If you want a cross between a pampering session and a skincare routine look no further than a face mask.

Face masks are facials that you can do on your own time at your own leisure on your own face.

Face masks have a variety of uses and can correct a variety of skin issues, but sadly as with everything, there are a couple of disadvantages to face masks, read on to learn about the disadvantages of face masks.

The unfortunate disadvantages of face masks

You probably need more than one mask

Your skin has a variety of needs and for you to keep up a good skincare routine you need to give the skin exactly what it needs.

Usually, the skin has more than one need, our skin is never in a fixed state. There are changes in the environment, hormones and mood that affect the skin.

Result? You will need different masks at different times to combat different skin concerns.

This is where multitasking comes in, or multi-masking.

You might need a more hydrating mask in winter (yes even oily skin needs hydration masks), a more clarifying mask the day of a workout or an exfoliating mask when you need to slough off those dead skin cells.

If your skin is combination skin then you will need a mask for each part of your face. Your T zone might be an area that needs a clarifying mask to unclog pores or a mattifying mask if the area is oily.

The rest of your face might need a hydrating mask, this is if that area is drier.

You might also need to use a clay or an exfoliating mask on your whole face to give you a smooth canvas and then apply a hydrating mask afterwards.

This can become a lot of work. This is a great exfoliating mask and this is a great hydrating mask.

You probably need an application tool

You fingers are pretty dirty from all the things they touch and do all throughout the day.

Washing our hands is something that is taught to us but many people will forget to do this.

It’s one of the single most important things we need to do to keep clean.

If you don’t keep your hands clean you can transfer bacteria from your hands onto your face.

And many people who are about to use skincare products don’t wash their hands before they start touching their face, this is a no-no. Not washing your hands can also transfer pore-clogging dirt/oils onto your face.

The alternative is to use an application tool. If you fall into the category above then I strongly suggest you use a flat foundation or a mask applicator brush to apply your face mask.

The face brush will not only prevent you from transferring dirt onto your face but it will also be a more precise way of applying your face mask.

Here is an easy to use application brush.

You have to stick to the time limit of the mask

I’m one to leave my face mask on for way longer than the packaging suggests.

I always assumed that the longer you keep it on for the better it will work on your skin. It’s easy to spend a couple of hours in a mask if it’s comfortable on your face.

Unfortunately, if you’re using a clay face mask (a mask that is drying and mattifying) and you leave it on for too long then it can end up over-drying your face.

If you use a hydrating sheet mask and leave it on for too long it can eventually turn dry and draw the moisture out of your face.

This is the opposite of what we want. So set a timer and remove the mask when needed.

Bacteria can easily grow in it.

This can happen if you use a mask that needs to be taken out of a tub and you use your finger instead of using the tiny mask spatula to get the mask out.

We know how dirty fingers can be, and if you’re constantly dipping your fingers into the mask to scoop the contents out then you are doing yourself a disservice.

When you scoop you are transferring all that bacteria into your mask. When you close the lid it’s left in a moist place where it can grow mould or bacteria of all sorts.

Additionally, if you keep it in your warm humid bathroom then you’re making things worse.

What is the advantage of face mask?

There are many advantages to using face masks here are a few of the many benefits of face masks:

Improve your skin instantly: Because face masks contain concentrated ingredients in the formulas they are able to make a change in your skin quite quickly.

The change isn’t so drastic is that it will clear your acne in one night or make your wrinkles disappear after one use but the mask can improve your complexion instantly as well as brighten your skin and make your skin glow

Target specific skincare concerns: Face masks contain concentrated ingredients, these concentrated ingredients can better target your skin concerns.

They are more potent than moisturizers and lotions because of the concentration of ingredients. Regardless of what skin concern you have there is probably a face mask out there for you.

Penetrates deep into your skin: The serums used in hydrating face masks have a thin consistency, for this reason, they are able to penetrate deep into your skin giving your skin the nutrients and minerals that it needs. This allows the mask to work better and faster.

Relaxing and destressing: As if the skincare benefits of masks aren’t enough the masks also allow you to relax and destress as you wear it.

If you take the time to sit back and allow the mask to work you’ll realize your stress will reduce

Can I use face mask daily?

Yes and no, you can wear a sheet face mask daily but not a clay mask.

The composition of a sheet mask is simply serum absorbed into a cotton sheet mask or used on a plastic mask.

The masks that use serums are very hydrating and moisturizing. Using one every day will deposit a good dose of hydration and essential ingredients to your face daily.

If you’re using a drying clay mask then you shouldn’t be using it every day. These types of masks suck out all the oil and grime from your face. The maximum amount of time you should use clay masks is 3 times a week.

Should I wash my face after the mask?

No, you shouldn’t wash your face after a mask.

Washing your face after using the mask will strip your face of moisture and dry out your skin. That goes both for sheet masks as well as clay masks.

