Skincare masks are a great way to deliver powerful strong ingredients to your skin for quick and noticeable results. There are many types of face masks that do different things for different skin types and knowing what effects you want for your skin will help you in deciding which to purchase. Whichever mask you choose it’s important to incorporate it into your monthly or even weekly skincare routine for long-lasting results. So, here are some descriptions of each type of skincare mask and what they can do for your skin.
Clay Masks
Clay masks are great for all skin types but are especially good for people with oily/acne-prone skin. Clay masks are used for cleansing, detoxing, reducing excess oil, and clearing clogged pores leading to cleaner and clearer skin. They don’t deal with any of the underlying reasons for such skin issues, as clay masks usually don’t contain as many active ingredients as other skincare masks. They do however contain minerals and nutrients that are generally good for the skin.
There are different types of clay used in clay masks (clay masks will often contain more than one type):
- Kaolin/China clay. It’s gentle on the skin, so it’s a great start to clay for sensitive skin. Kaolin clay comes in many colours from red, and brown to yellow but is usually white. It gently absorbs oil and slightly exfoliates the skin so it can help prevent breakouts.
- Bentonite/swelling clay expands when it’s mixed with water. This clay is super absorbent so it’s best for those with very oily skin and is not at all suitable for people with sensitive or dry skin, as it very quickly absorbs a lot of oil and bacteria from the skin. It also leaves the skin feeling tight after use which many people enjoy the feeling and appearance of. Make sure to patch test this mask to see if your skin has a positive or negative reaction to it before applying it to your face.
- Fuller’s earth clay is another one of the fast-absorbing clays, so if you have very oily skin, this could be a good clay for you, but if you have sensitive skin definitely stay away from this one.
- French green clay is of course green, and it gets its colour from plant matter like chlorophyll. It’s great at pulling impurities from skin pores so it’s especially good at exfoliating.
Here are some recommended products:
Cream Masks
Cream masks are simply masks that have a cream-like texture but can come in many different formulations and do different things. You’ll find exfoliating cream masks, cream masks for healing the skin barrier, but the most common type of cream masks you’ll find in the market are ones that boost the skin’s moisture. These will often contain hyaluronic acid or a humectant to seal moisture in the skin and leave it feeling plump and dewy -so this is a great option for those who have dry skin. Cream masks are also usually overnight masks that you put on before you go to sleep and wash off alongside your normal day cleansing routine (if it hasn’t been completely absorbed by the skin) so they are less of a hassle compared to some of the other masks.
Here are some recommended products:
Exfoliating Masks
Just as the name suggests these masks are specifically formulated with BHAs (like Salicylic acid) and AHAs (like Glycolic acid) to have an exfoliating quality. I made this a separate type of mask, even though most of the mask types can have an exfoliating quality, because the exfoliating masks that are particularly strong usually have a very different texture and effect compared to the others on this list. Exfoliating masks are used to remove oil, dirt, sebum, dead skin and unclogs your pores. They tend to be very potent so this isn’t a good option for sensitive skin and shouldn’t be used regularly by people who have oily or acne-prone skin. I’d recommend using this mask for when you feel your skin is particularly oily or you have a lot of blackheads that you wish to clear. Aestheticians and spas also provide exfoliating/peeling masks that will literally result in the top layer of your skin peeling off. I’d only recommend doing this if you have extremely dull, oily skin as this treatment is very strong.
Here are some recommended products:
Gel Masks
A lot like cream masks, gel masks can have a variety of properties, the only thing that differentiates it from other masks is its texture, which is of course gel-like. They all have different formulations but it’s most common to see a gel mask that’s for soothing and hydrating rather than exfoliating, so gel masks may be more suited for people with normal to dry skin. But in my opinion, gel masks are mostly for aesthetic and fun reasons as they often have a bright colour or cool texture, which there’s nothing wrong with, who says you can’t have fun with your skincare routine.
Here are some recommended products:
- Revolution Skincare x Jake – Jamie Watermelon Hydrating Face Mask
- Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask
Sheet Masks
With the rise of Korean beauty trends, sheet masks have always been a popular option in Asia but have steadily and quickly gained a lot of popularity across the globe. Sheet masks are designed to give your skin a blast of beneficial skincare ingredients and nutrients to help with any skin need you have. There are sheet masks for moisturising, exfoliating, healing, brightening and anti-ageing. They’re easy to use as you simply take one out of the packet and apply it to your face for however long instructed and take it off when you’re done. But, they do contribute more to waste build-up compared to other masks that you wash off. There are different types of sheet masks, with the most common being paper-like textured ones but there are also recently popular hydro-gel masks with a more jelly-like texture.
Here are some recommended products:
- Garnier Vitamin C Face Sheet Mask
- No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi Action Serum Boost Sheet Mask
Peel-Off Masks
A less trendy but still popular option is a peel-off or peeling mask. Not to be confused with an exfoliating peeling mask that you have to go to a professional for, this type of mask is one that is gel-like when applied to the face, dries and is then peeled off. This mask is used to both apply chemicals and nutrients to your skin whilst also peeling off any impurities and oil on the surface of your skin whilst you take it off. Just like sheet masks though they do contribute to more waste when compared to other masks. It also doesn’t really deliver a powerful or noticeable effect like the other masks on this list so if you have stubborn skin issues, I’d recommend missing this one. This type of mask is good for people with normal to oily skin who are looking for a less potent mask that quickly removes dirt and excess oil.
Here are some recommended products:
- YesTo Grapefruit Vitamin C Glow Boosting Unicorn Peel Off Mask
- InnisFree Super Volcanic Clusters Pore Clearing Clay Peel Off Mask
Isabel is a writer and editor with a passion for reading, art and philosophy. She often spends her time pondering the meaning of life and performing her rigorous skincare routine.
