While it is wise and savvy to abide by your budget, I believe it is just as important to pamper yourself…lunch at Spago and a trip to the spa, anyone? Alright, alright…within reason.  So, lunch at Spago and a trip to “the spa-in-your-own-bathroom with an at-home mask treatment”?  Done and done.

Delightful and won’t break the bank, at-home masks are a surefire way to feel rejuvenated without feeling like your wallet just purged its last buck. Plus, the recommendations below are all stellar, if I do say so myself. Thanks to Dr. Brandt (dermatologist, skincare genius, accomplished wizard of maintaining-your-radiant-youthful-glow), we’ve received some very helpful tips for prep, practice, and prime results regarding this lovely skincare routine.

Generally speaking you can and should use masks, “1-2 times per week”. Go ahead. The doctor said so. Indulge away.

Now that you know it’s Dr. B Approved to at-home-spa your pores more than once a week, are you imagining all the wonderful things you can do to help your skin with those treatments? Anti-aging, hydrating, oil control, anti-blemish? Here’s the good news on that front, “YES” it is A-Okay to treat more than one complexion concern at a time. Alternate between anti-blemish and oil control or maybe between hydrating and anti-aging. If you’ve got the time (you know our thoughts on “building in some quality ‘me’ time into the schedule”) and products (duh, see below), there is absolutely no reason to skimp.

On that note, if one of your concerns is clarity or breakout banishing, Dr. Brandt suggests “salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and clay” as the “most important [active] ingredients” that you should look for on product labels. They’ll help cleanse deeply and give you that invigorated feeling deep down in the depths of your pores where the dirt will no longer be. Yippee.

 Always remember to steam your face beforehand with a warm washcloth, letting it rest on your face for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. (It relaxes and opens your pores, making them more receptive of the cleansing / curing ingredients in your mask.) Also, to get your face prepped for primo supreme results, Dr. Brandt shared that, “At-home microdermabrasion provides dual benefits and is an excellent preparatory practice/addition to your skincare regimen because it provides an exfoliation treatment as well as helping to penetrate the benefits of your other anti-aging products deeply into skin.” Essentially, giving your skin a solid scrub-down before applying your magical mask removes dead cells and opens the gates for all the good ingredients in your mask. Try Dr. Brandt’s personal formula here.

Bathing beauties, it is mask time. We personally tried out over a dozen and gave you our recommendations below.  Tell us about your favorite at-home spa treatment. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the product suggestions!

xx

E

SHOP OUR FAVORITES RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR:

First Class//

Anti-Breakout Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner, $45.00

Hydrating Chantecaille Jasmine & Lily Healing Mask, $79.00

Anti-Aging Sunday Riley Good Genes, $105.00

On The Cheap//

Anti-Breakout Kiss My Face Pore Shrink Mask, $15.00

Hydrating Queen Helene Olive Oil Masque, $3.14

Anti-Aging Aubrey Organics Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber Mask, $9.43