Beauty Bites: Masks of the Moment

If there's one thing you must know about me it's that I'm a skincare junkie. I turn 30 next year, but I'm trying to keep my skin age 18. Luckily for me, most people still think I'm in my early 20s (which used to bother me), but now I don't mind at all. One secret? Masks. I love a good mask. My ideal Sunday evening is spent in a good mask (or two!), with candles or sage burning, and Friends playing in the background. So, as someone with a bit of an obsession with masks, I decided to do a round-up of my current faves and must haves.

Best Duo

I've been using the Glossier mask set since they came out. I'll be honest - at first, I wasn't super impressed. But, after using this duo week after week, I was sold. The first mask, the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack, is a cleansing clay mask described as a "juice cleanse for your face." It detoxifies and clears the skin of impurities. I like it because it's gentle and effective. I leave it on for a whopping 30 minutes. At the 30 minute mark, I wash my face with warm water, pat dry, and then get ready for my next mask. The next 30 minutes, my face is covered in Glossier's Moisturizing Moon Mask, which is the utmost hydrating experience for your skin. The Moon Mask contains squalane, which is found naturally in the skin, so it does double duty as a hydrator. 30 minutes with this baby on and my face is smooth, shiny, and moisturized. Each mask is $22 and depending on use, will last you a long while.

Best Charcoal Mask

Charcoal is all the hype and I'm not hating. I'm a super fan of Derma E's 2-in-1 Purifying Charcoal Mask because it's an exfoliator gentle enough to use twice a week. Charcoal is great for the skin because it purifies, clears out pores, and lifts dead skin. It's great to use at the end of the week, after your skin has been through a week outdoors and needs some detoxifying. (I used a charcoal cleanser from Derma E, every night, in the shower - great for getting off sweat and grime, especially after a workout!) This one costs about $15 - $20 depending on the retailer.

Best Exfoliating Mask

Nude Skincare's Purifying Deep Cleansing Mask is my treat-me-mask. It runs about $50, and is an amazing exfoliating and cleansing mask. It's great for clearing the skin and pores, lifting up excess oil, and balancing the skin. My skin isn't very oily, so I only use this mask when I need to balance my skin from an overload of products and I need an extra scrub. Because it's an exfoliator,  the key is making sure to properly moisturize after use.

Best Sheet Mask

There are many sheet masks out there, but Purlisse's Blue Lotus + White Tea Sheet Mask has to be my absolute favorite. First thing's first - I keep all my sheet masks in the fridge. Keeping these guys cold is the key to de-puffing and soothing the skin. Purlisse's sheet mask is made with natural fiber and infused with blue lotus, seaweed, and botanicals, all of which help to bring antioxidants to the skin. This particular mask is intensely hydrating, so I like to do my nighttime routine (cleansing, serums, etc.) first, then put on my mask for about 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, I rub the excess product into my skin and go to sleep. There's typically a lot of product left over, but you don't want to wash your face after, or you'll rinse off all nutrients for your skin! One sheet is $8, or you can get a pack of 6 for $36.

Best Face Fix

Anytime my face has been through it (intense cold, extreme heat, etc.), I know it's pissed and needs a little extra TLC. Cue CosMedix's Rescue + Balm & Mask. Now, fair warning, this mask is extremely balmy and sticky. True to it's name - it's very intense. I think of it as a chap stick for my face - it's healing and meant to bring moisture back into the skin when it needs it the most. I typically only use this guy after I've been in the sun too long, when it's windy and cold in the winter, or the first night after travel/a plane ride (aka times when my skin is in distress, ha). A little goes a long way and because it's a balm it's a bit tough to wash off. That being said, it's the absolute best mask when it comes to fixing the skin. This one will run you about $60.


Anyhoo, those are my masks of the moment. I'll likely do another one of these because I have so many masks and each one is great in itself. Do you guys have any masks you can't live without?

Shop these masks and other favorites, below!