Paraffin face mask - mechanism of action of the mask

In the fight for the beauty of facial skin, one of the most interesting and effective methods is paraffin therapy at home. Of course, we are not talking about the specific paraffin that is used in candles, with all its additives, dyes and flavors. Using such material for a mask can lead to dire consequences. You need special, medical or cosmetic paraffin. It is devoid of harmful additives, and if the manufacturer has added something to the substance, it will most likely be various oils and ingredients that have a positive effect on the skin.

What is paraffin and what are its benefits?

Cosmetic paraffin is a synthetic substance that consists of hydrocarbons and is obtained from petroleum. It looks and feels like beeswax, but is not yellow, but white. The unique quality of this material is considered to be its high heat capacity, that is, the ability to retain heat after heating. This makes it possible to use paraffin to carry out deep heating of individual areas of the body and underlying tissues.

Paraffin, which is used in cosmetology, has a high safety profile, as it goes through all possible stages of cleaning. In its pure form, it does not contain impurities harmful to the skin. When used correctly, paraffin does not cause adverse reactions, allergies or other types of complications.

Paraffin masks come in several types. There are preparations that are made exclusively from paraffin. On sale you can also find numerous cosmetic products for masks based on paraffin and with the addition of plant extracts, honey, as well as chocolate and other substances potentially beneficial for the epidermis. Such combination preparations have a stronger effect on the skin, but the more ingredients in a paraffin mask, the more expensive it is. Experts warn that substances contained in masks can cause allergies. Therefore, before applying a paraffin mask to your face, it is recommended to test the composition on a small area of ​​skin, for example, on the wrist or elbow. If within 15-30 minutes after applying the drug, symptoms of individual hypersensitivity do not appear on the skin, it means that the mask’s paraffins do not contain substances that cause you allergies.

The beneficial properties of a paraffin mask for skin are as follows:

1. Paraffin covers the skin with a dense layer, creating a sauna effect; the temperature effect is durable and uniform. Under the influence of heat, the pores of the skin open as much as possible, dirt, sebum, sebaceous plugs, toxins, decay products and other harmful substances that negatively affect the epidermis come out.
2. Under the influence of heat, metabolic processes in the deep layers of the epidermis are activated, the breakdown of fats is intensified, and the resorption of scars and infiltrates is accelerated.
3. If a paraffin face mask contains additional useful components, then they, blocked by a frozen layer of the substance, penetrate deeply into the cells of the skin. The skin is saturated with vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and other biologically active, vital substances.
4. A paraffin mask relaxes the facial muscles well, while at the same time providing a tonic effect. As a result, you can get a lifting effect due to slight reduction of fibers.
5. Being a kind of stress factor for the facial skin, a paraffin mask helps to intensify the production of collagen and elastane.
6. The internal resources of the epidermis are used, self-healing processes are intensified, due to which minor skin damage heals better.
7. Facial skin whitens and rejuvenates.
8. The work of the sweat and sebaceous glands is normalized.
9. The stratum corneum of the dermis is effectively exfoliated.
10. As it cools down, the paraffin mask begins to shrink little by little, resulting in a slight massage effect.

As you can see, paraffin face masks are very useful. They do not need to be done often, but the schedule depends on several factors:

1. Condition of the skin. If paraffin masks are made to prevent aging and fading of the facial skin, the procedures can be carried out once every 7 days. If the condition of the skin is unsatisfactory, or there are significant cosmetic defects, you can make paraffin masks more often - once every 2-3 days. However, the frequency of procedures should be discussed with a specialist.
2. Season. In winter and spring, the skin of the face is most intensively exposed to the negative effects of internal and external factors. Frost and snow, cold wind, deficiency of vitamins and minerals - all this contributes to a decrease in local immunity. The skin needs support not only from the inside, but also from the outside. Therefore, you need to make paraffin masks with additional nutritional ingredients. In summer and early autumn, you can give your skin a break from cosmetic procedures.

In any case, before you start making paraffin masks, it is recommended to undergo diagnostics and consult with a dermatologist or cosmetologist.

