Gone are the days when masking was simply a weekly event. Now daily masking is all the rage. And for good reason. Using a gentle daily mask, designed for your particular skin type, can greatly improve the health of your skin. And healthy skin is synonymous with beautiful skin.

If you have read Quintessential Style, you know my co-author Janna Beatty’s mantra: “Beautiful skin, even with little or no makeup always looks good. But rough, blemished, unhealthy skin–even with makeup–can never looks its best.”

Putting makeup over dry, patchy skin is like painting on an old, flawed, canvas. Why not begin each day with a new canvas? How? By smoothing, exfoliating, and moisturizing using a mask. Here is some information, straight from Janna, on the importance of daily masking. (For more info, visit Makeovers4u.com.)

Why should mature women mask every day?

Masking is significant for everyone from teens upward, but it is of particular importance to mature women because dead surface skin cells need more encouragement to leave.

Daily masking removes surface skin cells–every 24 hours–helping skin appear more polished, younger, and healthier-looking.
When you remove surface cells, pores appear smaller and lines appear less visible. This surface cell exfoliation also prepares skin to better-absorb moisturizers and other products, and allows make-up to glide on smoothly.

The skincare line I sell in my studio is Premiere Collection. Premiere’s masks are also cleansing. I recommend morning masking, rather than morning cleansing. It only takes 5-10 minutes each morning to have smoother, more polished-looking skin. (Cleanser should always be used at night before applying nighttime products.) 

But don’t assume all masks are cleansing, or designed for daily use.

Note: Gentle daily exfoliation using a mask is different than using harsh brushes or scrubs which can tear the delicate layers of your skin. Masking does not tear the surface of the skin. If you are using brushes or harsh exfoliation treatments and you see peeling or redness, you could be damaging your skin.

What type of masks do you recommend for daily masking?
In the Premiere Collection product line, there is a correct mask for everyone, and some women rotate masks based on the needs of their skin, the seasons, etc.

PURIFYING MASK (Decongests)
Blackheads occur when the oil in your pores hits the air and oxidizes. This product absorbs waste and deep cleans. It is ideal for  periodic breakouts, oily skin (or oily areas), athletes, and teens.

MOISTURE MASK GELEE (Hydrates)

Dehydrated skin can look dull, flat, or lined on the surface. (Air conditioning, sleeping under ceiling fans, even allergy meds can contribute to skin dehydration.) Many times when women see wrinkles, their skin is actually dehydrated. In this case, they can usually see a difference in as little as 4 days, depending on how dehydrated they were.

There is no oil in MMG, so even if you have oily skin, you can use this mask without fear of breakouts. The aloe soothes. It is recommended for most skin types, even those with sensitive skin.

REVITALIZING MOISTURE MASK (Moisturizes and stimulates)
If skin looks sluggish and dull, this is a good mask (similar to a person who fails to exercise and needs stimulation).

ALPHAGEN MASK (Increases elasticity, anti-aging, firming)
This mask firms and tightens, which becomes increasingly important as we age.
(Visualize a stretched out slinky vs. a tightly coiled slinky.)

EYE AREA MASK (Reduces appearance of puffiness and fine lines)
The tissue around the eyes is very delicate and requires special treatment.

What is multi masking?

A person’s skin may have different needs for different areas, e.g. oily t-zone, dryness around cheeks, etc. The under eye area might be lined and need firming. Or the neck and décolleté may need tightening and increased elasticity.

It is perfectly fine–and extremely time-saving–to apply several masks simultaneously if desired. Products should be chosen based upon the needs of your skin.

Your skin will always let you know if you have chosen the correct products.
An easy way to see if a product is creating the results you want is to apply the product on only one side of your face and see if you detect change.

I recently went on a radio talk show. The host wanted to know if it was really necessary to spend $500 on skin products like the Kardashians do. My response: “If you are buying products with glitzy advertising,  fancy packaging, and boxes that you just throw away when you get home, you are definitely paying for all that.” 

Premiere Collection products are the best skin products I have ever discovered (and I’ve researched a lot of products). The packaging may not be the fanciest, but that is not what I want my clients to pay for. The products I use myself are all from the Premiere product line.

Need help determining your own skin type? Go to Makeovers4u.com.

*Test for Sensitivity
Before putting any products on your face, dab a generous amount on the inside of your elbow at bedtime.  Cover with a band-aid, and check the area in the morning.