Our body deserves the same care and attention as our face. And it can be not just a shower and applying a cream or oil, but also full-fledged procedures that are easy to carry out at home. Acne, loss of collagen, sagging, discoloration of the skin — all these processes are subject not only to our face, but also to the skin of the body. The Fashiongton Post will help you understand today what are the benefits of body masks, what ingredients to choose and how often to do such procedures.

What are the benefits of body masks?

A body mask can be a way to prevent skin problems in the first place. Properly selected body masks will help soothe the skin, reduce inflammation and prevent the appearance of new ones. In addition, some types of body masks will help slow down the aging of the skin and maintain its elasticity and firmness, regardless of your age.

Differences between the face  and body skin

The face skin is thinner, while the body skin has fewer sebaceous glands, which reduces its oiliness in comparison with the face skin. In addition, the rate of skin cell renewal on the body is slower than on the face, which often causes dryness and flaking. This should also be taken into account when choosing a body mask.

How to choose the right body mask

Choosing the composition of the mask will be the key to achieving the maximum effect of the procedure, but first you should decide on the problem that you want to solve with such a mask. If you want to get rid of body blemishes, look for antibacterial and detoxifying ingredients like retinol and azelaic acid. Clay-based masks have detoxifying properties. For dry skin, you should pay attention to masks that will moisturize the skin, for example those with shea butter or hyaluronic acid. A mask with ceramides will be a great choice for your hands. If you want to get rid of pigmentation, look for niacinamide and kojic acid in the composition. For inflamed and sensitive skin, masks containing green tea or centella are suitable. To achieve the effect of smoothing and brightening the skin, you can use masks with lactic and glycolic acids.

When to do body masks

To get the maximum effect from the procedure, it is desirable to prepare the skin. To do this, you need to clean it with your regular skincare product, then use the scrub. It is best to apply the body mask in the shower as the pores will open up. But you can also use the mask right before taking a bath — apply it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse. It all depends on the recommendations on the label. You do not need to use several masks at once, as you will not get the best effect. As an option, you can alternate them every other day, so that the skin has time to absorb all the necessary ingredients. If you decide to do a spa day, then it is better to use an exfoliating mask first, which will remove all dead cells from your skin, and then apply a moisturizer.