Skin Care Week #4: Face Masks in my Rotation!

Happy weekend, everyone! This week on the blog has been all about the skin care products that have been keeping my complexion happy and healthy lately (click on the links to check out my Morning Routine, Evening Routine, and, Weekend Routine). I've featured some true gems and have loved hearing your feedback about what items you've been using and loving recently. It's time for the final installment of Skin Care Week, where I gush about all of the amazing face masks in my rotation! I've always been a sucker for a good face mask- it feels like such a pampering experience and there's something fun about spending a few moments of your evening looking like a crazy creature from the deep!

Before I delve into my reviews, a quick note about my skin type. You can read a full description of my complexion in my Morning Routine, but here's the gist: My skin is combination to oily, acne-prone, sensitive, and prone to pigmentation and redness. I can't guarantee that the products below will love your skin as they do mine, but hopefully I can introduce you to a product or brand that might pamper you perfectly!

Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask with Pink Clay
This wonderful little mask was an unexpected love. I received a sample a while back and instantly fell smitten! I featured it in my latest Beauty Tray post- and with good reason! It's the ultimate deep cleanse for those with more dry or sensitive skin. It has pink clay that draws out impurities without any feelings of tightness. It instantly soothes and brightens the skin and I always wake up to a calmer complexion the next day!

The Face Shop Magic Pink Powder Mask
This most definitely wins the award of cutest mask ever! Even the box is adorable (Face Shop, you've really outdone yourselves on the cuteness scale)! Although I might have purchased this for the packaging alone, it was the combination of ingredients that hooked me. This mask is designed to both treat blemishes while soothing the skin. A perfect combo or me! It has salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and target breakouts and a pink, calamine-based creamy texture to calm redness. And it has a slight cooling effect on the skin, which really makes it perfect for summer! This one is also great for morning use, as it helps keep oil at bay while providing a smooth, calm base for makeup.

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant
This is a staple pick for me- truly a mask that I hope to never be without! I love it so much that I featured it in my Top 10 Skin and Hair Care Products of 2013 post. It was a Lisa Eldridge-inspired purchase and, let me say, that lady rarely steers me in the wrong direction! I'm a huge fan of chemical exfoliants, as manual scrubbers tend to irritate my sensitive skin. This clay-based mask deep cleanses, while gently, but potently exfoliating the skin with lactic acid. My skin loves it and it always left amazingly smooth and clear afterwards!

Eve Lom Rescue Mask
I purchased this cult favourite in NYC back in January and posted a full review of it shortly afterwards. This is a mask that my skin should react poorly to- it has coarse, scrubby bits and stimulating camphor which both typically irritate my skin. Amazingly, though, my face loves this stuff! It's a complete treat to use, with a luxurious smell and texture. Plus, it leaves my skin feeling incredibly clean and fresh every time. A splurge that's been totally worth it!

Alpha H Balancing and Pore Refining Mask
I received this mask, my first-ever product from Alpha H, in the amazing Cult Beauty Goody Bag a few months ago. I've only used it a couple of times, but so far, so good! This mask is fantastic when you need a deep cleanse but want to forego any exfoliation. It features a clay base to draw out impurities, lavender to act as a mild antibacterial agent, zinc oxide to gently heal blemishes, Vitamin A to regenerate skin, and Jojoba to lightly moisturize. Powerhouse ingredients for a sophisticated deep clean!

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask
I picked up this lovely mask in my first-ever Feel Unique Haul back in September and it became an instant favourite for several reasons. First off, I've never found a mask that simultaneously provides a thorough cleanse and deep hydration. Not sure how it works! Every time, my skin feels entirely clean, yet also plump and dewy. Second, this mask is packed with skin-loving ingredients, including the star of the show, Manuka Honey. This beautiful inclusion works wonders to gently heal blemishes without stripping the skin. And, finally, that smell! The fragrance is warm and sweet, like a vanilla and honey custard. Plus, it has a custard-like texture to match. Always a heavenly experience!

Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste
So this one isn't technically a face mask, but I thought it deserved a shout-out. This facial exfoliator contains both manual and chemical elements, which is a rather ingenious combo! Quartz particles powerfully (yet somehow also gently) slough away dead skin while lactic acid (my favourite!) also works to gently eat away at the skin's top layer to reveal glowy, fresh skin! After rubbing in gently, I leave this on for a minute to let the lactic acid have its moment. The scent is fresh and beautiful and my skin is always left incredibly smooth and vibrant. To see it in action, check out my Aesop Facial routine!

Aesop Camomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque
And to round things up, another goody from Aesop! If you'll notice a theme among my face mask picks, it's that I like products that deeply cleanse my skin without stripping or irritating it. And this treatment does just that! It not only includes zit-zapping and mildly astringent ingredients like tea tree, it also features Camomile to calm and Evening Primrose to lightly hydrate. The texture is rich and creamy and the scent is herbal, fresh, and totally lovely. This always leaves my skin looking bright, clear, and peaceful. Love it to bits!

So there you go, everyone! All of the face masks that are keeping my skin pampered, deep cleansed, smoothed, and glowing! It's fun to customize a facial depending on how my skin has been acting of late. Really a wonderful, easy way to wind down, relax, and treat myself after a hectic day :)

What face masks are in your current rotation? What are your at-home facial routines? Did I tempt you with any goodies today?

Thanks to everyone who's stopped by during Skin Care Week! It's been fun to chat about my current complexion routine and to feature the products that are currently keeping my skin happy while also being a complete pleasure to use :)

Have a wonderful weekend! xo