Prices

The cost of one paraffin therapy session in a specialized salon costs clients an average of 1000-1500 rubles. It all depends on the prestige of the establishment and the material used to prepare the mask.

If you decide to rejuvenate your skin in this way at home, then the main thing that will focus your attention is the price of paraffin.

Modern manufacturers produce it both in pure form and with various additives. In the first case, the cost of a package weighing 250 g varies between 100-150 rubles.

In the second - 300-600 rubles.

On average, one procedure requires 0.5 kg of paraffin. However, this material can only be used once.

The video shows the stages of paraffin therapy for the face.

How long do you need to do paraffin masks to see results?

Journalists from expertology.ru asked experts how many procedures with paraffin need to be done to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique. It turns out that significant results can be noticed after the first procedure. The face will be refreshed, it will look more toned, the color of the skin will normalize, the skin will become soft and velvety. However, this effect will pass fairly quickly. To make the result lasting and more pronounced, you need to make 10-15 paraffin masks at regular intervals. Since the mask acts gently on the skin, the epidermis does not recover as quickly as after salon procedures. But his condition will normalize more and more actively, since there is a cumulative effect of paraffin therapy.

The essence of cold paraffin therapy

Cold hand wax used during the procedure creates a greenhouse effect. It is not necessary to melt the paraffin; usually the wax is rubbed briefly in your hands and evenly distributed over the surface of the skin. The procedure allows you to achieve the effect of hydration, rejuvenation and nutrition.

Cold paraffin therapy takes place in several stages. On average, a session lasts up to 30 minutes. You can make your own wax or purchase a set from a specialty store. Paraffin is applied not only to the hands: the wax is evenly distributed over areas with dry, rough or cracked skin (knees, elbows).

Indications for the use of paraffin masks

Due to the wide spectrum of action of paraffin masks, they have many indications for use:

1. Disruption of the sebaceous glands, enlarged pores, sebaceous plugs, comedones, a few pimples.
2. Lack of nutrients and oxygen, the skin is flaccid, has a grayish, yellowish, greenish tint.
3. Insufficient moisture of the skin, decreased ability of the epidermis to retain moisture.
4. Increased oiliness of the skin, oily shine in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin, cheeks).
5. The appearance of areas of irritation, redness, and peeling.
6. Decreased facial skin tone. Drooping of the corners of the eyes, lips, the appearance of the first age wrinkles.
7. Swelling of the face.
8. The presence of small scars and cicatrices.
9. Presence of age spots.

Paraffin masks can be done even if there are no visible cosmetic problems yet. In this case, the procedures will help slow down the aging process of facial skin. This is an excellent prevention of early age-related changes.

Properties of paraffin

The basis of modern paraffin therapy is the ability of cosmetic paraffin to effectively moisturize the skin, restore its water-salt balance, increase skin tone and smooth out fine wrinkles

This procedure was first discussed during the First World War. With the light hand of the French doctor Bart de Sandorff, they began to use it to treat wounded soldiers. As it turned out, thermal exposure ensures rapid healing of wounds. A little later it turned out that paraffin can be used not only to accelerate regeneration processes, but also for the rehabilitation of athletes, as well as for cosmetic purposes.

In cosmetology, a special paraffin is used, devoid of water and impurities. It melts easily at 55°C.

It has the following characteristics:

• releases heat slowly, so it can warm the patient’s skin for a long time;
• due to its low melting point it is impossible to get burned;
• As it cools down, the paraffin decreases in volume by 10%, providing a compression effect.

In recent years, various vitamins, minerals and trace elements have been added to cosmetic paraffin. Therefore, on store shelves you can find a variety of types of cosmetic paraffin: honey, fruit, oil, vegetable. The name of the product usually indicates the substances that were added to it during production.

