Anyone could use a good face mask. Whether it is for some self-pampering or as a nice extra step in your skincare routine, a face mask does the job. I do not know if it’s because of the growing influence of Korean skincare products in Western media, but I have a feeling that face masks are more popular than ever before. There is such a great variety of masks to choose from. From really affordable pieces to high end masks with rare ingredients from the beloved Maisons. While the really fancy ones are the ultimate skincare item for optimum pampering, I tend to stick to the affordable masks. For me, they are a nice way to relax while nourishing my skin. Let me tell you which ones you should skoop up for a few euros too and add to your skincare stack.
Now, one brand that does face masks really well and for a great price is Garnier. The French brand which belongs to L’Oréal, has a great selection of face masks that I often go for. Besides their decent pricing, the masks are super easy to get your hands on as they are available in most drugstores that I visit. The Hydra Bomb Green Tea one is probably the most innocent. You could use this one at any time if you want to add some extra moisture. The Cryo Jelly masks are really nice too. As the name suggests, the mask is supposed to give you a cooling effect. I can confirm that it does cool your face in a nice, relaxing way while also nourishing it. The Cryo Jelly mask is made of a thinner material, which fits a bit more snug and closer to your face. Regardless of the Garnier mask that you choose, all of them have a great fit. Whenever I go for the affordable face masks from Asia, it can be a hit or miss in terms of fit. Some are made for a smaller face and apparently not for my big Dutch head! I did not have this issue with any of the Garnier masks. If you end up choosing just one mask from Garnier, go for the Vitamin C one. I keep consistently going back to this mask. The serum in the mask is really thick, so I feel that my skin is truly being taken care of. Also, it leaves my skin looking fresh and a tad shiny. I would suggest grabbing a few ones of each and double up on the Vitamin C masks.
If I feel like pampering myself a bit more, I go for some of my beloved Korean skincare brands. I had a phase where my skincare line-up was based on a lot of Korean brands. Nowadays, I tend to stick to more Western brands for the majority of the products. Now, this is not because I don’t like Korean products, it’s just a lot easier to get my hands on local brands and I tend to like them a bit more. For face masks though, the Korean brands are undefeated. Brands like COSRX, Benton, Dr. Jart, Mediheal, Yarah, Abib and Missha belong to my favourites. The Korean brands are more daring in the innovation game and come up with interesting concepts and use of ingredients and materials. Lately, I go for the masks for Mediheal when my skin needs some extra love and care. The Mediheal N.M.F. Aquaring Nude Gel Mask (a mouthful) not only fits great, but is a nourishment monster. It is packed with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide to prove just that. The masks from Abib, like the Abib Mild Acidic pH Yuja Sheet Mask not only smell great, they wouldn’t look out of place on a minimalist Instagram feed. From all the masks out there, they are the most fashionable and trendy if that makes sense. It is not just all show though, the masks themselves are good too. So if you consider levelling up your face mask game, why not gave a few Korean brands a try?