After an exhausting day full of classes, internships, and activities, the last thing on most of our minds is perfectly executing a skincare routine. During busy times, important steps in our self-care rituals can be missed or forgotten, leaving our skin to suffer the consequences.

As a firm believer in the power of good skin care with minimal hassle, I can attest that you don’t need to expend a lot of effort to get great skin. One of the easiest ways to show your skin some TLC is by using a face mask once or twice a week.

But which face mask should you be using?

The best way to figure out which mask will help your skin the most is to start by identifying your skin issues. 

For someone like me with sporadic breakouts, a face mask to combat those blemishes makes the most sense, but your concerns may be different. Take a good look at your skin and think about what you’d like to improve.

Now that you’ve evaluated what skin “problem” concerns you the most, it’s time to pick out your perfect mask. Having dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, or even dull skin means there is a mask out there for you. There are even masks on the market that act as a first-line defense against skin aging.

The real trick is to look for certain key ingredients in a mask. Some masks claim to clear your skin, for instance, but they don’t have the proper anti-acne ingredients to back that claim up!

Being equipped with the knowledge to shop smart will save you loads of dough. And to make your life even easier, I used my Olivia Benson-like detective skills to find some of the most effective masks on the market.

Here’s a guide to what to look for in your perfect face mask:

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Problem: Dull/Tired Skin

When you’re on the hunt for a mask to perk up tired skin, try to find a mask loaded with antioxidants, specifically Vitamin C.