Ever since I learned that such things existed, back in college, I’ve been a devotee of the face mask.
As I’ve mentioned in prior posts, I continue to battle oily skin and breakouts, so my preferred type of face mask is one that is drying/pore minimizing.
The first one will likely come as no surprise, as it’s already been featured in both a favorites and an empties post! My beloved Pur Minerals Exfoliating Wine Mask. As I’ve extolled its multi-sensory virtues before, I’ll just say that when my skin is feeling patchy and dull from all of the anti-breakout assaults, nothing is more refreshing and brightening.
More recently, I’ve discovered the Pacifica Pore Refine Deep Detox Mask. I has a sort of gel/lotion hybrid consistency and feels ever so slightly tingly on the skin. The scent reminds me of the gum from gum ball machines. Happily, however, you don’t really smell it once it’s applied. I was able to leave this on for a good half hour without feeling any irritation. I rinsed it off with warm water and it left my skin feeling soft and definitely less oily.
For when I’m feeling oilier than a french fry right out the fryer, I have two options I turn to. One is the classic and immensely wallet-friendly Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, which I can leave on for a good half hour to refine my pores without leaving my skin feeling pulled at or dehydrated at all. Plus it has a lovely spearminty, fresh scent. For a stronger dose of drying power, there’s nothing like the Pur Minerals Dirty Girl Detoxifying Mudd Masque. My preferred method with this is to use it as a spot treatment, this stuff is not playing around.
Due to the nature of these face masks, I am always careful to avoid putting product too close to my eyes. They’re too drying for that area, so I take the opportunity to pair my drying face mask with a deeply hydrating eye mask. My criteria for these masks are that they be protective of the delicate eye region, plumping, and totally non-irritating.
One that I’ve come to enjoy is the It Cosmetics Feel the Moment Anti-Aging Ultra Hydrating Sensory Awakening Primer Serum. It’s marketed as a priming serum, and I do like using it for priming under eye corrector, but I also really like using it in a slightly higher dose to protect my eye area when I have on a pore refining mask. I am thrilled that they’ve done away with the old bottle and dropper packaging and have turned to a pump bottle instead.
The Pacifica Vital Immersion Deep Hydration Mask is also quite nice, in fact, I purchased it just for this purpose!
A 3rd favorite that I use as an eye mask is one that I’m sad to write I don’t have at the moment to be able to show you a photo, the Illamasqua Hydra Veil. I’m waiting for my birthday-month discount to stock up!
Last but not least, a request. I ❤️ peel-off masks, but I’ve yet to find a good one that is cruelty-free. If you know of one, please comment to let us all know about it!
*These are only my opinions, formed through my personal experience as a consumer. I am not a medical doctor, an aesthetician, or a health/beauty professional. There is no guarantee what effect, positive or negative, these products may have on anyone else.
**All products were purchased by me from brands that, to the best of my knowledge, are cruelty-free.
Beauty, for good. 