My Favorite Skincare Masks

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to pay more attention to taking care of my skin beyond the every day face wash and occasional moisturizer when I remember. I’ve added anti-aging serum and an anti-lines lotion to my nightly routine. On top of that, I use a face mask twice a week. I typically do one on Monday (Because I cannot resist a good alliteration opportunity) and another on Thursday or on the weekend. Sometimes if it’s a busy week, I’ll use one of Sephora’s sleeping masks. They’re $4 each but I get 2 uses out of each one so you really get your money’s worth. Rose is my favorite.

Going from Buffalo to DC to Arizona and then heading right into a busy work time, my skin took a serious hit. I woke up on quite a few mornings with pimples and puffy eyes. Super cute, I know. I reached into my arsenal of skincare masks to undo the damage. I’ve tried quite a few masks over the years starting in high school to get my pimples and shine under control. Here are my favorite skincare masks that have stood the test of time and get the job done so you can put your best foot forward.

L’oreal Pure Clay Mask: $10

Whenever I get back to my apartment after traveling, I immediately feel the need to wash my face. I’m prone to oily skin and I hate the feeling of grime on my face. I actually stopped writing this post to wash my face because I couldn’t stand the oily feeling and had to take care of it. The L’oreal Pure Clay Masque is a rockstar at removing oil and dirt and shrinking pores. I have a serious problem with big pores on my cheeks and nose and this masque takes care of that in about 10 minutes. It also smoothes out any imperfections and it’s almost unbelievable how smooth my skin feels after I use this mask. And then I end up touching my face in disbelief until I remember that’s adding oil to my skin and to get a grip. You can find this mask at Target, Walgreens and CVS and I mean, you really can’t beat that price. It’s also sold on Amazon Prime – hello, 2-day shipping, you wonderful invention.

Petitfee Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch: $10

I mentioned about my unfortunate propensity for puffy eyes and dark circles, it’s just a fact of life. My mom sent me these Petitfee Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel eye patches on Amazon Prime and I was a bit skeptical at first. I had never heard of the brand or used eye patches. What am I, a pirate? I followed the directions and after cleansing my face, I applied the eye patches. They come with a little spatula to help separate and apply and let me tell you, these patches are slippery. They’re also shaped like commas and glitter in the light. It was a whole process to apply the first time around but now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, it’s no problem. Use the spatula, the spatula is your friend. I let the patches sit for 30 minutes and instantly felt a cooling effect. Feeling the eye patches took some getting used to at first but after a few minutes they started to tighten and I forgot they were there. After 30 minutes, I removed the patches and was shocked at how much brighter my under eye area looked! I’ve tried seriously everything to diminish my dark circles and Petitfee Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch is the real deal. You get 60 patches for $10, I’ve been using them religiously and am nowhere near the bottom.

Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask: $45

Okay so Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask is more expensive than the others but hey, sometimes you gotta splurge. And if you splurge on anything, skincare is a pretty smart investment. Texture wise, this mask is made of gel and instantly gives your skin a cooling shot of hydration. After cleaning your face, apply a visible layer of the mask and leave on for 5 minutes. I like using this mask on weekend mornings when I’m not going to be wearing makeup. I have some rosacea on my cheeks and it soothed the redness and left my skin looking dewy. The calendula and aloe also smell amazing, it’s a wonderful way to start your day.