How Often Should I Use a Clay Mask?

Facial masks are one of the best ways to cleanse and hydrate your skin to give you the glorious glow. The market is flush with every kind of mask imaginable but like all things in life, you usually get what you pay for, and clay masks are no exception.

With a great mask you’ll definitely know, and crave, that amazing feeling after you’ve used it and your skin feels clean, tight and hydrated. Tempting as it may be, it is possible to overuse a mask. The consequences are not usually long lasting, but can certainly lead to some short term irritation or discomfort.

In this article we will explore the best cadence for you and identify what overuse looks like and how you can overcome any short term discomfort if you're a bit guilty of over doing it.

How Often Should a Clay Mask be Used?

Unlike products such as cleansers and toners, face masks are not meant to be used on a daily basis. Because our skin is rather delicate, it’s best to space out our mask usage throughout the week but the right frequency depends heavily on your skin type. If you have normal or oily skin, you should be able to get away with using a clay mask two to three times per week without seeing any irritation. If you have dry skin, you may find this to be too much. In this case you’ll want to pull back to one or two times per week. Besides your skin type, another important thing to consider is the weather and where you live. In the colder winter months, the skin tends to be drier because there is no moisture in the air and dry cold winds are none too kind on your delicate face. Ever seen an Everest climber’s face! yikes! Signs You’re Using a Clay Mask Too Frequently The skin is very good at letting you know when you’re overdoing it. Like I said up top, the effects of overuse are not usually long lasting but your skin will definitely let you know when it’s not happy and when it does, you need to listen. Here are some sure signs you’ve overdone it. Your Skin is Red and Irritated: Masks are meant to hydrate, brighten, and smooth the skin. If your face looks a little flushed after washing a mask off, that’s normal because a bunch of impurities have been sucked out and now it’s a little tender. However, persistent redness and irritation can be a sign that it's time to give your skin a break for a few days. You’re Experiencing Breakouts: We are religious about sticking to our skincare routines because we want to prevent acne, not cause it. If you’re noticing that your skin is suddenly breaking out, even in the face of consistent mask usage, try scaling back. Your Skin is Left Feeling Dry and Tight: This definitely isn’t the feeling we’re going for when using a clay mask. Instead, you want your skin to feel refreshed and moisturized. If you’re noticing dryness, tightness, or even seeing flaky spots, use your mask less often and focus on hydration with a high quality moisturizer right after your mask application. The Bottom Line Whenever you’re introducing a new skincare product into your routine, you need to consider your skin type. We’re all unique and so is our skin, which means that just because a product or routine works for someone else, it doesn’t mean it’ll work for you too. Instead, be smart about the products you’re using, introduce them slowly and as soon as you feel irritation or something does not feel right just pull back and give your skin some time to adjust.