Recall this: You’re done with your first house visit for Chinese New Year, and now you’re moving on to your second, but the heat and humidity has already turned your makeup into a hot, greasy mess. To freshen up, you blot off the oil and dab on a little bit of pressed powder to mattify your complexion.
Now, take a step back and think about all the powder and oil that’s sitting on the surface of your pores, soon to melt into your skin under the heat – gross, right.
Which is why proper cleansing is important during this period – you don’t want any dirt and grime stuck in your pores and enlarging them, do you?
Want beautiful, pore-less skin like Yoona? Then make this your beauty essential!
Image: Innisfree
So we’ve got a handy list of mud masks for you to stock up on this CNY for that extra cleansing boost and smaller looking pores, of course! Whether you’ve got aging, oily or sensitive skin, there’s one for you.
Just one piece of advice before we start: Clay and mud masks tend to be drying on the skin if left on for too long, so remember to put it on while your skin is slightly damp, and wash it off before it starts to crack!
AGING OR NORMAL SKIN
#1 Glamglow Youthmud
The exfoliating action of mud masks can help to smoothen out fine lines and soften skin texture on aging skin. Look for mud masks with essential oils and rich anti-oxidants like Glamglow’s Youthmud.
This French sea clay-based mask provides gentle surface exfoliation and contains moisturising ingredients of squalene and anti-oxidant polyphenols and green tea leaf pieces to nourish your skin.
#2 Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque
If you feel that the Glamglow is a little too strong for you, another great option is Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque. This purifying mask is formulated with Amazonian white clay with oatmeal and aloe vera, which help to soothe distressed skin, too.
#3 Innisfree Jeju Super Volcanic Clay Mask
Finally, girls with normal skin who feel that they could do with some oil control on the t-zone, try Innisfree’s Jeju Super Volcanic Clay Mask – a K-Beauty favourite.
DRY AND SENSITIVE SKIN
#4 Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud
For dry and sensitive skin types, go easy on the exfoliation and opt for something more gentle and soothing like Peter Thomas Roth’s Irish Moor Mud.
The Irish moor mud is rich in nutrients, essential minerals and potent anti-oxidants to help protect against skin damage. Upon application, this decongesting mask cools the skin. We love how it doubles as a hydrating mask too, leaving the skin feeling comfortable and clean after the mask is washed off.
OILY, ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Oily and acne-prone skin girls, if you haven’t already done so, familiarise yourself with these skin care ingredients: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, sulphur and witch hazel. They each help to brighten scarring, kill acne-causing bacteria, and control oiliness.
#5 Glamglow Supermud
You’ll find both glycolic and salicylic acid in Glamglow’s Supermud, which is one of the toughest acne fighting mud masks out in the market. It’s also great for spot treatment, if you find one of those pesky “blind” pimples popping out after one too many pineapple tarts.
#6 Origins Out of Trouble 10-minute mask
If you’re not a fan of the tingly sensation the Glamglow masks gives, try Origin’s Out of Trouble 10-minute mask. This one uses sulphur to curb skin problems and oily-shine.
#7 Boscia Luminising Black Mask
Finally, for acne-prone girls with slightly drier skin, Boscia’s Luminising Black Mask will provide a more balanced mattifying and brightening effect with vitamin C and witch hazel, known for their antiseptic and astringent properties.
And there you have it, purifying masks for every skin type that’ll keep those “big gaping holes” in your face looking as tiny as possible. Just don’t abuse it by using the mask everyday – for this period, use it once three days before your first CNY visit, and one more time after your first day of visits.
Oh, and we’re kidding about the big gaping holes, we know that’s what you think of them, but they really don’t look as bad as you think they do!
Glamglow Youthmud and Supermud, $92 each, are available at escentials and Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.glamglowmud.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Visit www.escentials.com.sg and follow escentials on Facebook.
Visit www.sephora.sg and follow Sephora Singapore on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque, $45, is available at all Kiehl’s stores. For more information, visit www.kiehlstimes.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Innisfree Super Pore Volcanic Mask, $21, is available at all Innisfree Stores. For more information, visit global.innisfree.co.kr, and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.
Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud, $107, is available at Sephora. For more information, visit www.peterthomasroth.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter. Visit www.sephora.sg and follow Sephora Singapore on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Origins Out of Trouble 10-minute mask, $50, is available at all Origins counters. For more information, visit www.origins.com.sg, and follow the brand on Facebook.
Boscia Luminising Black Mask, $50, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.boscia.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.