The Epionce Guide To Face Masks

From ancient Egypt to our grandmothers’ vanities, face masks have a rich and storied history in the world of skincare. Recognized as one of the most effective ways to target specific skin concerns like blemishes, dryness, dullness, and aging, the concept of using topical treatments to enhance beauty and improve skin health spans civilizations.

While today’s masks come in sleek packaging and are infused with high-tech ingredients, masking remains an important part of a well-rounded skincare routine. Face masks deliver concentrated ingredients to the skin quickly, and the occlusive nature of many masks allows active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin, only further enhancing their efficacy.

But with light speed advancements and brand investments, the number of masks available is greater than ever. With so many options in the market, it can be tricky to narrow down which is the right fit for your skin and individual goals. We’re breaking down the basics so you can navigate the field with ease…

Types and Benefits of Face Masks

Long gone are the days where face masks are reserved for only the most enthusiastic skincare fans. Today, they have cemented their place within the routines of even novice users (little sisters, boyfriends, and more!) thanks in part to sheer variety and virality. Modern masks come in a wide range of formulations and mediums, each with their own varying hero ingredients and benefits. The beauty of this expanse of options is that everyone can find a mask that suits their unique needs with a little research.

Two popular types of at-home masks include overnight and rinse-off masks. They also make for some of the most indulgent beauty rituals. Deciding between the two is easy: Are you looking for something you can wash off after a few minutes, or something extra nourishing that you can sleep in?

Overnight Masks are generally thicker viscosity formulas that can help lock in your other skincare steps and are left on while you sleep for maximum benefits.

Rinse-Off Masks are typically potent, timed treatments that can be used a few times a week.

Besides understanding your form preferences and skin type (i.e., oily, dry, combination or sensitive), you’ll also want to nail down the benefits you’re looking for and consider the ingredients most helpful to you.

Some of the most common masking benefits include:

Hydration

Masks containing humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera help attract and retain moisture, keeping your barrier strong and resilient, and your skin supple and plump. Well-hydrated skin is less prone to fine lines and wrinkles, and results in a natural glow.

Deep Cleansing

Masks with clay, mud, and charcoal help deeply cleanse the skin by drawing out impurities from the pores. Regular use of these masks can reduce breakouts and blackheads while keeping your skin clear and fresh.

Exfoliation

Masks with physical exfoliants like sugar, microbeads or rice bran, or chemical exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs, or enzymes help to remove dead skin cells. Regular exfoliation promotes healthy cell turnover, eliminating texture and revealing fresh, smooth, and radiant skin underneath.

Brightening

Masks with vitamin C, niacinamide, or exfoliating acids, can help brighten and even out skin tone, reducing dark spots and leaving the complexion more vibrant, healthy, and glowing.

Soothing/Nourishing

Masks with aloe vera, chamomile, or green tea are excellent for calming irritated, red, or sensitive skin. They have anti-inflammatory benefits and help soothe discomfort, making them perfect for post-sun exposure or flare-ups.

Masks with ceramides, fatty acids, and oils help to replenish the lipids in the skin barrier. This aids in stopping moisture loss, strengthens the barrier, and provides deep nourishment, making the skin more resistant to external aggressors.

Reducing the Appearance of Aging

Masks with peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look firmer and more youthful.

Maintaining a Healthy Skin Barrier With Face Masks

Face masks, in conjunction with the rest of your skincare routine, are essential to maintaining a balanced and healthy skin barrier, aka, the outermost layer of your skin. Your skin barrier protects against environmental stressors, bacteria, and moisture loss, and when it’s compromised, you may experience irritation, sensitivity, dryness, and breakouts.

So it’s crucial to remember that many contemporary masks combine a number of hero ingredients and benefits into one multitasking formula. And as ingredient lists grow and intensify, the potential to overwhelm the skin also grows. Afterall, too many powerful ingredients can have adverse effects on the skin. Focusing on masks with gentle, botanically based ingredients will ensure you can target your concerns without overpowering your skin barrier.

Our favorite multitaskers that fit the bill? Epionce’s Enriched Firming Mask and Intense Recharge Mask.

Enriched Firming Mask

The Enriched Firming Mask has highly emollient properties and a proprietary blend of barrier lipids.

Key Benefits:

• Extra hydration for firmer-looking skin
• Helps reduce visible redness
• Helps soothe and calm irritating factors

How to Use: 

Evenly apply to clean skin. Leave on for 5–10 minutes, then rinse. For additional hydration, do not rinse. For best results, use weekly.

Key Ingredients: 

• Meadowfoam Extract: A rich source of fatty acids, it’s a natural skin hydrator to keep skin feeling moisturized and improve its appearance.
• Shea Butter: A natural source of moisturization with a soothing and hydrating effect on dry skin.
• Orange Fruit Extract: Full of antioxidant benefits, it helps improve the visible appearance of unwanted dark spots.
• Willow Bark Extract: A botanical source of salicylic acid, it’s a common ingredient that helps prevent and diminish blemishes.
• Safflower Seed Oil: Rich in fatty acids, it’s naturally hydrating to help maintain moisture in the skin. It’s also full of antioxidants and helps calm redness caused by irritation.
• Avocado Oil: A rich source of linoleic acid and vitamins, it improves hydration and calms the skin.
• Lavender Extract: A rich source of flavonoids and antioxidants, it’s used in herbal medicine to soothe and calm irritation.
• Date Fruit Extract: Contains phytosterols, ursolic acid, and antioxidants, which are known to improve the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Intense Recharge Mask

The Intense Recharge Mask is expertly formulated to help refine, smooth, and visibly improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Key Benefits:

• Nourishing botanicals visibly clarify and refine the skin
• Clinically proven to rapidly enhance skin radiance
• Improves skin rejuvenation and visible signs of aging
• Perfect for all skin types, including sensitive and blemish-prone
• Non-comedogenic; paraben and fragrance-free

How to Use:

Evenly apply to clean skin. Leave on for 5–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

The mask may be left on the skin longer if desired. Use 1–3 times per week for optimal results.

Key Ingredients:

• Kaolin Clay: Helps remove impurities from the skin and soothe visible irritation.
• Enmei Extract: Native to Asia, this potent antioxidant rejuvenates the skin barrier, visibly firms, and reduces signs of aging.
• Immortelle Extract: Known for its vibrant yellow petals, it hydrates the barrier, calms visible irritation, and reveals skin radiance.
• Red Seaweed: A powerful natural hydrator, it refines skin texture and smooths wrinkles.
• Noni Extract: A plant long used in Polynesian medicine, it helps rebalance the skin, calm visible redness, and minimize shine.
• Wild Carrot: Commonly known as Queen Anne’s Lace, it provides potent calming benefits, recharges the barrier, and rapidly soothes skin.
• Pink Catchfly: A wildflower native to Europe, it rejuvenates the barrier and calms stressed skin.

Incorporating face masks into your weekly routine can bring a number of benefits to your skin, barrier health, and even overall well-being. Masking encourages us to slow down and take a moment to treat ourselves. It’s a necessary step that can be used to pamper and get in touch with inner selves, and when integrated with the philosophy of being gentle to your skin and self, it can reap beautiful results.

Interested in learning more about Epionce’s approach to healthy skin? Contact one of our Epionce Pros — trained skincare professionals who will provide in-person guidance tailored to your needs. Find an Epionce Pro Near You