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We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work
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Unless you live in a bubble (lol), you’ve heard of the latest crazy beauty trend: Bubble masks. A week ago, I had never heard of them — but once I saw the viral images of the masks literally growing on people’s faces like algae, I knew I HAD to try them.

So the Earn Spend Live team ordered face masks from the three biggest brands in the bubble mask game: e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask, Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, and Nature Republic O2 Bubble Black Rose Mask Sheet. Here’s what happened.

e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Erin, 25, Combination Skin

I like to think that I took good care of my skin. I have used Clinique for pretty much my entire life, and it takes a lot for me to step outside my Clinique bubble (except for Kiehl’s – love that ish) because it just seems to work so well for me. I do a face mask every so often and like to treat myself to the occasional facial, but would not consider myself an avid connoisseur of face masks.

I was super excited to try the bubble mask after seeing so much about it all over social media. After the initial excitement I have to admit, I was a little let down. Yes, it was weird and kind of cool feeling the bubbly concoction expand on your face…but it was just a bit underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I just don’t think it was a life changer. It did seem to thoroughly remove make up, but that is about all that I felt like it did. And I don’t have an extra 10 minutes in my nightly routine to slap on a bubble mask to do what my face wash does in about 30 seconds.

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Bri, 22, Normal Skin

As this was my first time ever using a face mask, I was thrilled for it to be something exciting and not your average or typical mask. #FaceMaskVirginNoMore #FirstTimer #FaceMaskBaby

For starters, this mask is from e.l.f., which instantly made me happy because I know I can afford it. Having never bought a face mask, I’m not about to spend money on one unless I think it’s worth it (I have important things like mojitos and sundresses to buy…or student debt to pay off). If it’s e.l.f., I know it won’t break the bank.

I slathered it on pretty thick, because, well, why not? As the bubbles started to grow, it felt like the mask was sliding down my face. It was difficult for me to imagine it was truly sticking to my face, but it did! The bubbles are fun and make it feel like the mask is really ~working~. After about 10 minutes, I rinsed my face with warm water. And rinsed again, and again. It may be that I wasn’t using a washcloth, but it was a little difficult to feel like I washed it all off my face. My face was a little red, but that is probably due to drying my face with a  paper towel instead of washcloth like a normal person.

That being said, my skin felt so clean! Wow, taking care of your skin can actually feel good! Who knew? I also noticed later that afternoon and the next day that my skin felt much softer than normal. I even went on a date after leaving the office without putting foundation back on because I liked how my skin was feeling. All in all, I would definitely pick this up the next time I’m at the store.

Korbin, 25, Dry/Sensitive Skin

I’m always wanting to try out new products or masks, anything to help my skin. I use face masks at least once or twice a week. I usually use the Patchology FlashMasques, the skynICELAND firming gels, eye gels and face masks, and the Limelight Skin Polish. I had never tried the e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask.

I usually choose sheet masks because they leave my face feeling moisturized and hydrated. With the e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask, it went on easily, but once it was on it started to itch. Really bad. It might have been the bubbling process, but it was almost unbearable. Once it bubbled, it seemed to dissolve a little, but those areas still felt like they needed to be washed off. Once I washed it off, it left my face feeling sticky and dry. It might be more beneficial for someone who doesn’t have as dry of skin as I do, but I don’t plan on buying it for my skincare routine!

Bri, 22, Normal Skin As this was my first time ever using a face mask, I was thrilled for it to be something exciting and not your average or typical mask. #FaceMaskVirginNoMore #FirstTimer #FaceMaskBaby For starters, this mask is from e.l.f., which instantly made me happy because I know I can afford it. Having never bought a face mask, I’m not about to spend money on one unless I think it’s worth it (I have important things like mojitos and sundresses to buy...or student debt to pay off). If it’s e.l.f., I know it won’t break the bank. I slathered it on pretty thick, because, well, why not? As the bubbles started to grow, it felt like the mask was sliding down my face. It was difficult for me to imagine it was truly sticking to my face, but it did! The bubbles are fun and make it feel like the mask is really ~working~. After about 10 minutes, I rinsed my face with warm water. And rinsed again, and again. It may be that I wasn’t using a washcloth, but it was a little difficult to feel like I washed it all off my face. My face was a little red, but that is probably due to drying my face with a  paper towel instead of washcloth like a normal person. That being said, my skin felt so clean! Wow, taking care of your skin can actually feel good! Who knew? I also noticed later that afternoon and the next day that my skin felt much softer than normal. I even went on a date after leaving the office without putting foundation back on because I liked how my skin was feeling. All in all, I would definitely pick this up the next time I’m at the store.

