Do you love a good mask and enjoy the ritual of self-facials? Me too! I also love compliments, especially on my skin, I was getting off the plane after racing about all day, for our trip to Melbourne and the flight attendant commented: “You have such beautiful skin”. I’d given myself four face masks to ensure that my skin could absorb products in Melbourne (it’s a dry climate). Face Masks are a favourite form of skincare.
I love finding the time to sit back and reflect, whilst still feeling like I am doing something productive. I’ve been out and about being the guinea pig, testing and trying out some popular face masks for you.
Top Five Face Masks
GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD® Clearing Treatment
These face masks are going nuts on social media, especially amongst “beauty gurus”. But is it worth the hype? Well, that depends on what you are after. A major part of the cost of skincare is the packaging. Glam Glow has lovely packaging. A product needs to be inspiring to use. If not, the boring jar, unless it is an incredible cult product, will sit at the back of the cupboard, amongst all the other broken promised and lapsed skincare resolutions.
When choosing face masks, be careful what you spend your money on. Read the comments on sites like BeautyHeaven.com.au and the forums on vogue.com.au as the posters will be brutally honest. It seems that the formulation actually irritated a lot of these members.
I really liked this product, it really effective, so I added it to this list over a couple of more affordable clay-based face masks, because it had the prettiest packaging (the Palmer’s Enzyme Facial mask is a clay based, absorbent mask like GlamGlow Super Mud and yet I find I use it less, as it doesn’t inspire me to use it).
Ingredients: Water, Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Hydroxide, Eucalyptus Globulus, Mandelic Acid, Charcoal, Fragrance [Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool], Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Iron Oxides, Peppermint Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Chamoilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hendera Helix Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tartaric Acid.
Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On, Brightening Peel Off Face Mask
This is my absolute 100% favourite mask for exfoliating and firm the skin for a glowing complexion. It’s a clear, glue-like consistency, that if applied thickly and left to dry completely, will peel off the skin, taking dead skin cells and “gunk” with it. The formula does sting a little but as it has citrus in the ingredients, it’s not surprising.*
It reminds me of the Helen Rubinstein one from the late 70’s that my mum had. Maybe that’s why I love this mask so much – the feeling of wonder I had as a little girl, discovering a peeling face mask.
When I use this one regularly I get comments on my skin from random strangers, so I’d say that it’s working.
The final reason why this is my favourite mask is because it is just $8.99 and lasts a long time.
Tip: avoid brows and going to close to the hairline.
Ingredients: Water/Aqua, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Polyacrylate, Betaine, Carica Papaya (Papaya) fruit extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum (Japanese Pepper) Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ceteth-10, Ceteth-20, Laureth-7, Glycerl Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance/ Parfum, CI 14700, CI15985.
*From the Priceline Website: “A mild tingling or heating sensation is normal upon application of this mask. Use with care. For external use only. Keep out of eyes. If rash or irritation develops, discontinue use.”
Skin Republic Gold Hydrogel Face Sheet Mask 25 g
(image source: instagram @skinrepublicau
The serum infused sheet trend started out in Korean beauty salons and has now infiltrated the more mainstream brands. The face sheet is infused with a load of concentrated serum and a single use only products. I particularly like this Gold version as it feels incredible afterwards and if I use the night before, my skin is especially dewy in the morning. I’m not really sure why this is different to a hand applied serum but the makers claim it to be more effective due to the Trans Dermal Delivery System (see below).
A bit of blurb about the use of sheet masks (adapted from the Skin Republic website)
Scientists have developed this Transdermal Delivery System (via the sheet) to ensure efficient absorption of ingredients into the skin. The use of a Transdermal Delivery System through the sheet mask is focused on delivering advanced skincare ingredients deeply and effectively into the skin.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Cellulose Gum, Polyacrylate-13, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, CI 77491, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Rosa Rugosa Flower Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Gold, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol.
Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Moisturising Cream Mask
I usually use this after the exfoliation/peel but before the Face Sheets. This is typical of all Jurlique products – highest quality, natural formulation and beautiful packaging and smell. Some people I know cannot use these produces due to allergies etc, and it is true that the more natural some of the ingredients are, the is a potential trend, so do what I do and ask the sales assistant/beauty therapist for a sample.*
It goes on silky and semi-opaque, takes about 10 minutes and my skin does feel good afterwards, but you can use it overnight as well, so I am trying that tonight.
And then there is the gorgeous packaging… I love the feel of the boxes, the silky/satin finish to the tubes. The bottles are frosted. There is no bling here. The look is elegant, considered and understated.
*Don’t feel intimidated when asking for samples or feel pressured to buy before testing, especially since you have allergies).
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Rosa canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cocoglycerides, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Macadamia ternifolia Seed Oil, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Honey, Rosa gallica Flower Extract, Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Althaea officinalis Root Extract, Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Silica, Mica, Fragrance/Parfum*, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, SD Alcohol 40-A (Alcohol Denat.), Totarol, henoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Linalool*, Eugenol*. *From Natural Essential Oil (Rose – Rosa damascena & Rosa centifolia).
Ella Bache Masque Fruits
The Ella Bache brand and one very close to my heart, has been around since forever here in Australia (although founded in Paris) and is know for quality, proven effectiveness, generally recommended in a salon setting. The origins of this family based company are a beautiful story. I was recommended this product from the irrepressible Doris at Warringah Mall. Doris is 80+, looks 60 and knows her stuff. I get oily through my t-zone (nose, chin and forehead) so I only apply this product to those areas, and I do this mask at the beginning of an at home facial.
At $62 it is heading into premium territory pricing, but I’d happily invest in this product as it will last, a skin specialist can recommend/”prescribe” the product, so you know it will be correct. Salon based recommendations are less hit and miss. The Ella Bache College trains therapists properly to ensure excellence in service at any Ella Bache Salon. Created in 1936, Paris, by Madame Baché, a cosmetic chemist, Ella Bache is as innovative as ever. This simple, yet highly effective mask is a staple I’d recommend having in the bathroom for breakouts or oil skin.
I wasn’t able to find an ingredient listing but I will ask the company and post here. Watch this space.
(Featured image source: Instagram @ellabacheaus)
I’d love to see your face mask kit photos in Instagram hashtagged on Instagram with #maskunmasked . I’ll be doing a beauty giveaway prize later in the year, and those of you lovely people who have added contributed to my site, though comments or shared my content, will be eligible to enter.
