I have a love-hate relationship with face masks. My expectations are astronomical and the results are usually underwhelming.
And yet, I continue to marinate my face in pointless, pricey crap in hope of finding the one miracle mask that can transform my complexion in 15 minutes flat.
While a one-time, 15-minute miracle remains unseen, these treatments from two LA-based skin boutiques have renewed my faith in my quest for the perfect face mask.
Price: $30
Best for: Oily & breakout-prone skin
This is a clay mask that's great for anyone on the oilier side or acne-prone. It's a green clay that goes on cool and smells like mint. It contains sulfur and kaolin to draw out excess oil and claims to "purify, deep clean and minimize pore size for cleaner and clearer skin". Directions say to leave on for 20 minutes, in this time the mask begins to harden and tighten slightly.
PRO TIP: Niko, an esthetician at The Treatment, suggested I use this a few days after a facial or any kind of extractions to keep pores clear and extend your results of the facial. I use this mask once a week—any more than that can be a little too drying for me but I like using it as a spot treatment.
This face mask was created by Erin Jensen, founder of The Treatment day spa. You can order this mask on their website or for those who are local, check out their Claremont or Newport, CA locations—the Claremont location has an amazing facial bar.
Price: $62
Best for: Dry skin & anti-aging
I was waitlisted for this mask for three weeks over the summer because it sold out. This mask is AH-mazing. Truly. If you're in need of hydration then this is the face mask for you. It claims to "nourish, tighten, and plump your skin" and it does exactly that. It's made with hyaluronic acid, organic oats and B5 and has a jelly-like texture that goes on clear and is cooling on the skin. Once applied, it begins to dry and slightly tighten. Directions suggest leaving on overnight and rinsing in the morning or leaving it on for 30 minutes.
PRO TIP: I prefer to use as an overnight treatment. I find I can use this multiple times a week but I don't recommend back-to-back nights, it was slightly too moisturizing. The front desk also suggested using this as an eye mask or occasionally in place of an eye treatment.
This mask comes from a line of products created by Vanessa Lee, founder of a spa in DTLA called The Things We Do (they also just started a podcast that is AWESOME). I had the chance to do their microneedling facial (review coming soon!) and their take-home Dew & Go Microneedling Infusion Stamp (review also coming soon). Highly recommend checking this place out in person—it's insanely Grammable!