Isn’t there just something so luxe about a leave-on mask? Firstly the formulas are rich, never greasily-so, but hydrating in a way that normal moisturisers can never achieve. Then there’s the travel aspect. The whole ‘apply in-flight‘ thing. In reality I use them for that purpose every 18 months or every year at best, but it sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Mostly I just use them a couple of times a week in the evening when I’m feeling like my skin needs an extra oomph as the final step in my skincare routine. I find that I wake up in the morning and my skin feels bouncy and plumped out; a look in the magnifying mirror is not as terrifying as usual. Here are my top three that I currently have on rotation…
Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask – £18 – from Cult Beauty. It might be the cheapest, but don’t be fooled as it’s also way under half the size of the others mentioned here, but price aside this a great choice – especially for those with more combination complexions. It’s a light formula and absorbs into the skin really quickly so feels more moisturiser-esque than the others, but that doesn’t make it any less effective and my skin always feels so silky the morning after. I’ve almost used this whole tube up as I grab for it whenever I’ve had a tonne of makeup on for an event, this is my post-game pep-up that I smoosh on in order to ward away any possible irritation and redness.
Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque – £28 – from Kiehl’s. OK, this mask has a bit of a green tint going on, so it might not be the most invisible formula out there, but a light layer is all you need to feel the benefits, which is why this one makes the cut. The directions say to smooth on and then tissue off the excess five minutes later, but I just like to go easy on the application and again use it in a moisturiser fashion. I whipped it on when I was travelling last week and despite the fact that I didn’t bother looking in a mirror, I don’t think I looked like Shrek on the plane. Upon landing my skin felt juicy and since I’ve been back I’ve been cracking it out in the evenings about twice a week to oomph up my moisture levels. I’d say that this is a good middle ground between the other two – normal-to-dry complexions will lap this up.
Origin’s Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask – £23 – from FeelUnique. The original! And actually the best value of the three by a mile. I still remember reading about this on Caroline Hirons’ blog years ago and my colleague and I flapping around in the office about how good it was. A leave on mask!? That smells like sweets?! Our skin feels so soft!? It was a complete revelation. There isn’t much more to add to those headlines aside from the fact that I will always, always make sure I have a tube of this somewhere in my stash (case in point: this cute little mini that I got as a gift with purchase at an Origins counter yesterday – cute!). I’d say this is the heaviest of the three so personally I save this one for when my face is feeling über dry or for travel (because it smells like a Solero – mmmm mmmm!).
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