It’s 2017! The time for New Year’s Resolutions is upon us. My resolution is to take better care of my skin. I have been using a bunch of different face masks and products and here are my thoughts and recommendations. I have pretty normal skin with acne centered around my forehead and temples and a good amount of sebaceous filaments on my nose. I am trying out a variety of popular products and am reviewing them.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

This is a very mild cleanser that I start my skin care routine with. It is good for all skin types and is very mild in how it feels and how it smells. Before I apply any masks I wash my face with this cleanser and then after a mask will wash with a more deep cleaning cleanser like the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser. I got this tube at Sephora a few years ago for Christmas and didn't really use it because at the time I preferred a deeper cleaning feeling, but it is a good option for people with sensitive skin or who want a gentle cleanser. It is so gentle I use it to wash off my eye makeup no problem. It is pretty expensive, but it is very highly rated and it is good for almost everybody.

Rating: 6/10 because of the price

Buy it from Sephora for $15 for 1.7oz or $38 for 5.10z

Cup O' Coffee Face And Body Mask from Lush

I got this mask because I love all things coffee and bathing in it sounded like a great idea! The scent is wonderful if you like coffee. It has ground coffee in the mask and is exfoliating as you massage it in. While it isn’t the most beautiful face mask one can wear, I really enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to exfoliate their skin and who loves coffee.

Instructions: Apply a generous amount of the mask all over your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off by massaging it into your face with warm water to refreshingly exfoliate your skin.

Rating: 9/10

Buy it here for $10.95 for 5.2oz from Lush

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hell-Pore Clean Up Nose Mask

If you want a peelable mask, I would absolutely recommend this one. It has been featured in some beauty videos and I decided to try it out! It is a pretty neutral smelling mask. If you can handle the pain of pulling it off, I would say purchase it. Avoid getting it on sensitive areas. I would recommend only applying it to certain areas of your face like your nose, forehead, and chin rather than your whole face because it dried unevenly for me and it would be easier and less messy to peel. If you try it and you can’t handle pulling it off, the mask will dissolve back into a liquid with water. Make sure it is fully dry before peeling. This is a good option for people who want to get rid of blackheads and is comparable to a pore strip.

Instructions: apply a thin even layer to you face, avoiding your eyes and lips. Wait 15-20 minutes before gently peeling away from your face.

Rating: 7.75/10

Buy it from Amazon on its own for $11.25 for a 100mL tube or in a set with the Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask for $21.45

Pure Body Naturals Beauty Dead Sea Mud Mask

This is a very good mud mask for a relatively low price. I use it once or twice a week and it leaves my skin feeling soft and has definitely helped improve my acne. It feels pleasant on your face and doesn't have a very strong scent. If you're interested in mud masks, this is a good option for you. For not an exorbitant amount, you get a good sized jar of the mask that will last you a long time. I don’t have a photo of me wearing this one, but it looks like you have gray mud on your face.

Instructions: Apply a generous layer of the mask to your whole face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes then rinse with warm water.

Rating: 8/10

Buy it from Amazon for $15.95 for 8.8oz

TONYMOLY I'm Real Mask Sheet

These masks are really cute in their packaging and have been featured in a few Buzzfeed lists. You can buy them individually from different stores or buy the set of eleven from Amazon. The aesthetically pleasing packaging is really cute. The masks themselves all have different benefits. I used Clear Skin Rice Mask this time and in the past, I have used the Elasticity Pomegranate Mask. There was definitely a difference between the two masks. I'd recommend these masks for when you're having some “me time” and are horizontal in the tub or in bed because they will slip and slide on your face if you move too much (and you probably don't want anyone seeing you with one on.) Sheet masks look a little weird but are not as labor intensive as other masks. I would recommend these for people who don’t want an intense feeling from their mask or for people who want to switch up their routine with a mask.

Instructions: Cleanse face then apply the mask for 20-30 minutes, patting onto skin. After removing, massage the excess moisture into your skin.

Rating: 7.5/10

Buy the pack of 11 for $9.90 from Amazon or individually for $3.75 from Ulta

Bioré Charcoal Pore Strips and Face Strips

I love pore strips with all of my heart, and the charcoal variety for your nose even more. I like to do a pore strip between washing my face and doing a mask every few days to suck out the sebaceous filaments and the blackheads from my nose. While purchasing this box, I noticed that the standard pore strips came in a pack with face strips and decided to try those too and they are equally as wonderful. The only difference between them is that the face strips do not have the creases that bend around your nose so you could probably just use the nose pore strip on your face even though it says not to. I like the charcoal pore strips because they are black and you can see the gross stuff that comes out of you face better. See below:

Satisfying, right?

Instructions: Apply to wet skin, smooth side down. Wait about 20 minutes until the strip hardens to feel like papier-mache. Remove from skin and admire your handiwork.

Rating: 1000/10

Buy from Amazon as an add-on item for $5.64

Some other favorites of mine:

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Garnier SkinActive Clean + Pore Purifying Clay Cleanser Mask

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

The most important part of starting a new skin care routine is to stick to the routine you set. Wash your makeup off every night and treat your skin right. Moisturize and try not to pick at your face. It's a new year, treat your skin right!