Picture this: it's a Sunday evening. There's a full DVR and a glass of wine (or whiskey, depending on the week you've had) waiting for you. The kids are in bed, the dog has been walked, and it's time for a little self-care. Obviously, you're going to do a face mask while you relax. But which one?

Whether you use face masks as part of your everyday 10-step skincare routine or only indulge on the rare quiet evening, you should know the differences between each. So we put together a guide to the most popular types of masks, from charcoal to sheet to bubble.

Mud Mask

Buy this Pure Original Dead Sea Mud Mask for $11.99, or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A true mud mask contains soil and minerals. Popular varieties utilize mud from the Dead Sea, which is rich in magnesium, sodium, sulfur, and bromide—minerals that can help improve such skin conditions as psoriasis and acne.

Benefits: hydration, skin healing

Spotlight on Pure Original Dead Sea Mud Mask: This mask contains pure Dead Sea mud, shea butter, and a trio of oils to really hydrate skin and impart a glow.

Clay Mask

Buy this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($13.99), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A clay mask utilizes clays such as bentonite, kaolin, and french green. The clays come in powder form and turn into a mask when mixed with a liquid.

Benefits: Reduces oil

Spotlight on Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay: This bentonite-clay mask is considered by many to be the best face mask for oily skin—but only when mixed with pure raw apple cider vinegar. Skincare insiders know that by mixing the clay with ACV (instead of water), you make a mask with neutral pH levels that are more friendly to skin. The apple cider vinegar may help fight acne, too.

Good to Know: Most mud masks on the market simply use the name "mud," but are actually made with clay. One such example is the popular clay-based GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment. Despite its mud moniker, it's really for exfoliation, rather than hydration.

Sheet Mask

Buy this 11-piece Tonymoly I'm Real Korean sheet mask set ($17.99), or shop similar masks here. A reusable silicone mask cover ($5.89) placed on top helps prevent a sheet mask's serum from evaporating.

What is it? A sheet mask is a serum-soaked piece of fabric shaped like a face, with holes cut out for the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. The fabric, which is meant to be worn for 15–20 minutes, creates a physical barrier that prevents the serum from evaporating from the face before the skin can drink it up.

Benefits: Depends on the serum, but most are designed to hydrate and soothe skin

Spotlight on Tonymoly I'm Real sheet mask set: This set from popular K-beauty brand Tonymoly contains 11 different sheet masks. Wear the tea-tree mask when you need to calm some breakouts or the lemon mask when you want to brighten your complexion, such as before a wedding or the release of a new Oreo flavor.

Charcoal Mask

Buy this dermedicine Charcoal Detox Mask ($14.99), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A charcoal mask can come in many forms, from powder in a jar to sheet mask, but no matter what form it takes, it will contain activated charcoal powder. This powder is thought to attract impurities like dirt and oil.

Benefits: Reduces oil, clears dirt out of pores

Spotlight on dermedicine Charcoal Detox Mask: This mask combines charcoal powder with kaolin and bentonite clays, so it's basically the equivalent of giving oil a one-two punch followed by a flying roundhouse kick.

Sleeping Mask/Sleeping Pack

Buy this Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask ($51.95), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A sleeping mask, also called a sleeping pack, hydrates skin while you sleep so you can wake up to a glowing complexion. This leave-on mask generally comes in cream form.

Benefits: Hydrates, plumps up skin, fights fine lines

Spotlight on Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask: This masks packs in the antioxidants in the form of goji berry, lemon balm, and vitamin E. Apply a thick layer before bed and wake up with bouncier, glowier skin.

Peel-Off Facemask

Buy this 24K gold peel-off mask ($11.99), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A peel-off mask is simply a face mask that you peel off your face when it dries.

Benefits: Depends on the formulation, but all have a mild exfoliating effect

Spotlight on 24K gold peel-off mask: This peel-off mask is not only fun to use, but also contains various beneficial ingredients, from collagen-boosting vitamin A to nourishing grapeseed oil to luxurious 24K gold.

Good to Know: Peel-off face masks are a bit gimmicky. The peeling doesn't really do anything for your skin apart from some minor exfoliation. However, the mask's ingredients can still be beneficial. Plus, slowly peeling away the hardened mask is extremely satisfying.

24K Gold Mask

Buy this gold collagen hyaluronic sheet mask ($12.99), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A gold mask can take many forms, but the most popular gold masks are sheet masks.

Benefits: May reduce inflammation and brighten skin; more testing needs to be done on gold skincare to say for sure if gold has any benefits.

Spotlight on gold collagen hyaluronic sheet mask: This particular gold sheet mask combines gold with skin-tightening caffeine and hydrating sodium hyaluronate. Dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah tells us to choose products that have sodium hyaluronate listed in the first five ingredients if we need some hydration. This mask has it as the No. 3 ingredient.

Carbonated Bubble Mask

Buy this E5 Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask ($12.99), or shop similar masks here.

What is it? A bubble mask is a mask that bubbles up on the skin. When it reacts with the air, it transforms from a cream into bubbles, which theoretically help push the mask's ingredients further into the skin.

Benefits: Bubbles may help ingredients penetrate the skin and clear out pores

Spotlight on E5 Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask: This mask contains clay, so it should help cut down oil. The best thing about it, though, is how fun it is to use. It's basically the adult version of putting on a soap-bubble beard while bathing.

DIY Mask

What is it? A DIY mask typically utilizes common ingredients found in your kitchen, from nourishing avocados to skin-tightening egg whites.

Benefits: Lets you easily whip up a mask based on the supplies you have on hand

Spotlight on a basic honey and lemon mask for acne-prone, oily skin: To make this mask, all you have to do is mix two tablespoons of honey with a squirt of lemon juice and leave it on your skin for about 15 minutes. Honey really is the star ingredient here, as it's moisturizing and antibacterial. Lemon juice contains vitamin C and has astringent properties, so it can cut down on oil production. However, it can be a little harsh, so use it sparingly.



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