9 Face Masks for Maximum Relaxation on a Friday (or Any Day!)

We know that self-care is a hot buzzword these days that, when truthfully explored, goes beyond face masks and bubble baths. We’re talking about mental health, meditation, journaling, physical exercise, at-home wellness – all options to delve into and invest your time/money on in your quest to feeling your most optimal. That doesn’t mean a 15 minute break with a well-made face mask should be discounted. Today, we recommend putting your phone away and indulging in a face mask, two simple steps that can help you feel refreshed enough to take on the day. Here are 9 of our favorites:

Green Theory Clay Face Mask by Bell Mountain Naturals \ $24
The green hue from this face mask comes from spirulina (which is anti-inflammatory), matcha green tea (which is anti-bacterial), and spinach leaf powder (which is full of vitamins and antioxidants to repair damaged skin).

Clarifying Face Mask by Alder New York \ $46
There are different types of face masks to use for different reasons, like hydration or brightening the skin. You want to use a clarifying one to remove impurities and build-up so that the facial products you put on after can penetrate deeper and more effectively. Think of it as giving your face a blank slate to work on!

Resurfacing Sleep Mask by Cocokind \ $22
Bakuchiol is one of the ingredients in this face mask and it’s a plant-derived alternative for retinol, a derivative of vitamin A and an active ingredient that can help improve fine lines and skin texture. Use this one at night and wake up to a more youthful glow.

Brightening Enzyme Mask by Jaipur \ $58
It’s a misconception that brightening masks make your face lighter. Brightening in the skincare world actually refers to the use of vitamin C (or some derivative of it) to chemically exfoliate the top layer of your skin (usually dulled because of dead surface cells) so that new, brighter and healthier skin can surface up. You’ll usually feel a light tingling and it’s usually a mask you use sparingly, perhaps 2-3 times a week. This one by Jaipur is full of fruit enzymes as well as glycolic acid to resurface your skin for brighter, more youthful complexion.

Coconut Milk & Chamomile Nourish Pink Clay Mask by Klei Beauty \ $38
This is another clarifying mask that’s more gentle because it’s calming at the same time due to the coconut milk and chamomile. There are only four ingredients (rose clay, white clay, coconut milk power and chamomile powder) which is good news if you’re looking for clean, 100% natural skincare.

Exfoliating Manuka Mask by OY-L \ $60
Ideally you want a face mask with active ingredients and calming ingredients to repair your skin. This one has both for giving your skin a good exfoliation.

Nava Jungol Detoxifying Jungle Mask by Taila Skincare \ $68
If you take a look at this ingredient list, you can pronounce them all, which means this product is 100% natural and free of parabens, GMOs, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and artificial dyes (aka potentially harmful ingredients for your skin). This mask is made with honey (which adds healing hydration and purifies to restore skin’s equilibrium), black cumin seed (which draws out impurities and clarifies pores), turmeric (which helps to detoxify and soothe inflamed skin), and pomegranate (which revs cell turnover while softening and brightening skin). The more you know!

Essential Mask Set by Circumference NYC \ $120
The Green Clay Detox Mask in this set helps removes impurities without overly stripping your skin’s natural oils (which can make your skin over-produce oil to compensate) while the In-Depth Hydration Face Mask gives an intensive boost of hydration to leave your skin feeling soft and supple.

Mask Trio by Primally Pure \ $112
Soothe, clarify and plump your skin with this trio of masks – though we don’t recommend using them all on the same night! Instead, try multi-masking, a new trend where you target different areas using different masks to address different needs. Evaluate each area of your skin (T-zone, chin, cheeks, temples, under eyes, etc.) and apply accordingly.

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