Face Masks: How To Pick The Right One For You

Face masks have earned the reputation as being a relaxing self-care step. And while this is true, if you’re strategic about the type of face mask you use and how often you use it, the long-term results for your skin are considerable. 

Face masks can do so much more than provide a few minutes of downtime. They can help to clear congestion, exfoliate, hydrate or plump pre-makeup. Whether you like a speedy sheet mask or are after a hero treatment for your at-home facial, consider this your guide for gaining real results.

Below, skin expert Dr Yalda Jamali offers pointers for finding the best face masks for your skin type and how to get the most out of this step.

The different types of face masks

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of ingredients and personalising your face mask usage, here’s a quick guide to the different types of face masks. We’ve included what/who they’re typically best suited for but bear in mind it’s not always the case and formulas vary…

Sheet masks

Sheet masks come in a variety of different formulas with ingredients to tackle different skin concerns, namely hydration, soothing and brightening. We particularly love the no-rinse ease of sheet masks to prep the skin before makeup application or as a quick calming fix.

bh recommends: Skinstitut Quick-Fix Calming Sheet Mask, $34.30 (4 pack) at Adore Beauty

Clay masks

Clay-based masks are typically great for balancing oil production and clearing congestion. They’ve historically received a bad rap for being drying but modern formulas manage to detoxify and hydrate at the same time.

bh recommends: Hemp Co Avocado & Hemp Green Clay Mask, $49 at hempcoaustralia.com

Cream masks

Possibly the most traditional type of face mask, cream masks are exactly that: cream-based. These formulas tend to be hydrating and soothing, working best for dry skin in need of moisture and glow, or sensitive skin in need of soothing.

bh recommends: A’kin Ultra Hydrating Cream Mask, $29.95 at A’kin

Overnight masks

A relatively new phenomenon is overnight masks, which can be left on the skin just like a moisturiser to rejuvenate and protect the skin while you sleep. They’re mostly cream or gel-based, with an occlusive finish.

bh recommends: Skin Proud Sleep Hero, $19.59 (down from $27.99) at Priceline

Exfoliating masks

Exfoliating masks are often formulated with active ingredients that work to remove dead skin cells to reveal a smoother skin surface underneath. They’re great for anyone looking for deeper exfoliation or skin resurfacing.

bh recommends: Aesthetics RX Fruit Enzyme Mask, $60 at Adore Beauty

How often should I be using a face mask in my routine?

So how often should we use a face mask? Weekly? Monthly? DAILY? 

Dr Yalda says this will all depend on the ingredients of the face mask, plus your skin type and concern.

“For example, if you suffer from dry skin, then using a hydrating mask even every day will benefit the skin as it will add intense hydration and moisture,” she explains. “On the other hand, if you have oily skin and you use a mask with exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs or BHAs, then overusing them can cause irritation and compromise the skin barrier.”

Her advice? Go nuts with anything hydrating or soothing but limit exfoliating and clay masks to once a week to avoid irritation.

Do I need more than one type of face mask or is one hero enough?

“You can certainly use a couple of different masks in your routine if your skin type allows for it,” says Dr Yalda. After all, our skin doesn’t always stay the same day to day and different issues can crop up that may benefit from different masks. 

“If you don’t suffer from dry skin, a hydrating and an exfoliating mask every week would be a fantastic boost [for] the skin.” 

What kind of face mask should we be using in winter?

We often look to hydrating face masks in winter and Dr Yalda agrees. 

“I would also look out for one of my favourite ingredients, niacinamide, as it has antioxidant and soothing properties,” she says. Her recommendation is the Skin Proud Sleep Hero mask ($19.59 down from $27.99 at Priceline).

“It is suitable for most skin types; it’s important to remember that blemish-prone and oily skin also needs hydration”.

What ingredients should we look for if we’re after a hydrating face mask?

Sometimes face masks don’t spell out what they’re good for on the tin, so Dr Yalda’s compiled a list of ingredients to look for if you’re after hydration:

• Shea butter
• Glycerin
• Niacinamide
• Ceramides
• Hyaluronic acid
• Fatty acids
• Squalane
• Urea

What ingredients should we look for if we’re after a face mask to clear congestion?

As for congestion, Dr Yalda highly rates BHA (salicylic acid). “This is a lipid-soluble ingredient which means it can penetrate through oil and unclog our pores and reduce congestion,” she says.

She adds that it may cause some purging when first used and you may notice some dryness, which is when complimenting exfoliation with hydration would come in handy.

“Other exfoliating acids such as AHAs (glycolic, lactic, and mandelic) and PHAs are also great, she says. “We also can’t forget about retinoids, they increase the skin cell turnover and help to reduce congestion.”

Main image credit: @katebosworth

Do you use a face mask regularly? What type do you like using?