I swear by these face masks.

---

By contributor, Ama Kwarteng.

You’ve seen the photos on Instagram. A body of otherworldly turquoise water, surrounded by rugged mountain vistas, with tufts of white smoke rising from the surface. Many have made the pilgrimage to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, eager to submerge themselves into the waters they’ve seen — and heard — so much about. The lagoon is known for its healing properties; rich in silica, blue-green algae, and mineral salt, the water doesn’t just soothe the senses and alleviate stress — it also strengthens and enhances the skin’s barrier (a.k.a. the outermost layer).

I know, it sounds too good to be true, but the Blue Lagoon’s bioactive waters are scientifically proven. In the early 1980s, visitors discovered that the water made their skin smoother and less irritated. It even appeared to soothe chronic conditions like psoriasis. Scientists began to research the water and word about their findings spread.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the lagoon — while a dip in the milky blue water is a must, the Blue Lagoon three-step ritual is also worth adding to your vacation itinerary. The guided ritual is centered around the natural elements of the lagoon. Step one is an exfoliating mineral scrub; step two is the cleansing silica face and body mask; and step three is the moisturizing algae face and body mask. (You rinse off after each step.) After the final rinse, my skin felt more hydrated and smoother, and looked brighter.

Thankfully, you don’t have to book a flight to Reykjavík to reap the skin healing benefits — Blue Lagoon Iceland’s products are formulated with seawater and silica from the lagoon. You can recreate the ritual — or just one part of it — from the comfort of your own home with these three masks:

Good for exfoliating skin
Inside this formula, you’ll find lava from the Blue Lagoon. Because of the ingredient’s exfoliating properties, this mask gently sloughs off dead skin cells and clears clogged pores to help improve skin’s texture and tone.

Good for hydrating skin
Layer this lightweight gel mask onto your face before bed, and it’ll work to deliver hydration and lock in moisture while you snooze. In the morning, you’ll wake up to plumper, dewier skin.

Good for a deep cleanse
Thanks to the Blue Lagoon Silica in the formula, this mask absorbs excess oil and reduces impurities to help restore balance without stripping your skin dry.

While each mask offers a unique skincare benefit, all three are formulated with Blue Lagoon seawater. The standout ingredient infuses the skin with electrolytes to help maintain hydration levels, balance the skin barrier, and ensure that the skin’s regenerative processes, like cell turnover, are working properly.

In my opinion, there’s no better way to show your skin some TLC than slathering on a face mask and relaxing for 10 to 20 minutes. Face masks are meant to deliver a high concentration of active ingredients to your skin when your skin needs a boost — you don’t need to use them everyday, so when you do pull one out of your vanity, it feels like a special treat.

My Experience

FYI: Depending on your skincare needs and goals, there are so many different ways to use these masks. Just like other skincare categories, selecting the right mask for you depends on your skin type and concerns. You could just opt to apply one, you could apply all three in a row, or you can do what I did and apply a specific mask on each part of your face.

I have combination skin — my nose and forehead tend to get oily and super congested, while the rest of my face is often dehydrated and in need of a hydration boost. So, I decided to apply the Lava Scrub Mask to my T-zone area and layer the Mineral Mask on the rest of my face. Both masks have a lightweight texture, making them easy to apply and comfortable on my skin. (It was so mess-free that I could walk around my apartment and get things done without worrying about the formula dripping onto my floor.) The Mineral Mask felt incredibly refreshing and a bit cool on my skin, and neither mask dried down to a tight or uncomfortable finish. I also loved how the Lava Scrub Mask gave me some additional physical exfoliation as I washed it off.

If your skin is starting to feel a little out of balance, stressed out, or extra-dehydrated, these masks are worth adding to your weekly skincare routine. When it comes to helping you achieve a healthier-looking complexion, thanks to the potent ingredients from the Blue Lagoon, they actually get the job done without irritating or drying out your skin.

Immediately after using the mask, I noticed that my skin felt softer and looked more hydrated overall. The blackheads which usually live on my nose were gone, my pores appeared smaller, and my T-zone area looked less dull than normal. The area of my face which is typically more dry and dehydrated felt smoother and bouncier. If these are the results after just one use, imagine how your skin will feel after weeks of continued application.