Garnier Fructis SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Super Hydrating Sheet Mask, $3.99 apiece
Sheet masks are easy girls'-night-in fodder — and a cheap form of entertainment too, if you're using Garnier's SkinActive masks. Though this drugstore product comes without the double-digit price tag of boutique masks, it still delivers the same refreshing feel, dose of hydration and 15 minutes of relaxation.
There are three masks in this line, each catering to a different need: hydrating, soothing and mattifying. I'm partial to the mattifying mask because a mask that serves up ample moisture without leaving skin slick is such a rare find. Unlike some masks, I can apply this mask before my makeup without worrying that my face will melt off later.
These masks also remarkably easy to use. This sounds like a minor detail, but anyone who has struggled to peel off a tricky backing or wrestled with a slip-sliding mask will appreciate this mask's ability to adhere to the face and the simple genius of having the peel-off backing be blue (instead of nearly invisible). For your next girls' night, I'd recommend letting someone else bring the Pinot, while you come armed with these instead. — Mary Squillace
Between moisturizer, sunscreen, primer and foundation, I need a serum that is as powerful as it is lightweight. This one goes on like a lotion, absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling hydrated, not heavy. No7 Lift & Luminate tackles multiple skin issues at once — specifically, wrinkles, sun spots and sagging — so you don't need to tag-team with other, pricier treatments. The active ingredient, Matrixyl 3000 Plus, is the brand's most potent wrinkle-fighting peptide that prompts the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. The result: firmer, more youthful-looking skin and fewer fine lines. It also contains a vitamin C powered skin-brightener to help reduce hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones. And it does all this at a very impressive price point. — Jill Provost
I became hooked on gel moisturizers several years ago. They're light, fast-absorbing and cater to my combination skin (I can even apply makeup over them without fear of it running off). A friend of mine recommended a high-end brand that I fell in love with. I didn't think I would feel that way about another gel moisturizer — that is, until I found this one. Neutrogena managed to capture that light, refreshing feeling for less than half the price. It works with my oily T-zone by giving me just the right amount of moisture. I can wear it before I apply my makeup and at bedtime. Try putting it in the refrigerator for a chilly treat in the hot summer months. — Hannah Savin
Sonia Kashuk Skin Detox Purifying Black Mask, $15.99
When I take time to apply a face mask, I don't just want something that looks cool for the 'gram (no disrespect to all the colorful, metallic and glitter masks out there). I want something that's going to whip my skin into shape — and Sonia Kashuk's Skin Detox Purifying Mask has exactly the kind of big guns I'm looking for.
This purifying mask absorbs oil with kaolin clay and tones with eucalyptus and peppermint oils (which amounts to a refreshing tingling sensation you can really feel while wearing it). At the same time, heavy-hitting alpha-hydroxy acids, like glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids, evens skin texture and boosts cell turnover. The result? A smooth, clear complexion that's just as 'grammable as all of those made-for-camera masks. — Mary Squillace
RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Chest, Neck & Face Cream, $27.99
Here's the problem with most skin-care products: You never really see the results. You just have to go on blind faith that, without it, your skin would age at least 10 times faster. RoC Multi Correxion smoothes fine lines in just four weeks, which is as close as you can get to instant gratification in the skin-care world.
But here's why I really value this product. It's a multitasking workhorse that cuts down my a.m. routine and saves me money in the process. I can use this wrinkle-fighter, sunscreen and radiance-booster on my face, neck and chest -- for less than a tank of gas. It targets every sign of aging, feels good on my skin, absorbs quickly, and doesn't feel like it has sunscreen in it. — Jill Provost
