Face mask for men: homemade or ready-made?

A homemade mask for two is a great idea. It will be fun and you won’t have to throw away the rest of the prepared cosmetics. But will a homemade mask benefit men’s skin?

Benefits of face masks for men

In fact, cosmetic care is equally beneficial for both men and women. The most popular men’s masks include:

  • moisturizing and soothing – for quick recovery;

  • cleansing and mattifying since men’s skin in 90% of cases is prone to oiliness;

  • anti-agingbecause looking good is important to everyone, regardless of gender and age.

Men are interested in a targeted fight against wrinkles. As a rule, they do not have problems with the “oval of the face” due to hormonal characteristics.

Check out everything you know about men’s skin.

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Composition of male face masks

There is no particular difference in the composition of masks for women and men, the differences are in the concentration and saturation of the components. Dense men’s skin is easier to “digest” acids, including those from natural lemon, kiwi, etc. Unless, of course, a man has a desire to participate in such a fruit masquerade. Favorite components include:

  • cucumber, even tone;

  • coffee, stimulating blood circulation, leveling the surface and skin tone;

  • mint with its invigorating smell, tonic and refreshing effect, which is important for skin that is daily injured by shaving;

  • honey as a universal product – both nutritious and rejuvenating;

  • clay for cleansing pores;

  • charcoal – black masks are in fashion;

  • coconut oil, which in homemade masks for men is more likely to care for beards and mustaches – it has a very beneficial effect on hair.

Moisturizing and anti-aging masks are the same for men and women, the differences relate only to cleansing mixtures, since higher concentrations of active substances are required for deep cleansing of men’s skin.

There are practically no fundamental differences between the composition of masks for women and men.

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Mechanism of action on the skin

Masks in cosmetics are perhaps the first means of striking power, because they came from salon cosmetology. They complement the routine care and enhance it, as they contain more essential substances and can act more intensively on the skin.

Cleansing masks

These mixtures, based on clay and coal, draw out impurities from the pores, tighten and mattify the skin, and prevent the appearance of acne. Fat content is one of the features of male skin. “The stronger sex has more sebaceous glands,” explains Vichy expert Elena Eliseeva, “and a high level of testosterone makes them work even more actively.”

If you are making a mask for two, remember that women’s skin is thinner, so the “exposure” time may vary.

Moisturizing masks

Main Ingredients – Hydrofixers:

  • glycerol;

  • hyaluronic acid;

  • extracts of algae and other plants.

They restore the level of moisture, increase turgor, and therefore prevent the appearance of wrinkles. But unlike women’s skin, men’s skin needs oils to a lesser extent due to a sufficient amount of their own sebum, that is, “repair” of the hydrolipid mantle is usually not required.

Dry skin in general is not characteristic of men, only overdried areas are possible. And shaving is to blame. Cheekbones and cheeks usually need extra moisture.

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Homemade mask or purchased: expert opinions

If a man has a need for a mask, then there is a problem. How to deal with it? Elena Eliseeva advises: “You need to remember your feelings after washing with water. Does it tighten the face? Want to apply cream or rub your cheeks? If the skin after washing seems dry and ready to crack, it lacks moisture.

Sensitivity is also easy to determine by answering the questions below.

  1. Does the skin react to external influences?

  2. Do you experience discomfort in the cold?

  3. Does your face turn red in awkward situations or after a glass of wine?

  4. After leaving a warm room in the cold, does your nose shimmer with 50 shades of red?

  5. Have you had allergic reactions to cosmetics?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have sensitive skin. In this case, experts also do not recommend getting involved in amateur cosmetic activities. Let’s weigh the pros and cons.

What is the difference between a ready-made mask and a homemade one?

Homemade

Purchased

composition

The composition depends solely on the imagination of the author of home cosmetics. However, more than 5 ingredients can hardly be included in it.

Innovative, high-tech ingredients are available on the territory of professionals. Their selection is definitely much larger.

Efficiency

No one can vouch for the effectiveness of home cosmetics. Of course, at a time when men’s skin needs emergency care, for example, after frost and wind, any soothing potion will do the trick. But can it compete with ready-made cosmetics?

Finished cosmetics are designed for the needs and characteristics of men’s skin, as well as to simplify the routine of personal care.

Easy application

Here we put a fat minus. Homemade masks can be tasty, fragrant, but you definitely can’t call them convenient. It is necessary to wash thoroughly, wipe the skin, apply a mask, wait, rinse it off thoroughly, which is not always easy.

Biotherm brand expert Elena Alekseeva is sure: “A male product should be quickly absorbed, remain invisible even when applied to a three-day stubble and, preferably, retain its effect for 48 hours.”

