Of all the different types of face masks, retexturizing masks have to be my favorite. Sure, I love a good charcoal mask to get rid of the gunk lodged in my pores or a hydrating mask when my skin needs a drink, but when I'm looking for spa-like results at home, a resurfacing mask is in order.
Retexturizing masks work to remove dead skin cells, regenerate cell turnover, dull hyperpigmentation and clear pores — leaving you with smoother, more even skin. They are so strong and effective, however, they should really only be used once a week. Many of these masks feature potent ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that exfoliate the surface of the skin or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) that work deep below the surface.
There are so many options, it's hard to know where to begin. Lucky for you, I donated my skin to science by testing out all the top resurfacing face masks to find the best of the best. Read on to find out how it went down.
Image via Imaxtree
Star Ingredients: Vitamin C, 10% AHA, green tea, algae
This mask had a very different feel than the rest. While some instantly tingled upon application, this one felt more soothing. It also didn't dry up to a hard consistency. The entire time it did its work, it felt smooth, cool and relaxing. The mask is made for brightening the skin, but it does it in a way where you're getting the effects of exfoliation, regeneration of new skin cells and hydration all at once, thanks to two types of Vitamin C and a 10 percent AHA complex of seven fruits.
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Star Ingredients: Mediterranean rose clay, Canadian willowherb, jojoba beads
Often when your skin needs resurfacing, you also need to purify. For those who don't have time to mask multiple times per week, this one-and-done formula does the trick. It gently pulls out impurities while exfoliating to make texture look and feel smoother. This means glowy AF skin for you. It dries up to a hard cast and as you wash it off after the recommended 15-20 minutes, you'll see clearer pores and younger-looking skin.
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Star Ingredients: Phytic acid, jojoba oil, algae extract
The real benefit of this mask is how effective it is without stripping skin of its natural oils. Many resurfacing and purifying masks leave your skin feeling bone dry, which can lead to overproduction of oil to compensate. This clay-based mask gently sucks out any impurities that may cause blemishes and breakouts and evens out dark spots, while using jojoba oil to replenish skin.
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Star Ingredients: Pumpkin enzyme, AHAs, aluminum oxide crystals
Of all the masks listed here, this one is easily the most powerful, in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend this for skin that is sensitive or easily irritated since there is an intense tingling sensation for the first minute or so. That being said, this mask does WORK! It uses triple-action exfoliation (manual, chemical and enzymatic) to make sure skin looks and feels smooth, fresh and decongested. I always notice a huge difference in texture and tone — with zero redness — after using this mask.
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