'8 instantly glow-boosting face masks that are always in my cart.'

It’s 5pm. You have dinner reservations at 7. You’re feeling flat, and you need pep in your step (and your face), stat. 

We all know there’s no magic substitute for a consistent skincare routine tailored to our own needs, but sometimes we just need an instant pick-me-up. Like when you’re about to hit the town for a night out, or didn’t get enough sleep before a big event, and want (read: need) serious glow seriously quickly. 

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When I want my face to look brand new, bright, and bubbly, but time is of the essence, I reach for a select bunch of instantly brightening face masks that I know I can easily add into my routine (which always features SPF). 

Why face masks? 

The humble face mask comes in many shapes and sizes, forms and functions. Face masks typically offer a targeted, concentrated treatment, focused on doing one thing very well. 

They’re no one-stop-shop, but instead they’re a magnificent ally to your skincare routine. 

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Some masks are especially good at providing quick results before you need particularly happy skin. Plus, they provide a little extra moment of self-care, which is always a win. 

Go on – pour yourself a tea, pop on a mask, and get ready to soak up this curation of glowy faves.

Image: Supplied

A quick note to remind you that everyone’s skin reacts differently to products, so you should always patch test and seek advice if you’re on the fence about a product’s suitability. I’m not a dermatologist, and these are masks that have worked for my own skin. 

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, $49. 

I am obsessed with every single part of the Aura Manuka Honey masking experience. The smell (vanilla pod…mmm), the texture, the soothed-and-nourished sensation after soaking my face in it, the dewy skin… heavenly. 

Manuka honey is the hero ingredient, providing a potent boost of hydration whilst also helping to keep blemishes at bay. Avocado oil, grape seed extract, and Vitamin E are also in the mix for bright skin that’s ready to take on the day. 

I’ve had countless tubes of this one, and there’s no doubt that I’ll go through many more. 

Frank Body Vitamin C Mask, $19.95. 

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So, sooo many of the Frank Body Vitamin C Masks have slid through my bathroom. I’ve already sung the praises of this mighty little bottle, but she deserves another call out because she really does brighten like it’s no one’s business. 

Vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, papaya, and pineapple extracts, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid all bring their A-game to produce one seriously glow-enhancing formula. 

Pop on, chill out, rinse off, glow. Nuff said. 

Kora Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask, $62.

This mask works true to its name, buffing away dullness to give your face a vibrant boost of brightening. 

Rosehip seeds and papaya enzymes help to polish off unwanted dead skin and detoxify pores, whilst turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components help to calm and brighten. 

I love to follow this one with the Kora Noni Glow Face Oil, which I’ve raved about here, and feel like I’ve had a full-on facial in under 15 minutes.

Sand and Sky Porefining Face Mask, $60.90.

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Clay masks are a notoriously fickle beast. I so love the feel of deeply clean skin, but many tend to make my skin feel too tight. However, this goodie from Sand and Sky does the trick for me. My skin beams after each use, and I never feel that icky dry feeling.

It’s got an ace balance of deep cleansing ingredients like Australian pink clay and witch hazel, paired with juicy glow boosters like Kakadu plum and pomegranate. If I’m aiming to really amp up the brightness, I follow up with one of my fave sheet masks. Divine.

Pixi Glow Glycolic Boost Sheet Mask, $20 for three masks.

My skin loves a bit of glycolic acid to release glow, so the Pixi Glow Glycolic Boost Sheet Masks are an easy win for me. 

It features a radiance-boosting ingredient line-up: Five per cent glycolic acid to assist with skin cell turnover, ginseng, and aloe vera to calm. 

Bonus tip: keep these (and any sheet mask really) in the fridge for a cooling, de-puffing effect. And voila! Your face is looking all bright and fancy.

Karuna Brightening Face Mask, $11.

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No sleep? No worries. This Karuna Mask has you covered. I’ve been adding it cart for literally years – it’s one of my fail-safe products for brighter skin, and it has never once failed me. 

An essential in my pre-big-event makeup kit that can kick the butt of dullness in no time, but also helps to budge pesky dark spots with consistent use. Nice! 

It’s packed with niacinamide for a barrier boost, salicylic acid to decongest pores, and peptides to help give inflammation the boot. It feels super luxe, but I find that it’s worth every cent.

Go-To Transformazing Sheet Mask, $9 for 1, or $45 for six.

This peachy little number is *chefs kiss* for juicy skin. If I need my face to look extra dewy and illuminated pre-makeup, Transformazing is the answer (I’m actually sporting one as I write these very words). 

It’s a dreamy combination of powerful ingredients: niacinamide for a happy skin barrier, finger lime extract to help encourage skin cell turnover, and Kakadu plum for that glow-inducing boost of Vitamin C. 

Oh, and an added bonus: these sheet masks are seriously serum-drenched, so there’s always some extra juicy goodness left in the sachet which I lather all over my neck and chest. 

You can buy them individually, but chances are you’ll love this mask so much that you’ll want to buy the six-pack.

Summer Friday Jet Lag Mask, $68.

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An iconic blue tube that has graced many an Instagram upload, this mask really does live up to the hype. It makes my face look healthy and bright, even if I’m not feeling it. 

Hats off to niacinamide (one of skincare’s hardest working barrier buddies, in case you hadn’t noticed), glycerin, and hyaluronic acid for joining forces to create a formula that brings the bounce back to skin in a flash. 

Jet Lag scores extra points for its multi-purpose nature – it can also double as a moisturiser when your skin is in need of some extra love. 

This curation is sure to inspire a bright and glowy beginning to the silly season. 

Bonus shout outs to the Mecca Cosmetica Lit From Within Sheet Mask, $16, Dr Roebucks Daintree AHA Brightening Mask, $40, and Patchology Illuminate FlashMasque, $11, which have all had a humble home in my bathroom cabinet many a time (what can I say…I love a glow-boosting mask). 

Next on my list is the highly-rated Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask, $97. 

Drop your go-to face mask for instant glow below!

Feature images: Supplied; Hannah Rabbitt.