Contraindications for the use of paraffin masks

Despite the fact that paraffin masks are used everywhere, there are a number of contraindications for which cosmetic procedures should be avoided:

1. Cuperosis, that is, a noticeable vascular network on the face.
2. High blood pressure and any pathologies of the cardiovascular system, blood diseases.
3. A large amount of facial hair in the treatment area.
4. Bronchial asthma.
5. The presence of voluminous neoplasms on the skin of the face (moles protruding above the skin, warts).
6. Any oncological, infectious and inflammatory diseases.
7. Severe acne.
8. Increased sensitivity of the skin.
9. Diabetes.
10. Poor health, weakness.
11. General contraindications to thermal procedures.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is also better not to take risks and not make warm paraffin masks. Or at least consult your doctor first.

Indications and expected results

In what cases is paraffin therapy for the face indicated? First of all, it should be noted that this procedure is universal; it provides additional nutrition, hydration and softening of the skin. Paraffin masks are suitable for absolutely any skin type, especially dry and aging skin. In addition, they are carried out for the purpose of:

• Eliminate swelling.
• Reducing ptosis, tightening sagging skin.
• Slowing down age-related changes.
• Reducing expression lines, deep folds and creases.
• Reducing scars.

As a result of paraffin therapy, acne formations decrease or disappear, muscle tone increases, pores expand and sebaceous plugs come to the surface, skin elasticity increases, and the facial contour becomes clearer.

The best paraffin masks - recipes for making your own preparations

The sequence of preparing the mask is always the same. The paraffin is heated in a water bath to 50 degrees, after which additional components are introduced into it. The amount of paraffin is also always the same - 50 grams.

What can be added to the drug,

to improve its therapeutic and preventive properties:

1. One ampoule of vitamins A and E. Liquid vitamins can be bought at the pharmacy, just like cosmetic white paraffin.
2. Two raw egg whites and a couple drops of white currant juice.
3. One quail egg yolk and two teaspoons of watermelon juice.
4. Puree from the pulp of one small ripe peach.
5. A few drops of tea tree oil and 25 grams of zinc ointment.
6. Three drops of almond oil and a tablespoon of natural honey.
7. Two drops each of grapefruit, lemon and orange oil.
8. One teaspoon of dried and powdered orange peel.
9. Beeswax – 25 grams, two capsules of vitamin E.
10. One tablespoon each of honey and rice oil.
11. A few teaspoons of aloe juice, one teaspoon of rosehip oil.
12. One teaspoon each of cocoa bean butter and grape seed oil.

Oil compositions can be changed to your own taste, focusing on the needs and reactions of the skin. Experiment with the oils listed, and also use soybean, lavender, rose or others.

You can also prepare cosmetic masks from paraffin, which already contains useful additives - aloe vera, chocolate, shea butter, jojoba, lime, lanolin, essential oils and other components.

Preparation for the procedure

To make an effective paraffin mask, you need to prepare:

1. Buy special cosmetic paraffin or a ready-made paraffin mask. The product can be sold in large briquettes, which are enough for several procedures. For one session, 50 grams of the product is enough, so there is no point in heating the entire briquette. It is better to cut off the desired piece, and wrap the rest tightly and store at room temperature in a dark place.
2. Buy a spatula to stir the paraffin while it dissolves while heating in a water bath. And also a special cosmetic brush for applying the product to the face.
3. Prepare gauze, bandage or cloth with holes for the eyes and mouth. You can sew a napkin yourself or buy a ready-made product.
4. Cleanse the skin of cosmetics, dirt and sebum. You can use makeup remover and then running water. Experts do not recommend using alcohol-based makeup removers before performing a cosmetic procedure with hot paraffin, so as not to expose your facial skin to negative effects.
5. Lightly exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells.
6. Apply a little vegetable oil to dry facial skin. You can use sunflower, olive or any other. Specialists in beauty salons and cosmetology clinics apply not oil, but Collagen-Elastin emulsion under the mask to deeply moisturize the skin. In tandem with paraffin the result is simply excellent.
7. Take care to protect your hair. Since it will be difficult and painful to remove frozen paraffin from your hair, it is recommended to tie a scarf on your head or use a special protective cap.
8. To prevent the molten composition from dripping onto your neck and staining your clothes, you need to tie a wide piece of fabric around your neck.
9. A paraffin mask is prepared immediately before the procedure, when all the necessary preparatory measures have already been carried out. Paraffin should be placed in a glass or metal container with a wide neck (small saucepan). Heat the product in a water bath until completely dissolved; the temperature of the drug should be approximately 50 degrees. That is, paraffin should be liquid, hot, but not scalding. Make sure that no water gets into the preparation; dishes and accessories must be dry. If you add any other ingredients to the mask, do so immediately before applying paraffin to your face.
10. Before applying the product, make sure that its temperature is tolerable and will not cause burns to the skin of the face. Place some melted paraffin on the inside of your wrist. If there are no unpleasant sensations, then you can make a mask.
11. Instead of a saucepan, you can use a special bath to heat the preparation - a paraffin heater. This device is used in beauty salons and cosmetology clinics. You can buy it at a specialty store. However, such a purchase is only advisable if you plan to make paraffin masks regularly for a long time.

