FACE MASK – BRIGHTENING

We all need a great glow-getting mask in our arsenal – and these really ARE all great, with an all-new line-up for 2023, all trialled (as ever) by our 10-strong panels.

Brightening masks deliver an almost immediate, yet enduring, radiance boost. So: if your skin looks dull, lacklustre, if it’s the middle of winter or your tan’s faded and you could do with getting some glow on – or you simply fancy a bit of a skin treat and me-time - these are your top choices, each formulated to have a swift, complexion-boosting, brightening action. Most work across all skin types, but our testers’ comments will tell you anything else you need to know about how it will work for you.

Be aware that the potent ingredients may cause a little bit of tingling initially – that is natural but do stop using the product if it continues and causes real sensitivity or irritation.

GOLD AWARD  Temple Spa Most Revealing Oxygen Peel Mask

Something different here as this ‘state of the art oxygenating bubble peel’ goes white, foaming and fizzing once on the skin. Temple Spa, a long-time favourite with Beauty Bible testers with a wall -full of Awards, promise this bubbly formula will take your complexion from lacklustre to positively glowing. And that’s just what our testers found. There’s a combo of acids in there – glycolic, malic, lactic, citric and hydroxyl – plus hyaluronic acid to hydrate while the acids are lifting away dead skin cells and decongesting pores. There’s practically a Mediterranean fruit salad as the support act, with sweet orange and bergamot oils plus apple, kiwi and chamomile. Oh, and it’s free of sulphates and parabens, suitable for pregnancy and vegetarians.

£42 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Loved the pump dispenser – no faffing with a spatula. Such fun using it with the bubbles. Skin less oily on T-zone, smaller pores, tighter, fresher and younger looking skin – much clearer and softer. All my friends, my hairdresser, random people at the gym have noticed and complimented my beautiful glowy radiant skin. I actually wear less make up now and feel confident to just pop on concealer and SPF!’ • ‘My skin is fair, with signs of aging. I suffer dryness from time to time and sometimes look tired. After using this for 30 minutes my skin looked dewy and brighter, less oily around my nose. It promised to give glowing skin and it did. Full marks’ • ‘It promises to resurface and brighten the skin and to smooth and refine the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I think that the product definitely lives up to those claims. I loved using this product’ • ‘Product smelt amazing, really zingy but the best thing was the bubbles on the skin – I really felt it was fizzing all my impurities away. The results were immediate, my skin looked really fresh, clear and healthy. My overall skin tone looked better, brighter and my pores looked smaller. There was no tightness just lovely plump skin’ • ‘I used once a week for the trial period and the reduction in pore size was the real benefit for me’ • ‘My husband said my face looked "glowy" after I used it.’

£42 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL  Green People Age Defy+ AHA Radiance Peel Mask

The Age Defy+ range was created by Green People founder Charlotte Vøhtz (a dear friend of Beauty Bible since the start over 25 years ago) especially for the 30+ market. With five natural AHAs including bilberry and maple sugar, this certified 85.4% organic formula (vegan and cruelty-free) exfoliates naturally and promotes cell renewal for a healthy glow. There’s also nourishing rosehip oil and cranberry extract, plus skin-cherishing aloe vera to help prevent any irritation but they recommend sensitive skin types only leave for 2-3 minutes; others can leave for 10-15 minutes – or more, our testers reported gleefully. It promises glowing, velvety-soft skin and our panel say it really does deliver.

£41 for 30ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. My skin looked brighter, glowing, and really hydrated from first use. The pores around my nose looked less visible. After about four weeks my skin looks more even toned, and generally healthier looking. Great pump dispenser, made it easy to dispense just the right amount. Lovely slip, so smoothed on to the skin easily - feels like an oil-based serum’ • ‘I liked this gentle mask which did a good job of brightening, softening and smoothing my combination skin, prone to redness and pigmentation. Skin looked smoother, softer and clearer immediately. Smaller pores, more even skin tone, and over time skin got clearer with fewer breakouts. The smell was gorgeous and it was a spa like experience in the comfort of my home. I didn't experience stinging or any sensitivity’ • ‘A super easy to use face mask that can be left on without hindering you moving around; washes off easily leaving skin so soft and dewy. The texture and smell of this mask are fantastic - such a pleasure to use and perfect to use when having a long soak in the bath as no adverse effects if left on longer than the recommended time’ • ‘I have been told I look well, and partner agrees skin feels much softer - I'm sure he’s had a go with it (even though he denies it). It promises radiant, velvet soft skin and it does deliver. My skin looked fresher and brighter and feels much softer’ • ‘Skin was clearer, soft and slightly more luminous, made me look well rested. It brought a stubborn blackhead to the surface making it easier to remove but didn’t make me come out in any more breakouts on the subsequent days which was a bonus.’

