Skin In The Game
Behind The Mask: The Right Mask For The Task
Between sweat, sand, salt & sunscreen, your skin might not be feeling the love this season. It’s probs looking a bit lackluster. But that’s no reason to stop embracing the sun & surf. The secret to stellar summer skin? Masking! Renowned beauty expert Felicia Walker Benson, editor-in-chief of ThisThatBeauty, gave us the dirt on her favorite types of masks. And filled us in on multi-masking (yes, it’s a thing).
Slather on. Selfie. Peel-Off.
First things first. Summer is all about fresh, glowing skin. But while flawless skin may be on your wish list, the constant slew of weekend jaunts & summer soirees can cause dead cells, dirt & debris to build up.
Peel-off masks were made to instantly lift away dull, tired skin.
That leaves you with clogged pores & skin that looks a little meh. No worries though. Peel-off masks were made to instantly lift away dull, tired skin. They masterfully (& quickly) smooth & refine your complexion to leave skin radiant. We love Origins GinZing Peel-Off Mask. In less than 10 minutes, this bronze beauty tightens pores & smoothes skin, leaving you just enough time to post a major metallic selfie moment.
This That Beauty EIC Felicia Walker Benson unmasks the secrets of masking. Credit: Felicia Walker Benson
Korea is basically a beauty Mecca. So Benson looks to it for the latest & greatest. Sheet masks are a huge trend there & she’s a huge fan. But not all sheet masks are created equal, says Benson. “Some are more of a daily-use item, like a serum, while others are better applied weekly as a deep treatment.”
While traveling, she likes to pick up some individually wrapped masks & use them in place of serum to avoid TSA restrictions. At home, she opts for intensive sheet masks with ingredients like moisture-retaining Hyaluronic Acid that help rehydrate.
As for overnight masks, Benson says she relies on them when her skin is seriously parched. Since summer can be especially dehydrating, overnight masks are a quick fix for when skin is having a dry spell. “I like them because they’re more intense than night creams,”
she says. “You pile them on your skin & let them absorb while you sleep to get their full benefits.”
So, like Sleeping Beauty, prepare for happily ever after with skin that looks & feels hydrated, plump & soft.
Overnight masks are a quick fix for when skin is having a dry spell.
For a more bespoke take on beauty, Benson likes to “multi-mask.”
What does that mean, exactly? It’s using a few types of masks at the same time to address multiple issues at once. For example, “I like to apply mud or clay-based masks to what I call the muzzle—the area around my mouth including the lower cheeks & chin—when I have hormonal breakouts & a Rose Water-infused calming mask to my cheeks. Because I don’t have acne on my cheeks,”
she says. Charcoal based masks are also awesome for blemish-prone or congested skin because of the detoxifying properties. It’s great for the man (or men) in your life, too.