Safety regulations

It is impossible to get a skin burn when using paraffin, since the temperature of the mass is checked before the procedure. Still, you need to follow a number of safety precautions:

• Monitor the temperature of the mask - if it is high, let the product cool.

If you think the temperature of the paraffin is too high, immediately inform your cosmetologist.

• Pre-moisturize the skin to avoid dryness and tightness.
• Do not use paraffin several times in a row.
• It is also not recommended to wipe the skin with alcohol cosmetics, so as not to cause a burn.
• It is optimal to carry out the procedure before bedtime.
• The mass can be applied to the entire face or only problem areas at once.

To enhance the positive effect of paraffin, add honey, wax, aloe, and herbal decoctions to your masks.

Applying a paraffin mask to the face

If there is an assistant nearby, it is better that he applies the mask to your face. In this case, you can lie down and place cotton pads on your eyelids to protect your eyes. If you are doing the procedure yourself, be careful not to let the hot product drip onto your eyelids.

To apply a paraffin mask to your face, stand in front of a mirror, dip a brush or spatula into the melted preparation, apply the first layer, starting from the forehead and ending with the chin. Be careful to apply the paraffin product along the massage lines so as not to cause stretching of the skin. The eyebrows, area around the eyes and mouth are not affected. A napkin with slits or pieces of gauze is applied to the first layer. It is important not to cover the bottom part of the napkin with paraffin; it should hang freely so that you can then pull the ends and remove the fabric from the face along with the frozen paraffin. On top of the napkin you need to apply four more layers of the drug, each of which should harden a little before applying the next. Take a horizontal or semi-lying position, relax for 20-25 minutes.

The second option for applying a paraffin mask is to tighten sagging cheeks (jowls), against sagging skin under the chin. To do this, you need to take a bandage and place it in heated paraffin. First, the drug is applied to the area of ​​the double chin, lower jaw, and cheeks. Then the bandage is removed from the paraffin and applied to the treatment area, as if tying up the jaw. The clean ends of the bandage should be in the ear area, the middle - under the chin and under the lower lip. Then four more layers of the drug are applied. When the product dries, the bandage can be secured with a dry bandage, tying it on the top of the head.

If after applying five layers of paraffin you have any unused excess, you can apply it to the décolleté area. Paraffin that has been heated once can theoretically be reheated for the next procedure. But it is better not to do this, since there is no complete confidence that the drug will not lose quality.

When the paraffin mask has hardened and cooled, pull the ends of the fabric and remove it from your face, starting from the chin. Before the pores close, wash your face with warm water and apply a nourishing, moisturizing cream to your face.

Features of using paraffin face masks

If you have combination skin with local defects, or if you need to eliminate wrinkles in a specific area of ​​the face, you can apply paraffin mass not to the entire face, but to problem areas.

It is recommended to carry out a cosmetic procedure before bed or during the day on the weekend, when you do not need to go anywhere. It is advisable not to expose your facial skin to ultraviolet rays and other external factors immediately after making a paraffin mask. Especially in winter, because sudden changes in temperature can cause vasospasm and the appearance of spider veins on the face. It is also not recommended to apply makeup for several hours after the paraffin procedure. Cosmetics will clog the pores and the effect of the procedure will disappear.

