skin care essentials 7 Ways to Pass the Time While You Do a Face Mask

Smoothing on a face mask only takes a minute, but then there’s the leave-on period where you have to give it time to work its magic. Instead of letting those 10 to 20 minutes go to waste, use this time to sit back, slow down your thoughts and spoil yourself with some well-deserved self-care. 

Whether you also put on a hair mask or aimlessly scroll through BeautyTok, make these minutes your favorite part of the week because they are yours and only yours. Here are seven things to do with your time once you’ve applied a face mask.

What’s the Best Face Mask to Add to My Routine?

Before you decide how you’re going to spend your time once you’ve applied your face mask, you have to find the right one to indulge your routine, first. We suggest the L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask, a rejuvenating charcoal mask that transforms dull and tired-looking skin. 

In just 10 minutes, the potent clay formula cleanses your pores, drawing out deep impurities like oil, dirt and pollution while rebalancing your skin. When it’s time to wash off, your visage feels soft with a bright and healthy glow. Add it to your routine up to three times a week.

7 Things to Do After Applying a Face Mask

Before you start, you already know you have to light your favorite scented candle to set the mood. Check out seven relaxing ways to pass the time after applying a face mask. 

1. Mask Your Hair

If one mask is relaxing, then two at the same time, is a downright, indulgent treat. Instead of leaving your tresses out of the fun, slather your strands with a hydrating hair mask, like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask. This mask works for all hair types, restoring smoothness, enhancing shine and providing intense nourishment. Leave it on for up to five minutes and rinse.

2. Paint Your Toenails

We’ve all dealt with that much-dreaded situation where you paint your nails, then immediately mess them up by trying to do something else. That’s the beauty of painting your toenails while you face mask because they are completely out of harm's way throughout the entire process. If you want to paint your fingernails, save that for once you’ve washed off your face mask. 

3. Shave Your Legs

If shaving your legs is the part of your shower you loathe most, you won’t find any argument here. Sure it can be a pain and a nuisance but shaving is a great way to make the most of your time while you wait for your mask to do its thing. Hop into the shower or tub sporting your favorite face mask and get to work with your razor. If you’re out of your favorite shaving cream, consider a shaving cream alternative, like conditioner.

4. Tone Your Hair Color

If your skin and your hair color are dull, mask and tone simultaneously for a quick, 15-minute glow up. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss, an in-shower glossing treatment that corrects dull hair color in as little as five minutes. This luxurious gloss brings the salon to your shower routine — sans the hefty price tag — and it doubles as a deep conditioning mask. 

If your hair is of the blonde, silver or bleached variety, try a purple toning mask like the L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Anti Brass Purple Mask Treatment. Infused with ultra-pigmented purple dye, this treatment mask corrects warm tones in blonde and lightened hair while providing deep nourishment and hydration to it.

5. Take Care Of Your Teeth

For those who are partial to putting on a face mask before bed, use your wait time to make your way through your oral care routine. And not just brushing, we’re talking the all-inclusive flossing, brushing and cleaning your retainer. Maybe even whiten your teeth if you’re feeling ambitious.

6. Reorganize Your Skin Care

Whether you keep it in a trendy skin care fridge, a well-stocked vanity or a messy drawer that’s only for your eyes, take the time to reorganize your skin care collection as your face mask marinates. If your space is chaotic, it can manifest itself in the way you feel, too. So, take these 10 minutes to put everything back in order, make sure the caps are completely shut on all your serums and creams, restock your cotton swabs and cotton pads and finally toss out any empties or expired products. 

7. Catch Up on BeautyTok

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 clay mask over your complexion and start your passage into the dynamic world of BeautyTok. We promise after a few minutes you’ll have a new viral product to add to your wish list and an ingenious liquid eyeliner hack to test out. 

Next: The 15 Best Skin Care Products We Used in 2022

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