As multimasking is making big waves in the beauty world, it’s no wonder why The Body Shop has decided to launch a complete collection of facial masks to cater to literally every single skin concern. Made with 100% vegetarian ingredients and superfoods, they are inspired by traditional beauty remedies from around the world.
Multimasking is the art of using different masks on your face at the same time to tackle at once different skin concerns. This makes a lot of sense given the majority of the population has combination skin, which can shift depending on internal or external agents (stress, health issues, weather changes… you name it!). I, for one, have very dry skin, but still need to detox my nose and forehead from time to time, which are prone to impurities.
The new Expert Facial Masks by The Body Shop are designed to create your own personalized skincare regime. You can either use two or more of them at the same time to target different areas of concern (I wouldn’t recommend actually layering or blending them together), or just the one mask you might need at a particular moment. This way you can give each section of your skin the attention it needs.
There is an Expert Facial Mask for every conceivable skin need. Care to discover them? Keep reading!
Detoxify Me: Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
This 100% vegan mask puts a spin on the traditional mud mask that hardens on your face. Inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, it is formulated with bamboo charcoal to draw out impurities, green tea leaves to exfoliate the skin, and tea tree oil to achieve clear skin.
How-To Insider Tip: As I have quite dry and sensitive skin, I use it only on my forehead and the tip of my nose to draw out impurities and help detoxify the area, which is usually quite congested (thank you, New York smog!) Tea tree does tingle a bit so I don’t use it on the cheeks to avoid my famous pink spots. My dignified guinea pig with combination skin used it on the whole face with no side effects but a deep cleanse.
Hydrate Me: British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask
Inspired by the European bathing rituals, this mask with a gel texture includes real crushed petals of British roses, rosehip oil, and aloe vera. This wonderful hydrating trio is calming, soothing, and gentle on all types of skin, but is most appreciated by dry and/or sensitive skin.
How-To Insider Tip: This is my favorite mask of all five. It is quenching, re-plumping, nourishing, and overall wonderful on those dull and dehydrated areas that I get every time the weather changes. Not to mention the wonderful smell of roses that literally relaxes you in one minute flat. Buh bye, crocodile skin and stress!
I personally use it all over my face and decollete every week and leave it on for about 20 minutes to benefit from its hydrating properties. My dignified guinea pigs with normal or combination skin prefer using it just on their cheeks to plump the cheekbones area and complement it with another mask.
Nourish Me: Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask
Honey has multiple healing and nourishing properties. This mask is inspired by African soothing rituals and is designed for skin that needs an intense dose of replenishing nourishment to feel soft and smooth again. Its main ingredients are honey, marula oil, and olive oil.
How-To Insider Tip: I think of this mask as a healing salve. Every time my skin is aggressed by the environment, the pollution, or the extreme temperatures of the city, I need an extra boost for it to feel comfortable again. I have used this little wonder once a week ever since the weather changed and I haven’t noticed any red or dull skin patches yet. I usually put first the Hydrate Me mask, leave it for 20 minutes, wash it up, and apply the Nourish Me mask for an extra 10 minutes on my cheeks and forehead.
Brighten Me: Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask
Inspired by Chinese traditions, this creamy formula fights dull skin with ginseng extract, rice extract and sesame seed oil.
How-To Insider Tip: I have to admit this is the mask that is less tailored to my skin concerns. I have used it only once in the month I have been testing this masks to try and revive my complexion after the summer a bit, and only on the cheeks. I can attest that the fine lines were less marked, but I still prefer the hydrating formulas.
Energize Me: Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance Mask
Inspired by the rituals of Amazonian tribes, this juicy fresh mask is designed for skin that needs a fast recharge from signs of fatigue and stress. With superfood acai berry, energizing guarana, and babassu oil, it is perfect to carry with you on a transoceanic flight. Trust me on this one.
How-To Insider Tip: This is a wonderful mask to give you a pick-me-up after a looong week at work or to recover from your 9-hour flight from Europe. I personally have used it for 15 minutes in those two instances with excellent results. My dignified guinea pig with combination skin also swears by it. If there were a morning-after mask, I’m pretty positive this would be it.
The Body Shop Expert Facial Masks retail for $28/each.
Disclosure level 1: The author received NO compensation to write this post. The author received samples of the products to test. The links in this article are for information only.