£41 for 30ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD BeautyLab Black Diamond® Ruby Mask

Although this creamy mask suits all skin types, it’s especially helpful for skin that is ‘lacking vibrancy’ (dull in other words), uneven in tone, with fine lines and wrinkles. It promises to hydrate and boost skin moisture levels with orange flower extract and aloe vera, promote elasticity, firmness and smoothness with a specific amino acid, blur the look of wrinkles, shadows and unevenness – that’s down to the ruby, improve texture and tone and illuminate skin down to diamond in the formula. No wonder, it’s on the costly side! But this is a real red carpet brand, promising instant and long-term beautifying results from their ‘ground-breaking research and pioneering formulations’. Our testers were impressed, as they have been in previous years with different panels and different products.

£71 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Definitely noticed a difference on first use.  Skin looked more hydrated with fine line and wrinkles less noticeable. It also looked brighter, more even toned, and looked and felt smoother. Over time, Skin generally seems a little brighter and smoother’ • ‘Would I buy this? Yes, by the bucket load! Must have, best thing to change your skin. I was asked what I’d been using or if I had anything done! ’ • ‘Has a creamy, almost mousse like texture and spread very quickly and easily. The instructions stated 15 minutes so that’s how long I left it on for. You could move around and carry on with another activity whilst wearing the mask. Felt comfortable on the skin, No tautness at all as it stayed a creamy consistency throughout. It softens, smooths and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.  Gives instant results so just as good for use prior to an event or night out as well as on a regular weekly basis’ • ‘did make a visible difference to my skin after using and that’s the kind of product I like…one that does what it says on the tin! ’ • ‘Skin does feel hydrated and plumper and definitely looks brighter after using. I usually like sheet masks, but would definitely try other cream based masks having enjoyed using this one so much. Nice fresh smell, almost clinical and beautifully packaged. I used this every Sunday as part of my pamper hour, but soon started using it twice a week as it really did make a noticeable difference to my skin once the cold weather arrived.

£71 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Hello Sunday The Recovery One - Glow Face Mask

This gel mask sets out to be fun, which we love (although one tester, an otherwise fan, said she couldn't read the teeny pale pink words on the pot…). And although not super-super cheap, it’s a really good price – nearly a Beauty Steal. Key ingredients are Centella Asiatica (also known as cica), which is rich in skin-nourishing and protecting antioxidants, plus prebiotics and vitamin D. Cica helps bolster skin barrier function and improve moisture retention while the prebiotics help boost skin thickness and balance the colonies of bacteria in the skin, known as the microbiome. There are lots of other great natural actives in this vegan and cruelty free product and the brand seeks to avoid harmful lab made chemicals in their formulas. The packaging is 93.3% recyclable. It can be left on overnight or a 15-minute quick fix. Most testers really liked this mask but one was unimpressed, which brought the average score down.

£19 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. My skin and this product are best friends! There was an immediate understanding between the two of them and an instant bond was formed. Its so easy to wear - feels lightweight on the skin yet you know its delivering loads of goodness, love the colour too and the fragrance. My skin just absorbed it and did a little dance of joy at how happy it made my skin feel. It was lovely in every way.   I used mine as a sleep mask two or three times a week for a sustained feeling of loveliness – in the morning skin was hydrated, brighter and ready for action. If you're looking for a go-to mask than you can always rely on and wont let you down, choose this. Easy to apply, does its job and makes your skin feel lovely’ • ‘My skin looked more even toned, smoother and plumper, it was very enjoyable to use and had instant results. The mask was a light crème gel and easy to smooth round my face’ • ‘It had to be left on for at least 15 mins.  I could move around with it on, which I tended to do because I couldn't wear my glasses with it on and read’ • ‘The package said to leave on overnight to enhance the results but I never did this because I have other products I like to use at night. There was no tautness or uncomfortable feeling.  It felt pleasant - cooling and refreshing. Easy to remove, although I used a damp flannel for this, because removing with water (as per directions) was a nightmare and took ages to remove this way’ • ‘A lovely, easy, light mask to give you a quick boost or an overnight treat. It promised to promote a healthy glow and I feel it did. My skin was hydrated, bright, luminous, moisturised’ • ‘Left for 15 mins as instructions say. Easy to move/talk/drink etc with it on, much more so than most masks I've used before. Very comfortable to wear; after the full 15 mins, it had not dried out or cracked, no taut or unpleasant sensation. My skin looked hydrated, dewy and smoother for the whole day if I used it in the morning; if I used it in the evening, I saw benefits the following morning’ • ‘ The thing I liked most about this is how easy it was to use compared to most masks - easy to apply, no tight feeling while it was on, easy to wash off without residue. And obviously the results, which were hydrated but without looking or feeling greasy or oily. The mask also had a pleasant, subtle fragrance.’

