How can I elevate my skincare routine without breaking the bank?

A skincare routine using professional skincare products will provide you with correctly formulated ingredients that work at a cellular level within the skin. Most of us who visit a skin specialist will have been recommended a cleanser, maybe a toner, some of us will have taken a serum, and nearly all of us will have a moisturiser or treatment cream suited to our skin condition….oh, and hopefully, every single one of us will have, and will be, using an SPF!  These are just the basic requirements of a daily skincare routine.

But how can we improve on the basics?

Treatments that you can do at home in your own time is one area that you can focus on to elevate your skincare routine to the next level.

Face masques (or treatment masques as they are often known)  are often overlooked when choosing skincare. They may be deemed as not quite as important, but they really can be beneficial to your skin and to your self-care and relaxation time. Treatments that you can do at home in between in-clinic facials can really elevate your results, without breaking the bank!

There are so many professional branded result-driven face masques to choose from, and these are often understated and missed out of a skincare routine….Oh and while I’m on the subject, don’t think you only have to choose one treatment masque; you can have multiple treatment face masques that can be alternated depending on what skin results you wish to enhance.

Some professional branded face masques focus on increasing hydration within the skin, keeping the skin looking and feeling smooth and soft while providing added radiance or may be purely to resurface the skin’s texture. Others will provide tightening and lifting properties and increase collagen production, some will provide antioxidant properties and brightening effects whilst suppressing pigmentation. Problematic skins can benefit from AHA’s and soothing and calming ingredients with added skin detoxifying and healing ingredients… There really is a face masque for every skin and condition!

Face masques are relaxing, and they are often left on the skin between five minutes to one hour. Some can even be left on all night, and they can often be used multiple times a week. This is dependent on the manufacturer’s application recommendations so always read the instructions before applying.

Most professional face masques range from around £30 upwards, and most have multiple applications in one container. Face sheet masques have a much lower price point, but they generally are only used once and then discarded. Face masques can be in cream form, gel, oil, clay, liquid or powder, again this is often dependent on the purpose of use.

Face masques are quick and easy to apply. I find the perfect time for me to use a face masque is when I’m just settling down on the sofa to watch TV with my herbal tea, but most can be used at any time of the day or night. You may find it better to apply a masque in the morning after you have just woken up and cleansed your skin; this can set your skin up for the day. There is no right or wrong answer here but again, just be mindful of the instructions due to the ingredients. Some masques may not be suitable for morning use. Always remember to apply or re-apply your skincare routine after you have finished your mask treatment, regardless of the time of day.

Here are four of my favourite treatment face masques.

DMK Foamy Lift and Exoderma Peel The DMK Exoderma Peel & Foamy Lift Masque combination tightens and tones the skin, helping alleviate dead skin cell impurities. This formulation is a home prescriptive treatment that should be used once a week for all skin conditions and skin colours and is particularly ideal for teenage and adult acne, scarring, blackheads, pimples, and mature, lined and sun-damaged skin.

The Environ® Focus Care Youth+ Revival Masque is specifically formulated with a revolutionary combination of three powerful ingredients this “facelift in a jar” assists in enhancing the skin’s overall look and feel as well as resilience. This dynamic face masque leaves the skin feeling smoother and looking younger with a healthy radiance. There are multiple treatment times for this masque from 10 minutes to overnight use.

DÉCAAR Oxygen Mask is a unique mask containing Perfluorodecalin acting as an oxygen carrier and formulated to energise and detoxify, bringing new life to stressed skin, and restoring a soft, luminous complexion. A triple oxygenating blend delivers an infusion of molecular oxygen to help detoxify and eliminate ageing and skin dullness while supporting vital energy. This advanced and unique complex adds extra youth-promoting ingredients, restoring a translucent radiance, suppleness, firmness and smooth silky softness to your skin. This mask is left on overnight.

DMK Hydrating Masque Formulated to help prevent premature ageing and to hydrate dry skin, the DMK Hydrating Masque helps to increase the skin’s vital free water levels. It provides supreme hydration through the revision of the interstitial liquid (the liquid between the tissue) in the epidermis. This is great for skin prone to irritation, reactions, inflammation and sensitivity, which research has shown to be common symptoms of transepidermal water loss. 

These are just a few of the many face masques that I stock. If you would like any recommendations for your skin condition, please contact me at bev@newtbb-co-uk.lhr.stackstaging.com