Fact: Your skin is complicated. You’ve got a dry patch here, an oil slick there, and it’s as if your chin has no idea what it’s doing. So why did we ever think it was possible for one face mask to take care of everything? It’s no wonder multimasking has become such a big deal—savvy women everywhere have wised up and are giving their skin the customized treatment it deserves.
Multimasking is basically a spot treatment for your face: “Most of us might be oily in the T-zone, have hyperpigmentation on the cheeks, dryness or flakiness at the outer areas of the face, and blemishes around the jawline,” Dr. Roshini Raj, women’s health expert and co-founder of TULA skin care said in an email. “Those specific areas of concern require different active ingredients.” So instead of using only one type of mask, you use a bevy that targets each individual skin issue—and the best part is, multimasking really is as easy as it sounds:
Step 1
The best place to start is by giving your face a once-over. “Finding the right masks for you comes down to the skin concerns you’re looking to address,” says Dr. Conny Wittke, creator and founder of nügg Face Masks. Maybe you’re fed up with your scaly cheeks or your dull complexion has you buggin’, or maybe your T-zone is all kinds of complicated while your fine lines aren’t so fine anymore.
Step 2
Choose face masks that specifically combat these pesky skin issues. Gone are the days of buying a ginormous, ridiculously priced face mask jar that takes up half your medicine cabinet. Now, beauty brands are creating face mask sets that cover things like exfoliation, hydration, and brightening—and don’t cost a fortune. Case in point: Boscia’s genius Multi-Masking Medley and nügg’s delish 4-pack of face mask pods.
That said, if you’re a mix-and-match kind of gal: Raj suggests using a clay-based mask for oily areas, which helps absorb impurities, dirt, and excess oil. For sunspots and hyperpigmentation, do your skin a solid by using a mask that contains brightening ingredients like Vitamin C, hydroquinone, and azelaic acid. If you’re dealing with dryness, use a mask that’s rich in hyaluronic acid or other hydrating ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil or honey. And for those tired eyes of yours, look for a mask with cucumber, Vitamin C and E and caffeine ingredients (yes, your eyes love caffeine as much as you do).
Step 3
“Always wash your face prior to using any mask,” says Wittke. “Use warm water when cleansing to help open up your pores. This allows the mask to penetrate deeper and allows your skin to fully reap the mask’s benefits.” If you’re in the mood to indulge, prep your pre-mask skin by placing a warm, moist towel over your face for a few minutes.
Step 4
Multimasking is very much a paint-by-numbers affair: Apply your chosen formulas over the areas giving you ‘tude, and enjoy the tribal paint vibe while your face masks ban together to do their thing—Avengers-style.
Step 5
The only tricky part of the equation is keeping tabs on when you should remove each mask, as times may vary. Check the directions on each mask first, or buy masks that stay on for roughly the same amount of time. Once time’s up, rinse your face or wipe off the masks with a warm wash cloth. Voila! You’ve put on a happy face.
READ MORE: Should You Try Double-Cleansing Your Face?
