Beauty: Face savers

Picture / Greg Bowker

Face masks are a bribe for skin that goes something along the lines of: in lieu of having a facial from a professional, please accept this mask as a token of my appreciation for looking so lovely most of the time. It usually works.

1. L'Oreal Revitalift Intensive Treatment
$32.90 for four cloth masks

Each cloth mask has the equivalent of one week's face-cream treatment. But don't think for a moment you can go without your night cream for a week if you wear one of these things for 10 minutes. This course of four masks will smooth and firm skin with L'Oreal's secret weapon Par-Elastyl, which helps in the fight against deteriorating elastin fibres.

From selected department stores, pharmacies and supermarkets.

2. Yves Saint Laurent Temps Majeur Masque
$252 for 50ml

The star ingredient in this brilliant mask is ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom fancied by early Chinese emperors as the mushroom of immortality. It is a liaison agent helping with closer communication between the cells of the epidermis and dermis, which break down with age. It may sound like relationship counselling, but this mask really does help skin feel more youthful and vigorous. A pleasure to use.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

3. Chanel Precision Anti-Fatigue Gel Mask
$79 for 50g

We've got "buy-nothing day", so why not "be-kind-to-skin day"? This floral-scented mask is perfect for tired skin. It uses energising ingredients and bitter orange blossom concentrate to regenerate, relax and destress skin, making it a picture of radiance in 10 minutes.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

4. Clinique Turnaround 15-minute Facial
$78 for 75ml

This is technically an exfoliator but with a name like 15-minute facial, it's blurring the boundaries. It gives the benefits of a bit of microderma-brasion - smoother, even-toned skin - without the stress. Apply it, wait 15 minutes, and there you have more glamorous skin than earlier in the day. Great stuff.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

5. Origins You're Getting Warmer Purifying Clay Mask
$48 for 100ml

This is a clay mask for combination and oily skin with bells and whistles. It warms up on contact to draw impurities out. The seaweed and essential oils protect and condition, and the zingy smell of cinnamon gives it added appeal. Works for me.

From selected department stores, pharmacies and Origins Botany Town Centre.