I've always been a fan of face masks because I enjoy the instant gratification of looking markedly better as soon as I remove the treatment. I think I really started taking note of the power of a face mask after this article on how much importance the queen of everything, Martha Stewart, places on them (spoiler alert - she wakes up really early to mask).
You can mask every day, multiple times a day, unless it's harsh (like a peel). Think of a mask like the different remedies in your medicine cabinet - one for a headache, one for a cough, one for cold and flu. If your skin is looking dull, try a brightening mask; if it's dry do a moisturizing mask, and so on.
Here are my favorites:
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Although I haven't tried it, the Drunk Elephant Babyfacial is said to have the exact same results as this peel - the DE version is $80 and The Ordinary is $7.20. So, for something that I don't need every week, The Ordinary wins.
The results are just as amazing. You apply a thin layer over your face and neck, leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse. I follow with my normal skincare, then wake up the next morning with noticeably clearer skin. The downside is that if my skin is especially clogged, I might have a few eruptions the next morning, but that's what we want. The other good/bad news is that because it's such a small company, they tend to run out of products quickly (just sign up for email alerts when favorites are back in stock).
Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack and Moisturizing Moon Mask
While both masks are superb on their own, if I have the time, I really enjoy using the detox mask followed by the moisturizing mask. (And if you get both, you get a discount and free shipping - click the photo above to shop.)
These are my favorite masks because they work without overdoing it - the detox mask doesn't make your skin feel like it's about to peel off, and the moisturizing mask doesn't leave you a goopy mess. They smell fresh, but not overly scented, and you get a wonderful amount of product for the price.
Dermarche Labs Roloxin Lift
There is a regular and gold version; I've only tried the gold, but both of these masks are majorly transformative - literally instant lifting and wrinkle-filling results that last several hours. These masks are expensive, so I save them for special occasions and purchase them during the Sephora Spring or Fall Sale.
Honorable Mention: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Photo: Popsugar.com
This is an incredible mask that is under $10 and will suck every last bit of dirt and debris out of your pores. Unfortunately for me, this also means it takes away all moisture, so I save this one for the warmer months. Shop it here:
And so...
You might have noticed that I didn't mention sheet masks. I love a great sheet mask, but the cost-per-use tends to be higher than masks from a jar. Also, since different areas of our faces sometimes need different things, it can be nice to customize your experience by utilizing several masks at once. I'd love to hear your mask recommendations! Feel free to leave them in the comments, and, as always, thank you kindly for stopping by. -JY