Please help me pamper my face!

August 13, 2017 5:38 PM

I'm trying to take more time to pamper myself, and I really like pampering my skin by using facial masks. Any suggestions?

In these stressful times, I'm making an effort to take time out to pamper myself--and one thing I really enjoy is treating my complexion to a nice, soothing, refreshing facial mask. I'd like to try some new ones!
I'm in my early 50s, wear very minimal makeup each day, and my skin is pretty normal--maybe a little on the oily side at times. I very rarely get breakouts, but I'm pretty fair so I'm not looking for anything that's super abrasive, but gentle exfoliation along with the facial mask treatment is OK. I'm NOT interested in making my own from a recipe, and I don't mind spending a bit if it will feel great and make me feel pampered and refreshed. Bonus points if it's available on Amazon Prime, but I welcome all suggestions.
My face thanks you in advance!

posted by bookmammal to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

For trying them out, you could do worse than ordering one of the multipacks -- a search for 'facial mask combo' brings up several, like the Dermal Korea ones I've been working my way through.
posted by cobaltnine at 5:51 PM on August 13, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'm really enjoying the egg masks by Too Cool For School, which are available on amazon but can also be purchased individually at Sephora. The moisturizer is also pretty great.
posted by janey47 at 6:03 PM on August 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

Skin Food is another Korean company and their masks are amazing and on Prime.
posted by k8t at 6:32 PM on August 13, 2017

Lush has lots of different fresh face masks for different skin types and they let you try them in store (they'll put them on the back of your hand so you get a feel for them). And if you keep the pots, for every 5 you bring back, you get a free mask!
posted by carlypennylane at 6:49 PM on August 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

You might like sheet masks - the Taiwanese company My Beauty Diary makes a ton of varieties, many of which are on Amazon Prime. Most of them are hydrating, some are brightening or mildly exfoliating, none of the ones I've tried have been harsh or irritating. I've heard good things about the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey masks - there are several different varieties. I haven't tried them yet myself.
posted by insectosaurus at 6:51 PM on August 13, 2017

Two more - I really like the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing mask, available on Amazon here. In terms of non sheet masks, I've heard a bunch of good things about the the I'm From Honey mask and want to try it, available on Amazon here.

This is the review that really made want to try the honey mask, and the same blogger has a list of her top sheet masks that are available on Amazon Prime.
posted by insectosaurus at 6:59 PM on August 13, 2017 [1 favorite]

The TONYMOLY "I'm Real" series of masks are my favorite. Here is an example, but there are many different types available on Prime.
posted by derogatorysphinx at 7:21 PM on August 13, 2017

My current favourite budget sheet masks are the Innisfree It's Real Squeeze masks - I love the gentle relaxing pressure of a face mask, and I can leave the Innisfree ones on for a good 45 minutes before they start to dry out.
posted by fever-trees at 8:04 PM on August 13, 2017

Peter Thomas Roth Meet Your Mask Kit (sampler)
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:19 PM on August 13, 2017

Wanting to give myself a pampering present, I got a subscription to ipsy (one of those 5 surprise beauty samples a month services; there's a million of them and I haven't compared so this isn't a particular endorsement. There's probably some that are just for skincare.) I've only gotten 2 bags, but I've already accumulated 4 different Korean sheet masks so far. This is great for me because they aren't something I'd buy on my own and I like the variety.
posted by kapers at 8:48 PM on August 13, 2017

Nthing the Lush fresh masks. I love the Oatifix (oatmeal and honey-based, very moisturizing).
posted by TwoStride at 8:53 PM on August 13, 2017

Seconding the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey masks. I'm a huge skincare dork and I've probably used 100 different masks, and this one is great. It's healing, brightening, soothing, and smells like honey in a way that's not cloying at all. It comes with enough serum in the packet to apply some the next night or two, so bonus! The whole goopy sheet mask thing is weird at first, be warned, but once you're used to them, they're fu.
posted by mostlymartha at 9:18 PM on August 13, 2017

I also recommend Taiwanese sheet masks. They are the best in my experience (thin sheets with lots of essence, good fit). My Beauty Diary and My Scheming are great 'starter' brands that are relatively inexpensive. They do nice variety packs. Then Naruko to go up a notch in price point - I love their snail essence and Raw Job's Tears. Finally, when I really want to treat myself, I use L'Herbaflore. They run about £3/$4 a sheet so not ridiculous, but the others are closer to £1.50/$2.

Also, try eBay for more sellers! I use this seller a lot and the only time I had a problem was when they sent me the wrong box but they sent the right one free of charge and let me keep the other one as well.
posted by like_neon at 1:49 AM on August 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Hydrogel masks are a sheet mask's more luxurious cousin, and the most luxurious hydrogel mask I've ever used was from Whamisa. I like both varieties of their gel mask.

I love Banila Co's Miss Flower and Mr Honey essence oil when my skin is feeling super dry and parched, and I've heard great things about their hydrogel mask.

Edited to add: My Beauty Diary are hands down my favourite regular sheet mask, also.
posted by nerdfish at 3:44 AM on August 14, 2017

Oh gosh! The most fun. Your skin sounds pretty similar to mine, although I probably break out more than you. I love the Manefit masks (lots of different ones, the "Soothing" is just my favorite) but they're a bit costly.

If you prefer wash-off to sheet masks, I've lately been enjoying the little pods from Andalou naturals - Pumpkin and Honey has that just-a-little-exfoliating quality and it feels lovely and tingly on, while the 1000 roses stuff is very soothing.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:44 PM on August 14, 2017

Oh! and while the Andalou pods say they're one-use, it's just because the package doesn't re-seal. If you have any little travel jars or whatnot, you can TOTALLY transfer the leftover goo and save it for multiple uses. I generally get 3 masks out of 1 pod.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:46 PM on August 14, 2017 [1 favorite]