Everyone wants gorgeous, glowing skin for party season. But if don’t have a facialist on speed dial to help you prep, fret not – our speedy-acting face masks are the next best thing. Gone are the days of masks being strawberry-scented mush that you wore at sleepovers in-between making prank calls and watching Clueless. With potent actives, skin-sloughing acids and detoxing clay, today’s modern varieties are the complexion-pampering equivalent of a spa weekend in a jar – with many working their magic in the space of 10 minutes. If you’re running short on time in the lead up to a fancy soirée, these will help transform your tired, sallow skin into that of a glowing red carpet goddess.
{Perricone MD Cocoa Moisture Mask}
For skin that’s parched and stressed (or perhaps hungover, perish the thought!) this luxurious stuff will turn it around in the time it takes to catch up on last night’s gossip via the Whatsapp chat group. Its transformative prowess is thanks to the formula being contained in micro-capsules, which burst when massaged into the skin, so the contents inside can perform at their peak. The star ingredient is DMAE – a fruit acid derivative, which is renowned for tightening and toning the skin like nobody’s business – giving your skin all the #nofilter goals.
{MV Organic Skincare Energising Mineral Mask}
This mask acts like a fairy godmother for complexions that feel too tired and weary to go to the ball. Designed to be mixed with spring water, it contains two types of refining French clay – illite and kaolin – to purify and brighten. Leave on for around seven minutes and it’ll make your skin look and feel like a million dollars (way beyond midnight).
The effects of this described by our copywriter Jess as “like your skin’s just taken a deep breath”. If your face feels clogged and congested by city grime, this contains activated binchotan (charcoal) powder and kaolin clay, both of which are renowned for their detoxing prowess. It’s also rich in antioxidants such as astaxanthin (which is 6000 times stronger than vitamin C) to neutralise free radicals and give your complexion its glow back. And to soothe and calm, there’s hydrating camellia japonica flower and horse chestnut. Mix the powder and liquid components together, leave on for 20 minutes then gently peel off – the perfect antidote to city pollution and drab, grey ‘office complexions’.
{Sand&Sky’s Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask}
Ever wanted healthy skin comparable to that of a sun-kissed Aussie surfer? Well, this stuff is the beauty equivalent to a one-way-ticket to Sydney, with detoxifying Australian pink clay to put clogged pores through their paces. It also brightens, soothes and kick-starts collagen production thanks to a cocktail of organic liquourice, pomegranate and aloe vera. Once you slather it on, you’ll feel a slight tingle as the ingredients work their magic. Rinse off after ten minutes, and you’ll be left with skin as perky as the Neighbours theme tune.
{Ilcsi Sour Cherry & Blackthorn Gel Mask}
This stuff not only smells divine enough to eat, but brings tired, puffy complexions back from the brink. Honestly, the fast-acting effects of this cannot be overstated (and the fact that it’s frequently sold-out in case in point). Granted, the jam-like consistency will give you the appearance of a zombie when you’re wearing it, but thanks to fruit enzymes and blackthorn, it works fast to diminish dead skin cells, boost circulation and grant skin a healthy, selfie-ready glow. We like to keep our jar in the fridge for extra “zing” factor.