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Folk recipes vs professional remedies

Let’s be honest: in many ways, the choice of a man in the cosmetic field depends on a woman. And if a man is ready to smear a mask prepared in the kitchen on his face, he must have an excellent relationship with his wife. But for effective skin care, it is still worth looking at special products.
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Cleansing masks

Clay and charcoal masks are top experts in skin cleansing. Moreover, men, as a rule, do not have to experience discomfort from dry skin after such procedures.
However, if the skin is combination, that is, the forehead, nose, chin are oily and acne sometimes appears on them, and the cheekbones and cheeks are quite dry, then it is recommended to apply cleansing masks with clay only on oily areas – the T-zone.

Men’s White Clay Purifying Mask

Result: deep cleansing of pores, elimination of black spots, prevention of acne.

Ingredients:

  1. 1 tablespoon of white clay powder;

  2. 2 tablespoons of thermal, mineral, melt or simply boiled and cooled water;

  3. ½ tablespoon of oatmeal;

  4. 4-5 drops of tea tree oil.

How to cook:

  1. grind oatmeal into flour;

  2. mix dry clay with ground oatmeal;

  3. pour water into the mixture of clay and oatmeal and mix thoroughly until smooth, if necessary, you can increase the amount of water;

  4. add essential oil.

How to use:

  1. wash yourself;

  2. apply the mask, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips and not forgetting the area under the chin;

  3. leave for 10-15 minutes;

  4. rinse with water;

  5. apply a moisturizer.

As soon as the clay begins to dry and tighten the skin, it’s time to wash off the mask.

Mask-film made of clay with charcoal

The main advantage of the film mask is that it does not have to be washed off.

Result: cleansing pores, smoothing skin tone, getting rid of blackheads, narrowing pores, preventing rashes.

Ingredients:

  1. 3 activated charcoal tablets;

  2. 1 teaspoon of clay;

  3. 1 tablespoon of gelatin;

  4. 2 tablespoons of water (thermal, mineral, melted, boiled).

How to cook:

  1. crush activated charcoal;

  2. mix coal, clay and gelatin;

  3. pour very hot water (but not boiling water) into the mixture and mix thoroughly until smooth;

  4. cool to a comfortable temperature.

How to use:

  1. wash and dry your face;

  2. apply a warm, comfortable temperature mask, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips, be careful: the film mask cannot be applied to eyebrows, mustaches, beards, stubble, so that unplanned epilation of these areas does not occur;

  3. leave the mixture for 30-40 minutes until the mask hardens, it depends on the thickness of the layer, the procedure can last up to an hour;

  4. pry up the mask from below and carefully remove it.

Editorial opinion. Homework is not bad in itself. And the proposed recipes will give a real cleansing effect. But still, ready-made masks are much more convenient to use (even a film mask, in our opinion, loses to them), because they do not require such a huge time investment. Plus, a rich set of useful components will protect the skin from overdrying, which homemade clay masks sin.

Multifunctional product “Clean Skin Active” 3-in-1 with charcoal, Garnier

The mask + scrub + wash gel is suitable for men’s skin prone to blackheads. It cleanses not only with charcoal and clay, but also with salicylic acid, which helps to remove dead cells, and also has antibacterial power. In addition to deep cleansing, the product provides care thanks to active ingredients – zinc and blueberry extract.

Mask “Magic of Clay. Cleansing and narrowing the pores, L’Oréal Paris

Unlike homemade counterparts, the mask does not require preparation and is easy to apply. Gives a cleansing and pore-tightening effect thanks to three types of clay, cares for the skin, protects it from overdrying, suitable for sensitive skin. Algae provide moisturizing and firming care.
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Men’s anti-wrinkle masks

In general, there are no differences from female masks of this kind. And if spreading honey, yogurt, banana on the face is more fun than eating them, then you can try.

Honey-banana mask

Result: smooth, elastic skin without wrinkles, even, fresh tone.

Ingredients:

  1. half a banana;

  2. 50 ml yogurt (without filler);

  3. 1 teaspoon honey.

How to cook:

  1. mash the banana with a fork into a puree;

  2. combine banana puree with yogurt and honey and mix until smooth.

How to use:

  1. wash your face and blot your face with a towel;

  2. apply a mask, avoiding the area around the eyes (a delicious and nutritious mixture can be applied to the lips);

  3. leave for 10-15 minutes;

  4. rinse with water and pat your face again with a towel.

Coffee and egg anti-wrinkle mask for men

Result: tightened, smooth skin, even complexion.

Ingredients:

  1. ½ cup finely ground coffee;

  2. 1 egg white;

  3. 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice;

  4. 1 a tablespoon of honey;

  5. 1 teaspoon coconut oil.

