Surely it's difficult to keep up with the facial mask craze that's swooped in along with everyone's notably awesome new interest in skincare and self-care. Face masks are the one-stop product that'll make you feel like you've gotten a mini facial without ever having to leave your comfy chair or essential oil scented bubble bath. 

Depending on the type of mask you use, you can target specific concerns like congested pores, uneven texture, dullness, or dryness. The best thing about masking is it forces you to take a little time out of your day to unwind and focus on yourself while giving your skin a little extra attention and a chance to better absorb whatever goodies your mask has to offer. 

Without further do... your guide to masks galore!

SHEET MASKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Hydration, Brightness, Firmness

Sheet masks are thin paper, cotton, or gel sheets soaked in concentrated essences or serums that are meant to take the shape of your face for prime absorption of ingredients. Can be used in the morning before makeup or at night before moisturizing. These are life-savers before events or if you're having a really bad skin day, especially because they only require 15-20 minutes to sit around looking like Michael Myers. 

Etude House 0.2mm Air Mask (15 pack) $18 amazon.com

Peach & Lily Sheet Mask Bundle: Power Combo Pack $20 peachandlily.com

JAYJUN Rose Blossom Mask $3 masksheets.com

Papa Recipe Honey Bombee Mask $3 masksheets.com

Mediheal N.M.F. Aquaring Ampoule Mask $2 masksheets.com

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Mask $6 sephora.com

Blanc & Eclare Serein Hydrating Luxury Mask (5 pack) $22 blancgroup.com

CLAY MASKS

Best For: Combination, Oily Skin Types

Targets: Pores, Blackheads, Whiteheads, Dirt

Clay masks work to eliminate impurities and regulate sebum production by detoxifying and purifying the skin without stripping it of moisture. You're most likely to deal with bentonite and kaolin clays when it comes to masks on the market, but if you have very sensitive skin, try to stick with kaolin clay since bentonite is pretty potent stuff. If you can find it, French green or pink clay are actually the gentlest forms out there, just really hard to find. Rhassoul clay works best for hydrating drier or aging skin types and Fuller's Earth clay can aid in treating hyperpigmentation, but both are once again hard to pick out of the bunch. 

When working with clay masks, it's of the utmost importance that you only leave them on for the timeframe listed on the packaging. Letting the clay dry and crack can leave your skin irritated and/or cause hydration loss. If you're concerned about the mask not getting deep into your pores, massage it in when first applying it and it should do the trick. 

Innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mousse Mask $21 innisfree.com

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask $26 origins.com

Asarai Earth Tones Australian Red Clay Mask $29 asarai.com

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay $8 target.com

Herbivore Pink Clay Exfoliating Mask $22 nordstrom.com

Lémore Rhassoul Clay Mask $20 lemorebeauty.com

MUD MASKS

Best For: Dry, Normal Skin Types

Targets: Pores, Fine Lines, Uneven Skin Tone

Contrary to the very confusing interchangeable usage of "clay" and "mud" on the front label of a ton of masks, they are not the same thing in the least. A lot of times, brands will for whatever reason claim to be selling you a mud mask with zero mud in it. Mud serves a similar deep cleaning purpose, but it's not something meant to suck up all these oils which is why it's better suited for normal/dry and aging skin types. Mud is also packed with lots of antioxidants that help with wrinkles and fine lines along with promoting skin plumpness to keep you looking young forever.

Asutra Face The Day Dead Sea Mud Mask $11.50 asutra.com

Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask $58 sephora.com

Ahava Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask $35 ahava.com

ClarityRX Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask $27.50 dermstore.com

CHEMICAL AND ENZYME PEELS

Best For: All Skin Types 

Targets: Skin Texture, Dead Skin, Uneven Skin Tone, Fine Lines

Might sound terrifying, but these are not to the same degree of intensity as what a professional would use on your face. These act as skin resurfacing tools that take the place of physical exfoliants without all the harsh scratching and tearing of that top layer. Chemical peels involve salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acids that shed away dead (and some living) skin cells leaving a smoother canvas. Enzyme peels are a bit gentler, acting as a reactionary component to speed up skin cell renewal while sweeping away dead skin. Most enzyme peels are derived from fruits like papaya, raspberry, and pumpkin. Depending on your skin's sensitivity, these can be used daily but are usually meant for 2-3 times weekly use. 

AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder $60 neimanmarcus.com

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial $80 sephora.com

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask $62 tataharperskincare.com

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel $45 ulta.com

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask $58 sephora.com

Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask $48 sephora.com

Ráya Pumpkin Enzyme Dermal Exfoliation Purée $16 rayaspa.com

HYDRATING MASKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Hydration, Aging, Fine Lines, Elasticity

It shouldn't all be about taking away with your skin, so give back to it by slathering on a big glop of moisture barrier fortifying mask goop. Glop of goop sounds about right. These not only save you from bitter cold, humid-void winters, but continue to treat your skin and help yourself to anti-aging benefits. They're also just soothing and great for when you need to cool down and take a chill pill.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask $38 farmacybeauty.com

Aēsop Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque $55 aesop.com

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask $24 amazon.com

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask $92 sephora.com

Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque $45 kiehls.com

Avène Soothing Moisture Mask $26 dermstore.com

JELLY MASKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Hydration, Other

I'm really including these because they're super fun and who doesn't want to smash jello into their face. Also they really do pack in a lot of hydration because they have that watery gel quality so especially great for anyone who's deterred by thick cream masks.

Dior HydraLife Glow Better Fresh Jelly Mask $69 saksfifthavenue.com

Lush Birth of Venus Jelly Face Mask $14 lushusa.com

First Aid Beauty Ginger & Turmeric Vitamin C Jelly Mask $32 sephora.com

SLEEPING PACKS / OVERNIGHT MASKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Hydration, Skin Renewal

Sleep is your skin renewal cycle's best friend, so why not by that friend a drink for all their hard work? Sleeping masks work to aid in rebuilding and strengthening your moisture barriers to retain hydration better during the day and you get to wake up the next morning with an extra radiant glow. 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask $45 sephora.com

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask $25 sephora.com

CosRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Mask $18 sokoglam.com

Etude House Moistfull Sleeping Pack $11 masksheets.com

Huxley Good Night Sleep Mask $29 anthropologie.com

Beauty of Joseon Revitalize Sleeping Mask $34 sokoglam.com

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask $32 thebodyshop.com

LED MASKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Acne, Collagen Production, Aging

If you long to pretend you are a dramatic, rich heiress who has her esthetician on speed dial, this is the ridiculous tool for you. LED light therapy is typically added to facials for the sake of healing sun damage, age spots, redness, and promoting collagen production. Now I know most of you (definitely me included) are not about to shell out $400+ to look like a space freak and scare your pets, but I found the one affordable version just to put it out there.

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask $30 target.com

MULTI-STEP MASK PACKS

Best For: All Skin Types

Targets: Hydration, Pores, Collagen, Brightness

I discovered these recently and have been itching to tell you guys all about them. They typically come with 2-3 steps in a pack with includes one of the following combos: 1) essence, sheet mask, moisturizer 2) essence, sheet mask 3) cleanser, sheet mask, serum/moisturizer. These are perfect for traveling or lazy days when you're too exhausted to get through your entire routine. 

Pyunkang Yul 3-Step Mask Pack (5 pack) $15 yesstyle.com

Missha 3-Step Hydrating Mask $3 misshahaus.com

JAYJUN Collagen Skin Fit 2-Step Mask (10 pack) $20 masksheets.com

Wonjin 3-Step Bee Honey Bomb Mask $3.50 facetory.com

Common Labs Ggultamin E Real Jel Mask $4 glowrecipe.com

Meg 2-Step Jelly Mask $6 sokoglam.com

Abybom Ultra Moisture 3-Part Face Mask $6.50 selfridges.com

Skinesque 3-Step Brightening Charcoal Mask (5 pack) $35 dermstore.com

Remember to be kind to yourself and take a moment of your day to unwind and expel all your negative energy. Happy masking!