skin care essentials 7 Things to Do While Wearing a Face Mask

Smoothing on a face mask only takes a minute, but then you have to leave it on for a period of time for it to do its job. But you don’t let those precious 10-15 minutes of waiting go to waste—there’s plenty you can do to make the most out of your masking time. From furthering your beauty routine to giving yourself some much-needed R&R, here are nine things to do once you’ve applied a face mask.

1. Mask Your Hair, Too

Is one mask really enough? Instead of leaving your tresses out of the fun, slather your strands with a hydrating hair mask, like the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Total Repair Extreme Emergency Recovery Mask. This mask is part of a hair care system, which also includes the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Total Repair Extreme Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Total Repair Extreme Conditioner. After using the shampoo, apply the mask to wet hair and massage it through to your ends. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse. Use weekly.

2. Paint Your Nails

We’ve all dealt with it: the much-dreaded situation where you paint your nails, then immediately mess them up trying to do something else. That’s the beauty of painting your nails while you face mask—you’re already enjoying a bit of down time and can keep your polish in perfect condition.

3. Shave Your Legs

If shaving is the part of your shower you dread most, you won’t find any argument here. It can be a pain, plus, it’s time consuming. Multitask your beauty routine by shaving after you apply your face mask. Hop into the shower with your favorite face mask on, then get to work with your razor. Learn how to shave your legs like a pro here.

5. Take Care of Your Teeth

For those who are partial to putting on a mask before bed, try using your wait time to make your way through your oral care routine. Once your complexion is covered in a face mask, break out your tooth brush and floss and get to work.

6. Light a Candle and Relax

Rest and relaxation pair perfectly with a face mask, and that’s exactly what you should do. Light a candle with a scent you love, then allow yourself a bit of peace and quiet.

7. Catch Up on Your Beauty Tutorials

It can be a challenge to find a few minutes to stay up-to-date with the latest beauty trends, but masking makes for the ideal opportunity. Spread a face mask over your skin, then start enjoying your favorite beauty content. That way when you wash off, not only have you made progress in your beauty routine, but you’ve also learned a little something new. Win, win! Want a head start? Check out our tutorials for unicorn lips and mermaid hair.

The Best Face Mask Options from L’Oréal Paris

Now that you have a few ideas for what to do while wearing a face mask, we can’t forget to decide which face mask you’ll actually use. Below are four clay face mask options from L’Oréal Paris, all of which are formulated with three types of clay (kaolin, montmorillonite, and Moroccan lava) that can help draw out the buildup of impurities from the surface of your skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask: Over time, harsh cleansing can be drying and sensitizing, leaving skin feeling uncomfortable. As a result, skin needs cleaning that is effective yet gentle. This clay face mask formula is enhanced with seaweed and can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and gently cleanse stressed areas.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask: Over time, harsh environmental factors like pollution and debris can damage skin, leaving your complexion looking dull and tired. This clay face mask formula is enhanced with charcoal and can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, reduce the look of dull skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refining Face Mask: Day after day, dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of your skin, leaving your complexion feeling rough. This clay face mask formula is enhanced with red algae extract and can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils, exfoliate dead skin cells, and smooth the look of imperfections, and allow skin to breathe.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Face Mask: Day after day, impurities, dirt, makeup, and excess oils can build up on the skin, leaving your complexion looking overly oily. This clay face mask formula is enhanced with eucalyptus leaf extract and can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and reduce the look of excess shine.

Next: Check out our article, The Right Way to Apply—and Remove—a Clay Mask.