Before the recent spotlight on beauty and skincare, the only time I imagined myself in a mask was in a spa. The closest I had even come to one was the Noxzema cleansing cream I used to lather over my face every day, which wasn’t even supposed to be used in that way. Adolescence. In 2019, however, masking is all the rage. We have “Mask & Chill” videos all over YouTube, glitter masks all over TrendMood (a popular Instagram page devoted to new beauty product releases), and videos of people peeling masks off their face inhabit every social media platform you can think of. One can’t help but ask themselves, are there any benefits to masking? Or is it just another beauty trend with no real purpose, invented to suck up all our money?

As with many other skincare and beauty techniques, the use of face masks dates back to the first world empire of Ancient Egypt. Techniques and makeup styles that we imitate today, in those times, served not only to beautify, but also to protect and enrich. According to an article published by BBC,  heavy eye kohl would help reduce glare from the sun, as well as providing antibacterial protection for the eyes. Wigs reduced the risk of lice. Masking too served a place in a rigorous skin care routine that was vital to keep their largest organ healthy under the blazing sun of that country.  Products like frankincense, sea salt and honey were used to discourage wrinkles and hydrate the skin. Cleopatra was known to use dead sea mud, milk and rose water to produce her infamously beautiful skin.

The Egyptians weren’t the only ancient people who would use masks of sorts. The people of ancient Greece and Rome would lather their faces and entire bodies in olive oil, and thereafter scrape off any dirt the liquid picked up.  According to Chic Chiq, Yang Guifei was known to use face masks made of “pearls, jadeite, lotus roote and ginger ground into powder. This mixture was meant to brighten the skin, diminish pigmentation and prevent wrinkles.” The historical references to masking are endless, as women of all eras have wanted to beautiful and to stay as fresh and young as possible. And our earth is filled with minerals, herbs and plants that help us to accomplish that.

Today, we have access to more research, more science and more knowledge than ever. This has given us more options than ever to choose from those inspired by the elixirs of old, as well as those made with technology of the future. In my experience, I’ve found masks both made from ingredients in my kitchen and those created in a factory to be useful. Items like honey, coconut oil, turmeric and lemon can be used in varying combinations to treat popular skin issues, like dry or dull skin. During times when all I had was lint in my pockets, I was still able to use homemade masks to feel refreshed and invigorated. Inversely, when I had a little bit saved, I’ve found buying masks containing charcoal, vitamin C, eucalyptus and retinoids to be effective as well.

In the end, masking is simply another way of feeding our skin and giving it the nutrients and protection it needs to fight all the toxic elements we come in contact with every day. By doing your research and carefully adding masks to your weekly skin care regiment, you can improve the look of your skin over time, while making times of relaxation all the more productive. Below are a few masks I’ve enjoyed, both homemade and purchased. Let us know your favorites in the comments!