Multi-Masking is one of the latest trends in the beauty addicts community. I’ve been a big fan of face masks for ages, so I thought it was worth me taking a closer look!
Indeed, why limit yourself to a single face mask when you can use several? (in French, we say something ironic like: “Why would you simplify things when they can complicate them?” which sums up perfectly the Multi-Masking concept IMO tongue )
What is Multi-Masking?
Multi-Masking is a mix between “multitasking” and “masking” (i.e., applying a face mask). Basically, it consists of simultaneously applying several (2 minima) face masks according to the specific needs of the areas of your face.
Based on the principle that the skin of the face doesn’t have just one single need, Multi-Masking claims to treat it more efficiently by saving time.
Also, you can share this fun and personalized experience by posting it on social networks with the hashtag #multitasking which has appeared all over Instagram or Facebook for months.
Apparently, this trend comes from South Korea (as often) and it has been popularized by beauty blogs and social media, especially Instagram.
Of course, many beauty brands took advantage of this trend, and you can find more and more “Multi-Masking” boxes with different face masks and even a whole range of face masks designed to work together (I even saw some “Binge-Masking ” boxes which made me roll my eyes so hard lol).
Is Multi-Masking worth it?
Even if at first sight, the idea may seem ingenious, and even very tempting (so many different masks to try and just one single face available, for a beauty blogger, it’s the dream equation lol), in practice I don’t really know what to think…
But since I’m a very rational person, I thought that it might be a good idea to draw up a good old list of pros and cons, just to be sure!
Multi-Masking Pros:
– Personalization: I mentioned it in my skin type post, it’s rare that the skin of the face is just normal, oily or dry. Most of the time, you can add one or even several “skin states,” such as, for example, dehydration, sensitivity, redness, acne, wrinkles, etc. And these skin states can also be very localized: red cheeks, a nose with dilated pores, a drier eye contour, etc.
The Multi-Masking seems to be a very complete and targeted treatment because you can really choose your masks according to all your skin needs and apply them only on the concerned zones.
– You can finally finish all your face masks: I get a bit obsessed with collecting face masks. I love it, I’m always tempted to try new ones and obviously, as I am not disciplined, I open them all at the same time and I inevitably have a hard time finishing them. The Multi-Masking seems to be an ideal solution to finish off all my pots quickly (and when they’re all empty, I will have the perfect excuse to go buy new ones! #winning).
– It’s trendy and it’s pro: if you’re a junkie skincare like me, and you’re addicted to new skincare trends, Multi-Masking is really tempting! On the one hand, it’s a technique invented by the undisputed masters of skincare, namely the Koreans. So it cannot be something bad for your skin, can it? On the other hand, a Multi-Masking session is a bit like having your own spa session at home. No need to go to a beauty salon! wink
– It’s fun: not only do you have the satisfaction of being able to scare your husband/roommate/girlfriend/children/pet with your war paintings (or even your readers, see below), you can, if you want, even affirm your status as a skincare queen by posting them on your social media. It’s actually the primary concept of this trend #multimasking trend. wink
Multi-Masking Cons:
– It’s complicated: not everyone is a skin expert and it’s pretty hard to know exactly what your skin needs. You can have a general idea of your skin needs but are you really sure of where to locate them? Of course, in some cases, it’s pretty easy: sensitive or red cheeks, an oily T-Zone, a spotty chin…
But in other cases, it’s less obvious. For example, I personally have oily and dehydrated skin, and it’s also pretty dull. I don’t really think it’s only focused on one area on my face, it’s pretty general on the contrary. So, if I want to use my purifying face mask, my radiance-boosting mask and my moisturizing mask at the same time, where do I place them? It’s not really simple to guess…
– It could be risky: when you apply them together, it’s better to avoid the different face masks mixing together because some of the ingredients don’t mix well together and can (in some cases) cause irritation reactions on the skin. It’s better to favor products that you already know but it’s not always simple to ensure that the products are well delimited (a face is not a very large surface).
– It takes time: well OK, it’s the case for all the face masks in general but it’s a step in the skincare routine that requires having at least 15 minutes in front of you to apply them and also to let them pose. Because no, an “express” mask, I’m sorry but the purist that I am must say, is not a real face mask! wink And if you want efficiency, a mask must be done at least once a week ( I always do face masks twice or even 3 times, if I feel the need) (ie when I have a crappy skin week). So, it still requires a good dose of motivation! smile
– It’s expensive: obviously, there are several price ranges depending on the brands you use but if you want to achieve real Multi-Masking, it requires to have at least 2 face masks, and ideally more than that. However, some brands already capitalized on this trend and now offer Multi-Masking boxes with smaller formats like Peter Thomas Roth for example. In the US or Asia, there are also a lot of face masks in single-dose format, very practical and cheaper as well.
– And if you just alternate your face masks, wouldn’t it be exactly the same? Yep, all the same, and I even think that in some cases, it’s more effective! You get the same benefits as with a Multi-Masking but all over your face and I find it much simpler. No need to think about where to apply which mask, you just need to apply your purifying mask everywhere. A few days later, you can get on with your moisturizing mask, or if you have redness, your soothing mask and voilà! And why not even, if you have a little bit more time to spare, apply them one after the other? I do that occasionally: I start with a peeling mask and I apply a purifying mask just after. My skin loves it! smile
In short:
If you like face masks, it can be a nice trend to follow, but to be honest, I find it a little futile. Apart from combination skins which actually need a purifying mask on the T-zone and a moisturizing mask on the cheeks, I don’t really see which skin type could really beneficiate from Multi-Masking…
And it’s not the #instadetox films made by L’Oréal that will convince me. They did this huge promotional campaign for the launch of their 3 Pure Clay masks, so I had a look at the products, and I wasn’t really impressed. They are all purifying marks with clay. That’s it. I really don’t see the advantage of doing Muti-Masking with 3 masks that do more or less the same for the skin, namely purify. I’m not saying that these are bad products, I don’t know, I have not tried them. I’m just saying that the campaign uses the trend of Multi-Masking with 3 products which do exactly the same for your skin. How is that relevant? (insert rolling eyes emoji)
Which face masks can you use alternately if you want to treat your skin more thoroughly?
