Beauty Talk: Why You Should Be Multi-Masking

Forget coconut oil. It’s a well known fact that putting on a clay mask fixes everything. Can’t sleep? Clay mask. Boyfriend troubles? Clay mask. Whatever it is… Clay mask! In all seriousness, clay masks are serious skin savers. So, you could imagine our surprise when we found out that we might have been doing clay masks wrong this whole time! Enter: Multi-masking. Confused? Yeah, we were too, so we got Ryan Channing, mask expert, founder of BLAQ and new brand Generation Clay, to talk us through the trend:

Ok, break it down for us… What is ‘multi-masking’ and why should we being doing it?

There’s nothing new about face masks. For decades we’ve known about the nourishing, hydrating, and brightening benefits. But within the last few years, we have seen a new trend in face mask territory that has changed the game! Much like the name suggests, multi-masking involves simultaneously using multiple masks on your skin; applied to different areas of your face for different purposes. What one area of your face may lack, another may not, so the point of multi-masking is to target all of your skin concerns.

Why are clay masks particularly good for multi-masking?

Generation Clay offers three effective clay masks that each tackle specific points of the face. The Urban Defence Pink Clay Mask is made for the city-regulars! We all know how stressed our skin can get with all the harsh aggressors in the air, and the Urban Defence mask is packed with vitamin C from Kakadu plums that helps protect your skin! The Ultra Violet Purple Mask gets down to business and helps brighten a dull complexion.

Davidson plum acts like a natural version of alpha-hydroroxy acid (AHA) to rejuvenate your skin. And of course we’re all very familiar with charcoal by now – if not, they have rightfully earned the reputation for mattifying the appearance of oily skin. The Detoxifying Charcoal Clay Mask acts like a magnet to draw out all the dirt and impurities from your complexion to keep any pesky breakouts and blackheads away!

If someone is totally new to clay masks let alone multi-masking, how do they determine what type of masks they need for their different skin concerns?

First – know your skin type! Try the Blotting Sheet Method: gently pat blotting paper on different areas of your face. If your skin didn’t pick up much oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the sheet picked up oils from your forehead and nose, your skin is combination/normal. If your sheet is saturated with oil, its very likely you have oily skin!

Second – masking! I would recommend starting with the Urban Defence Pink or Ultra Violet Purple mask. Its best to get professional advice from a cosmetic skin clinic – they’re the experts and will teach you about what your skin needs to improve and the ingredients that will benefit your skin

Are there any particular ingredients to embrace and any we should be avoiding?

If there is anything we’ve learnt about skincare over the past few years, its that the weirdest ingredients are usually the best ones! Each mask has a hero, like Australian botanicals ingredient that I think everyone should be incorporating in their skincare routine in some form.

The Kakadu plum contains 3000mg of vitamin C per 100g of fruit. That’s over 50 times the concentration found in oranges, so you can imagine how purifying it is for your skin. Another Australian gem is the Davidson plum – it acts like a natural version of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) which is the it-ingredient in skincare these days. It helps smooth skin and lighten any dark circles and pigmentation in the complexion.

Activated charcoal has incredibly popular in skincare and for a good reason. It has a reputation for drawing out bacteria, balancing out pH levels and minimizing pores. The antibacterial properties in activated charcoal help with acne by detoxifying the skin, and prevents any further breakouts.

How many masks do you recommend for best results?

I recommend two. One to hydrate and nourish, and one for those oily times and pesky breakouts. Of course, everyone has different skin needs. For oily or acne-prone skin – use Detoxifying Charcoal Mask. Your skin has excess oil in the follicles, so the ingredients in this mask remove excess oil build up, its antibacterial properties detoxify, while hydrating the skin. It’ll also remove any excess oil with out stripping the skin of all its natural oils. The charcoal will calm any spots or pimples you may have too.

For dehydrated and sensitive skin – use Urban Defence Pink Mask. It’s all about calming irritated or broken barriers on the skin’s surface. You must rebuild the barrier, so the skin starts working correctly again. Aloe Vera as we know is super hydrating and calming. The rest of the ingredients are anti-inflammatory – so they calm the skin down, which reduces redness and irritation. Once your skins barrier is strong and not impaired, that’s when you can use the other masks (if needed)!

Dull skin will totally benefit from the Ultra Violet Brightening Purple Mask. Your skin needs hydration! The Ultra Violet Brightening Purple will nourish, plump up your complexion. The added antioxidants from the Davidson plum also helps target any dark circles and hyperpigmentation to restore radiance in your skin. Get that glow!

What tips or tricks do you have for making the most of your multi-masking experience?

Before anything – always do a patch test! Just as you would when introducing new products into your skincare routine, I would recommend doing a patch test on your wrist or jawline before applying the mask to your face.

Also, exfoliate beforehand. By removing all the dead skin cells on the skins surface, this will ensure each mask will absorb and penetrate your skin more evenly and effectively.

Likewise, using a brush will allow you to apply each mask evenly – as well as keeping things hygienic. Don’t forget to read each formula’s instructions before masking. Apply longer duration masks first, then shorter ones later. Moisturise afterwards to seal in all the multi-masking benefits.

What are some common mistakes to avoid with multi-masking?

Don’t overlay your masks! You will confuse the skin on what you want to to do – removing oil or adding oil to the skin. Be sure to follow the instructions on how often you should mask: i.e. one to two times a week.

Head to www.generationclay.com and follow @generationclay to shop masks, keep up with the latest skincare tutorials and be the first to know of new releases!

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