If you are feeling the effects of quarantine a little bit more as of late, it might be showing up on your skin. This is your sign to take off that medical mask, schedule some “me time”, and reward yourself with one of these detox face masks.
Detoxing is a bit of a buzzword in the health and skincare community. It sounds great. Who would want to hold on to toxins, right?
But the term “detox” can be a little misleading as it’s often used. Detoxification is a process that your body goes through in order to remove internal toxins. These toxins can come from your diet, environment, and other lifestyle choices. A healthy body has regulatory mechanisms that purge harmful toxins, mainly the liver, colon, and kidneys (1).
This has grown into the accepted idea that anything can be detoxed, when in reality there are only 3 main organs that can remove toxins from your body. You can’t really detox your skin and face through anything other than these internal organs, which is why it’s so important to maintain a healthy diet, lifestyle, and sleep schedule that supports them.
But internal health isn’t the only thing that’s important when it comes to skincare. The way you treat your skin on the outside is just as critical. While you can’t detoxify your skin using a detox face mask, you can rejuvenate and protect against harmful things in your environment (2).
So how do you tell whether a skin issue is internal or external? Here are some tell tale skin moods that require a detox face mask to clean and rejuvenate your skin:
Over exfoliation and cleansing can dry out the outermost skin layer, also known as the stratum corneum. It’s like a protective barrier for the other layers of your skin. If you’re constantly rubbing away at it, chances are you are stripping your skin of necessary oils and dirt protection.
Read about what your skin barrier is and why it matters.
Blackheads are a common acne type that is caused by clogged pores. When dirt gets in from the outside, it’s easier to clean from the surface.
Again, clogged pores and lack of air flow through the skin can lead to whiteheads. The pores need to be cleansed and opened in order to remove all that blockage.
Feeling drab lately? The dry air might be taking a toll on your outer skin layers, but a face mask can give you back your glow.
The root cause of breakouts can be a hard thing to pinpoint. Usually gut health and the toxins inside your body have more to do with it than any surface grime. However, if you’re experiencing breakouts in odd places and you can’t blame the weather or your diet, a detox face mask is a good next step.
If your face feels a little too tight, it might be irritated from the outside. Sometimes UV exposure from the sun will make your skin feel hot and tight, kind of like pre sunburn. Since the outer layers take the brunt of this heat, treat the skin barrier with a topical face mask.
Forgot to patch test your skincare or makeup before you put it on your face? You know exactly what went wrong here, and a detox face mask can treat the irritation at the source.
I’m gonna be honest, sometimes it’s trial and error. If you’re struggling with a skin issue and nothing else seems to be working, a detox face mask might do the trick.
While you can’t detox your skin from the outside, you can certainly clean it. The pores in your skin can collect a lot of dirt and grime from the air around you, and this can lead to any number of issues. Sometimes, your skin just needs a little TLC and a break from your routine. A face mask is a relaxing and easy fix, plus you can watch a movie while you wait for it to dry.
Here are some great products on the market you can try:
There are also plenty of cleansing and brightening ingredients in your kitchen that you can use to make face masks. When making your own face mask, always be sure you use the best ingredients. We eat organic and we treat with organic. While you’re out looking for ingredients, toss some organic fair trade chocolate into your cart as well. Treat yourself.
1. Coffee Mask
This mask is going to smell a lot better than it looks. The coffee is a good gentle exfoliant to remove dirt and grime from the surface of the skin. Cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants and olive oil locks in moisture. Raw honey actually has both antioxidants and moisturizing properties, so you can choose your blend. Leave this mixture on for 10-15 minutes then wash off with a warm cloth.
2. Turmeric face mask
Turmeric is anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, and brightening. Turmeric can be used to treat dark spots, reduce hyperpigmentation, and brighten and cleanse your skin. Big warning! Turmeric stains everything, including your skin. Don’t leave the mask on for more than ten minutes and make sure you cover any surfaces you don’t want to accidentally turn golden with a Midas turmeric touch.
3. Honey clay mask
The Aztec bentonite clay we mentioned above is great by itself, but you can combine those purifying qualities with moisturizing coconut oil and honey for an elevated face mask. Follow the instructions for the clay mask and remove with warm water or a damp cloth.
Written by Christiana Sinacola
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