A collagen mask is a beauty product that helps to reduce the signs of aging in the skin and is intended for use on the face. The product can be purchased for home use. Spas also commonly offer a collagen mask treatment or include the use of this kind of mask in their anti-aging facial treatment packages.
As the skin ages, it loses collagen, which is a kind of protein that makes up a large percentage of connective tissue and accounts for somewhere between a quarter and 35 percent of all of the protein in the body. As such, collagen has been referred to as "the glue" for the human structure. As people age, the collagen in their bodies begins to deplete. This depletion process usually begins around the age of 25.
In order to reverse the loss of this collagen, particularly in the face, people use topical collagen masks to help to replace the lost collagen and promote the development of new collagen. A collagen mask is usually applied to the face and allowed to remain on the skin for a specified amount of time. During this time, the ingredients in the mask are absorbed into the skin.
A collagen mask may be packaged as a cream or as a sheet soaked in the product. Such sheets are usually individually packaged. When they are removed from their packaging, they are laid upon the face and left there for a specified period of time. The sheets are pre-cut to fit closely over the topography of the face and they have openings for the mouth and nostrils. Some masks cover the eyes, treating the eye area as well as the rest of the face, while others have holes cut out for the eyes. Both the cream mask and the sheet mask are available at numerous price points.
The price for a bottle of collagen mask varies widely. The same is true for pre-packaged sheet masks. A single sheet mask can cost as little as $2 USD ( US Dollars) or as much as $100 for a package of five sheet masks. A bottle or tube of collagen mask can cost as much as $300 USD or as little as $7 USD. For an easy, at-home collagen treatment, many people simply treat their faces with honey, specifically manuka honey, which is believed to restore the skin and reduce the signs of aging much like collagen masks on the market.
