BEAUTY: TRIED & TESTED

The team put nourishing face masks to the test

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Overnight Firming Face Mask, R740

My dry, sensitive skin was in desperate need of an intervention – the skin thirst is real, people. I put it on just before bed and it felt amazing: the subtle scent was very soothing and put me in a relaxed mood. Although this is an overnight mask, I rinsed it off a few hours later; my skin is easily irritated and felt a bit sensitive. Despite this slight hiccup, my face felt soft and visibly tighter thanks to the hyaluronic acid, alfalfa extract and the amino acids and mineral blend. – Christina

J.One Black Jelly Pack Overnight Rescue Mask, R435 at Glow Theory

I plumped for this (excuse the pun) because I loved the idea of just applying it before bed and forgetting about it – zero faff factor. I later discovered it’s a cult beauty product and I totally understand why: my skin really was plumped up and moisturised the next day. The texture is a little weird (a grey jelly) which didn’t bode well for my pillows, I thought. But the instant it touched my face it magically liquified and was totally absorbed into my skin. That, plus the fact that it’s hardly scented at all made me forget I was even using a mask. What reminded me was how rested I looked the next day, how soothed and nourished my skin felt – and the compliments I got. I instantly used it again the following night (same results) and have only spread it out a bit because an addiction could become a little pricey, although the ingredients more than justify the price: truffle, blackcurrant, black cumin seed, black bee propolis, black pearl and blackberry. Bottom line? It’s brilliant. – Suzy

Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque, R695

My skin tends to be on the dry side and to be honest I had pretty much given up on it – so masks have never been part of my beauty regime. However, after using this mask I must say I would splash out happily. Firstly, it comes in a gorgeous juicy orange glass jar and it has a lovely berry/spicy smell to it. You only need to apply a R5 coin-sized blob on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes, allowing the paste to dry and set. As it dries your face literally puckers up – feels quite odd but rather lovely, almost like a mini facelift. The results: perfectly smooth, soft skin. I now use it religiously three times a week – it’s my new me-time treat. – Caryn

Dr Gobac® Photo Perfect masque, R895

This mask applied like a dream and smelled really clean and fresh. My skin, which tends to be a bit oily, felt instantly moisturised. The real results were not instantaneous but after the second or third use I could really see the difference. The mask improves elasticity and the natural antioxidant eliminates redness and irritation, leaving the skin soft and supple. I use it every second day. – Liza

Kalahari Activated Charcoal Mask, R396

Activated charcoal seems to be a big beauty buzzword these days – and I now know why. With its grainy, mud-like consistency, this mask did a great job of removing impurities, unblocking my pores and getting rid of dry skin build-up, leaving me with a renewed glow and soft-to-the-touch skin. The granules in the charcoal also exfoliated my skin, which is helpful as I often get whiteheads on my nose. And it comes with a black face cloth for easy, mess-free removal! – Caroline

SVR Hydracid C50 Masque Éclat, R600

This mask is unlike anything I’ve tried before. First off, it comes in an aerosol canister, and it’s a mousse – you need to shake the bottle for a bit before you squeeze out the light yellow foam. It all but disappears once you massage it in, except for the fact that your face looks very shiny and faintly yellow. It felt slightly tingly on the skin at first but according to the canister, ‘that means that the product is working’ – and it wasn’t unpleasant. Once I’d washed it off my skin felt smooth, soft and radiant (thank you, Vitamin C!) and then a day or so later I noticed that my face was flaking a bit; I’m guessing this was part of the retexturising, micro-peeling effect. I’m saving this one for a oncein-a-while exfoliating treatment – it’s a great pick-me-up for dull skin. – Liesl

Mineraline Purify Regenerating Dead Sea Facial Mud Mask, R95

I have combination skin and often struggle with dryness and blemishes. The mask is a greyishbrown colour and has a fresh fragrance. There was a slight tingling when I first put it on but that quickly went away. After 10 minutes I washed it off – it wasn’t the easiest to remove but a warm, damp face cloth did the trick. The results were immediate and I could definitely feel an improvement – my skin felt smoother and looked more radiant. It’s definitely a product I’ll continue using. – Charis

Freeman Beauty Infusion Hydrating Cream Mask Manuka Honey & Collagen, R149

I love this hydrating face mask so much! It smells amazing and is so gentle that I can use it on my face every day. Other masks tend to leave my face looking too greasy or feeling too tight, but after the first application I could tell I was going to like this one: my skin felt silky-soft, radiant and moisturised. I love swimming and spending the day in the sun, and this mask has a great cooling sensation on my skin, which is perfect! I carry it in my handbag and use it anywhere, anytime. – Liezel

NUXE Créme Fraîche De Beauté 48HR Moisture SOS Rescue Mask, R310

I loved this product: I could instantly feel the difference and it was gentle on my skin. It felt cool and soothing on my face and it has a beautiful magnolia smell, which adds to the fresh feel. My skin felt smoother, moisturised and had more of a glow after using it! My makeup even applied with a smoother finish. The best part is that it’s versatile: you can put on a thick layer for a 10-minute quick fix, or apply a thin layer and leave it on overnight. – Janine

L’Oréal Pure-Clay Bright Mask, R159,95

I’ve suddenly developed a combination skin – blame it on menopause, the usual suspect in many of my maladies these days – so I needed a mask that would take away some of the oiliness on my T-zone. First of all, I love that it’s made of clay – it feels like it’s doing its job of firming up the minute you apply; and a thin application is all you need. Natural microbeads exfoliate as you smooth it on, and later when you remove the mask too. There was a very slight warming sensation after application, but no side-effects, and when I rinsed my skin felt smooth and supple yet plumped up. The smell was neither lovely nor offensive, but the payoff for me was how radiant my skin seemed almost immediately. And my oily T-zone? What oily T-zone? – Sameena

Theravine VitaVine™ Booster Face Mask, R361

This product is for dry, prematurely aged skin. I have oily combination skin but my skin has been feeling quite dry and weathered from spending hours on the beach. I applied it thickly to cleansed skin, but after a few minutes my skin started feeling a bit tingly, so I decided to remove it: my skin is notoriously sensitive and often reacts badly when I try something new. However, even though I had the mask on for only five minutes, I could immediately see an improvement in my skin. It looked thoroughly cleaned and brighter than it had been. If you don’t have sensitive skin like mine, I would recommend it; my skin felt revitalised after just five minutes. – Crystal

Caolion Blackhead O2 Bubble Pore Pack, R585 at K Beauty

This fragrance-free exfoliating mask has a moisturising feel to the skin without being overly thick or sticky: I could make facial expressions effortlessly in the mirror without my face feeling like it had been cemented. I liked the unique sensation of it bubbling on my face and it washed off easily in lukewarm water, leaving my skin feeling purified and soft. Great for clearing your pores, buffing away dead skin and hydrating. – Sinelizwi