We bust them, twerk them, and sit on ‘em, so why don’t we pamper them? Yes, I’m talking about butts — and after a long quarantine, we’re more than ready to mask that ass.
Butt mask popularity is on the rise and with cheek season well underway, we decided to investigate how well butt masks actually polish the ol’ peach. 🍑
We tested a handful (pun intended), consulted with experts, and looked carefully over ingredients and reviews, so you don’t have to. Keep reading to see our roundup of the best butt masks you can buy and learn more about what they can and can’t actually do for your backside.
Best butt masks of 2021
- Best cooling sheet butt mask: Aceology Smooth Operator Butt Mask
- Best budget sheet butt mask: BAWDY Slap It Caffeine Butt Mask
- Best exfoliating butt mask: megababe Le Tush Clarifying Butt Mask
- Best budget all-over body firming cream: Bliss Fabgirl Firm Body Cream
- Best splurge all-over body firming cream: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
- Best tightening butt mask: Maely’s B-Tight Lift & Firm Booty Mask
- Best clinical smoothing cream: ZO Skin Health Cellulite Control
- Best clay butt mask: Anese Down with the thickness
Give it to me straight — what can butt masks do?
Here’s some common butt stuff — aka skin conditions on your rump — that you may be looking to spruce up with a butt mask:
- folliculitis: inflamed or infected hair follicles
- keratosis pilaris: rough little bumps also (rudely) known as “chicken skin”
- eczema: red, itchy blotches of skin
- stretch marks: common after pregnancy, changes in weight, or muscle growth
- cellulite: uneven, bumpy appearance caused by fat in the skin pushing up against connective tissue (super common, 80 to 90 percent of females have it)
- buttne: you guessed it — acne on your butt
So can butt masks tackle this ish? Dr. Susan Bard, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist, says it depends.
While it’s unrealistic for butt masks to permanently bust up cellulite or erase stretch marks, some masks — if they include the right ingredients — may be able to help out with things like folliculitis, keratosis pilaris, and eczema. “They probably moisturize the skin well, or mildly exfoliate, like a face mask,” Bard says.
Andrea Fenda, an advanced medical aesthetician at Smith Vein & Cosmetic Surgery says if acne, eczema, or rough texture are your concerns, adding a butt mask to your routine may help with inflammation. But when it comes to cellulite, Fenda explains that hormonal factors play a large role, along with other things like weight and muscle tone.
“Even very fit people can have cellulite,” Fenda explains. “Diet, exercise, firming creams, and in-office treatments like radiofrequency can help make a marked improvement to the overall appearance of cellulite, however, there is no 100 percent cure for the skin condition.”
Even though some of us want to mask these skin conditions — literally — Fenda says they’re incredibly common. “They are naturally occurring on all areas of the body. With summer around the corner, I do see a higher demand to improve the body in addition to my typical facials.”
*Behind* the scenes: How we chose the best butt masks
Aside from looking carefully at reviews and choosing brands with positive reputations, we also paid extra attention to ingredients. Bard suggests keeping an eye out for these helpful ingredients:
- hydroxy acids (helpful for folliculitis or acne)
- hyaluronic acid (can offer hella moisture)
Fenda agrees ingredients are key. “Pretty labels and packaging can have you making a quick impulse buy,” she says.
So what should you pay attention to on this pretty packaging? Fenda warns against products with added fragrances, which can cause skin sensitivities. Bard says to also be careful with botanicals. For some people, these may cause contact dermatitis — skin that becomes red or inflamed after meeting an allergen or an irritant.
A quick word on loving your buns, huns
These products are designed to boost your booty’s aesthetic at least for a while but remember, cellulite is friends with everyone and there’s no reason not to embrace her.
These products are a good fit for those looking for a fun way to kill some time, blow some Benji’s, and shake that thang in the bathroom mirror. So, don’t expect miracles, and remember to love the bum your momma gave ya. OK, thanks for coming to our Ted Talk.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $25
- $$ = over $25
8 best butt masks
Best cooling sheet butt mask
Aceology Smooth Operator Butt Mask
- Price: $
- Type: sheet mask
This vegan butt mask is refreshing and cold AF. In testing, we were big fans of its cooling effect — a feeling we didn’t know our booties were begging for.
This sheet mask comes out of the package kind of heavy and sopping in serum (which, hello, is a good thing) and it’s fairly large — big enough to cover our entire backyard and then some. It’s almost like a cooling weighted blanket for your ass.
Fenda points out this mask is a good choice for peeps with buttne and/or eczema.
It contains licorice and rosemary extract — which have antioxidant properties that come with a calming effect — as well as Centella asiata, an extract that’s rich in antioxidants and amino acids for even more soothing.