Efficiency of the method

Cosmetic paraffin gives positive results after the first use. Regardless of where the procedure is performed (in the salon or at home), the effect will be excellent.

The skin becomes radiant, moisturized and tightened. Blackheads are eliminated and acne is treated. Paraffin makes it possible to smooth out facial and age wrinkles. Stops inflammatory processes and prevents their reappearance. Women over 40 who regularly undergo the procedure have tightened skin without a hint of aging or age-related changes.

Benefits of paraffin face masks

The main advantage of homemade paraffin masks is their cost. You can buy a package of simple paraffin at a pharmacy; for 250 grams they will charge you a little more than 100-150 rubles. Another amount will have to be spent on additional components of the drug - oils, vitamins. But they are also inexpensive. Even if you buy a cosmetic product with various additives, it is also quite cheap and is enough for many procedures. But in the salon, paraffin therapy will cost from 600 to 2000 rubles and more. It all depends on the level of the cosmetology clinic, the region and the quality of the materials. The savings are obvious.

Paraffin masks also have additional advantages:

1. High efficiency, quick positive changes, when completing the course - achieving lasting results.
2. Versatility - if there are no contraindications, paraffin masks can be made for any skin type. Paraffin has a beneficial effect on oily and dry, combination, dehydrated, problematic and aging dermis.
3. Ease of use. All the recipes are simple; you don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing the mask.
4. Paraffin is removed very well and painlessly from the skin of the face. Once it has completely hardened, you can break it off piece by piece even if you did not use a cloth.
5. If precautions are taken, there are no side effects or allergic reactions.
6. Safe composition of the drug.
7. To undergo a cosmetic procedure, you do not need to waste time traveling to the clinic. You can make masks at a time convenient for you.

It is thanks to these benefits that homemade paraffin masks are popular among women all over the world.

General overview

The technique is included in the list of SPA procedures. The unique properties of paraffin help restore the water balance of the skin, eliminate fine wrinkles and give the dermis firmness and elasticity.

Manufacturers offer a choice of two compositions - yellow and white. The first is used in medical practice, often to warm up joints and muscles.

The second type is used in cosmetology, in fact, during paraffin therapy for the face.

It undergoes more thorough cleaning during production, so there are practically no impurities in the composition, which avoids the development of an allergic reaction.

How can you replace paraffin in hot face masks?

Paraffin can be replaced with another highly effective product - beeswax. This is a natural drug, it itself is extremely useful, including for facial skin. If paraffin is a petroleum product, like, for example, gasoline, then the wax that bees produce is a real storehouse of useful substances. The wax contains propolis, pollen and more than 50 nutrients, including:

1. Saturated hydrocarbons.
2. Fatty acid.
3. Carotenoids.
4. Natural antibiotics.
5. Substances with bactericidal properties.
6. Minerals.
7. Vitamins, including large amounts of youth vitamin A.

It is quite obvious that beeswax is much healthier for the epidermis than paraffin, unless you are allergic to bee products. However, there are two difficulties associated with its use. First, wax is highly flammable. If left on the stove unattended, a fire may occur. Secondly, in order for the wax to melt, you will need to heat it to at least 62 degrees. It will begin to soften at a temperature of 35 degrees, but you will still have to heat it up even more so that the product becomes plastic enough for application to the skin of the face. As a result, we get a mixture that can burn the skin. Therefore, wax must be used extremely carefully. First, heat it to the desired temperature, then dip the brush, let it cool for a couple of seconds, and drop it on your wrist. If the wax applied to the skin of the hand does not cause painful sensations, you can quickly distribute it over the face area until the mass hardens again. Next, everything is done in the same way as when using paraffin - a cloth is applied, and another 3-4 layers of wax coating are carefully applied.

Various additives, for example, vegetable oils, can be added to wax, as well as to paraffin. This will increase the effectiveness of the procedure.

