Here are my top 5 at-home facials and face masks for my sensitive skin. These are my favourite products for anti-ageing, exfoliating, detoxifying and clarifying. As well as giving my skin hydration, a youthful glow and natural radiance. Using products that really work, without causing irritation or purging the skin. One is new, but the rest I’ve been using for years, and after trying so many different facials and face masks, these are the best I’ve found for my skin.
AD | This post is sponsored by Look Fantastic, who I work with on an ongoing basis. They offer FREE worldwide shipping, and you can get 15% off using code CURLYCAILINLF. However, this hasn’t influenced the way I’ve written about Look Fantastic, the brands or products featured in this post.
At-Home Facials & Face Masks
I’ve been using at-home facials and face masks for years. I love the ritualistic experience of them, taking the time to slow down, really pay attention to my skin and show it some TLC. But my skin is sensitive and easily irritated, dehydrated and tends to be blemish-prone. I still have pigmentation and discolouration from scarring from acne-prone skin as a teenager. So I have to be careful about what I put on my skin.
This post is expanding more on my previous post of how to build a simple skincare routine, which you can read here. These are the products that I’ve found the most effective, that work the best for my skin. I use them on rotation, depending on how my skin is doing, looking and feeling, and what my skin needs. What may work for my skin, may not work for yours. So always check the ingredients, get a sample if possible, and patch test first to avoid irritation or reactions.
For Acne, Blemish-Prone Skin: Ren Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask
I’ve been using this mask for years and it’s the most affordable one I own. Formulated to combat, reduce and prevent breakouts, Ren’s Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask is hands down the best face mask for acne, blemish-prone skin! Especially if you also have sensitive skin. When I have those large red spots, angry looking and painful to the touch – this is the mask I reach for, every time.
The clues to everything this mask does are in the name: clear, calm, clarity-restoring. It’s also incredibly gentle and hydrating. Despite being a clay mask, Ren’s Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask doesn’t dry out on the skin during use, or leave my skin feeling tight or uncomfortable afterwards. My skin is soft, supple and all the redness has visibly and immediately calmed down. My skin is always much, much clearer. It’s 100% vegan, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and contains sulfur. The smell of sulfur does linger for a quite a few hours after rinsing, but it’s nothing too unpleasant.
P.S. I’ve tried the Clearcalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser and haven’t found it nearly as good as the mask.
For Deep Detoxifying: Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask
When I want a really good, deep cleansing, detoxifying face mask, I’ll use the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask. This is my go-to mask when my skin is feeling congested and like it needs a good detox! The key ingredient in both this mask from Omorovicza, and the Ren one mentioned above, is Kaolin. It’s a very gentle, soothing and hydrating clay, suited to sensitive, dry and dehydrated, and mature skin. Other key ingredients in both clay masks are glycerin, which is hydrating. And zinc oxide, which is soothing and contains a range of benefits for reducing acne, blemish-prone skin.
Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is pricey, but worth it! But, you can get 15% off using my code CURLYCAILINLF at Look Fantastic, who do FREE worldwide shipping. I’m not sure any true face mask article could be complete without including something from this world-renowned Hungarian skincare line. One day, I want to visit their boutique spa in Budapest with their famous healing waters and mineral-infused muds. It does dry down on the face more than the Ren one, but not uncomfortably so. My skin still feels soft, hydrated and nourished, and there’s no lingering smell of sulfur.
For Glow, Radiance and Exfoliation: Oskia Renaissance Mask
This is my most-used face mask and I always have a back up jar, just in case. Oskia is one of my favourite, most-used, most-loved and most-repurchased skincare brands, ever! Oskia Renaissance Mask is a gentle and hydrating way to exfoliate the skin without stripping or irritating it, by using natural fruit acids and lactic acid – which is the most gentle, mild and hydrating acid. Perfect for sensitive, easily-irritated or mature skin. I’ve found that my dehydrated, sensitive skin much prefers lactic acid to the more popular, stronger and more drying, glycolic acid. Acids are a much better and more gentle way to exfoliate the skin, than physical exfoliation with beads or brushes etc.
The reviews on this vegan, organic, cult-favourite face mask are always outstanding! Designed to boost radiance and gradually reduce the appearance of fine lines and imperfections. Oskia’s Renaissance Mask transforms dull, lifeless, textured skin into a smooth, supple and even surface that is soft to the touch and visibly brighter, for that radiant glow. I use it once or twice a week to keep my skin looking and feeling soft, supple and hydrated with a healthy glow and natural radiance. It’s a soft jelly texture that turns white and creamy as you rub it into your skin. Get 15% off Oskia’s Renaissance Mask and across the Oskia range, using code CURLYCAILINLF at Look Fantastic.
P.S. I also love the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, which is amazing and definitely worth purchasing. I use it as a morning cleanse, or second cleanse in the evening. Although I avoid using it to remove eye makeup, as I find it a little irritating if I get it in my eyes. You can also get 15% off using code CURLYCAILINLF.
