I am obsessed with skincare and clean beauty. There are so many masks left in this world I want to try, but these 8 have done wonders for me throughout the years. I will rate them in order of favorites - but trust me, they have all changed my life.
I just wanted to cover the basics and highlights I felt were important and relevant so that you can decide whether these masks are right for you!
Below I will cover price, link where they can be purchased, my personal experience, ingredient perks, brand perks, and ingredient downsides. I hope this info helps you all discover some new skincare gems that fit any price range!
1. MONAT Berry Refined Scrub
Price: $58 (or $49 if bought from a MONAT Market Partner as a VIP)
Personal Experience: This scrub/mask has entirely changed my skin. It is a gentle exfoliant that can also be left on for 5 minutes as a mask before rinsing off. It smooths my skin, has minimized my pores, surfaced tough acne, hydrated my skin, made my skin appear more glowy, and the list goes on. I bought my first container of this mask last September, used it once to twice a week since, and am only just about to run out in this last week of May - so it lasted almost 9 months!
Ingredient Perks:
Uses cranberry seeds as a gentle and natural alternative to microbeads. This makes the product eco-friendly, more gentle on your skin, and cranberry seeds add a lot of the antioxidants Vitamin E and phytosterols to the product / your skin
Murumuru Butter deeply moisturizes skin and improved elasticity
Bayberry Wax helps inflamation and locks in moisture
Natural Fruit Acids (AHA's) brightens and gently exfoliates the skin. AHA's are a huge plus in products!
Vegan
Anti-aging, helps with dark spots, moisturizes, and more.
Brand Perks:
Anti-aging
Vegan
Cruelty-Free
Leaping Bunny Certified
Gluten Free
Clinically Tested
Allergy Tested
Sulfate / Paraben / Silicon / SLS or SLES / BHT / DEA or MEA / Phtalates / Phenoxyethanol / Petrolatum, Mineral Oil or Paraffin Wax / Triclosan / Microbeads / Formaldehyde Releasers / Harmful Color / Harmful Fragrance - FREE
Ingredient Downsides:
If someone has a severe allergy to Benzyl Alcohol (very rare but happens), it is the second-to-last ingredient on the ingredients list.
If someone struggles with fungal acne, the large amounts of fruit and vegetable oils that make this product so natural and great, can potentially "feed" fungal acne. If it is a concern for you, I would consult with a doctor to see if this is a good product for you.
2. Freeman Purifying Avocado + Oatmeal Clay Mask
Price: $3.99 at Rite-Aid
Personal Experience: If I am having a breakout, this mask saves me every single time. It has truly blown my mind. The only reason I made this mask #2 rather than #1 is because of the convenience factor. This mask cannot be done in the shower, you need to wait for it to dry and then wash your face. The price point on this mask is incredible. If it feels like my skin is seeing the end of the world, I put this on and wake up noticing immediate progress and recovery the next morning.
Ingredient Perks:
Titanium Dioxide (an ingredient that helps with UV protection) is ingredient #3. Having that in a mask is rare and something I really like.
Kaolin (ingredient #4) helps with smoothing the skin and tackling dark spots
Tocopherol and Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil are both anti-aging and full of antioxidants.
Gluten Free
Alcohol Free
Brand Perks:
This brand is clean, accessible, and affordable
Cruelty Free
Naturally Based
Paraben / Sulfate / Phthalate / Mineral Oil - FREE
Ingredient Downsides:
Tocopherol and Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, while both amazing and having major perks as mentioned above, can be known to potentially clog pores for some people.
3. Yes To Cucumbers Depuffing Under Eye Mask
Price: $12.99 at Target or Yes To's Website for 8 sets of masks
Personal Experience: There is no other under eye mask like this one. When you take these masks off, any circles or darkness are gone. What I also love is that these masks do not leave a thick residue feeling on your skin. Some masks feel slimy, but this one is light and melts right into your skin. I also appreciate that these masks are not the thick, jelly-like ones that fall. These masks stay in place and change your under eye game for a good price!
Ingredient Perks:
Aloe Leaf Juice has antioxidants, and is anti-aging, moisturizing, smoothing, and healing
Glycerin is smoothing and hydrating for the skin
Other leaf and plant extracts have the same perks as aloe leaf juice, they provide as a natural UV filter (rare and love that!), and help tackle acne.
Brand Perks:
Commitment to 95% natural ingredients in all products
Curelty Free
Leaping Bunny Certified
Paraben / chemical sunscreen / other potentially harmful ingredient - FREE
Ingredient Downsides:
NONE! (unless you are allergic to an ingredient in the product)
4. Yes To Grapefruit C Glow-Boosting Peel-Off Mask
Price: $3.29 on Yes To's Website or $15.99 for a larger tube (and Unicorn version with one-ingredient difference) version from Target
Personal Experience: The glow and firmness in my skin after using this mask is amazing. Even though grapefruit can be seen as a "scary" acidic fruit to put on your face, this mask is very gentle. It peels off really well and doesn't break into a ton of small piece compared to other peel-off masks I've used. There is also a bubble mask version of this, but I do not like the residue that it leaves. This version leaves no residue on your skin and makes it feel clean. My only issue is with the small packages, the difficulty getting all the product out, and how messy it can make your hands in the process. I bought their applicator tool which helps with that issue.
