"Masquerade, Every Face A Different Shade..."

"Makeup is not a mask that covers up your beauty; it's a weapon that helps you express who you are from the inside." - Michelle Phan

I love masks. Really, they're fun! Do they all work? No, BUT they are useful to some aspects of skincare, and honestly, even if they aren't terribly effective, they're neat to use when you're feeling the urge to pamper yourself.

I picked up these two reasonably-priced masks at Ulta after having used their sister masque, the Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask. The Clearing Sweet Tea & Lemon is a peeling mask, which for some reason is just so intriguing to me, and the other, the Purifying Avocado & Oatmeal, is clay mask boasting different properties than the first clay mask I purchased. For $4.29 a piece, you really can't beat this deal! Individually packaged, single usage masks are typically a dollar or two like this one from CVS while a larger quantity that lasts through several usages can be upwards of $13 like this one from Lush or even a prestige brand's label that'll cost you $60 or more.

Left to right: Purifying Avocado + Oatmeal Clay Mask & Clearing Sweet Tea + Lemon Peel-Off Clay Mask

The Purifying Avocado & Oatmeal Clay mask is the most gorgeous color of mint green! It has a soft and velvety application but when it dries, it doesn't crack or flake off like some masks do. It comes off smoothly with warm water and leaves your skin feeling fully refreshed. I don't have severe acne/blackhead issues, so I can't say that it "truly" purifies, but I can say that my skin certainly felt rejuvenated afterwards. Impurities weren't pouring out or being ripped up like the infamous black peels of early-2017, but that can't be healthy for your pores anyway.

Now the Clearing Sweet Tea & Lemon mask is a peel-off mask, and it was my first try with that type of mask. It's not particularly pleasant, and you especially have to watch your application technique so as not to include any baby hairs in the goop, but weirdly enough, it is entertaining! The consistently of this mask is like melted plastic, slimy and thick, and the faint peach-and-yellow color is barf-worthy, but it smells divine! Once again, you won't see blackheads yanked out when you begin the peeling process, but your skin feels baby-smooth and a bit tingly.

Though I can't vouch for the utter effectiveness of these masks or claim that I saw a life-changing difference in my skin after usage, for a reasonably priced, spa-like experience and skin refresh, these masks definitely give you more bang for your buck! Try out the others in this line and let me know what you think!