For Anti-Ageing: NuFace Mini
This little device is the ultimate tool or device for an anti-ageing, at-home facial – or rather, face lift! I was first introduced to the NuFace Mini Trinity Facial Toning Device in this video by world-renowned makeup artist, and creative director of Lancôme, Lisa Eldridge. The NuFace is an at-home facial toning device, using micro-current technology to help lift and re-contour the appearance of skin. Safe and effective, this natural, non-invasive facial lift device is clinically proven to improve facial contour and skin tone. Whilst contributing to the reduction of wrinkles across the jawline, cheeks and forehead. And this little device really works!
You can see visible results after the first use, especially if you do just one side of your face, which is always fun. The NuFace tones the skin by using micro-currents to improve your facial contour, giving a visible ‘lift’. I’m 34, and I’ve definitely started to notice a change in my contour lines around my jawline. It also works to minimise wrinkles, stimulate collagen and elastic production, and visibly reduce signs of ageing. Resulting in more tightened, contoured, plump, youthful-looking skin.
One of the things I really love about the NuFace Mini, is how quick and easy it is to use. After thoroughly cleansing and drying my face, I slather on the Hydrating Gel Primer. Lisa Eldridge, and many others, use natural Aloe Vera instead, but I found that really drying on my skin – as it does to my hair too. From start to finish, the treatment takes just a few minutes, I do it as I watch television. It’s very soothing and therapeutic. It’s recommended to use it for five minutes a day, five times a week, for the first three months. Then you can reduce it to three times a week after that to maintain the results from the initial three months of daily use.
It’s pricey, but again – it works! You can get 15% off the NuFace Mini and Hydrating Gel Primer using code CURLYCAILINLF at Look Fantastic, with FREE worldwide shipping.
Hi-Tech, Quick & Easy, All Round Facial Device: Foreo UFO2
This is the lastest addition to my at home face masks and facial devices. The UFO2 from Foreo is the latest technology in at-home facial treatments. The most expensive skincare device I own. But I’ve been using it consistently for the past few weeks, and I’m really impressed with the results so far! This at-home facial device combines Korean-inspired sheet masks with all kinds of cutting-edge, innovative technology to encourage the absorption of nutrients and active ingredients into the skin. Leaving it soft, supple, smooth, hydrated and radiant, in less than two minutes!
The nourishing mini sheet masks, come in boxes of six or seven, for different skincare concerns and results. They’re infused with plant and fruit extracts, botanical oils and natural flower water. Did I mention the lights?! There’s collagen-stimulating red light, bacteria-battling blue light, brightening green light, toning white light – which is the longest wavelength. Anti-inflammatory and radiance-boosting purple light, glow-boosting orange light, redness-reducing yellow light and calming cyan light. I can see why it’s called UFO.
The mini sheet masks and light therapy are used in conjunction with thermotherapy aka heat, to aid absorption. Cryotherapy aka cold, to tighten, tone and combat puffiness. T-Sonic waves relax facial tension, enhance penetration and trigger detoxification. Thankfully it’s much easier and less time-consuming to use than it is actually reading about it! The difference between the UFO2 and the slightly more affordable, but basic UFO, is the additional light therapy colours and fully-customisable options.
Honestly, it’s so quick and easy to use, a ninety second facial with visible results and all the bells and whistles a skincare junkie could ask for! Although, I always repeat the treatment, partly because it’s just such a nice experience, and so my skin can fully absorb all the goodness from the sheet mask and the treatment, helping to create a radiant, youthful and glowing complexion. The UFO2 is also rechargeable and waterproof.
There’s nine sheet mask sets available, from hydration and glow, to anti-ageing. I much prefer these than the full face-size sheet masks, mainly because of the environment. My 15% discount works on some of them, use code CURLYCAILINLF at checkout. I’ve got five, Make My Day and H20 Overdose are my favourites and the most hydrating face masks I’ve ever used! They leave my skin feeling plump and deeply hydrated all day or all night long – depending on when I use them. I wasn’t sure if this device was a (very pricey!) gimmick, but it’s really not.
Foreo’s UFO2 is definitely an investment in your skin. But at 34 years old, with dehydration, fine lines, wrinkles and anti-ageing becoming more at the forefront of my skincare purchases. I think it’s worth it – if you have that kind of money to spend. It’s also the most quick, easy to use and multi-purpose device for an at-home facial that I own. I use it the most frequently, because it can do so many different things. And I haven’t even started to get to grips with the custom options available yet!
These aren’t all the face masks I own, and certainly aren’t all the ones I’ve tried. But they are the best. My most-used, most-loved, most-repurchased and most importantly, most-effective! I hope you found this post helpful, informative and have a better idea of what kind of at-home face mask or facial treatment will suit your skin best. Do you have any holy grail, favourite facials and face masks you use at home? If so, let me know in the comments.
If you have any questions about any of the products mentioned in this post, or if there’s anything else skincare or beauty related that you’d like me to write about, drop a comment below. It’s my passion and obsession, secondly only to hair care! Maybe it’s an Aries thing… You can read this post on CG Beauty and how I’ve applied the same principles of the curly girl method into my skincare. Or click here to see my other beauty posts.
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