The Face Mask Lowdown

After struggling with 'bloggers block' for a month or two, I'm back with an honest lowdown on 6 face masks I've used lately. It can be hard to find a decent face mask that suits not just your skin type but your beauty budget too, so the ones im going to talk about are all purse friendly choices that won't break the bank. Hopefully this will help you if you've been looking for a new product to freshen up your skincare routine!

Superdrug Detoxifying Dead Sea Mud Mask (Normal to Oily Skin), £2.59 for 75ml

The first thing I want to draw your attention to is the price of this product, amazing right? Even if you purchased this and didn't really like it, you wouldn't have that awful guilty feeling of wasting too much money on something you won't use again. But, I have to say that wasn't the case with this product. It contains 'ultra purifying' Dead Sea Mud and China Clay (which are often main ingredients in quite a few high end face masks) and claims to unclog pores and draw out dirt, oil and impurities. I definitely can say that I feel this mask doing just that when its on my face. It has a nice cooling effect which makes it seem as if its really working on the dreaded blocked pores, and the fresh scent adds to that pampered kinda feeling! The texture is lovely and smooth too which makes it easy to apply and remove. A little word of advice though, don't use a white flannel to remove this mask as it is dark green/brown so may stain. After removing the mask, my skin felt softer and smoother, and my pores felt less clogged and actually looked slightly less visible (which is a hard result to come by with my huge pores!). I also love the fresh, cool feeling it leaves on my face; it feels like I've given my skin a really good deep clean. My only negative about this product if I had to say one is that the bottle isn't that big, but a small amount goes a long way and at only £2.59, you can always buy another bottle once its gone.
As with most of Superdrugs own brand products, it is suitable for vegans/vegetarians and is dermatologically approved. Superdrug is also against animal testing which makes this product even more satisying.
Price: 9/10Ease Of Application/Removal: 8/10
Size: 8/10

Effects On The Skin: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Purchase From: Superdrug- Click Here To Buy

Avon Blemish Clearing Peel Off Mask, £4.00 for 75ml Second on my list is an Avon's peel off face mask, that you leave on overnight and peel off in the morning. I have a love/hate relationship with Avon's skincare products as some I've tried and totally loved, and others are either nothing special or really awful. This one falls into the nothing special category. This mask claims to have 'blemish busting technology' and contains 2.0% Salicylic Acid. I used this when I had a few spots and I have to be honest, I didn't feel like it made any difference to my skin. I'm not really a fan of peel off masks anyway so I didn't really expect to be that overly enthralled by this product, and I wasn't too sure about the whole leaving it on overnight thing. Its a bit on the runny side when you first apply it, but a little bit does go a long way, so the bottle lasts quite a while. Its not that comfortable once it's dried; my skin felt quite tight and I wanted to peel it off so badly. I stuck it out and waited until the morning, and one thing I can say is that it was easy to peel off. The bottle says to use it every night but I used it every other night as I personally find that using masks daily dries my skin out.
This mask might suit other people's skin types, but unfortunately it didn't give me any noticeable results in terms of clearing blemishes.
The cost of this product is very affordable, and sometimes Avon has half price deals on skincare products so if you use this and like it, its worth stocking up when it's on offer.
Price: 8/10
Ease Of Application/Removal: 7/10
Size: 8/10
Effects On Skin: 4/10
Overall: 5/10
Purchase From: Avon- Click Here To Buy

Superdrug De-Stressing Aloe Vera Mud Mask (Normal to Combination Skin), £2.59 for 75ml
This mask is very similar to the first one. It contains the Dead Sea Mud like the first mask, but also has the added benefits of Aloe Vera, which helps 'calm the skin and replenish moisture'. So whilst it purifies yur pores, this mask can also help to reduce acne/blemishes, as Aloe Vera is a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. I like the scent of this product as its very soft and fresh smelling. I have used this product for a year or two and found it beneficial over the summer because Aloe is a known after-sun treatment and can reduce the redness that UV rays can cause. It felt soothing on my face when I had dry patches from peeling after my holiday. I definitely agree with the claim on the packaging that it replenishes moisture, as it doesn't dry my skin out like some other masks have. I like masks that contain natural ingredients and extracts as you actually feel like your using something that has proven beneficial effects on your skin, rather than a product full of man made things that may well flare skin up or not suit your skin type.
It definitely is worth a try if you have typically combination skin like me, as the clay and Dead Sea Mud suit oily or blemish prone areas, and the Aloe Vera suits any dry or inflamed patches.
Again, the size of this product is the only negative but the incredible price makes up for this.
Price: 9/10
Ease Of Application/Removal: 9/10
Size: 8/10
Effects On Skin: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Purchase From: Superdrug- Click Here To Buy