£19 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD  Votary Radiance Reveal Mask 

Votary is known and loved by journalists and beauty-hounds, having achieved cult status with the launch of the Cumbria-based brand’s debut facial oil. A ‘kitchen table’ vegan and cruelty free brand with strong sustainability credentials, Votary was founded by make-up artist Arabella Preston and her friend, entrepreneur Charlotte Semler. The spur was the demand for the pure plant oils Arabella had been blending to prep the skin of her roster of high-profile clients. Products have been added to the range since Votary launched, many winning Awards, including several from Beauty Bible. Now it’s the turn of this acid peel resurfacing mask, which Arabella created to help even out pigmentation and smooth away fine lines, revealing baby soft skin in its very best and brightest condition. Although the lactic and mandelic acids are pretty powerful, they’re balanced by calming ingredients to avoid irritation and it’s fragrance-free – but do avoid the eye area. 

£65 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. I loved this mask! It has a lovely, smooth texture and I'm amazed at the effect it has, with limited tingling and without causing any dryness, which is unusual for an acid exfoliating mask; my skin actually felt moisturised after using it. The first time I used it my skin was so smooth and over a period of week, my skin became clearer and the texture felt like I’d had a dermaplaning treatment. Any active spots weren’t as bad and pigmentation is now lighter. Amazing’ • ‘It promises to reveal baby soft skin and that was pretty accurate. My oily/combination skin feels hydrated and looks clearer and more even – and fresher. I’ve had a couple of comments saying I’m looking fresh faced and that my skin looks clear. A lovely mask’ • ‘I have used it for different lengths of time, a quick 5 minutes before getting in the shower or 15-20 minutes during a longer mask sesh - my skin can take a good exfoliate because its quite hardy and I think I left it once for 30mins+ (because it’s so comfortable I forgot it was on) and it was gentle enough not to cause any irritation – I can get an itchy jawline with some strong masks but that didn't happen with this. From first application skin looked brighter/luminous, smoother and more even toned. My pores have been clearer, normally I’m a picker/squeezer but I haven’t been doing it so much lately because there's so little in them and I think this mask has a lot to do with that. With repeated weekly use over time, the general condition of my skin has improved, brighter and clearer’ • ‘This is called radiance reveal and I feel that it did that ’ • ‘My normal/combination skin looks smoother and definitely more even toned from the first application and I have definitely noticed reduced pores round my nose. Over time a huge difference with pore reduction and milia on my upper cheeks have improved greatly. My skin looks smoother and definitely more even toned and as a result my foundation looks so much better. My friends all agree. This product promises to improve the overall texture, decongest pores, prevent breakouts, even out pigmentation and reduce fine lines. I actually really do feel this product is fulfilling its promise and I will continue to use this product weekly.’

£65 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD  BeautyLab® Dual Action Fruit Acid Cleanser Mask

So this product is real double duty beauty, being a cleanser and a mask. Since the brand submitted it as a mask, our testers tried it principally for that. (And, of course, being diligent and curious they used it as cleanser too – and liked it for that purpose.) All skin types can use this but we’d suggest it’s best, as the brand states, for skin that is dull, blemish-prone, uneven and exposed to urban pollution. The fruit acid blend – glycolic, citric, tartaric and lactic lift away dead skin cells, stimulating cell turnover to reveal fresher brighter skin. There’s a tropical fruit salad of extra ingredients with vitamin rich passion fruit, pineapple and grapes.  It promises to work to improve the appearance of pores and testers certainly found this.

£32 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I loved this mask and found it to be much more gentle on the skin than other fruit acid masks I have used, but delivers the same effects. It doesn't strip the skin and leave it feeling taut and uncomfortable as other clarifying masks do, I like the faint lemony fragrance and it is an absolute pleasure to use’ • ‘Skin looked brighter and smoother after using. Pores looked smaller on nose and cheeks. The pore blurring effect lasted until I washed my face again, but the brightening and smoothing effect stayed with regular use. I feel as though the mask has had a clarifying effect on my skin and prevented the clogged pores that I always get from using richer moisturisers in the winter’ • ‘I really liked the effect this had on my skin leaving it smoother and even toned, maybe also brighter. It was dual use so I also tried and liked it as a cleanser but given how good the effects were when used as a mask I would not waste it by using it as a cleanser. It’s very easy to apply and leave for about 15 minutes – moving around with it on is fine, although generally I didn't. You simply wipe it off with a damp washcloth like a cleanser’ • ‘my dry mature skin was hydrated, brighter and smoother from first use, which lasted about a week. After using for several weeks, face looked fresher and more refreshed, brighter and smoother. I had compliments about my complexion looking fresh. I loved the duality of using it as cleanser and mask – my skin feels softer, plumper and more youthful’ • ‘skin looks dewy, smoother and more moisturised after use and feels more hydrated – moisturiser sinks in better’ • ‘My skin was much less oily, blemishes were less visible - brighter, more healthy looking, less dull. Brightness is really noticeable for a few days. Using it over a period of weeks on my oily/combination skin, blemishes and any dark scars were less and less noticeable and my skin tone was much improved. I also had fewer breakouts and blemishes after using this mask every week’ • ‘A fabulous face mask, which can also be used as a cleanser; it helps brighten the skin from its first use. It is also very effective at evening out skin tone and texture and leaves you with skin that feels and looks healthier, smoother and brighter.’

£32 for 100ml - click to buy