Christine, 24, Normal Skin

I liked the way the e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask mask felt as you were applying it — very light and airy. However, I did find it hard to cover my entire face before it started to bubble up, which caused me to rub some of the bubbles off before they could finish forming. When it first started to bubble up, it felt nice, like a massage on my face. But after a few minutes, it started to tickle and it felt like the mask was dripping down my face.

I typically use face masks when I want to relax — this mask did more to stress me out than it did to relax me. When I went to take it off, it was extremely hard to get all of the residue off my face, and left my skin feeling slightly sticky afterward. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed much of a difference in my complexion since I used the mask, though I guess it does feel slightly softer. I’m not sure if I would try bubble masks again. I think I prefer just a good old-fashioned face mask like the old lady that I am!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Shannon, 26, Combination Skin

I’ve been psyched about bubble masks since I heard about it a few weeks ago, and I’m glad I had the chance because I loved Elizavecca Milky Piggy’s Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask. It did a great job cleaning my face, and after getting some in my mouth, I can certifiably say that there’s soap in the product. If you love the feeling, it can be used as a weekly cleansing product, but it may dry out skin that’s a little more sensitive or dry than mine.

I would follow up this mask with a good moisturizer. I use masks regularly (at least once a week), so moisturizing afterward isn’t too out of the ordinary. I’m not sure if it tightened my pores as the product claims, but it did clean my skin. I’d recommend trying this experience at least once.

Jasmine, 23, Oily/Combination/Acne-Prone Skin

I’m big into South Korean skincare. I subscribed to Mask Maven, a Korean facial sheet mask subscription box from Beauteque, so I use face masks regularly. I used to follow a 10-step skincare night regimen religiously (can you say high maintenance?) until I got lazy and simplified it to four steps (can you say lazy?). I’m always on the lookout for easy-to-use skincare products that do it all.

When I heard about the Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, I was excited to see if this was the product for me. The mask itself had a slight, but not unpleasant, fragrance. The application was easy, but I had to work it on quickly. After five minutes the mask began bubbling like Pop Rocks. I could feel it tingling on my upper lip and was tempted to scratch, but resisted.

Washing the mask off took longer than expected. I didn’t expect it to lather up so much. It was actually effective at removing makeup. Along with my foundation, I lost half of my usually bulletproof, drawn-in eyebrows to the mask. (Eyebrows-0, mask-1.)

My skin felt clean, refreshed and tightened after I removed the mask. I would definitely use it again if I had a rough week and really wanted to pamper myself.

Bri, 22, Normal Skin As this was my first time ever using a face mask, I was thrilled for it to be something exciting and not your average or typical mask. #FaceMaskVirginNoMore #FirstTimer #FaceMaskBaby For starters, this mask is from e.l.f., which instantly made me happy because I know I can afford it. Having never bought a face mask, I’m not about to spend money on one unless I think it’s worth it (I have important things like mojitos and sundresses to buy...or student debt to pay off). If it’s e.l.f., I know it won’t break the bank. I slathered it on pretty thick, because, well, why not? As the bubbles started to grow, it felt like the mask was sliding down my face. It was difficult for me to imagine it was truly sticking to my face, but it did! The bubbles are fun and make it feel like the mask is really ~working~. After about 10 minutes, I rinsed my face with warm water. And rinsed again, and again. It may be that I wasn’t using a washcloth, but it was a little difficult to feel like I washed it all off my face. My face was a little red, but that is probably due to drying my face with a  paper towel instead of washcloth like a normal person. That being said, my skin felt so clean! Wow, taking care of your skin can actually feel good! Who knew? I also noticed later that afternoon and the next day that my skin felt much softer than normal. I even went on a date after leaving the office without putting foundation back on because I liked how my skin was feeling. All in all, I would definitely pick this up the next time I’m at the store.

Brooke, 26, Combination/Sensitive Skin

My skin is pretty sensitive, so I usually stick to natural ingredients that won’t cause my skin to freak out. If I use a face mask, it’s a yogurt and honey mask I make at home.

The Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask felt tingly and like it was clearing out my pores seconds after I put it on. It was hilarious watching it continue to expand on my face.

Removing the mask was a challenge. I had to rinse my face a million times and the stuff still seemed to be hanging on in weird areas like around the hairline. I would recommend using warm water and a washcloth for removal.

Afterward, my skin felt slightly sticky but very smooth and clean, and like my pores were a little bit tighter. However, it also felt dry and stripped of its natural oils. I needed to immediately apply a moisturizer to help restore it. My bubble mask experience was entertaining but I wouldn’t use that product again on my skin type.

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Elise, 24, Oily/Combination/Sensitive Skin

I use face masks on the reg, so I was pumped to try a bubble mask. I wanted to look exactly like the pictures I had seen on the internet and nothing less.

The Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask has a dark green color, which made me even more excited — it literally looks like algae growing on your face. I will say though, that I slathered it on and I still didn’t end up looking like the girl in the viral bubble mask photos, which was a bit of a letdown. She must’ve put the whole damn jar on her face.

Aside from that slight disappointment, I loved this bubble mask. It felt like PopRocks on my face, and although it was incredibly hard to scrub off like the other girls mentioned, the next day my face looked like porcelain. I have an extremely uneven skin tone, but I didn’t feel the need to even wear makeup the day after using the bubble mask. It wasn’t too drying. I would definitely (and will definitely) use the Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Mask again.

Nature Republic O2 Bubble Black Rose Mask Sheet

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Meleah, 24, Combination/Sensitive Skin

This mask was from Korea, and it shipped from Korea. It took the longest to ship, but was still here within a week. You have to hunt for the tiny English instructions on the back of the package, but they are there. The first step is squishing the package to get the mask goop spread out through the sheet, which was fun and kind of like squishing around your Capri Sun before you drink it.

The Nature Republic 02 Black Bubble Rose Mask Sheet is a fiber sheet mask and the first thing you do is reach your hands in, pull it out of the package, and unfold it. Your hands get pretty covered in soapy bubbling stuff. Once you line up the face holes to your actual face, you just slap it on your face and you’re wearing the mask, which was pleasantly simple. Also the mask smells like really good. Very rose-y. At this stage, I was happy with the sheet mask because it was so easy to apply and minimally messy (once I wiped the bubble stuff off of my hands).

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

Then the mask started to slowly slip down, in a really sneaky way so I didn’t notice it until I was eating it. When I squawked a bit because the mask was getting in my mouth, Elise said “Oh don’t worry about it. You’ll probably just get diarrhea.” Our photographer then added: “Then it’s a cleanse in two ways!” Gallows humor. I would pull the mask up, but it would still SLIDE back down. Every. Single. Time. This killed the “relaxing face mask” vibe.

After 5-10 minutes it was time to remove the mask and rinse. I was happy to end the slipping, pulling back into place, slipping, pulling cycle. I rinsed thoroughly and dried off with a paper towel. My skin felt smoother and clean, but there was also a sense of residue from the mask. When I looked in the mirror, I’m pretty sure my pores are bigger, but I’m hoping that’s just a temporary side effect. Maybe. I applied moisturizer immediately after and now my face feels great (but my pores are still huge).

Elise (Again)

What. A. Mess. I was excited to try out this sheet mask because I was hoping it would be less messy than the other two concoctions. WRONG. There were not enough paper towels in the world to clean up the mess left on my fingers from first trying to unravel the sheet mask (the bubble gunk is on both sides), then pushing the mask up when it slid down literally every two seconds.

This mask is a good idea in theory, but the execution was a disaster. If you do really want to try this one, just keep a bunch of paper towels on hand and DO NOT talk. I repeat: Do not open your mouth, otherwise you will get soap all up in your mouth. And while this stuff smells delicious, you prob don’t want diarrhea.

We Tried the Best Bubble Masks and This is How They Actually Work

I also want to point out that the Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask left my skin feeling super smooth and clean immediately afterward. Nature Republic O2 Bubble Black Rose Sheet Mask…not so much. My skin felt sticky and my pores looked even more clogged than they did going in. You get two of these sheet masks for just $10.20, so trying it out won’t break your wallet, but it’s not worth it IMO. Just go with Milky Piggy.

All that being said…this sheet mask did make for a pretty bomb selfie.

Buy Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask on Amazon.

Last modified on November 9th, 2018

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