If you use using a hydrating sheet mask there may be serum left on your skin after applying the mask,  if this is the case you should push or pat the serum into your skin.

Make sure you do this until the mask is fully absorbed. After patting it in you should lock in the hydration with a good thick moisturizer like this one.

If you’re using a clay mask then you would either rinse the mask off with water or wipe it off with a clean wet washcloth. 

If you desire, you can wipe your face with a toner to get it ready for the moisturizer that you’re about to use.

Make sure you use a good hydrating and moisturizing face moisturizer like this one after a clay mask. You should not wash your face after using a clay mask.

When should I apply a face mask?

The best time to apply a face mask is right after you exfoliate your skin.

When you exfoliate your skin you remove all the old dead skin cells from your face. What’s left will be new fresh skin cells.

The new fresh skin cells take well to products because they aren’t shielded by any dead skin cells, your product won’t be wasted on the dead skin cells.

What is the best face mask?

The best face mask for you will be catered to your skin type and your skin concerns.

Oily/ combination skin: Aria Starr Dead Sea Mud Mask For Face, Acne, Oily Skin & Blackheads. If you have oily skin then you may be prone to blackheads.

This Dead Sea mud mask is the perfect mask for you. The mask exfoliates and detoxifies your skin removing execs oils as well as dirt and toxins on your face.

If you have oily skin the sebum can attract dirt, debris and pollutants from the air, this mask will help you get all that off.

Dry/ normal skin: Ebanel Korean Collagen Facial Face Mask Sheet, if you have dry or normal skin you’ll need something that will hydrate your skin and hydrate it well.

This mask contains hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is great at hydrating the skin, it can hold 6 parts water to one part hyaluronic acid and it is able to deeply penetrate the skin to give you the best hydration possible.

Do face masks really work?

Yes, face masks do really wok. All masks aren’t made equal but there are many masks on the market that will really make a difference to your skin.

They work just like lotions, creams and serums as they deliver nutrients to the skin. Because masks contain butylene glycol (which is a delivery agent) the mask is better able to deliver important ingredients to your skin.

Can you reuse a face mask?

No, you cannot reuse a face mask.

If there is serum at the bottom of the mask packet you can scoop it out and massage it into your face to get the best out of your mask.

But you should not dip the sheet back into the packet in an effort to reuse the mask later on. This can introduce dirt and bacteria into the packet and onto your face.

Which comes first toner or mask?

Toner can be used both before and or after the face mask. When you use a toner before your mask you’re prepping the skin for the ingredients in the face mask.

Face masks work best when there is a clean ready surface for them to be used on. If your skin is irritated then you can use the toner before the face mask to reduce the irritation and calm your skin.

If you use the toner after the face mask then this preps the skin for the moisturiser. Toners work well as pre-mask and post mask skin products.

A good toner will hydrate the skin, soothe the skin, and allow the serums in the masks to absorb well into the skin, it also normalizes the skin’s pH.

Do you moisturize after a face mask?

Yes, you definitely need to moisturize after using a face mask whether it’s a sheet mask or a clay mask.

Yes, you’ve just added a whole lot of moisture onto your face from the mask but the serum used in masks can evaporate from your skin very easily.

When you use a moisturizer it locks in all the hydrating ingredients delivered by the mask making sure it does not evaporate. It acts as a physical barrier.

How long are face masks good for?

Face masks are usually good for one to two years. After this time you’ll notice that the consistency or color of the mask changes.

If you use it after it has lost its initial consistency or color then it can irritate your skin quite badly.

The chemicals in the mask would have broken down quite a bit by then and the masks can no longer be deemed as safe.

If you take a look at the back of the packet there should be an illustration of a container with the lid open and a number and an “M” on it. That number is an indication of how many months the masks can last for.

Can I leave a facemask on overnight?

Yes, you can leave specific face masks on overnight but not all can be left on overnight. There are specific masks that have been designed to be left on overnight.

If the instructions of your mask state that the mask can be on for a short period of time then you should leave it on for that long, if not then the mask can dry out and absorb moisture from your skin.

If you’re using a clay mask you cannot leave it on for too long, if you leave it on for too long the powerful drying ingredients in the mask will leave your skin very dry.

A mask that you can use overnight is the Laneige Renewal – Water Sleeping Mask. It brightens and hydrates your skin overnight.

Do peel off masks damage skin?

Yes, peel off masks do damage your skin. These are the sticky masks that dry on your skin and take the dirt and impurities off with them as you peel them off.

Unfortunately, these types of masks can peel some skin off as you go.

In order for them to successfully remove dirt and grime from your pores and skin they have to stick to the dirt and grime. It sticks to your skin as well and can remove some skin layers.

The peeling off process can also result in a loss of elasticity on the skin. If this happens your skin can start to sag. If you have sensitive skin the process of removing the mask can also irritate your skin.

That’s it for my article looking at the disadvantages of face masks. I hope you enjoyed the article. If you did then pleases share it.