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I don’t know if society will ever be able to fully erase the association of a facial mask with a woman in curlers and a bathrobe with a face coated in thick green clay. Luckily, guys are finally realizing what women have known all along — face masks are rad. And they don’t even have to be green.
The best face masks are an effective and time-honored method of exfoliating the skin, which is important for clearing away oil, dirt, and dead skin, which can clog pores and create acne and wrinkles. Worked up a sweat at the gym or been hiking or camping all weekend? You’ll want to slap a face mask on for a deep clean. For anyone who doesn’t want to add a daily exfoliating step to their skincare routine, a weekly facial mask is an excellent (and easy) option.
We’ve put together a few of the best facial masks for men which use the properties of activated charcoal or organic clay to clear away impurities. These are different than chemical exfoliants, which utilize ingredients like glycolic or salicylic acid so they’ll be gentle without losing efficacy.
What You Need to Know About The Best Men’s Facial Masks
Men’s vs. Women’s Face Masks: The main differences between face masks for men and women aren’t necessarily the ingredients that are used, but rather what they are used for. Most of the best men’s facial masks will address common concerns like sagging skin and wrinkles, but they’re also helpful in tackling issues like sweat build-up from a heavy workout, or helping to relieve dry, rough skin caused by shaving.
Ingredients: We found men’s facial masks that contain activated charcoal and clay. Activated charcoal has had something of a moment in the skincare world recently, and has been touted as a miracle cure for everything from teeth whitening to insect bites. While there is limited research, many skincare experts believe in the positive effects activated charcoal has on clearing skin of impurities. Certain clays, like kaolin clay meantime, have been shown to effectively absorb oils and clear clogged pores. Though many clays can be drying, some products include moisturizing ingredients ideal for sensitive skin.
Antioxidants: Most skincare experts agree that any skincare product you use should include some antioxidant ingredients which help nourish the skin, especially important after a deep clean like an exfoliating mask. Ingredients like green tea or Vitamin C are common and especially useful.
Wash off vs. Peel: Many charcoal masks are peel-off masks, so when the mask dries, you peel it from your skin like a film (yes, like American Psycho). Wash off masks are simply rinsed away with warm water and a clean cloth. While most peel off masks are perfectly gentle, charcoal masks can sometimes be particularly difficult to remove because of how strongly they adhere to the skin. This can be irritating, especially around the beard area, so best to pull off gently. That said, they produce an extremely satisfying colony of gunk pulled from your pores.