Fenda does warn that this mask contains bergamot — an ingredient that, when used topically, is a photosensitizer. This means it’s best to slather the sunscreen on your cheeks accordingly after use.
Aceology also has Cheeky Butt Mask Trio pack so you can try the “I’m Bouncy Butt Mask” (aims to firm and bounce) as well as the “Juicy Peach Butt Mask” (aims to boost moisture).
P.S. This pick is also cruelty-free and is supposed to be good for weekly use.
Best budget sheet butt mask
BAWDY Slap It Caffeine Butt Mask
- Price: $
- Type: sheet mask
Finally, caffeine to awaken asses. These relatively affordable sheet masks are made of 100 percent cotton and are biodegradable.
If we infuse our bods with caffeine on the regular, why not our bums too? According to the brand, caffeine is used to clarify, while aloe leaf juice helps lessen the look of blemishes. Reviewers note a smoothing effect while others wish this pick came with more than one mask in a pack.
A word to the wise, this mask does contain orange peel to exfoliate, but some natural ingredients — orange, lemon, tangerine, etc. — may stir up irritation or allergic reactions for some people.
BAWDY says you can use this mask twice a week or as needed.
Best exfoliating butt mask
megababe Le Tush Clarifying Butt Mask
- Price: $
- Type: cream
This 3-minute butt mask targets buttne. You know the type: those annoying-ass zits that appear after a long sweaty workout, or thanks to chafing from tight clothes or damp bathing suits.
This mask is basically a fun physical exfoliant for your butt — it has that classic gritty feel from a good scrub. It’s also super easy to use — just slap it on and leave it there for up to 3 minutes, massage in a circular motion after letting it sit, and then rinse and pat dry.
We thought this mask did a stellar job buffing and revealed a cute glow. Some reviewers mention that this mask helped with their keratosis pilaris (aforementioned skin bumps).
We do have to include another sunscreen warning here: This pick contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) — which may boost skin sensitivity to the sun, increasing the risk of sunburn. So you’ll need to apply sunscreen, possibly for a week after using this mask.
This mask is also free of synthetic fragrance, phthalates, sulfates and parabens.
Best budget all-over body firming cream
Bliss Fabgirl Firm Body Cream
- Price: $
- Type: cream
This all-over body firming cream is fueled by caffeine and a blend of botanicals that are supposed to help tighten and smooth. (You saw our PSA on botanicals above, so as a heads up, botanicals in this product may lead to allergic reactions for some.)
It contains caffeine to stimulate the skin and shitake mushroom extract to help increase elasticity and boost firmness, according to Bliss. Another star ingredient — shea butter — is loaded with vitamin E, which helps stave off dryness and flaking. It also says no thanks to parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petrolatum, and formaldehyde.
NGL, we were skeptical about an all-over firming cream at first — especially at this price point. But we have to say, we like what we see after actually trying it. It really felt like a solid skin smoother. You can obvi use this all over, but we focused on the lower body in testing. And while the brand doesn’t mention it in the product description, we definitely felt that this one was a great clarifying mask, too.
Some reviewers swear by this while others say the company has changed the formula over time and they liked it better before. Some love the citrus scent while others say it’s too extreme for an everyday cream. We have to agree that it’s not exactly a subtle scent, but we didn’t think it was over the top.
Overall, this is a good pick if you’re looking for a more affordable moisturizer for your booty that’s likely to smooth and tighten the look of your skin back there. Again, it’s not super possible to do much beyond surface-level improvements to the skin on your rump, but even surface-level smoothing can feel like a boost for your booty.
Best splurge all-over body firming cream
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
- Price: $$
- Type: cream
This butt cream is pretty famous in the booty beauty world.
As its name implies (à la Brazilian Butt Lift), you use it on your behind to help tighten the look of skin back there, but you can also use it on other areas of your bod that you want to show some extra love.
This product is known for its use of a native Amazonian plant called Guaraná that has a strong type of caffeine and is also brimming with antioxidants thanks to cupuacu butter, acaí, and coconut oil.
Happy reviewers say it’s super moisturizing and softens their skin. Others say they wish it did long-term tightening to help with cellulite — but again, that’s not really possible for a cream to achieve.
People also go wild for the scent, which is described as having hints of vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio. Go with this one if you’re looking to splurge on a hyped smell and softening effect on your derriere.
This cream is vegan as well as cruelty free, paraben free, and gluten-free.
Best tightening butt mask
Maely’s B-Tight Lift & Firm Booty Mask
- Price: $$
- Type: cream
This booty mask is not for the heavy-handed.
The first time we used it, we possibly (read: definitely) applied too much and it felt hotter than a tamale. The label says a “warm” sensation may occur, but we definitely felt hella hot vibes — but luckily, no redness or irritation.
