Are you multimasking?

From letting fish nibble dead skin on our feet in a bid to soften our soles, to contouring our complexion so that we end up looking like a clown, beauty trends tend to come and go. So when we tell you that there is a new trend getting beauty buffs excited, we understand your scepticism – but hear us out, as this is one trend that might actually make sense for our skin.

We’re talking about multimasking, which is the art of applying several different masks to areas of your face at the same time to target different skincare concerns at once. Just search for it under #multimasking on Instagram and you’ll know what all the fuss is about: hundreds of pictures of faces slathered in different-coloured facemasks uploaded in their droves by beauty trendsetters. But along with being photo-worthy, dermatologists agree that the idea isn’t as eccentric as it looks.

According to New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Debra Jaliman, it’s a legitimate skincare strategy. She should know – she has several well-known celebrities and models on her client list (though she refuses to name them).

She suggests either applying one mask after another and rinsing them off in between, or applying different masks to various parts of your face all at once, based on your skincare needs. Dr Reem Al Kaddah, Specialist Dermatologist at Dubai’s iCare clinics, agrees. ‘It makes total sense. Why go for a one-beauty-mask-fits-all if you have an oily T-zone, but dry cheeks showing signs of pigmentation, for example?’

So take a close look at your skin so you can create a bespoke multimask. Maybe you get a breakout on your chin but want to target the dark circles under your eyes and pigmentation on your cheeks?

Dr Reem advises, ‘If you have shiny, oily skin over your nose and dry skin over your cheeks, opt for a clay-based mask for the nose area and a moisturising one, like aloe vera, for the cheeks. You can zone in on various problems with different masks.’

Once you’ve mapped your face, you are ready to pick masks to address those concerns…

Why might you need a separate mask for the area around your eyes? The simple answer is that the skin here is the thinnest and most delicate on our body. As collagen production slows, the skin becomes ever more fragile. It gradually loses its elasticity and may begin to sag. It is usually the first area to develop fine lines and wrinkles.

If crow’s feet are a concern, try Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks Dh387, for an instant skin-tightening effect. It plumps the skin and minimises fine lines and wrinkles, while enhancing skin hydration.

What about dark circles? Dr Stephen Juan, anthropologist and author of several bestsellers on human anatomy from Sydney University, explains: ‘When someone becomes tired, their body is forced to produce more cortisol to keep them awake. When this happens, the blood volume in the body increases and blood vessels enlarge to cope with the extra volume. The smaller veins under our eyes are likely to change more visibly under the thin layer of skin, hence the dark appearance.’

Sephora Pearl Eye Masks Dh20 each, help to banish dark circles with natural white pearl to even out skin tone and broccoli extract to clarify and balance the eye area.

You may find the texture of your skin is a lot drier on your cheeks, meaning you probably have dry or dehydrated skin. The first signifies a lack of oil, while the second indicates a lack of moisture. The symptoms are similar though, including tightness, roughness, flaking, irritation, and sensitivity.

Dry skin isn’t the cause of fine lines, but it will definitely accentuate them, so find masks that can replace moisture – look out for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lanolin and alpha-hydroxy acids in them as they will boost your skin’s ability to hold on to water. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque Dh314, contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin, replenishing skin’s water reserves and making it more supple – just leave it on to work its magic as you get your night’s rest.

Another concern might be pigmentation, which is usually caused by exposure to the sun or hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Philadelphia-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Susan Taylor says: ‘In fairer skin, you get freckles and in darker complexions an uneven skin tone.’ To fade pigmentation, look for ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, Vitamin C, retinoids or azelaic acid in your skincare products. Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Power C Brightening Sleeping Mask Dh228, Sephora, is packed with camu berry extract, a potent superfruit with 30 times the Vitamin C of an orange and powerful absorption properties. It promises to effectively brighten and moisturise skin.

If you get to the end of the day and notice shine on your T-zone, adding a product that targets oily skin to your multimasking routine will help to balance your complexion.

The T-zone tends to be oilier than the rest of our face because it has a higher percentage of oil glands. These areas tend to break out more often and have a higher tendency toward blackheads, whiteheads, irritation, sunburn, and redness.

If this sounds familiar, pick a mask that will absorb oil and leave the skin matte, such as Clarins Truly Matte Pure and Radiant Mask Dh155. Containing pink clay and alpine willow herb, it cleans, tightens, and refines pores, leaving skin balanced and shine-free.

Lips are often forgotten in our beauty regime, but they can be one of the driest areas of skin on our body. A moisture-sapping combination of spending all our time in air-conditioning, not drinking enough water, lick lipping and biting, and breathing through mouths are usually to blame – and it causes rough, dry, and sensitive pouts.

A word of warning though: some ingredients in lip products can actually dry them out further, starting a vicious cycle of reapplication.

Check the ingredients list and rule out products that contain menthol, campol, phenol, silicon oil, fragrance, or salicylic acid, which will sap moisture from your pout.

Lush Lip Service Lip Balm Dh63, contains none of the drying ingredients – and is so thick and nourishing that it can be slathered on like a mask when you are multimasking. Packed with natural and ultra-hydrating ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, and extra virgin olive oil, you can expect baby soft, smooth lips that make the perfect base for your favourite lipstick.

It might not occur to you to include areas below your face in your multimasking regime, but it makes sense. Neck skin is dry and fine, with few fat cells and little sebum to keep the skin hydrated. We move our necks constantly through the day, which gradually loosens collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin.

Dermatologist Stefanie Williams, founder and medical director at European Dermatology in London, says: ‘Invest in a product that is specifically designed for the delicacy of the neck, which will plump, smoothe and hydrate.’

Rodial Glamtox Neck Mask Dh385, is ideal. It contains amino acids and wheat protein to tighten the skin, adhering to the contours of the neck area and having an instant anti-wrinkle effect.