential oil is known for its purifying, cleansing properties. It will help to draw out sebum, it will help remove oil from the surface of the skin, and it will help to combat any acne or blemishes that are present as a result of clogged pores. Eucalyptus oil in the mask, as well as eucalyptus-scented pillows, wraps, and so on, will be an excellent and effective addition to your treatment.
Normal and Combination Skin
As we said before, the key is finding a balance. You don’t want something that effectively dries out the oily parts of your face, while completely dehydrating the areas that are already dry. You also don’t want something that exacerbates oiliness. Focus on natural humectants that will moisturize the skin and lock in water, without adding to any pre-existing oil problem. For this reason, honey would make an excellent base for the mask. You could also add either lavender or eucalyptus oil to help soothe, purify, and cleanse the skin without drying it out or making it greasy.
Normal skin essentially requires the same balance as combination skin. This is the ultimate secret of skincare - not too dry and not too oily. This means locking in moisture without clogging the pores. Once you have hit that balance, and with a little maintenance, your skin should look and feel its best at all times.
Lavender and eucalyptus essential oils can play an important part in keeping that balance, which is why we would encourage you to add one or the other to your facial treatments as required, as well as making use of a variety of spa accessories scented with these beautiful gifts of nature. Contact Sonoma Lavender for more information or shop our range of lavender beauty products, eucalyptus essential oil products, and spa masks, pillows, blankets, and wraps.