Hello!
Masks are something that I love to do. In fact, I tend to use them 4-5 times a week. They are my half an hour of peace and pampering and with continued use, I feel they really have helped my skin.
Today I want to show you the 8 (yes, 8!) masks in my arsenal that I have been using for around four months. I will be sharing the improvements they have made in my skin, which ones I love the most, and the best masks for different problems.
Note: My skin in combination. My t-zone tends to have congestion and my cheeks are dry. However, I do suffer with hormonal cystic acne. What has worked for me may not work for you, but keep in mind that I have various skin types spanning my face.
Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask ($34): This is one of my favorite masks and a staple in my skincare routine. I use it as a break between days when I do clay/pore masks because it deeply re-hydrates my skin and leaves it plump and happy. A little goes a long way. I have used this mask dozens of times and still have most of the tube left. It really is an overnight mask---sleep in it for the best results. It doesn't get sticky or leave an oily film. It just repairs any dryness whether it is natural or inflicted by other parts of your beauty routine. It does help calm the skin down and is great to use on the neck as well. It is slightly pink and creamy without much of a noticeable scent.
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask ($25): Possibly my favorite mask in this entire post, this Clinique wonder has literally saved my skin. Hormonal, cystic acne is pretty new to me. I've never before had deep, painful pimples beyond this past year and the use of this mask once to twice a week improves any existing breakouts and de-congests my skin gently. It is a thick, sticky black mask with a slight cooling sensation once applied on skin. Use only a thin layer and I find the best way to remove is using a Clarisonic or similar face brush. This really sticks to skin and you might find yourself rinsing for fifteen minutes without a little extra help. I seriously love this mask. If you have blackheads, acne, cystic acne, or just generally cranky skin, try it. I can't make any guarantees but it has overhauled my skin without the effects of purging it.
Freeman Golden Grain Brightening Mask ($4.29): Freeman masks are cheap, and are often BOGO half off at Ulta, so they are always a fun beauty steal. Golden Grain is a more recent addition to my rotation but I am loving it. It is a moisturizing mask as well as a brightening mask. With acne comes acne scars and although this isn't going to mimic the effects of a peel by any means, it does provide temporary lightening and is great when used in conjunction with a brightening serum. Plus, it looks like you have gold sparkles all over your face when you wear it! It has a pleasant smell that I can't quite make out, but I am enjoying this mask.
Freeman Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask ($4.29): I do love iced tea. Not the sweet kind necessarily, but tea with lemon is my happy drink, so naturally I wanted to try this mask. I do get hints of tea and definitely lemon in the smell. It isn't accurate but its close enough that I enjoy wearing this mask. It is a light cantaloupe orange color and very, very sticky. Because this is a peel-off mask, it is imperative to use a very thin layer to make the removal process easy and clean-up minimal. I find my skin is very toned after using this...and my little baby face hairs are definitely removed! It pulls out surface gunk but not deeply embedded black heads, so don't set expectations too high.
This picture shows the texture of the different masks. And the awesome gold glitter in the Golden Grain mask!
Formula 10.0.6 Keep Your Cool Skin-Calming Gel Mask ($5.99): This is a mask I reach for when I want to relax in every way. It smells like a tropical vacation with a very light and refreshing smell of coconut and feels like a drink of coconut water for your skin. It is supposed to be used to calm acne ridden skin during flare ups, but I use it both when I have acne and when I don't. It is a nice, lightly hydrating mask that makes any painful acne feel better when I have it.
Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On Brightening Peel Off Mask ($5.99): This peel off mask has a very sticky gel-like formula that takes a while to dry. It does peel off nicely if you apply a very thin layer and it smells great. Bright and citrus-y and vaguely floral. I do find that all of these Formula 10.0.6 masks have a scent that lingers during the duration of the mask, so keep that in mind if you are sensitive. This doesn't pull out any gunk, but it does provide temporary brightening. Over time, using both this and Golden Grain mask, I have seen my skin tone even.
Formula 10.0.6 Three Times Sublime 3 in 1 Blackhead Wash + Scrub + Mask ($5.99): This mask is something I only pull out when the big guns are needed. When I need to exfoliate or when I feel my face is really suffering from a day out in the heat, this is what I turn to. It is much too powerful to use everyday, at least for my combo skin and it does have Salicylic Acid in it. I do really like that it is multi-use as well. It does have my least favorite scent of all the masks. It has grapefruit notes but also something earthy that weighs it down.
Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask ($5.99): This is a very basic clay mask that makes my skin feel refreshed and really loosens up the grime that accumulates in my t-zone. It has a wonderful strawberry smell to it that lingers on my skin even after I wash it off, so it may be too strong for some.
Verdict:
Although I do like the Formula 10.0.6 masks, and I find that they have worked well to give me results, the only one I will repurchase will be the Keep Your Cool mask. That one is packed with slightly better ingredients but the others have alcohol or alcohol denat high on the list of ingredients and the fragrances are strong. This is just becoming my personal preference as I learn more about skincare and can afford to buy better skincare.
The Freeman masks are what I will continue to turn to for budget masks. They are paraben free and as far as I can tell from the ingredients, they do not contain alcohol and instead contain ingredients and fruit extracts I can actually understand, which is a positive. They are giving my skin great results. Golden Grain is definitely the better version of Get Your Glow On and Sweet Tea & Lemon functions better than Get Your Glow On as well.
The Clinique masks are amazing. I highly recommend them and will continue to purchase them when I run out. As the two primary staples in my mask routine, they have really improved my skin and I have always loved and trusted Clinique.
What masks do you use? Is masking your little moment of 'me' time?
xoxo
Margo
(P.S: I know there are some weird blank photos on the blog right now. I am working to get them fixed!)
