BEAUTY
FACE MASKS TRIED AND TESTED
By Navreen Mangat, 5 October 2018
After a quick survey at ASOS HQ, the general consensus is that a good face mask is the answer to pretty much everything. Bad day at work? Missed out on a few extra Zs last night? Cancelled Friday night plans? Yep, a face mask is the go-to.
From slightly terrifying looking, yet amazingly hydrating sheet masks, to DIY shake-and-apply formulas, ASOS’s Senior Copywriter Navreen Mangat tries out some of the most exciting masks on sale right now.
This is a two-step thing. There’s a jelly-like serum in a small pot first, which smells of zesty lemon, followed by the mask. NGL, this one looked a bit spooky as it has a shiny, rubbery finish so it kinda looked like I had a cheese slice on my face. Nevertheless, the results were immediate. After 40 minutes, my skin looked clearer and bright, and I even had some serum left over to use the next day. Bonus.
Dr.Jart+ Rubber Mask Bright Lover, £10
I confess, I’ve spent a long time watching the ‘before’ and ‘after’ Instagram videos of this one. After using it myself, I totally see why it’s taken the beauty world by storm. Using the tiny brush that’s included, the light pink formula dries down and tightens in a matter of seconds. Washing it off with warm water left my skin looking noticeably more even. The best part? You only need to leave it on for 10 minutes, making it a handy treatment when you’re pushed for time.
Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask, £39.99
Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask, £39.99
Another one from South Korean beauty brand Dr.Jart+ (new to ASOS this month), this version's like a chemistry experiment, and I’m so into it. There’s a spatula and everything. After shaking the solution, it immediately turns into a thick, mousse-like consistency. It continues to solidify, so work quickly when applying it (feels like soft marshmallows, FYI). Use the spatula for good coverage then switch to your fingertips to reach those smaller, trickier areas. It dries with a rubbery finish, and gives an immediate soothing and smoothing effect when washed away.
Dr.Jart+ Shake & Shot Rubber Hydro Mask, £8
Dr.Jart+ Shake & Shot Rubber Hydro Mask, £8
As someone who struggles with sleep, I’m always looking for products that make me feel more relaxed before bedtime, and this eye mask does exactly that. I placed the pads under my eyes for 10 minutes, massaging in the extra serum afterwards, too. I have fairly sensitive eyes, so like most other eye products, it felt a little tingly at first. By the end of the 10 minutes, though, my eyes felt soothed and calm.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask, £11
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask, £11
I’m a bit of a magpie so I was immediately drawn to this one. It really does come out gold and I very much enjoyed looking like an Oscar award for 15 minutes. I loved how smoothly it went on, and it didn’t take much product to cover the surface of my skin. It peeled off easily, too, so it didn’t feel like I was scraping at my face afterwards. Enriched with fruit extracts, it left my skin moisturised and oh-so fresh.
MasqueBAR Gold Peel Off Brightening Mask, £9.99
This tube of goodness is what lazy-routine dreams are made of, and probably one of my favourites of the bunch. It only needs to be left on for three minutes, smells of dreamy rose and removes every single trace of dirt and makeup from the skin. Bonus: a little goes a long way, so even if you use it daily, it’ll last for ages.
Dr.Jart+ Dermaclear Trans-Foam Clay Pink, £8
Dr.Jart+ Dermaclear Trans-Foam Clay Pink, £8
I swear this one is magic. The sheet is silky smooth and jet black like its packaging, but as soon as you apply it, bubbles start to appear out of nowhere. I lost total sight of the black sheet and instead my face was in some kind of foam party. It was a bit messy, and I think I ended up eating some of the bubbles, but extremely hydrating.
