Mask, Mask, Mask

One of the most ever changing things in my routine, granted probably the only thing that frequently changes, are face masks. Everything else is consistent, but a face mask? Oh boy kids, what do we have planned for tonight?? You’re eating meatloaf for dinner? Well I’m slathering my face in some bizarre colored goo or paste to help my complexion look like yours even though you’re only eight years old. I’ve tried dozens but there’s a few that hold a place in my heart and under my bathroom sink.


Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur 

My biggest disclaimer when selling this one is that it isn’t for fun. Even though it’s a super intriguing neon green, it makes you scrunch up your nose when the scent of sulfur hits it. But no worries, you get used to it. This mask is the one to use to make a spot really get a move on within a couple days.

I like to pop this one on any single spots or clustered areas that are ruining my day and frankly just need to go. I do a thin layer, leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse. The consistency never fully dries, a result from Sunday Riley herself.

Herbivore Blue Tansy AHA/BHA 

I’ve gone through so many mini versions of this mask that at this point I wonder what I haven’t used this mask for? The blue color of this mask comes from the calming Blue Tansy inside to help with any inflammation or redness in the skin. AHA/BHAs make this one work in the background to treat all sorts of acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. It’s super gentle but ultra effective to help clear the skin and calm your complexion.

I’ve targeted this mostly on my left side where clusters of whiteheads can pop up, especially along my jawline. I usually apply a thin layer, enough to where you can tell it’s blue, and go do something for 15 maybe 20 minutes. With consistent use (like three nights in a row) any redness or irritated areas will be gone!

Fresh Vitamin Nectar 

I love all of Fresh’s masks. They can’t go wrong in my book...except they are a little pricey on the wallet of a millennial. With that in mind, there are smaller versions of each mask for only $25 that come with plenty of product. Now we’re talking. I’ve done the Rose one for some hydration, Lotus Youth Preserve for exfoliation which makes me look like I have bird seeds on my face, and the Sugar Polish for some more exfoliation and it’s a gentle physical exfoliant made from strawberry seeds. Eating not recommended. But my absolute favorite makes me think of a sunny morning and sitting outside drinking a glass of orange juice, pulp free of course.

Taking one whiff of this bright orange textured mask, I always think of the image above. It smells like happiness and a fresh complexion in a jar. It’s recommended to massage this into the skin, leaving the crushed fruit to work for about 10-15 minutes. Once I wash it off, I feel like my skin is tighter, brighter, and more vibrant. It’s best for those days where you want more glowy skin with minimal effort.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

Hmm, let’s talk exfoliation, smoother tone, and a glowing complexion! Ah, just my cup of tea! Tata Harper’s all about the natural, clean skin care which is so in right now...and it should stay that way. Pomegranate extract helps with pores, Willowbark (an underrated ingredient but found in a lot of products) is a natural exfoliant, and unique beet extract that’s rich in antioxidants helps provide a more glowing tone.

While this mask really can deliver results, I just think the size is totally bogus. It comes full size at a whopping 1 ounce for $62…compared to the others mentioned above that range from 2 to 3 ounces with price ranges between $50-$65. All of them have great ingredients and things that make them special but I still roll my eyes when it comes to the price of Tata Harper products.

Glamglow Supermud 

If this song had a theme song...it’d be the one from Mulan where they sing about getting down to business and defeating the Huns. Except in this case the Huns are blackheads and Supermud is Mulan. Not a bad comparison if I do say so myself. This is the one that customers at work always reference it as the vacuum cleaner that just clears everything out.

Powered by six powerful acids, glycolic, lactic, and salicylic being the most well known here, Supermud really gets things going to help loosen blackheads, clear blemishes, and take care of other common skin concerns. It also has some strong charcoal in there too to give it that grey color, remove excess dirt and impurities off of skin. Feeling that vacuum sucking motion on your pores already? Me too.

A little goes a long way with this one, so much that it’s a hit or miss with some people’s skin. But it’s got six acids so it’s no joke! I love this one because I do really feel like it makes an impact on my blackheads that just will NOT go away. Glamglow also dropped the prices of all their masks recently by ten dollars so now a full size will only put you out $59 (and some change).

Viola! These four masks are the ones I can’t live without. I definitely change it up here and there especially in the exfoliation category. Tatcha’s Violet C Radiance mask is the ultra gentle exfoliating choice here with its bright purple consistency. Bosica’s new Matcha mask is surprisingly exfoliating with a bit of Kaolin clay within the matcha green paste but it’s also the bomb for stressed out or dull skin in need of a restart. First Aid Beauty’s Ginger & Turmeric Vitamin C Jelly mask is another self care product for those dull complexions out there that need a little love. All these ingredients get a big, almighty yes from me (please reread that in Simon Cowell’s voice, then you’ll get it). Sometimes I need some hydration on my face, or I really just get paranoid about plumping my skin, and for that I pick up Kate Somerville’s Wrinkle Warrior Pink Plumping mask. I focus this mostly on my forehead because I’m paranoid af about forehead wrinkles. With three different sizes of hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, I pray for a smooth and juicy forehead for as long as I can. Yeah, that makes sense.

Masking is such a great thing to have in your routine for soooo many reasons! It’s fun and when practiced consistently, it’ll help deliver results that you’re hoping to see so much faster. Just keep your masking balanced, meaning no over exfoliating, and consistent and soon you’ll be foundation free! (Hopefully)