Mask Mania

The holidays are a wonderful time of celebration, but with the celebration usually comes a lot of stress. In order to keep your skin from looking dull and lifeless, I suggest a mask (or three). Here's a breakdown of some of my favorite masks this season:

Bliss

Eye Got This Holographic Foil Eye Masks, $4/each

What makes it unique: The Eye Got This Holographic Foil Eye Masks by Bliss will refresh and awaken eyes while helping visibly reduce puffiness and dark circles. Benefits: Potent, vegetable-derived serum moisturizes and smooths the eye area; Hugs facial contours and forms a protective barrier to intensify serum delivery and absorption; Cruelty-free; Vegan

My thoughts: This eye mask is very cute. I will give it that, it's incredibly pleasing to look at after application. The design is made up of these dainty foil stars that might make you think that the product is actually doing something, when it doesn't. And I'm not trying to be a hater, and this might be an unpopular opinion, but I just don't really think that eye masks are necessary. This ain't it chief. Save your coin. Unless you wanna take a cute selfie.

Farmacy

Coconut Gel Sheet Mask - Hydrating/Brightening, $6/each

What makes it unique: Get real results, real fast with this coconut water-infused sheet mask. A targeted solution for dry skin, this supercharged face mask delivers instant hydration with intensely moisturizing hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract. The sheer bio-cellulose sheet hugs the skin to deliver moisture and antioxidant-rich Echinacea Green Envy™ to promote a fresh, more radiant, healthy-looking glow.

My thoughts: I bought these as soon as they dropped, and just starting using them a few weeks ago, because I'm a sheet mask hoarder. MAN OH MAN am I pissed at myself that I waited so long to try them. I've repurchased these with every wave of the Sephora sale just because they are really it for me. The coconut gel is such a cool consistency. I usually pop my masks in the fridge for a few minutes before application, and these felt so soothing on immediate application. There's a ton of extra serum in the package, which I massaged on top of the mask after it was on my face. The fit of the mask is perfect. It doesn't slip or move whatsoever. These masks are perfect for the dry winter months. I'm definitely going to continue buying these!

Summer Fridays

Jet Lag Mask, $48

What makes it unique: Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask is a rich combination of ceramides, vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory ingredients that help to combat puffy, inflamed, over-worked skin. This ultra-hydrating facial mask immediately helps to calm, cool, and soothe your complexion.This product is free from harmful ingredients such as artificial fragrance or color, harsh surfactants, petrolatum, GMOs, triclosan, hydrogen peroxide, EDTA’s, BHT or BHA, formaldehyde, or propylene glycol. This product has not been tested on animals and there are no animal by-products in this mask, meaning this mask is vegan. There is a very small amount of peppermint oil, corn mint oil, and orange oil to give this mask a tingling effect on the skin, which naturally smells amazing, too.

My thoughts: I was so hesitant to try this product, just because I felt as the hype around it and the price tag was way too high for it to actually be worth it. Plus I saw very few women of color or women who didn't already have flawless skin review the product. I finally caved around June/July when I knew I was going to do a lot of traveling in the upcoming months. The first time I used it, I applied a thin layer before I boarded a flight to San Fran. My skin, like most, gets incredibly dry at that altitude and I often have to use a facial spray, and I inevitably break out. But with this... my skin felt hydrated and supple throughout the 6 hour flight. I got off the plane and my skin was glowing. I was shocked. Hella shocked. I didn't have one breakout throughout my trip. Needless to say, I was hooked. I have a backup for my backup now. I use it even when I'm not traveling bc, hello, toddler. I love that it's a multi-tasking mask as well. It can be used as a rinse-off mask, an undereye mask, and also an overnight mask.

Tatcha

Luminous Dewy Skin Sheet Mask, $12/each or 4 for $45

What makes it unique: Inspired by a classical Japanese beauty treatment of steaming strips of leftover kimono silk over enriched natural elixirs, this mask imparts a glow. The secret is a blend of lightweight rice germ oil—derived from the most nutrient-rich portion of rice packed with vitamin E and essential fatty acids—and a high concentration of botanical oils and extracts. It nourishes skin from within, leaving it velvety smooth, dewy, and luminous. The mask drenches skin with hydration. The delicate ultra-fine microfiber sheet, 100 times thinner than a strand of hair, delivers 20 ml of serum into skin for maximum absorption and benefits. The mask feeds skin with Japanese anti-aging superfoods such as a fermentation of green tea, rice, and algae—ingredients at the heart of the Japanese diet and time-tested skincare rituals—that restore skin health and youthful radiance.

My thoughts: This mask made me feel like a luxurious princess the whole 15 minutes it was on my face. I'm not usually into the whole dewy phenomenon, but my skin did look abnormally glowy after use, which I can't be mad at. For $12 a pop I probably wouldn't run to get this again, but would totally be open to using it before special occasions.