There’s nothing quite like putting a face mask on and lounging around reading a magazine. It provides a sense of calm and relaxation at the end of a week. Not to mention the fact that it can do wonders for your complexion, cleaning out pores and tightening your skin.
Here is a list of 10 suggested masks out there on the market today ranging in price points and where they can be found.
Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque ($4, drugstores) – Not into the whole department store or beauty store vibe, and just want to get in and get out with your face washing essentials? Well, a lot can be had among the aisles of a drugstore, including this longtime standby. Chances are all of us have gone to the drugstore to get our usual facial products only to find the store shelves not stocked with it. Annoyed but convinced you’re not leaving without something because you don’t want to drive somewhere else, you pull Queen Helene’s Mint Julep face mask. This is mild enough to use frequently and strong enough to get the job done in terms of drying up pimples, cleansing skin and, ultimately, leaving you refreshed.
It doesn’t have the gimmicks of flashy marketing, sparkes or unusual ingredients of designer products, but it does unclog pores all the same. What more can you ask for?
Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Purifying Facial Clay Masque ($4, drugstores) – This is perfect for people with sensitive skin! It’s a clay mask that does the job of cleaning out clogged poors, but doesn’t dry out or irritate your skin. (Anything with oatmeal is usually going to be good for someone with sensitive skin, eczema or who may be susceptible to irritation.) What’s great is that it’s gentle enough to use more than once a week. An added bonus is that unlike a lot of clay masks out there, this one actually smells pretty nice. If you have stubborn pore issues, you may want to leave this on a bit longer than others – in the range of 15 minutes.
Clean and Clear Blackhead Eraser Mask ($6, drugstores) – This is great, not only because you can run into any drugstore or grocery store to get, but it does wonders for your skin. Although the directions say to use the mask only one to two times each week, your skin can probably handle it more frequently. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to err on the side of caution and try it once a week at first. Focus on the T-zone for the best results. If you use it on your cheeks, it tends to dry out that area of the skin, especially if you tend not to get breakouts or oily in that area of your face.
Once the mask is rinsed off, your skin feels so soft and will look smooth. When used regularly, you will notice cleaner skin and will probably not have to use this that often. As with anything, make sure to moisturize after rinsing off the mask. The best part is that as soon as you put it on, you can feel this coolness hit your skin. Definitely a good buy for its efficacy and its price.
Biore Self-Heating Mask ($8, drugstores) – Don’t have a lot of time to be lounging around with a mask on, but you still want to treat your skin to some serious cleaning? Try this Biore self-heating mask, which feels so good as it warms on your skin. You only need to leave it on for a minute (add a few more if you’ve got the time) and once it’s rinsed off, you will have smaller pores and tighter skin without the excessive drying that some refining products leave. Wear it in the shower if you’re multi-tasking.
Proactiv Refining Mask ($12, proactiv.com or mall kiosks) – Even if you don’t have acne problems, this mask does wonders for just about any skin type. It’s thick – kind of like wet clay. You can put it in your t-zone area and you’ll notice that it sucks up the oil and tightens your pores. It’s pretty amazing. Plus, if you have a single pimple or breakout, wear this overnight and it will dry it out by morning. The smell isn’t the most pleasant (smells a little bit like play-doh or clay), but it’s not as if you’re wearing it out in public. The only drawback is that it’s a little hard to get off in comparison with most other masks.
MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($20, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom) – Aside from the cool, black color of this thick mask, this product uses natural volcanic ash to help cleanse your skin. As you rub it into your skin, it heats up (as implied by its name), which feels pretty soothing. And despite, the deep color, the mask washes off pretty quickly.
It has kind of goopy, sticky, oily sort of consistency, so you need not use in large quantities. A single layer is good. Avoid the cheek area if it’s not a problem area as it does tend to dry more sensitive areas of your face easily.
Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask ($20, beauty counters) – I don’t use this regularly. As the name implies, it really comes in handy for “emergencies.” I don’t think there’s a need for this mask on a weekly basis. Although, some may disagree. I think it’s great for the occasional breakout, or if you just need a really quick pick me up after a restless night, long night, jet lag, a week of traveling, etc. Basically, conditions in which your skin has gone through hell and needs to be revitalized and cleaned out.
AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask ($28, drugstore.com) – This is really great for people with oily skin and who are prone to breakouts. It’s good at drying out your skin, so if you have sensitive skin, you’re most likely going to be left with dry or irritated skin. It’s a pretty powerful product, but highly effective if you’ve got excessively oily skin. If you do have a sensitive skin and want to try it, don’t leave it on for very long and just concentrate on the areas of your face that are oily. If you do that, you’ll most likely find that it does help to tone up your overall complexion.
AVEDA Tourmaline Charged Radiance Masque ($29, aveda.com, AVEDA stores) – This not only helps reduce the size of pores, but it also adds some brightness to dull skin. The secret ingredient is lycopene, which aids in pigmentation and blotchiness. It feels soothing going on. After rinsing off the mask, you’ll notice unbelievably smooth skin – like butter. Avocado oil and muru butter help moisturize skin, so you’re not left with scaly, dry skin after washing it off.
Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask ($41, beauty.com) – This is truly one of those masks that can be used very infrequently for flareups – if you have normal skin. It is, however, useful for those with acne or more severe oil issues. Otherwise, this tends to dry out skin. I think it’s best used as an overnight treatment for a pimple or breakout – it’s definitely powerful enough – for those with relatively normal combination skin. Plus, using it that way, makes it last longer (a plus given the price). This is great as one of those once every few weeks treats for your face.
