Many women do face masks regularly and claim that those help them get rid of wrinkles and make their skin glowy and healthy. At the same time, scientists insist that very few skincare products actually work since the molecules of ingredients in most products are too big to get into our skin. So do face masks work? Let’s try to answer this question together.
Active Ingredients
First things first, we have to pay attention to the active ingredients used in a mask. In fact, today, we have a wide selection of face masks with hyaluronic acid, collagen, aloe, and other popular active ingredients. But the thing is, there are only two substances that are scientifically proven to prevent aging and, to some degree reverse it, and those are retinoids and vitamin C. Maybe we will discover other substances that will be scientifically proven to work in the future, but for now, it’s just these two. Both retinoids and vitamin C help prevent aging as well as reduce the signs of photoaging, such as pigmentation. In addition to that, retinoids are also used for treating acne.
So it seems obvious that using masks and other skincare products that do not contain retinol or vitamin C is pointless, and in this case, the solution seems pretty easy - just use a mask that contains either of these active ingredients. But it’s not as easy as it seems. You see, most good products with these ingredients come in the forms of serums and creams simply because such consistency, as well as the time of application, is the best for making the most out of retinoids and vitamin C. Therefore, it’s best not to spend your money on masks that you end up washing away together with the active ingredients and get a retinol cream to use in the evening and vitamin C serum to use in the morning.
Time of Application
Another thing we want to talk about is the time of application. You see, most masks are supposed to be on your skin for 10-15 minutes, and then you have to wash them out. Well, this amount of time is simply not enough for most ingredients to work, especially if you are talking about anti-aging masks. This is why most masks give a temporary moisturizing effect that doesn’t last long. So you can use face masks if you like such a routine, but it’s better to invest in good skincare products and use them daily than applying a mask for a few minutes once a week and expecting great results from it.
Natural Face Masks
Some people say that making natural masks from aloe, honey, yogurt, and all sorts of things you can find in your kitchen is super beneficial because these masks are 100% natural. Well, first of all, not all that’s natural is good for you. In fact, natural ingredients in face masks and other products can cause severe allergies. Secondly, homemade masks usually do not work as well as the ones you can buy in a drug store because the concentration of vitamins in those masks is usually lower than in synthetic products. Thus, if you like natural masks, you can apply them, but don’t expect great results from them.