Ingredient Perks:
Glycerin (ingredient #2) is moisturizing and softening
Multiple ingredients in this are anti-septic and help to kill bacteria on the skin
Multiple ingredients are moisturizing to ensure your skin feels hydrated after a mask that literally dries on your face.
Brand Perks:
Commitment to 95% natural ingredients in all products
Curelty Free
Leaping Bunny Certified
Paraben / chemical sunscreen / other potentially harmful ingredient - FREE
Ingredient Downsides:
Ethyl Alcohol, while a great antiseptic, can be drying or irritating to some
5. Premier Luxury Collection Purifying Mud Mask
Price: $49.90 on Premeir's Website. I looked on Amazon but don't trust it's the real product. I bought mine in Israel at the Dead Sea, so I'd likely order straight from the website - don't risk a knock off.
Personal Experience: When I want my skin to feel incredibly smooth and soft, this mask is what I turn to. I fell in love with how Dead Sea mud leaves your skin feeling in Israel, so I bought this mask in the gift shop. This mask feels like the equivalent of dead sea mud on your face (because it is), but not as harsh and dehydrating. I wouldn't recommend using this mask more than once a week, though.
Ingredient Perks:
Dead Sea Mud is moisturizing, softening, and has anti-aging effects
Multiple ingredients have the same effects as the dead sea mud
3 ingredients provide UV Protection including Titanium Dioxide
Brand Perks:
Cruelty Free
Doesn't use animal ingredients in any formulas
Harvests dead sea mud responsibly
Ingredient Downsides:
Contains parabens and a silicone
May potentially cause issues for people with fungal acne
Some of the ingredients that make this product great can potentially clog pores for some specific people
6. Freeman Renewing Cucumber Peel-Off Gel Mask
Price: $3.99 on the Rite Aid website
Personal Experience: The glow after this mask is unreal. The gel has a very calm and cooling effect. Once this mask is taken off your skin feels softer, hydrated, glowy, and calm. I highly recommend this product, though peeling it off can be a bit of a pain - it breaks easily. This mask has also caused me no issues when using it during a bad breakout! It is such an amazing mask for the price point.
Ingredient Perks:
Leaf Juices, extracts, and more in this ingredient are anti-aging, antioxidants, and moisturizing
Glycerin and Allantoin provide great, natural smoothing effects and hydration for the skin
Aloe leaf juice calms and skin and even helps to heal wounds
Cucumber is moisturizing, anti-aging, and brightens the skin
Brand Perks:
Commitment to 95% natural ingredients in all products
Curelty Free
Leaping Bunny Certified
Paraben / chemical sunscreen / other potentially harmful ingredient - FREE
Ingredient Downsides:
An alcohol is the third ingredient to allow the mask to dry out and become a peel-off
Contains a PEG - this one helps smooth the skin but some people do not like using them entirely
A few ingredients, while serving a purpose in the mask, can be potential allergens
7. Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask
Price: $85 for a full-size at Sephora or on the Peter Thomas Roth website, or $58 for a 4 pack of smaller size masks (4 different ones) at Sephora.
Personal Experience:This mask makes my skin look AND feel expensive. Something about putting gold on your face makes you feel like a brand new person. This mask is lightweight, doesn't make a mess, and is very easy to remove. After I take this mask off, my skin has a beautiful glow to it and appears healthy! I recommend this mask, but the price point can be difficult for some. I only bought mine in a holiday mini-set, so I understand being nervous to buy this before trying it. I say go for it!
Ingredient Perks:
Gold is anti-aging
Glycerine and other ingredient in this product work to moisturize the skin
Three different ingredients are anti-septic aka kill bacteria
Brand Perks:
Products are meant to combat aging, sun damage, and acne
They are cruelty-free (but state they cannot guarantee their suppliers of raw materials are)
They are almost entirely vegan with the exception of their collagen and elastin ingredients
Ingredient Downsides:
None unless you do not like preservatives in your products (this one contains potassium sorbate)
8. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
Price: $60 for a full-size at Sephora and the Peter Thomas Roth website, or $58 for a 4 pack of smaller size masks (4 different ones) at Sephora.
Personal Experience: This mask is so helpful for exfoliation and it personally helps to surface some of my stubborn acne. I love the smell and feel of this mask! Though if you have sensitive skin like me, start slow with this mask. I recommend using it no more than once a week, don't scrub too hard as it has a grainy texture than can over-exfoliate, and leave it on for less time than prescribed when first using it. Enzyme masks for sensitive skin can be amazing but are also no joke. Definitely would recommend this mask to anyone and especially to someone whose skin isn't sensitive.
Ingredient Perks:
Pumpkin can help treat wounds, tackle dark spots / discoloration, as well as act as an anti-septic aka kill bacteria
Ascorbic Acid and Tocopheryl Acetate are anti-aging and antioxidant
Glycerine and sorbic acid moisturize the skin
Brand Perks:
Products are meant to combat aging, sun damage, and acne
They are cruelty-free (but state they cannot guarantee their suppliers of raw materials are)
They are almost entirely vegan with the exception of their collagen and elastin ingredients
Ingredient Downsides:
Benzyl Alcohol and Cinnamal (2nd and 3rd to last ingredients in the product) can be potential allergens for the skin in those who are very sensitive
Sunflower Seed oil (ingredient #15) may not always be a great ingredient to use for those who struggle with fungal acne
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