ou know how young folk find millennial slang cringe? Millennials think anyone calling it Decemberistan is cringe. Stop it boomers and Gen X. It’s not cute. Or maybe it is, but too many people in Karachi start using the Decemberistan hashtag and caption and saying ‘winters’ in December and it makes me want to run, sometimes, and hide, sometimes, exactly like Britney.

Anyway, come winter - no ‘s’, it’s not plural - the weddings and parties and casual get togethers are inevitable, since all the prodigal sons and daughters and non-resident Pakistanis and ex-pats return. They’re here for the weddings and funerals and births, and sometimes to just visit the fam, and in turn, generate another stream of parties and reunions and family hangs and omg December in Pakistan is never ending and insufferable.

So if you, like a normal person, have a job and kids and friends and commitments you must fulfill, odds are on you never having your best face to put forward at the end of the day, and at the beginning of a weeknight social event. While we would all simply adore weekly facials, we cannot afford them, and also, we don’t have the time.

To cut this long rant about December-based obligations short, guys, use a mask. Right before going out. It works. Especially if the mask suits your skin, you will legitimately notice your skin accepting makeup much, much better afterwards. And since your skin will already be looking a lot fresher, you won’t need too much concealing and finagling to look like a hundred-million dollars.

This week, we’re going to focus on masks that make you glow. One of the most Pakistani ways to make a glow-inducing face mask is with multani mitti or bentonite clay, but it’s not really an on-the-go kind of totka. The first ingredient you’re looking for is some kind of clay. I know you’re thinking who invited the ghost from Ghost, but clay-based masks generally clean up skin better.

Bentonite clay is more of an anti-bacterial, cleansing clay, so if your mask has it, it’s literally the only thing you need to use after washing your face and before makeup/moisturizer. If your skin is more on the sensitive side, or you just don’t want to risk aggravating it right before an event, kaolin clay is even more gentle.

The two masks I’ve been using alternately for the last couple of months are Cleo’s Pink Mousse, and Scoop o Scrub’s I’m Pink!. They’re both kaolin-clay-based, but Pink Mousse also has bentonite, so maybe it is also the option to go with on days you think you look completely grimy. I’m Pink’s second ingredient is licorice root powder, which would give you an instant brightness. Saying that, both masks are worth the investment, because they’ll improve your skin texture and appearance in the long run.

Cleo Pink Mousse

Pink Mousse goes on easily and dries to a point. The mask is easy to wash off, and the result is instantly soft skin, which also looks really moisturized and healthy, so if you’re after that soft, pretty glow, this is your best friend. Used regularly, not always in a rush, and preferably at night, Pink Mousse has made my skin look and feel hydrated, healthy, and even-toned.

I’m Pink!

This mask doesn’t quite turn this shade of pink (pictured) anymore, but it does do everything else it used to. This is a powder that you have to mix in with water, milk, or rosewater, and it dries to a very chalky consistency, so it’s definitely for times you have three extra minutes to spare as well as for your weekly exfoliation and masking. Because it is powder based, and the powder doesn’t all dissolve - or I’m doing it wrong - you can also rinse it off with a tiny bit of a satisfying scrub. Skin looks super clean and bright right away, and long-term use is meant to lighten pigmentation and acne scars.

Conclusion: Pink Mousse is priced at Rs 3000 while I’m Pink! is Rs 1450. Masks are generally worth investing in since you use a little once or twice a week, and they last ages. I’d recommend picking the mask based on your requirements and preferences rather than price.