Mask-erade

One of the best ways to clear up and hydrate the skin is by applying a facial mask (especially if application is preceded by exfoliation).  Here are some of the facial masks we like the most.

Sulfur (for acne & blemishes)
Murad Clarifying Mask
Origins Out of Trouble
DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Sulfur Cooling Masque

Clay/Charcoal (for clearing pores)
SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque
Origins Clear Improvement
NARS Skin Mud Mask

Peel (for exfoliation & renewal)
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel
Ren F10 Smooth and Renewal Peel Mask

Hydrating (for moisturizing)
Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturizing Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque
NARS Skin Aqua Gel Hydrator

Nutrient (for renewal & prevention of future damage)

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask
Perricone MD Hydrating Nutrient Mask

Oxygen (for brightening & freshening)
Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Radiance Oygenating Masque
BORBA Replenishing Quench Masque

Exfoliators (to use before masks)
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Rejuvenator
LORAC Make-up Prep
Elemis Skin Buff

Olive Oyl

This is going to sound completely strange to most people, but this post is all about how wonderful oil is for your face.  Yes, you heard correctly, I said "oil."  I'm sure that all of us have used an oil-based, eye make-up remover  at one time or another and are probably at least vaguely aware that oil-based cleansers are great for breaking down make-up.  Oil cleansers have more benefits than just make-up removal, though.  It is also good for washing away other skin care products (like sunscreen) at the end of the day and some oil-based cleansers are supposed to be great for getting rid of sebum and other oils on the face.

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, apparently it is true.  I am told that this is how it works: the oils in the cleansers attract the oils that are on our skin already and when we wash off the oil-based cleanser the oil on our face goes bye-bye along with it.  I am also told that Biore Pore Strips work on a similar principal.  I have also learned from a few sources that the wash-rinse-repeat routine that most of us do with our shampoo is also the best way to wash our faces.  Skin-care specialists refer to this as the "double-cleanse."  The double cleanse is supposed to be most effective when you first wash your face with an oil-based cleanser, rinse and then wash your face with a cleanser targeted to your skin type.

I have tried three oil-based cleansers before and liked all three of them.  My personal favorite is Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil.  The reason I prefer it to the other two is that there are different ones for different skin types.  To be honest, it is quite expensive and I found it to be no more effective than Dermalogica Precleanse.  The third one that I tried is really an exfoliator (St. Ives Olive Scrub).  Though I absolutely loved it, it is not really ideal to use as a first step in the double-cleanse process.  I have learned that St. Ives also makes an Olive Cleanser, but I have not personally tried it.  If it is anywhere near as great as the Olive Scrub, it would be a very inexpensive alternative to the Shu Uemura and Dermalogica.  If any of you try it, please let us know what you think.