How to cook:

  1. whip the protein into foam;

  2. mix with ground coffee;

  3. add honey and lemon juice and mix until smooth.

How to use:

  1. wash your face and blot your face with a towel;

  2. massaging the skin in circular motions for 1-2 minutes, apply the mixture on the face, avoiding the area around the eyes;

  3. leave the mask for 10-15 minutes;

  4. rinse thoroughly with water at a comfortable temperature;

  5. lightly blot your face with a clean towel;

  6. rub coconut oil into dry areas of the skin (cheekbones, cheeks, etc.); if there is a mustache and / or beard, the amount of oil can be increased and rubbed over the entire hair growth area.

Editorial opinion. This procedure can be called a form of leisure. But still, when it comes to anti-aging products and lifting effect, it’s hard to believe that homemade simple recipes can compete with patented formulas developed by studying the mechanisms of action on skin cells of certain active substances. Ready-made formulas are tested, which confirms the anti-age effect in numbers (by how many percent and for how long the skin is smoothed and its elasticity increases).

Moisturizing face cream Hydra Power Men Expert, L’Oréal Paris

If you don’t have time to sit with a mask, a light treatment based on mountain spring water will moisturize and smooth the skin in no time.

Moisturizing face gel for men against signs of skin fatigue Total Recharge, Biotherm

Instantly absorbed gel is undeniably more practical than homemade masks. The composition of the product includes vitamin C, ginseng, caffeine and guarana – it is almost impossible to obtain such a concentration of antioxidants in home masks.
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Calming and moisturizing masks for men’s skin

Since brutality does not prevent the skin from being sensitive, moisturizing and soothing effects on men’s skin are justified.

Aloe mask for men

Result: hydration, comfort, reduction of skin sensitivity, removal of redness, help after extreme or simply unfavorable weather conditions.
Ingredients:

  1. 2 tablespoons of aloe gel (how to get it, read here);

  2. 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

How to cook:

mix the gel thoroughly with the oil.

How to use:

  1. wash your face and blot your face with a towel;

  2. Apply a thick layer of the mixture on the face, avoiding the area around the eyes;

  3. leave for 15 minutes (until partially absorbed);

  4. rinse with water and pat dry with a towel, apply moisturizing care.

Soothing Milky Honey Mask

Result: soft, hydrated skin.

Ingredients:

  1. 2 tablespoons of milk (3,2-3,5%);

  2. 1 tablespoon honey.

How to cook:

  1. slightly heat the milk;

  2. dissolve honey in warm milk;

  3. cool the mixture to room temperature.

How to use:

  1. apply to the skin of the face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes;

  2. leave for 20 minutes;

  3. rinse gently with cool water.

Editorial opinion. With such homemade skin care products, the history of cosmetics began many years ago. But why not use ready-made products with a comfortable texture to avoid the risk of allergies and stain clothes with milk (or butter)? As a soothing treatment, men will surely like moisturizing sheet masks that do not need to be washed off.

Sheet mask “Moisturizing + comfort” with chamomile extract, Garnier

Glycerin, hyaluronic acid and soothing chamomile extract are just what you need for sensitive, tired or dehydrated skin. The mask will equally help moisturize both women’s and men’s skin.

Softening aftershave balm Sensi Baume, Vichy Homme

Thermal water strengthens the skin and also normalizes pH. The composition of the balm also includes soothing eperulin, as well as calcium, which increases defenses and stimulates recovery. The skin receives protection, hydration, better copes with any stress – from daily shaving to adverse external conditions.

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Rules and recommendations for use

If, nevertheless, homemade masks are dear to your heart despite the availability of effective ready-made cosmetics, do not forget to follow the rules for using such cosmetics.

  • Masks are applied to cleansed skin.

  • The face may be slightly (barely) moist.

  • The mask is applied in a relatively thick layer. Get ready for pieces of the mixture to slide and fall, soiling clothes and everything around.

  • Whatever the exposure time of the home mask is indicated in the folk recipe, if you feel discomfort, tingling, excessive dryness, rinse everything off immediately.

  • To wash off the mask, it is convenient to use a sponge or a soft cloth.

  • Always wash off masks with water at a comfortable temperature, closer to cool.

  • After contact with tap water, the skin needs moisturizing care, so even after a nourishing homemade mask, you will need a cream. In this sense, the obvious advantage of tissue and biocellulose masks that do not need to be washed off.

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Safety measures

  • Guarantees that natural ingredients contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals in sufficient quantities, no one will give, but they may well turn out to be allergens. Be sure to test the product on your wrist to make sure there is no allergic reaction. After all, a home mask implies prolonged contact with the skin.

  • Do not use homemade clay masks on dry skin areas. Only industrial preparations are intended for such use, as they are enriched with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients in the right concentration.

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