I may not follow a strict skincare routine but, I LOVE face masks. My friends and family can attest to this fact because of the numerous mask selfies they get (sorry guys!). In all seriousness though, face masks are my favorite skincare element. They’re not only specialized for what your skin needs, but they’re easy to use and relaxing too. The only caveat for me is my sensitive skin. Because of this, certain products can cause some serious irritation to my face. Therefore, I’m generally cautious about what I apply and once I find one that works, I tend to stick with it. One of my personal favorites is Freeman’s Detoxifying charcoal + black sugar mud mask. This product is fairly inexpensive and a little goes a long way! The mask claims to remove impurities, leaving skin nourished and renewed. Of course, I had to bring a tube of this mask to college with me because so few products can clear up my skin without irritating my face. The other day though, I saw a mask on sale in the school bookstore. How could I resist? I looked at the product, a hydrating bubble mask by e.l.f., and decided to put it to the test against my mud mask.
This is me using my mud mask last week. This mask dries relatively quickly, but not so fast that I can’t lay back and relax for a bit. Additionally, this mask has little to no discomfort during the drying process. Sometimes the mask will itch a little while drying but it never lasts long or bothers me to the point I want to remove it. I may be a little biased since this is my go-to but, I really do find that this mask makes a positive difference in my complexion so, if you get acne from time to time then I would definitely recommend giving this mask a try!
This week I decided to try my new e.l.f. mask! I was super excited to use this one because I am a big bubble fan and I’ve enjoyed this style mask in the past. I would suggest using a mask applicator for this mask because it bubbles very quickly. Another thing to keep in mind when using this mask is that you should use the product sparingly. If you apply it too thick then you will get bubbles in your eyes (I speak from experience, it was terrifying). I used this mask once and it tickled a little as the bubbles formed, but it wasn’t so unpleasant that I needed to wash it off. Then I let my friend Carrington try it. She wanted to wash it off after a minute because she was in so much discomfort from the bubbles forming and popping. I decided to try the product again the next day just in case and I quickly understood what she meant.
The mask wasn’t bad and didn’t cause any problems with my skin so I will continue to use it until it runs out, but I won’t be rushing to buy the e.l.f. mask again. While it did make my skin look pretty good the next day, it can cause discomfort sometimes, especially if you’re ticklish.
Overall, I think I’m going to stick to my tried and true Freeman mud mask. It keeps my pores clean, calms my skin, and leaves it looking fresh in a pinch.