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.
Sheet Masks
Sheet masks do moisturize skin and provide a short-term effect, but most dermatologists and estheticians claim that sheet masks are pointless, and most of them do not contain any beneficial ingredients that will nourish your skin. In other words, using those is a waste of money, and as we have already mentioned above, it’s better to invest that money into good skincare products that contain ingredients that are scientifically proven to work. So it’s up to you to decide whether to use sheet masks or not, but we prefer facts and science.
Professional Face Masks
Last but not least, professional face masks that you can have at an esthetician. These masks do have a lot of ingredients that nourish and moisturize your skin, but they also provide a short-term effect. In addition to that, unlike natural face masks or the ones you buy in a drug store, these masks cost a lot of money. So what should you do then? Well, if you like the feeling when an esthetician massages your face and applies masks, and you are ready to pay for a short-term result, go ahead and do that. In case you are a more practical person who wants long-lasting results, we suggest you have botox injections or laser treatments instead because, unlike face masks, botox and lasers are scientifically proven to prevent and reduce wrinkles.
Of course, the final decision is up to you because it’s your skin, and you are free to do whatever you want with it. However, if you want to see long-lasting results after a visit to an esthetician, it’s better to invest in something that is scientifically proven to work than in face masks that provide a temporary result.
The Verdict
Unfortunately, a lot of skincare available in the market nowadays is a scam, and face masks are no exception. Yes, they do provide a short-term moisturizing effect, but they hardly have any anti-aging properties, which is why we tend to say that face masks do not work as many people expect them to do.
At the same time, today, we have some treatment and skincare products that actually work, meaning you can use those instead of pointless masks. So to preserve your skin, you just need to use retinol 3 times a week in the evening, vitamin C serum and moisturizer in the morning, as well as apply sunscreen every single day. In case you feel like using these products is not enough anymore, you might want to consider botox, laser treatments, or plastic surgery. Everything else simply does not work and isn’t work spending money on.