I would say that there are 2 essential face masks whatever your skin type is:
– a cleansing mask: (ideally based on clay or charcoal) that will absorb impurities and clean the pores thoroughly. This type of mask should be done at least once a week to keep your skin fresh, clean and get rid of toxins.
– a moisturizing mask: (more or less rich according to whether your skin is dry or not), which allows the skin to feel plumped and dewy. Even oily skin needs some moisture, we tend to forget it easily! For oily skin, it’s better to choose an oil-free texture (like a gel or a fluid) and to avoid creams too rich or heavy.
And then according to your age, the state of your skin, the environment (pollution or not, the weather, etc. ) and your desire, of course, you can add 1 or 2 masks in addition, such as:
– a radiance mask: often based on slightly exfoliating or brightening ingredients, it brightens dull skin and gives some glow to the skin.
– a soothing mask: perfect in case of redness or fragile skin, it’s very soothing and calm heated or irritated skin.
– an anti-ageing mask: a stimulating mask, which repairs the skin and helps to smooth wrinkles and fine lines and/or also to firm the skin.
– an anti-acne mask: rather close to a cleansing mask but enriched with healing and active anti-acne ingredients that help erase any current and future imperfections.
– an exfoliating/ peeling mask: a mask / scrub 2 in 1, which often contains grains that you are supposed to massage after you let your mask sit on the skin for a few minutes. I don’t really like this kind of product because, for me, it’s more interesting to do your scrub before your mask and not the opposite…
And I’m sure I forgot some others because there are many variants (nourishing repairing masks, smoothing retexturizing masks, etc.travelling)
My face masks of the moment:
Of course, I always exfoliate my skin before using these masks, with a good exfoliating product or using other exfoliating methods (Clarisonic, Konjac sponge, exfoliating acid toner…). I’ve done several posts on the topic if you are interested ;):
– Exfoliant, scrub, peeling… what are they?
– Daily skin exfoliation: why and how
– The Yon-Ka Masque 103 Combination To Oily Skin:
My favorite cleansing mask ever!
It’s a mask with 3 clays and essential oils that clean the skin deeply and soothes the skin instantly (well, at least in 15 minutes, the time to use it wink ). I have been using it weekly since forever. I always have a spare tube, it’s the best cleansing mask I tried so far. It doesn’t dry out my skin and I swear, my skin doesn’t have the same color before and after I used this mask. It’s just brilliant at unclogging and tightening my pores, I love it!
It’s available in the beauty salons and spas that work with the brand and online for $47 (it’s way cheaper in France if you’re traveling there sometimes wink ).
*A tip which works with all clay masks: do not let your mask dry! Or rather, keep it wet by spraying it with water as soon as it begins to dry. Unlike an old popular belief, a dry clay mask is not more effective! Indeed, if a clay mask is allowed to dry too long on the skin, it will absorb too much sebum and so, the sebaceous glands (which produce sebum) will tend to overproduce sebum afterward to compensate. This is called the “rebound effect”. That’s why after using a mask, you can end up with a super shiny looking skin after a few minutes… Personally, I use a some thermal water in a mist format or a spray that I fill with mineral water. And as soon as I feel that my face mask starts to feel tight, I misty it over the whole face. This does not reduce any effectiveness and in addition, a wet clay mask is much easier to rinse! wink *
– Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask:
Another big favorite! Having oily skin, it’s not always easy to find a good moisturizing mask that is not too rich for me. The Antipodes Aura Mask is quite creamy but not too rich and it contains Manuka Honey, known to help reduce inflammation and its healing effect, perfect for my acne-prone skin. I also use it once a week, I leave it about twenty minutes and I simply remove the excess with a wet cloth. It leaves the skin soft and supple. And in addition, it smells like yummy honey!
You can find online, for example on look fantastic for $32.
– Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Radiance Mud Mask:
Another great discovery from the drugstore! I didn’t know the brand Shea Moisture very well and I had mainly heard about their hair products. It’s an organic brand and the prices are not too expensive. It’s my friend Luanne from the blog Weesha’s World who told me to take a look at their face masks and I’m so glad I did!
It’s a clay mask, so it’s also a cleansing one but it also contains moisturizing coconut extract and anti-oxidant hibiscus. It’s not drying and gives a lot of glow to the face. Plus, it’s very soft and it smells wonderfully good. I really like it!
I usually use it once a week. I let it sit for 15 minutes and I rinse it with a wet cloth.
It’s available on the brand’s website for $14.99.
– Origins Out Of Trouble 10 Minutes Mask:
I’m such a fan of Origins face masks, (especially the famous Charcoal mask) and this one is no exception!
This one is more of an SOS mask, full of anti-acne ingredients like zinc oxide, sulfur, and camphor. It leaves the skin feeling super fresh. The skin is deeply clarified, its texture is smoother and it also prevents future imperfections.
I don’t use it all the time, rather only when I need it and when my hormones act like b*****s. It’s very effective and it’s not harsh, quite the contrary, it’s very soothing and helps the healing process.
It’s available on the brand’s website for $26.
And you, what do you think of the Multi-Masking trend? Would you do it? And what are your favorite face masks at the moment?
Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com