Don't skip steps! Remember to mask up for clearer and healthier skin

A skincare step that is important, but often overlooked, is using a mask. Photo: Dr Jart

If you’re used to a certain skincare routine, adding another step to it could feel like a chore, especially if doing the bare minimum (cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen) already feels like a stretch.

There is one extra skincare step that is important but often overlooked, and that’s using a mask. Don’t worry – it doesn’t take that much time and you don’t have to do it daily.

Your skin can benefit greatly from applying a face mask, depending on the ingredients it contains.

Masks can deliver higher concentrations of ingredients to hydrate, plump or even out skin tone.

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For instance, masks with hyaluronic acid have the properties that attract and bind moisture, while a clay mask can help tighten and clarify skin.

Clay masks are known to minimise the look of pores, absorb excess oil, gently exfoliate and even skin tone. Photo: Innisfree

First of all, identify what your skin needs are, whether it’s to improve dry, oily, ageing or acne-prone skin.

For example, a clay or mud mask can help reduce and absorb excess oil, is great for acne-prone or oily skin types, and is usually recommended to be used once a week.

It is also meant to deeply cleanse your skin and can help prevent mild forms of acne.

Charcoal mask is known to remove impurities and dirt, control oiliness and reduce acne breakouts.

Use charcoal mask every two weeks or less, as this product type removes the topmost layer of skin and hair from your face.

Avoid using charcoal mask if you have eczema or sensitive skin, as this could cause damage to the skin.

Green tea has a wide range of therapeutic properties that can benefit your skin in a variety of ways, including reducing redness and skin irritation.

In line with that, green tea masks are also growing in popularity due to their many purported benefits.

One of the biggest claims is that this type of mask protects against skin cancer as it contains compounds that have antioxidant properties.

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According to healthline.com, antioxidants are molecules that have the ability to fight free radicals (compounds that can harm your body, health and skin) if their levels get too high, causing cellular damage, and have been linked to many diseases, including cancer.

Antioxidants can help repair DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, which in turn, can help protect you from non-melanoma skin cancer.

Green tea mask also helps fight premature ageing, as one ingredient, vitamin B2 has the ability to maintain collagen levels.

These types of masks also reduce redness and irritation, treat acne and moisturise the skin.