Wondering whether a hyaluronic acid face mask or a peel suits your skin? One hydrates; the other gently exfoliates. Our two vegan exfoliating masks do both, pairing fruit acids with hyaluronic acid. We’ll help you choose, then you can explore our face exfoliators. 

 Discover our face exfoliators
Smiling woman with braids applying a face mask to her forehead and cheeks against a peach background

Face Mask vs. Face Peel: The Core Difference

A hydrating mask floods the skin with moisture and helps soothe it, while a face peel is a gel-like chemical exfoliation treatment that loosens dead skin cells with fruit acids instead of a gritty scrub. Our Soothing and Refining Exfoliating Face Masks are both gel peels. For more background on hydration, read our post on 5 facts about hyaluronic acid, which explains how this ingredient attracts and retains moisture for a softer, more supple-looking complexion. 

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Why Hyaluronic Acid Belongs in Both Masks

Hyaluronic acid hydrates rather than exfoliates, drawing water into the skin so it feels plump and comfortable. The exfoliating masks get their exfoliation from fruit acids, a natural source of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), while the Refining one adds willow bark extract, a natural source of BHA (beta hydroxy acid). Both list Sodium Hyaluronate, so hydration comes built in. For hydration without exfoliation, explore our face serums collection. 

Swirl of translucent pink gel with tiny bubbles on a plain white background

Choosing by Skin Type

Your skin type helps you choose the right option. If you have sensitive or reactive skin, our Soothing Exfoliating Face Mask is ideal, offering gentle chemical exfoliation without abrasion, with Tasmanian pepperberry and arnica to help calm redness. If you have oily skin or enlarged pores, our Refining Exfoliating Face Mask helps tighten pores and control sebum, your skin’s natural oil. Both have a light gel texture and pair their exfoliating acids with hyaluronic acid to help keep skin hydrated. 

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How to Use a Face Peel Safely

Start with a patch test before your first use: apply a small amount, then wait to see how your skin responds. When you’re ready, apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin, avoiding the eye area, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. A slight tingle is normal, but you should never feel pain or prolonged redness. Keep that evening simple, skip other exfoliating acids or potentially irritating active ingredients, and wear sunscreen the next day.

Woman with braids holding a BKIND face mask tube beside her face, product visible on her skin

How Often to Use Each

A chemical peel like ours is an intense care step, so once or twice a week is plenty, never daily. Our Soothing and Refining Exfoliating Face Masks exfoliate in less than 15 minutes, so gentle exfoliation fits easily into a weekly rhythm. A purely hydrating mask, by contrast, is lighter and can be used more often. Always listen to your skin and space things out if it feels at all reactive, starting with once a week if you’re new to chemical exfoliation. 

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Why Neither of Our Exfoliators Skips Hydration

Most mask and peel categories split things in two: exfoliation in one product and hydration in another. We do things differently. We build hyaluronic acid into both of our exfoliating masks, alongside soothing aloe vera, so every session pairs fruit-acid exfoliation with real hydration in one simple step at home. Your skin gets the benefit of a resurfacing care, one that smooths away dull, dead surface cells, without losing the comfort and moisture that help keep it balanced and supple. 

Building It Into a Full Routine

Here is where a mask or peel fits:

  1. Cleanse to remove makeup and buildup.
  2. Exfoliate with an exfoliating face mask a few times a week.
  3. Apply a serum, such as our Soothing Face Serum with Arnica.
  4. Moisturize to seal everything in.

To finish, explore our face moisturizers collection and find a texture you love. Choose a gentle formula that suits your skin type and feels comfortable for everyday use.

FAQs

What's the difference between a peel mask and a chemical peel?

A chemical peel is any treatment that uses acids to loosen dead skin cells, and a peel mask is a gentle, at-home way to do it. Each of our exfoliating masks is that at-home version: a hyaluronic acid face peel formulated with fruit acids, a natural source of AHAs, that gently resurface the skin, with built-in hydration. They’re made for comfortable, regular at-home use, once or twice a week, in the evening. 
How often should I use a skin peel mask?

Once or twice a week is a sensible starting point for most people. A natural face peel for oily skin, like our Refining Exfoliating Face Mask with willow bark extract and witch hazel water, works well on that rhythm, giving the fruit acids time to do their job without overdoing it. Watch how your skin feels and ease off if it seems sensitive. You don’t need to use a chemical exfoliant daily to see the benefits. 
Can I use a peel mask if I have sensitive skin?

Yes, with a patch test first. Apply a small amount on your jaw or inner arm, wait, and check how your skin responds before applying it fully. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, our Soothing Exfoliating Face Mask is a hyaluronic acid mask made for sensitive skin. It offers gentle chemical exfoliation without abrasion, and with Tasmanian pepperberry, arnica, and hyaluronic acid, it helps keep skin hydrated and soothed during and after exfoliation. 
Do skin peel masks actually work?

They do. After a single use of an exfoliating face mask with hyaluronic acid, skin often looks fresher and feels smoother, because the fruit acids loosen dull surface cells while the hyaluronic acid adds moisture. More visible texture changes tend to show up with consistent use, since exfoliating once or twice a week can help your skin renew itself faster and reveal a smoother, brighter complexion. Regular exfoliation can also help the serum and moisturizer you apply afterward absorb better. 
What are the benefits of using a face mask?

A hyaluronic acid face mask delivers targeted hydration and active ingredients in one short, relaxing step. Instead of a long routine, you get a concentrated treatment that works in 10 to 15 minutes, then rinses away. Ours go further by pairing that hydration with gentle fruit-acid exfoliation, so skin feels softer and more comfortable. Ready to try one? Start with our Soothing Exfoliating Face Mask if your skin is sensitive, or our Refining Exfoliating Face Mask if it’s oily.