Buying the best face mask for you: a full buyer’s guide

Providing a relaxing pamper, face masks can be an attractive option for improving your skin. However, buying a face mask can sometimes be overwhelming. It can be hard to know how much to spend and what type and brand to get. In this guide, we will answer frequently asked questions about buying face masks and point you in the right direction for choosing the best face mask for you.

In this guide:

Read about the benefits of using a face mask regularly, and why it is important to include them in your skincare routine.

A guide to choosing face masks for specific concerns and skin types.

Explaining the different formulas of face masks, explaining the benefits of each.

Find out how face masks can help men’s skin and why it is effective to include them in your skincare routine.

A guide to the different face mask brands available.

The benefits of using face masks regularly

Face masks can provide deeper absorption than other skincare products, as you are leaving the ingredients on your skin for a longer amount of time. Face masks can provide a deep cleanse, while your normal cleanser doesn’t always reach beneath the outer layer of skin to extract the dirt. Different face masks can also achieve different results, including minimising pores, reducing redness, oil control and providing anti-ageing benefits.

It is recommended to include a face mask in your routine a couple of times a week, as with all skincare products, a one-time application won’t provide a permanent fix.

You can read more about the benefits of using face masks here.

Which type of face mask do I need?

Face masks for specific skin concerns

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Skin concern What to look for Recommended product
Blackheads and blocked pores
  • Clay or charcoal masks
  • These masks will draw out impurities and dirt from congested pores
You can read our guide to choosing face masks for removing blackheads here.
Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Anti-Blackhead Wash, Scrub & Mask
scrub and mask for blackheads
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Greasy skin
  • Clay or charcoal masks can cleanse greasy skin and absorb excess oil
  • Gel masks can hydrate oily skin without making it greasier
L'Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Purity Mask 50ml
loreal clay mask
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Acne
  • Clay masks can reduce skin oiliness
  • A salicylic acid mask can decrease oil production which reduces the formation of acne over time
Read our guide to choosing face masks for acne.
L'Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Detox Mask 50ml
loreal detox clay mask
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Dirty skin
  • Clay and mud masks can remove excess oil and dirt from pores
  • Peel-off masks can cleanse the skin
Beauty Formulas Charcoal Clay Mask 100ml
charcoal mask
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Skin redness
  • Clay (including volcanic clay, smectite, bentonite or kaolin)
  • Salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid, or BHA)
  • Aloe vera
  • Chamomile
Read our guide to choosing face masks for redness here.
Garnier Moisture Bomb Chamomile Hydrating Face Sheet Mask
garnier moisture bomb
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Face masks for different skin types

Skin type What to look for Recommended product
Dry skin
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Glycerin
  • Aloe vera
You can read our guide to face masks for dry skin here..
Nivea Q10+ Vit C Energy Sheet Mask
nivea mask
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Oily skin
  • Clay, mud or charcoal masks can cleanse greasy skin and absorb excess oil
7th Heaven Charcoal Face Mask
charcoal face mask
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Combination skin
  • Balanced face masks and creams that help control the sebum production in your T-zone while keeping the rest of your face hydrated
7th Heaven Black Seaweed Peel-Off Mask
black seaweed face mask
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Sensitive skin
  • Choose a cooling and soothing product that contains gentle ingredients such as aloe vera
Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Face Mask 150ml
aloe pura
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Different types of face mask formulas

The most popular types of face masks are the following:

Sheet Masks

Sheet Masks are an easy way to add serums into your skincare routine and would benefit any skin type. The sheet itself creates a seal on your skin just like other face masks. In sheet masks, the moisture and vitamins from the serum used on the sheet can’t escape and have to soak into your skin.

Gel Masks

Gel Masks are perfect for dry and sensitive skin. By nature, the masks are often cooling and soothing and of course, hydrating. Most often, the key ingredients in a gel mask will be collagen and antioxidants, which help skin recovery.

Charcoal and clay masks

Charcoal and clay masks are often sold in a paste formula and are ideal for very oily skin and issues such as acne and blackheads. They can be applied using a brush or using your hands.

 

Face masks for men

Men don't typically think about their skin as much as women, and yet men's skin has more sebaceous glands than female skin, making men's faces both oilier and dirtier.

Face masks for men provide deep absorption of ingredients, unclogging pores and fixing greasy skin. They can also be used by men with other skin complaints, such as dry skin or acne, to target these issues too.

Choosing a brand

There are plenty of high street brands that offer face masks for under €10 and even €5, whereas you can also find premium brand face masks in the double digits. Less expensive brands that can be found in pharmacies include Garnier, Loreal and Neutrogena. A higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality when it comes to buying a face mask, as the main thing to consider is the ingredients. However, if you have a preferable brand, you may want to choose a brand that you recognise and already use.

 

We offer an extensive range of face masks all on our online store. You can search our face masks by brand here.

Related content

Choosing face masks for your skin condition or type

Face masks for removing blackheads

Choosing face masks for men