New-Year Challenge: I Tried Using A Face Mask Every Day Of The Week!

I’ve loved face masks for as long as I can remember. There’s something about them that immediately puts me at ease, no matter what time of the day it is, especially if it’s at the end of a long day when all I want to do is nothing but relax and watch a light show on Netflix while waiting for my face mask to work its magic.

Sometimes all it takes are a few minutes, but when it comes to sheet masks, on most occasions I’d most likely fall asleep before I have to remove them – whoops! – hence why I prefer using wash-off (not peel-off) masks most of the time. However, there are days where I wake up in the morning and feel like my skin could use a quick boost of moisture or radiance, so after some testing rounds, I’ve managed to narrow down my picks to those that really do the job. I thought it’d be fun to try it out as a 7-day challenge for the New Year, so read on to find out the ones that made the cut:

Day 1

THE PRODUCT: Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Sleepair Ampoule-in Mask, RM150
‍TIME REQUIRED: Overnight
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “Since I noticed a few bumps slowly popping up on my chin, I decided to give this sleeping mask a go. The ‘Green Repair Solution’ was carefully developed by Dr. Jart to soothe irritated, sensitive and sensitised skin while restoring its health with three original skin-strengthening ingredients. My skin felt instantly hydrated and calm after I applied two layers on before bed.”
‍THE VERDICT: “The mask eliminated redness and my skin texture had visibly improved after I washed the layer off the next morning. My skin looked healthy and felt soothed and supple. It’s a great pick to help stressed and fatigued skin heal and feel good again.”

Get it here.

Day 2

THE PRODUCT: Kora Organics by Miranda Kerr Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask 2-in-1, RM194
‍TIME REQUIRED: 10 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “When the pack says it’s ‘created with love by Miranda Kerr’ for all skin types, well, it’s true. The mask is made of 95% ingredients of natural origin, with 85% of it organically farmed, such as coconut extract, lavender oil, lemon peel oil, papaya extract, peppermint oil, rose hip fruit oil and seed powder, sunflower seed oil and turmeric root powder. I could definitely feel the love in the scent, texture and cooling sensation that this 2-in-1 mask brought to my skin upon application.”
‍THE VERDICT: “I massaged the mask into my damp skin (avoiding the eye area) and left it to work for about 10 minutes (the suggested time is 5–15 minutes depending on your skin’s concerns). Once it was dry, I removed it with water in circular motions to exfoliate my skin. The result? Clean and radiant skin that’s ready to face the day’s challenges – or soak up the goodness of the skincare that follows before bedtime.”

Get it here.

Day 3

THE PRODUCTS: Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment, S$54 (about RM170) & Porefining Face Mask, RM180
‍TIME REQUIRED: 5 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “I first spread a light layer of the Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment on my T-zone and found it sufficient to deep-cleanse my skin before my next scheduled facial appointment. Then I applied the Porefining Face Mask on my forehead, cheeks and chin, and felt the tightening effect that the smooth clay texture provided instantly.”
‍THE VERDICT: “I used to carry these two with me on my frequent travels before the pandemic as they work well together for my multi-masking whims to score that clean-from-within feeling sans any dryness – and in a jiffy at that! Five minutes are enough as the masks will dry up if I leave them on for more than 10 minutes, so I wouldn’t recommend it for dry and sensitive skin.”

Get them here and here.

Day 4

THE PRODUCT: Dermalogica Rapid RevealPeel, RM416
‍TIME REQUIRED: 3–7 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “Since I’m trying to stay safe and not going to be heading out a lot in the coming week, my skin won’t be exposed to the harsh sunlight and pollution that it would have otherwise encountered daily. Thus, it’s the perfect time to revisit using this professional-grade at-home peel that comes in a handy pack containing handy 3ml x 10 mini tubes. All I had to do was apply a thin layer of this transparent fluid and wait a few minutes for it to work its magic.”
‍THE VERDICT: “This is a good solution to maintain skin’s radiance if you don’t have 30-60 minutes to spare for a professional peel session at AsterSpring, although I’d recommend it if you have the time to spare. Although this mini miracle takes only a few minutes a week, it’s a maximum-strength exfoliant that delivers powerful results with no downtime – which means no worries for you! I noticed that my skin appeared brighter, healthier and more supple thanks to the unique complex of phytoactive AHA extracts, lactic acid and fermented plant enzymes. When used regularly, it’ll help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and make your skin texture smoother.”

Get it here.

Day 5

THE PRODUCT: Fresh Rose Face Mask, RM280
‍TIME REQUIRED: 10 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “My skin’s feeling a little dry today, so I reached out for this hydrating and toning mask that helps to restore radiance and suppleness to the skin. I like the rose-y scent and its gel texture that’s infused with rose petals gives my skin a cooling and calming sensation when applied on generously. If you like it extra cool, fridge this mask and your skin will thank you for it!”
‍THE VERDICT: “Although the jar says this mask works in five minutes, I like to leave it on for a few more minutes to let my skin absorb more of its goodness. TBH, I wasn’t impressed when I first tried this many years ago, but I’ve grown to love it over the years. The winning combination of pure rosewater, green tea, cucumber extract, aloe vera gel and algae extract never fails to leave my skin looking healthy and bright, feeling moisturised and ready for the skincare that follows!”

Get it here.

Day 6

THE PRODUCT: Bliss Mighty Marshmallow Brightening Face Mask (Bright & Radiant Whipped Mask), US$15 (about RM60)
‍TIME REQUIRED: 10-15 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “Intrigued by its name, I bought this cruelty-free, vegan mask on my way back from Los Angeles after my last trip there and simply love its airy, light pink whipped texture that’s soft, light and fluffy – just like a marshmallow! The mask is suitable for all skin types and comes with a fresh floral scent.”
‍THE VERDICT: “Count me in for anything that delivers a fresh, lit-from-within glow and plumped-up skin – like this mask! Forget about dull, lacklustre skin cos this mask helps to address uneven skin tone and discoloration with its key ingredients such as marshmallow root extract, olive leaf extract, Vitamin C powerhouse blend and zinc PCA, as well as lemon, lime, pine and eucalyptus oils. Spread a fine or thick layer over your face anytime you need a pick-me-up!”

Get it here.

Day 7

THE PRODUCT: Beausta O2 Bubble Mask, RM18
‍TIME REQUIRED: 3–5 minutes
‍FIRST IMPRESSION: “The light and calming tea-like scent of this watery mask put my mind at ease when I was spreading it evenly over the entire face in circular motion, which made the oxygen bubbles appear. Once my whole face was covered with foam, I massaged it lightly and left it on for a bit longer before rinsing it off.”
‍THE VERDICT: “When you’ve got one of those days where you’re going to be in a Zoom meeting for most of the day and you wake up with tired or ‘hangover’ skin, trust bubble masks to come to your rescue immediately – like this goodie! Not only is it cooling and purifying, it’s brightening and improves the clarity of your skin too. It’s definitely a new favourite in my books!”

Get it here.

Featured image: Monstera/Pexels
Illustration: Zariel Zahann