Spooky season is one of the most fun times of the year — unless it's your skin that's giving off serious fright-night vibes!
The best masks for autumn don’t cover up your face, but instead bring out your most glowing skin. Face masks are easy to apply, great at delivering results, and require you to take a little time for self-care (which is good for you both inside and out!).
Here are three main benefits that face masks can provide for your skin, with powerful ingredients that are proven to help with skin-care concerns.
1. Brighten & Resurface: Pumpkin Enzyme Masks
Fall and pumpkin go hand in hand, but this powerful ingredient isn’t just for lattes. Rich in enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), pumpkin sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, more vibrant complexion. It's packed with antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which work together to fight free radicals and promote an even skin tone.
Esthetician’s Pick: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. This triple-action exfoliating mask uses pumpkin enzymes, AHAs, and aluminum oxide crystals to exfoliate and refresh dull skin, delivering a brighter, fresher appearance.
Pro Tip: Use once a week for a glow that screams "I woke up like this!"
2. Hydrate & Soothe: Honey Masks
If the fall’s cool air begins to dry out your skin, make honey masks your go-to remedy. Honey is a natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin while offering soothing, antibacterial benefits. It's a great ingredient for calming irritated skin, which can sometimes happen as a result of temperatures dropping.
Esthetician’s Pick: Skin Script Golden Honey Nourishing Mask. Formulated with honey, peptides, and ginger root extract, this hydrating mask supports your skin barrier while enhancing smoothness. It also features advanced ingredients like RoyalEpigen P5, Seabuckthorn Fruit Extract and Pro-vitamin B5 for a complete skin-soothing experience.
Pro Tip: Apply a thin layer to the face after cleansing and exfoliation, then remove with a warm steamed towel for that in-home spa feeling.
3. Nourish & Repair: Cream Masks
When your skin is craving something a little richer, cream masks provide deep and lasting nourishment. Perfect for overnight use, these luxurious formulas provide intense hydration at the time when your skin's regenerative processes are at their peak.
To have your complexion rejuvenated by morning, look for ingredients like shea butter, squalane, and niacinamide to help repair the skin barrier and replenish moisture.
Esthetician’s Pick: ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask. Infused with ultra-moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and plant-based ceramides, this overnight mask delivers an intense dose of hydration, and leaves the skin feeling plump and velvety soft by morning.
Pro Tip: Use a cream mask when your skin feels extra dry, especially after exposure to cold and winds.
Kamira Felton, the Marketing Manager for American Salon, is a New York State-licensed esthetician with more than 5 years of experience in the beauty and spa industry. Passionate about skincare, Kamira dedicates her time to ingredient knowledge and on staying up-to-date on the latest products and how they affect skin health.