MASKS: A DEEP DIVE
Each of the Laurel Skin Masks are formulated to treat a specific set of skin concerns and are in a raw, dry, and powdered form. Providing our Masks in powdered form is the best possible way to protect the oil and water-soluble plant nutrients from oxidation and metabolic breakdown, keeping the phytonutrients as potent as possible.
Our Treatment Masks are activated by mixing them with water before each use. Beneficial flavonoids, saccharides, minerals, tannins, acids, and enzymes release from the plants and are then immediately bioavailable for the skin. All the nutrient-dense plants in our Masks are prebiotics and provide food for diverse and healthy skin flora. Additionally, our powdered formulas do not require preservation, which is something we avoid whenever possible to better support the health of the skin’s microbiome.
We suggest choosing the Mask that best reflects your current skin and the symptoms that are showing up for you. Here is a guide on the four powdered Treatment Masks in our line and the symptoms they each treat. For our Exfoliant Masks, please head to our Exfoliating Deep Dive journal.
ANTIOXIDANT MASK: VIBRANCY REVIVAL – Made up of superfoods that will replenish essential nutrients that strengthen all skin functions for vibrant skin. Notice a hydrated, firm, and healthy glow afterwards, in addition to the nutritional delivery that will create more results in the days ahead. This mask is suitable for all skin types, with a focus on healthy aging. Beneficial for those experiencing symptoms of dull skin, fine lines, lack of firmness or elasticity, lack of vitality/life/Qi, uneven skin tone, dry or dehydrated skin, stagnation, or puffiness.
Featuring: Nettle, Aronia Berry, Cocoa + Reishi Mushrooms
GENTLE MASK: HYDRATING RECOVERY – Provides intense hydration and instant soothing relief to irritated and inflamed skin. Paint this fuchsia Mask down your neck and chest to see a reduction in swelling, puffiness, and lymph stagnation. This mask is suitable for all skin types, and is especially recommended for sensitive or inflamed skin. Beneficial for those experiencing redness, rosacea symptoms, swollen cystic acne, dry acne, dermatitis, dehydrated skin, inflammation, stagnation, or puffiness.
Featuring: Marshmallow, Rose, Cornflowers + Helichrysum
BRIGHTEN MASK: PHYTO DEFENSE + REPAIR – Bursting with raw fruit acids, enzymes, and Vitamin C to lighten discoloration and rejuvenate sun damaged skin. The phytonutrient density works to repair hyperpigmentation as well as strengthen and firm skin. This mask is suitable for sun damaged, hyperpigmented, and scarred skin. Beneficial for those experiencing symptoms of sun damage of any kind, uneven skin tone, textured rough skin, scarring, or post acne scars.
Featuring: Camu Camu, Rosehip Fruit, Comfrey + Gotu Kola
DETOX MASK: PURIFYING RELIEF – The perfect balance of drawing out impurities with clarifying clay, hydrating and nourishing with roots, and soothing with anti-inflammatory herbs and flowers. Use this Mask to reveal visibly clearer skin with smaller pores and a reduction in redness and breakouts. This mask is suitable for oily, acne, and congested skin. Beneficial for those experiencing symptoms of congested skin, visibly clogged pores, oily skin, acne, breakouts, stagnation, redness, inflammation, puffiness, or perioral dermatitis.
Featuring: French Green Clay, Lavender, Chamomile + Dandelion Root
CORNFLOWER MASK: MOISTURE RENEWAL – Formulated to nourish and deeply restore moisture and hydration to skin that is chronically dry, tired and stressed. Cornflower Mask’s rich texture comes from crushed petals suspended within a whipped raw honey balm. The powerful flavonoid duo anthocyanin and apigenin, found in these vibrant blue Cornflower petals, strengthens skin against free-radical damage and provides fast-acting anti-inflammatory relief. This Mask is best suited to dry, dehydrated skin, as well as being well-suited to sensitive skin with a compromised barrier.
Featuring: Cornflower Petals, Horsetail, Nettle, Moringa Seed Oil, Raw Honey
Our approach focuses on current skin symptoms and concerns vs skin types. For most of us, our skin symptoms and concerns are always changing, making several of our Treatment Masks suitable for one unique individual. We can support different symptoms at anytime while simultaneously not be defined or constrained by a skin type. This is especially true with whole plant, supportive skin care.
MASK INSIDER INFO:
1. Becoming a Mask pro: Mix your powdered Mask with a good amount of water, the ratio should be 1 part Mask to 1.5 parts water. Don’t hesitate to use more water than you think, which will allow for easier application. Allow your Mask to steep for several minutes to activate enzyme activity, assist phytonutrient release, and allow better nutrient absorption. All of our Masks change in color and texture as they steep. The longer they steep the creamier they become. Apply your Masks with our fan-shaped Mask Brush for the easiest possible application. Lastly, mist your skin with water or use a wet brush or wet fingertips to keep your Mask hydrated throughout your entire at home treatment. This keeps enzyme, acid, and catalyst activity happening which ensures the Mask is staying active on the skin.
2. All of our Masks are lymph supportive. Painting them down your neck and chest helps support lymph flow to reduce overall puffiness, stagnation and inflammation.
3. All of our Masks are prebiotics, which are good for our microbiome. This is crucial because lack of microbiome diversity causes many different skin symptoms. The microbiome is best supported by providing it with healthy, unrefined foods, both unrefined oils and carbohydrates from plant roots, petals, and fruits. Providing these beneficial nutrients and removing ingredients that are harmful to the microbiome creates an optimal diverse bio-system that is less susceptible to acne, rosacea, and dermatitis of all kinds.
4. How often should you Mask, and can you mix them? How often to Mask is unique to every individual. It ranges from 1x daily to 1x weekly. If you are assertively trying to address a symptom, begin with 1x weekly and increase from there. If your skin shows signs of irritation, pull back and Mask less frequently. You can mix our Masks, but most of them treat a lot of crossover symptoms and you likely won’t find it necessary to mix them. We suggest picking the Mask that best matches most of your current symptoms and using them one at a time.
WHAT DOES MY PERSONAL RITUAL LOOK LIKE WITH OUR MASKS?
I always begin with listening to what my skin is asking for, and then move to which herbs and flowers I’m intuitively called to. Our skin directly reflects our overall health, and can often inform us of what is happening internally if we listen carefully. My skincare routine changes seasonally, and my Mask use is often dictated by the current season as well as what symptoms are showing up. During spring and early summer, I lean on the DETOX MASK to help ease any congestion or inflammation that may arise while my skin is purging. I am an avid sun-lover and can often spend too much time basking in it, making BRIGHTEN MASK a necessity during summer to ensure my skin is protected. I also use it during the shift from summer to fall to help repair any symptoms of sun exposure my skin may have accumulated. I tend to use ANTIOXIDANT MASK during the colder months of fall and winter when my skin needs extra nourishment, hydration, vitality, and assistance with circulation. I favor and hold a special place in my heart for GENTLE MASK, I find myself using it the most all year-round to support my skin through all symptoms of inflammation.
After reading this blog, if you are still having trouble finding the right Mask for you, feel free to reach out to us, we would love to assist you further.
Xo Laurel