Hi, loves, Emma here! Today we’re telling you about the best face mask for glowing skin — and it’s UNDER $5! But first… if there is one thing people closest to me know, it is that I have a really fond appreciation for skin care / nail / bath / beauty products. And my most-loved products are always skin related. I can’t pass by those stands at Target with those individual face mask samplers without grabbing one; Andrew frequently comes home from the store with one for me since he knows how much I like to try ’em out. Today I’m putting my love of face masks to the test and sharing my top picks for exfoliating, brightening, oily/breakout skin, and moisturizing. I’m also revealing the best face mask ever, which I wholeheartedly recommend and use on the regular.

Find out which face masks made the list!

Whether you’re planning your wedding and stressed out (don’t be, though, it’s going to be okay – seriously) or you’re just livin’ your life and trying to keep your skin looking its best, you’re going to love today’s post. I think it’s so important to hydrate, replenish, and moisturize skin; that’s why using the best face mask you can is such an important step in everyone’s beauty routine — and especially important on your wedding day. Properly maintaining your skin is something some brides-to-be don’t think about; the focus is almost always on hair and makeup for the big day. But as every skincare specialist will tell you, the only way you can achieve the best makeup possible is with a solid foundation, i.e. well-hydrated and maintained skin.

Now, let’s be honest. Who has time to properly maintain one’s skin? I mean, you’re busy! I’m busy! We’re all busy. Life happens. The other day, I slept in my makeup. (I know, the horror! Only kidding, kind of.) You know why? I WAS TOO TIRED TO TAKE IT OFF! And I don’t always get my 8 glasses of water, or remove ALL of that darn waterproof mascara. Oh, and I never hopped on-board the whole micellar water thing, but it’s apparently a good thing and people go nuts for it.) So, I’m no expert here; I’m just one girl who really loves to use face masks and giving my honest opinion. And I am reporting on my findings today in case you, too, want to treat yourself and get your skin looking its best.

On my quest to find the best face mask, I’ve narrowed it down to a few seriously golden finds. I got these masks at Sally Beauty and if you haven’t been there in-store (or online) in awhile, GO! There are some amazing deal (like 25% off $50 or more, which ends today! Use code: 888033.) Amd if you prefer to shop online, you can get FREE SHIPPING on $50 or more anytime!)

Now, let’s talk about which one is the best face mask I’ve tried.

Best Face Mask

Here’s how it went down: I tried ten face masks over the span of two weeks. I wanted to give my skin time to breathe in-between, and really feel the effects of each. Here’s the top four face masks I’ve deemed the best face mask for the following skin care categories:

– exfoliation
– brightening
– oily / acne-prone skin
– moisturizing

I’ve also included my top pick / winner as the best face mask overall.

Best Face Mask for Exfoliation

The winner is… Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Face Mask by Freeman!

This one is by Freeman. It’s only $1.99. It’s awesome. I picked it because it was charcoal, which is all the rage right now; I also wanted to try the purifying properties of the black sugar polishing scrub. I needed a good exfoliation. It did not overdry, just as it promised in its description.

I liked it so much, I grabbed another in the full-size tube around $4.

Best Face Mask for Brightening

The winner is… Gold Peel Off Mask by Retinol!

These “gold” peel off masks are also all the rage right now. The mask looked funny on — I think I scared my cats. I couldn’t help but laugh and think of Bruno Mars singing 24K Magic at me — but it sure felt nice on. It washed off nicely and is said to make your skin “feel tighter”. It did! The firming, however, I’ll have to report back on; it’s tough to tell from one go-around. I would say, however, it did make my skin feel brighter! I think this would be the best face mask for a party with your girlfriends (bachelorette party, perhaps?), with everyone decked out in this gold face mask. :) By Retinol.

Best Face Mask for Skin Clearing / Oily Skin

The winner is… Mint Julep Mask by Queen Helene!

THIS STUFF ROCKS. I remember using this back in high school when I was prone to breakouts, and it always worked wonders. You can never, ever go wrong with Queen Helene. And it doesn’t just help with breakouts, either — it’s awesome for controlling oil. It also rinses away blackheads (amen!), helps shrink pores (hooray!), and shrinks breakouts. Plus, it’s only $3.99 (here!) for a 3 oz tub or $5 for a HUGE 12 oz tub that’ll last you some serious time.

Best Face Mask for Moisturizing

The winner is… Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Mask by Freeman!

Who doesn’t instantly connect with a face mask that boasts “anti-stress“? Everyone could use a little less stress, so trying this face mask was a no-brainer. The price didn’t hurt, either: hello, $1.99! This is the best face mask for moisturizing. Good for all skin types, but really replenishes any moisture your skin has been missing out on, ya know, from not sleeping enough, not drinking enough water, or, like me, drinking way too much coffee. I also love how this mask is made with kaolin clay, which is used to draw out impurities. My skin felt softer, brighter, and immensely clean. Plus, a night spent doing a face mask and painting ones nails is always key to less stress anyway. ;) OH! And I LOVE the way this one smells!

The Overall BEST Face Mask Ever

Okay, this was a tough pick for the “best face mask” ever because they were all amazing, but I would go with… Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Mask!

With regular use, your skin is going to thank you. I’ve loved and trusted this brand for years and confidently recommend it to all my friends – like you! I hope you give it a try because you will really love it. The price is great, too – you can get it here for around $4-$5, depending on the size (and it will last multiple times, it’s not a one-time use face mask).

You can buy it here.

I also wanted to note that although Queen Helene won for the best face mask, you really can’t go wrong with any of the other choices above. I really enjoyed trying out so many face masks! What a relaxing few weeks it has been. :) Now I know which face masks I’ll continue to use regularly: definitely the Queen Helene, obviously, as well as the Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask from Freeman. Oh gosh, it is sooo good!

What do you think of my “best face mask” picks?

Like ’em? Don’t like ’em? I’d love to hear from you!

P.S. Any of these face masks would make a great favor for your spa themed bachelorette party! You can get really awesome deals on the face masks right here.

Happy Planning / Exfoliating / Face Mask-ing!

xo
Emma