Whether as a supplement to an unexpected snow-day beauty staycation or a part of your everyday skin-care routine, face masks—in their many forms—are beauty’s proverbial cherry on top. And a new generation of products is designed to offer targeted, seriously unique skin solutions. Dark spots and dullness? Lay Colbert MD’s Illumino Anti-Aging Brightening Mask over your face and watch as the mesh layer delivers regenerative swiftlet nest extract—literally edible bird nests formed from the saliva of a swiftlet, which is similar to a swallow, the essence of which is considered a youth tonic in traditional Chinese medicine—and a cocktail of helpful acids. Tony Moly Age-Defying Snail Hydro-Gel Face Mask Sheet relies on the power of snail mucin (are we sensing a theme?) to soften and moisturize skin, while Korean beauty brand Manefit offers a collagen-infused gel option to boost elasticity. And for those seeking to avoid the serial-killer look, traditionally applied masks are also experiencing a renaissance: Needles No More by Dr. Brandt Skincare is a brush-on, leave-on option that instantly fills lines and levels skin, and Glamglow Gravity Mud morphs from white to a metallic chrome concoction as it firms, making it just as fun to apply as it is to peel off. Above, eight face masks that do more.
Calin Van Paris covered beauty and wellness at Vogue for a decade. You can find her on the West Coast getting lost in the forest or sitting by the river, picking flowers and vintage, and working through her TBR pile. She
s a huge fan of the creative play that comes ... Read More