Where can I get wax for cosmetic procedures? In the same place where paraffin is found, as well as in grocery stores and markets. There is a completely white bee product, but it can also be a rich yellow color (this preparation is called wax). It is believed that the best wax is obtained after reheating. But not with the help of artificial heating, but under direct sunlight. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the drug changes color from yellow to white.

Another great way to get natural wax for a mask is to buy honeycombs from private beekeepers, which are left over after the honey is extracted from them. It is difficult to find a more natural product on the modern market. Melt the honeycomb in a water bath in the same way as ready-made wax, and you will get an excellent product with a small admixture of honey for a hot face mask.

How to choose a product?

Cold cream-wax for hands must be selected depending on the individual characteristics of the skin. First of all, before purchasing a particular brand of paraffin, you need to carefully study the condition of the cover. There should be no scratches, abrasions, or pustular rashes in the treated area. In this case, paraffin, which contains synthetic additives, can provoke allergic reactions or aggravate the skin condition.

People suffering from infectious and fungal infections of the skin should refrain from undergoing the procedure. If cream paraffin is used for the first time, experts recommend testing in advance for a possible allergic reaction. A side effect can be caused by the presence of honey and other bee products in the wax. When purchasing a product, you need to pay attention to its composition.

Paraffin may contain:

• lanolin;
• vegetable and essential oils;
• vitamins;
• purified paraffin.

Almost all products contain aromatic additives. In most cases, they do not cause damage to health.

How to increase the effectiveness of paraffin masks

The condition of facial skin is directly related to the overall level of human health. Therefore, no cosmetic masks will be effective if the body as a whole is depleted due to poor lifestyle and other negative factors.

To make beauty treatments using paraffin most effective, follow these recommendations:

1. Get at least 8-9 hours of sleep at night

   . If you don't get enough sleep, your facial skin will look puffy, dull and sick.

2. Create a rational menu

   , including dishes from cereals, meat, vegetables and fruits. This way you will ensure the supply of vitamins and other biologically active substances to your facial skin from the inside.

3. Drink clean water

   . The human body needs fluid every day. And we are not talking about drinks or liquid food, but about water. You need to drink from 1.5 to 2.5 liters of water per day (depending on the person’s level of physical activity). If this is not done, dehydration will affect the condition of your facial skin. It will become dry and flabby, and will fade faster.

4. Move more throughout the day

   , especially if you have a sedentary job. Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the metabolic processes in the skin and helps saturate the body with oxygen.

5. When going outside, apply sunscreen to your face

   . This way you will protect the epidermis from ultraviolet rays.

6. If possible, give up bad habits.

   Overeating, eating food that is considered fast food, smoking and drinking alcohol - all this negatively affects the condition of the skin on the face. Especially smoking, which reduces the level of oxygen saturation in the blood.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in increasing the effectiveness of paraffin face masks and slowing down the aging process of the body.

Algorithm for the procedure

Paraffin masks for facial skin care can be applied in several ways. The most commonly practiced methods are:

• Applying paraffin in one layer over a moisturizer or collagen-containing composition to enhance their absorption.
• Applying paraffin to previously cleansed skin in several layers. Each subsequent one is applied after the previous one has hardened.
• Applying paraffin using a gauze bandage. The first layer of the composition is applied to clean skin, then fixed with a gauze bandage; in the future, it will be necessary to apply paraffin on top of it another 5-6 times, but without the use of additional materials.

Regardless of the paraffin mask method chosen, you must first treat your facial skin with a scrub to cleanse it of surface impurities and dead cells.

The average duration of paraffin exposure is 20 minutes, after which the film from the hot or unabsorbed remnants of the cold paraffin should be removed, the face should be washed and an additional moisturizer should be used to consolidate the positive results.

Masks should be done no more than 2 times a week, with a break of 2 to 4 days. The full course is approximately 15-20 procedures; if necessary, paraffin therapy can be performed once to solve specific problems (for example, eliminating peeling or the effect of chapped skin).