Allies of Skin Day Mask: Everything You Need to Know

I love a good face mask. Mud, clay, sheet—no matter the form it may come in, I'll try (almost) any face mask once. I don't like to discriminate, you know? But when something called a "day mask" landed on my desk, I was immediately intrigued. But like all new products—especially skin-care products—I approached the day mask with both wonderment and skepticism. As a beauty editor, I hadn't really heard of a day mask before, face or otherwise, and with my day- and nighttime skin-care routines so jam-packed (but that's a whole other post), the thought of having to add another product made my head spin a little.

That is, until I did a bit more research. Turns out the day mask is from brand-new skin-care venture Allies of Skin, spearheaded by Nicolas Travis, a Singaporean skin-care superstar. The well-edited collection features just three pieces because, according to Travis, "taking care of your skin while you take on life should never feel like a chore," he tells Allure. "The three products we have right now were designed to provide your skin with everything it needs day and night, and they are concentrated enough to be used on their own yet created to play well with all other products."

There's the Molecular Saviour Toner mist, which is free of skin-angering alcohol—typically seen in certain toners or astrigents—and actually has ingredients to help hydrate skin. Since I'm obsessed with face mists, this one's already earned a permanent spot on my desk. (My editor's, too.) Then there's the 1A Overnight Mask, which hydrates and smooths skin with hyaluronic acid . But I'm well versed in the benefits of these both. Then there's the 1A All-Day Mask. I've never come across a day mask before.

Formulated with niacinamide to reduce redness, breakouts and pore size on acne-prone skin, the 1A All-Day Mask is supposed to work as both an anti-aging and acne treatment, according to Travis, since the niacinamide—along with hyaluronic acid—smooth lines, too. Lofty goals, right? I want to check on this whole day mask thing (and understand the science behind it), so I decided to check in with Elizabeth Tanzi, the founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and an assistant clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., for her expert opinion.

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"I don't understand why this is called a 'day mask' rather than a simple moisturizer," Tanzi tells Allure. "It may be more of a marketing difference rather than an actual difference in products [because] there are no ingredients in the 'day mask' that can't be found in a regular moisturizer," she says.

Hmmm. But I wondered if it was better than an actual moisturizer. Although I was a bit hesitant to leave a mask on my face all day, I went for it. After I washed my face and layered on several coats of serum, I slathered on the lightweight cream on and let it sink into my skin for a few minutes. Per the instructions, I then finished the rest of my a.m. routine: SPF, makeup, etc. And after a day running around the office, to appointments and a dinner out, I gotta tell you guys: this stuff is legit. My complexion was seriously dewy and supple—and also garnered a few unexpected compliments throughout the day.

Regardless of the nomenclature, the Allies of Skin 1A All-Day Mask was a game-changer for me—and a product I'm willing to put into my regular rotation. But, I wouldn't say you need to go find a day mask ASAP. What you do need, though, is to make sure you're using a moisturizer that can target any of your particular skin woes. "A good moisturizer is an important part of most skin-care routines," says Tanzi. Regardless of "whether it’s a 'day mask,' BB cream, or hydrating serum, it’s a way to keep the skin hydrated and supple throughout the day." To day mask or not, though, we'll leave to you. For now, I'm in.

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