I love facemasks at the best of times – just ask any of my exes..! But I’ve found a newfound appreciation for them during lockdown, I’ve been focusing on my skincare routine and I enjoy the ritual of adding a mask to my routine. After a lot of trial-and-error, I’ve built up a pretty robust facemask wardrobe to suit all my skincare needs. I’ve rounded up the best face masks for all skin concerns.
I have oily skin with the occasional hormonal blemish. The majority of my facemasks are nourishing and hydrating, I’ve found that my skin needs and responds well to hydration. Generally speaking, products formulated for oily skin tend to strip it of your natural oils thus exacerbating your oiliness. Hydration is also the key to happy, glowy skin. When I switched my skincare routine, dumping harsh oily skin products for nourishing products, my skin started flourishing.
When should you use face masks?
I prefer to use masks during my evening routine and have outlined my full evening skincare routine in a previous blog post. I always double cleanse and tone before using a mask to ensure my skin is clean and prepped for action. For each recommendation, I have specified when I would use it in my routine. My general rule of thumb is to use treatment masks straight after toning and hydrating masks after applying serums. If I’m doing a spa day at home, I’ll use a treatment mask followed by serums and a hydrating mask.
Best for spot prone skin: Super Volcanic mask by Korean brand Innisfree
I have been using this clay mask for years and it is one of the best face masks around. It’s a K-beauty cult buy and for good reason. It’s a clay mask so it’s great for drawing out impurities and keeping spots at bay. The main ingredient is volcanic ash from Jeju island along with walnut shell powder and AHAs. These ingredients deep cleanse your skin and help to improve your skin’s texture gently. My skin always feels super clean and smooth. It’s much gentler than other clay masks and my skin never feels tight or dehydrated after.
As this is a treatment, I apply this after toning my skin and afterwards, I apply serums and creams as normal.
Best for brightening: Skin Food Rice Water mask
This mask is also a best-selling K-beauty favourite and has been in my facemask wardrobe for years. It gently exfoliates your skin, sloughing off dead skin cells and leaving your skin glowy and bright. Key ingredients include rice grains, rice water, vitamins and minerals, which nourish skin as well as exfoliating. I use this mask about once a week as a gentle detox. My skin always feels soft and smooth after.
This is a treatment mask so I apply it after toning and before serums and moisturisers. It’s not dehydrating at all but my skin drinks up hydrating serums after I wash it off.
Best for dehydrated skin: Summer Fridays Jetlag mask
You may not have tried Summer Fridays Jetlag mask but I’m sure you’ve seen it’s distinctive packaging on Instagram over the past year. I’m pleased to report that the mask looks great on your bathroom shelf and is super hardworking too. It’s a hydrating mask which is packed full of vitamins, ceramides and antioxidants. I leave it on overnight and it leaves my skin feeling plump and nourished in the morning.
I apply this mask on top of my serums as the last step in my skincare routine. I don’t add any creams or occlusives on top of it.
Best for hydration: Peach & Lily Fresh and Nourish sheet mask
I have tried many, many sheet masks in my time. Some of them don’t make much difference to my skin but others, like the French + Nourish mask, make a visible difference to your skin. Peach & Lily have squeezed a mammoth amount of nourishing ingredients into this mask. Chia seeds contain Omega-3 and Omeda-6 which nourish your skin as well as Alpha Lipoic Acids which are antioxidants which minimise lines as well as smoothing your skin. Algae, olive oil, hyaluronic acid and ceramides also help pack a glowy punch. My skin feels radiant and glowy after using it.
I apply this mask after serums and before moisturisers and occlusives.
Best for under eyes: Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches*
As someone who was practically born with dark circles and bags under her eyes, a good eyemask is essential for me. Unlike the other masks, I apply this in the morning to help minimise my problem areas. The eyepatches are infused with 1% caffeine which firms, brightens and reduces puffiness. Liquorish extract, peptides and aloe vera also help to brighten dark circles and plump up fine lines. My eyes look brighter and fresher in just 10 minutes.
I apply these patches after my serums and before my eye creams as part of my morning routine.
And there you have it. The best face masks for all skin concerns. If you have any recommendations, drop it in the comments.
Leave a Reply