What to do before a face mask
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, tie your hair back and get everything ready before you start. You don't need to steam or scrub first. Steaming has little evidence behind it and carries a burn risk, and scrubbing can irritate skin just before you put something new on it. A patch test is the one step worth doing in advance.
A day ahead: patch test
For a new mask, this is the one step you can't do on the night. For our masks, smooth a little on your inner arm, peel it off after 15 minutes, and wait 24 hours. Here's how patch testing works.
On the night
- Take off makeup and cleanse. Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water, as the American Academy of Dermatology advises.
- Pat dry. A jelly mask goes on clean, dry skin.
- Tie your hair back. The jelly grips hair, so use a headband if you have one, and plan around any facial hair.
- Get set up. For a jelly mask: a small bowl, a tablespoon, cool water, the spatula, and a towel for your pillow. It starts to thicken soon after mixing, so don't go looking for things then.
- Set a timer on your phone, then put the phone down.
Should you steam your face first?
We'd skip it. Medical News Today's medically reviewed overview says researchers haven't studied the benefits, and most of the information is anecdotal. It warns of steam burns, and says people with rosacea, eczema or psoriasis should avoid it because heat can increase redness. If you like the warm feeling, a warm shower before you start is a simpler way to get it. And if your skin flushes easily, heat is a common trigger.
Should you exfoliate first?
Also not necessary. The AAD says scrubbing irritates skin, and its tips for sensitive skin say to avoid scrubs and exfoliators. Don't use exfoliating acids on the same day as an Omorfia mask at all. Skin doesn't need to be raw for a mask to feel good on it.
Other things to check first
- Have you used a retinoid or acid today? Then save the mask for another day. Here's why.
- Is your skin sore, sunburnt or broken? Wait. See masks and sunburn.
- Waxed or just had a salon treatment? Ask your therapist how long to leave it.
- Outdoors tomorrow? We ask you to wear sunscreen the day after a mask, so have it ready.
Questions
Do you need to wash your face before a face mask?
Yes. Clean skin is the usual starting point, and it means you're not sealing makeup and sunscreen under the mask. Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
Does steaming open your pores before a mask?
There's no good evidence that steaming your face before a mask helps, and steam can burn. A warm shower is a safer way to get the same relaxing feeling.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your skin, see your GP or a skin specialist.
Sources
- Face washing 101, American Academy of Dermatology
- Benefits of steaming your face, Medical News Today, medically reviewed 2020
- 7 rosacea skin care tips, American Academy of Dermatology