Nip + Fab Soft Kale Fix Clay Mask (Dry and Dull Skin), £9.95 for 50ml
I have mentioned that I'm a fan of Nip + Fab products in a few blog posts before, so when I was browsing the skincare section in Superdrug recently and saw this face mask, I had to get it! Kale has been a popular superfood over the last year or two, so I was keen to try this mask see if it has skincare benefits. This product claims to draw away impurities without drying the skin out, increase hydration and make the skin appear softer and radiant with the help of Witch Hazel and minerals.
If I'm honest, I did wonder at first whether having Kale in a face mask would do anything, but the packaging says that Kale contains vitamins A, C and K which 'help to reinvigorate the skin', so that told me! It also contains Watercress extract which 'helps skin retain maximum softness and elasticity'. After reading this, I literally felt like this mask was going to be like a superfood salad for my skin! I almost expected it to be green, but I was surprised when I saw it was white. It says on the packaging to apply an even layer to dry, cleansed skin. It doesn't actually feel like a typical face mask once its on your skin, as it sinks in slightly so you can hardly see it. Im used to the type of masks that sit on your skin and gradually dry. When I rinsed it off with lukewarm water and dried my face, I couldn't believe how soft my skin felt; I don't think my skin has ever felt that soft and moisturised without feeling oily. The balance of extracts in this mask must be just right. It definitely does perk up skin thats slightly dry or dull.
Personally, I think its a decent price for a product with good quality, natural extracts, although again, the tube is small and I can't see it lasting that long as I had to apply quite a bit to cover my face.
Price: 8/10
Ease Of Application/Removal: 9/10
Size: 7/10
Effects On Skin: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Purchase From: Superdrug- Click Here To Buy

Good Things Five Minute Facial Anti Blemish Face Mask, £5.99 for 100ml
As I mentioned previously, I love products that contain natural ingredients and this mask definitely doesn't disappoint in that aspect. Created by beauty writer Alice Hart-Davis, it contains advocado oil which moisturises, goji berry extract to soothe, willow bark which provides radiance and green clay to draw out any impurities. Its also free from parabens, mineral oils, sodium laureth sulphate, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. So like the name of this brand suggests, it literally only contains 'Good Things'. I think the main appeal of this mask is that you know what you are putting on your skin isn't full of chemical products, and that it has been specially designed for young skin.
The formula is buttery smooth which makes it a joy to apply to the face, and the fruity scent makes my mouth water. It doesn't feel too cakey on your face whilst drying, and also doesn't crack. It does say on the tube to leave it on for 5 minutes, but personally I do like to leave it a little longer if I have the time as I think it gives it more time to really get to work on my skin. It is easily removed with a warm dampened flannel, without any need for scrubbing too hard.
After removal, my skin felt very soft and hydrated, like I'd just put a good quality night cream on. It also left my skin feeling plumper and more energized. The price of the product is brilliant given the quality of the ingredients and it is generously sized, given that a little goes a long way.
I would recommend this mask for anyone with troubled skin, or skin that just needs a little boost or pick me up. It woukd also be safe to use on sensitive skin (test on a small area first though!), due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
Price:8/10
Ease Of Application/Removal: 9/10
Size: 8/10
Effects On Skin: 9/10
Overall: 9/10

Purchase From: Boots- Click Here To Buy

So theres my pick of a few face masks. Hope this helps you decide which ones to try if you're in need of a new product to try. 

Let me know what you think if you give any of these a go, or give me some suggestions if you know of any other good face masks!

Love,

Lauren xo