Inner Beauty

FACIAL

You should know your skin type well, so your beauty products will be geared to coping with your individual skin condition. Start with a really clean face — first use a cleanser followed by a tonic or freshener. Your skin is now ready for a treatment mask, and your hair should be kept off your face with the aid of a scarf or headband.

If you haven’t the beauty know-how to whip up a special skin treatment in your kitchen, you will find a preparation to suit whatever skin type you happen to have. Here are some suggestions: for oily skins, clay masks are terrific for absorbing the extra oils and city grime. Lancome’s Rejuvenating Mask is a light clay preparation that would suit most people. Orlane’s Reeve Bleu mask is specially for women with an oily-skin problem.

If dry skin is your problem, Elizabeth Arden’s Bye-Lines Intensifying Mask is formulated specially to counteract the condition.

Or lane’s Reeve Rose mask is a treatment for dry skins that also happen to be sensitive.

Very sensitive skins need delicate handling and a preparation tailored to their needs — like Harriet Hubbard Ayer’s Masque Special Douceur.

Sallow, blemished skin would benefit from Cycle’s Liquid Beauty Mask, while older skins need a very different treatment — Revlon has an Eternal 27 Peeling Mask.

And if you don’t fit into a specific category but you would like a mask that cleanses and clears young skin, try Yardley’s Oatmeal Medicated Mask.

Read the directions carefully before you apply any mask, and follow them to the letter. Do apply a light film of moisturizer before you begin, and don’t be tempted to leave any mask on for longer than stated — you won’t get any extra benefits and you may instead lose some.

This is the suggested sequence for most face masks: dot moisturizer over clean face, and apply a light eye cream around your eyes. Rinse face (except eye area) in lukewarm water to remove excess moisturizer. Spread mask over face and throat, following directions on pack. Lie down, feet up on a cushion, eyes closed, while the mask does its work. Set your kitchen timer for the required period so that you won’t have to keep checking your watch. You’ll be even more relaxed.

If you feel you don’t need the eye cream, try one or other of these quick pick-me-ups for tired eyes. Take two clean wads of cotton wool dipped in cold water and gently wrung out, sprinkle with soothing eye drops and place over closed eyes. Or grate a cucumber coarsely, squeeze out the juice and moisten- cotton pads with this before placing over closed eyes. Both are cool and refreshing treats for your eyes.