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It’s the Battle of the Charcoal Face Masks

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Lasell chapter.

Over the past year, I have tried a number of charcoal face masks and decided I may as well share what I found. As someone with dry skin, that does have acne I find that charcoal face masks is one my favorite way to spot treat acne. Charcoal face masks are praised for their ability to help acne leave quicker or to help prevent acne. Despite what you think not all charcoal face masks are equal, so maybe you can save some money by getting these picks.

Garnier Skinactive Black Peel-off Face Mask– $7.99

I did not like this facemask and would warn people with sensitive skin to avoid using this product. I could not peel this mask off despite its claims and struggled to take this mask off. Sadly, this is an issue I have with many peels off masks. I had to try to get it off by rubbing my skin with warm water for a few minutes. It didn’t even work because it was literally stuck to my face. I would say use this at your own risk and avoid it at all costs if you have sensitive skin.

Yes To Charcoal Peel-off Mask– $15.99

This product is not a bad product but it is not my favorite. I have issues with peel-off masks and this one was able to peel off after struggling for a few minutes. From all peel-off face masks, I would recommend using this one. However do not use this face mask if you have inflamed pimples, it will cause irritation to your acne. This skin helps keep your skin soft and I have noticed that it helped reduce future acne. I don’t like the applicator spatula however because of how uneven it applies and I take it off and apply it with a different spatula brush.

Freeman Charcoal and Sugar Mud Face Mask– $4.29

Everyone seems to love this product and I do enjoy Freeman’s face masks, however, I think it’s an okay product. It is not a miracle product and is something I would suggest if you are on a budget. This product is definitely a more drying product, which is something you need to keep in mind. It seems to really suck up the oil and my skin feels dry after use and requires a lot of attention to return moisture after. If you have oily skin, however, I can see this being a great product.

Elements Detoxifying Charcoal Mask– $10.00

It took me a hot minute to find this mask online, after buying it in TJMaxx a few months ago for $4. So this is not an accessible product but this is my second favorite mask and a dupe for my Yes To Tomatoes CharcoalMud mask, this is amazing and works equally as well to remove and reduce acne. This product comes on smoothy and is super easy to remove. It does make my skin alittle dry, but not as dry as the Freeman mask. If you apply a thick moisturizer afterward, your skin should be fine,

Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask– $15.99

This is by far my favorite face mask because it works and doesn’t dry out my skin. This is my miracle product and even though it does cost alittle I would highly recommend if you have acne and sensitive skin. I find that a lot of peel-off masks are to rough for my skin and cause redness and irritation. I do have not have that issue with these products. Additionally, if I apply lotion after washing away the mask it doesn’t mess up my skin. I’ve literally had acne disappear two days after using this product. This is a product that I constantly keep stocked in my cabinet.

Ariana is the Editor In Chief for Her Campus Lasell. She is a senior at Lasell double majoring in Business Management and Marketing. When she's not editing for HC Lasell, she's binge-watching Netflix or buried in a good book.