Unmasking luminous skin

Regardless of your skin type — oily, dry, combination or sensitive — if you don't deep clean your skin, dirt, sebum (oil) and dead skin cells will build up over time. Inevitably, these cause the skin to appear dull and lifeless.

To keep skin clean and radiant, remove any impurities with a deep cleansing mask. These are several ideal ingredients to look for.

• Mud: Masks made from specialized mud will purify and decongest the skin. Often formulated with mud harvested from the Dead Sea, these masks are suitable for all skin types and will minimize blemishes.

• Product picks: AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask Oily Skin contains Dead Sea minerals to remove excess oil and prevent acne.

For a gentler product that still eliminates impurities, try AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask Normal to Dry .

• Clay: A popular purifier found in masks, kaolin clay removes dirt and oil that clog pores and cause acne.

• Product picks: H20 Plus Sea Mineral Mud Mask, ideal for oily and combination skin, draws out dirt and reduces excess oil.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, Yonka Masque 105 purifies the skin, tightens pores and banishes blemishes.

• Seaweed: This special aquatic plant helps to clarify and brighten the skin. Specifically, seaweed acts as a disinfectant and has anti-inflammatory effects, writes Gary Goldfaden, M.D., in Life Extension Magazine.

• Product pick: Reach for AVAHA Pure Spa Energizing Body Mud Mask Mandarin Cedarwood with seaweed to smooth, refresh and revitalize your skin.

• Zinc: A potential antioxidant, zinc oxide decreases excess oil and promotes healing, which is especially helpful for acne-prone skin.

• Product pick: Pevonia Purifying Skin Mask reduces breakouts and tightens and soothes the skin.

Applying your mask

For best results, follow these steps when applying your treatment.

• Step 1: Cleanse your face
• Before applying the mask, it’s important to properly prep the skin by cleansing it. Apply cleanser with a washcloth and use gentle strokes to loosen dirt and oil from the skin.
• The washcloth also removes dead skin cells. If you don’t exfoliate the skin, these rough, dry cells might hamper the mask’s effectiveness.
• Step 2: Watch the time
• Once the skin is prepped, it's time to apply the mask. Many masks come in liquid or cream form. But, as they sit on the skin, they dry down to a tight, hard shell.
• Be sure to keep the mask on your face for the full amount of time, which is typically 15 minutes or longer. Pay attention to the recommended time on the label.
• Step 3: Remove the mask
  • Rinse off with warm water to soften the mask for removal. If needed, use a washcloth to ease the removal. Then, rinse again with cold water. Typically, these types of masks are for oily or acneic skin.
  • While some masks are easy to rinse off, others may entail peeling — with no rinsing required. The actual process of peeling removes dead skin cells, dirt and oil, leaving skin smooth and supple. Be sure to peel carefully, beginning at the forehead and moving gently down the face.
• Step 4: Always moisturize
  • After removing the mask, always follow with a moisturizer. For very oily skin, apply an oil-free lotion. For dry skin, try a hydrating serum and an emollient cream.
  • If you have sensitive skin, select ingredients that will soothe skin and minimize the risk of irritation, such as cucumber extract, oatmeal and aloe vera. According to Dr. Goldfaden, because cucumber extract consists of 90 percent water, it boasts “outstanding hydrating and cooling action,” along with “antioxidants that help soothe and calm skin irritation.”

  Full body benefits

  Masks are also effective for the entire body to draw out dirt and oil. Here’s how to get the most benefit from your body mask.

  • Exfoliate the skin using a body scrub, washcloth, sponge or loofah.
  • Then slather on your mask: June Jacobs Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Masque draws out toxins while adding moisture, resulting in softer, smoother skin.
  • Finally, rinse the mask off in the shower and follow with a hydrating body cream, such as Molton Brown Blissful Templetree Moisture Bodybalm.

  Remember, don't just clean your home this spring — give your skin a fresh start with a purifying treatment!

  See also:

  Steamy Secrets: At-Home Facial Steaming and Its Beautiful Benefits

  How to Create Your Own Face Mask

  3 Tips to Soothe Stressed-Out Skin