Fenda says this sensation is due to the ingredient pink pepperslim (concentrated oil made from pink berries), which gives a warm to hot sensation when it’s applied. It’s also supposed to help lessen the appearance of “fatty” skin.
The second time we applied it, we used way less and had only a slight warming sensation. We noticed nice plump skin afterward, likely thanks to hyaluronic acid, which helps retain water, making skin plump and moist.
Fenda also notes it has guarana seed extract, an antioxidant that gives a robust blast of highly concentrated caffeine to help stimulate blood circulation.
Online reviewers are on both sides of the coin here. Some love it and say they use it every day for months and see visible results, while others are disappointed it can’t actually defeat cellulite altogether (again, not a thing!) or that the hot sensation was simply too much for them.
If you decide to try it, keep in mind you can’t “turn off” the warm-to-hot sensation. It goes away on its own. Ours dissipated in under an hour, but it can last longer.
Best clinical smoothing cream
ZO Skin Health Cellulite Control
- Price: $$
- Type: cream
If you wanna skip right to a clinical booty lotion, here’s the one for you, babe. But keep in mind that even clinical strength products don’t blast away cellulite, they can only temporarily enhance the look of skin they’re consistently applied to.
This pick works to stimulate collagen production to offer firmer-looking skin. It uses an ingredient called plankton extract, which is said to increase cellular and tissue metabolism, giving a toning appearance. It also has a substance called phosphatidylcholine, which puts fat-destroying enzymes to work so your body can best absorb it.
We loved that it’s not a high-maintenance product. It’s lightweight, not sticky or scented, and seems to absorb quickly. You just rub it in and go. It’s easy to slap it on after the shower and we’re already seeing a nice smoothing look back there.
This is the butt pick for you if you have some extra bills to blow.
Best clay butt mask
Anese Down with the thickness
- Price: $$
- Type: cream
A good ol’ fashioned clay mask but for the booty. This fluffy, whip texture mask uses kaolin clay and collagen to soften and lessen the appearance of lines without being drying.
Reviewers rave about this pick, saying it helps with things like blemishes and even scarring. Many love that it’s light and smells like peaches. How fitting. 🍑
Most complaints come from the price point, but many point out that the product lasts a long while and is worth the splurge.
How to choose the best butt mask for your backside
Budget
Obvi, you’ll need to pick a general budget you’re comfortable with. And while the price of the product is important, you should also pay attention to how much product you’re getting for that price. Some masks might seem hella cheaper than others, but might actually end up costing you more because you need to buy it more often.
When comparing products, check how many ounces (oz) or milliliters (ml) each has. It’s easy to be fooled by pics of products online (we’re definitely guilty of buying products thinking they were wayyy bigger than they actually are), so always double check the size before buying.
Reviews
Another must: always read reviews. Some things to look out for when skimming through reviews:
- Do people report having any irritation?
- Is it easy to apply?
- What’s the scent like?
- Is it worth the money?
- Does it work?
Ingredients
Like we mentioned earlier, the ingredients in the product are in the driver’s seat of how it’ll perform. Depending on the different skin concerns you have, you’ll want to look for different main ingredients.
- Acne or folliculitis. Look for AHA and BHAs (like glycolic acid and salicylic acid).
- Dry skin. Keep an eye out for hyaluronic acid, shea butters, glycerin, and ceramides.
- Cellulite. Your best (temporary) bet is caffeine, which might help plump up your booty skin.
Mask type
You’ll need to decide how you want to apply your butt mask. Would you like to lay a juicy sheet over that thang, or slather the stuff on using your hands?
A sheet mask is a fun way to chill out, just press it on your booty and lie on your tummy while the mask goes to work.
With creams or lotions, you apply them using your hands, which usually means a few good minutes of massage (hello, self-care!). Creams and lotions are also prob a little easier for regular use.
Other bootiful methods to try
If you’d rather ditch the booty masks and opt for other skin care methods, here’s the scoop.
“All skin benefits from exfoliation,” Fenda says. “For the bum, gentle exfoliation a couple times a week is all that is necessary to help with cellular turnover.”
Here’s Bard’s breakdown of how you can address these specific booty-blues, sans mask.
- folliculitis. Responds nicely to over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide, AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids as well as treatments that can be prescribed by your dermatologist.
- keratosis pilaris. Can improve with various OTC KP treatments that aim to moisturize and exfoliate.
- eczema. Can be treated with moisturization and topical cortisone (OTC or prescription).
- stretch marks. Topical retinoids and laser treatment may help.
- cellulite. Bard acknowledges that caffeine-containing topicals may temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite but not overwhelmingly so. “Otherwise no one would complain of cellulite. Cellulite occurs due to bands of collagen winding through the fat,” she says. “Only procedures that lyse those bands can really treat cellulite.”
The bottom line
Butt masks are hot right now for good reason: it’s fun to pamper your peach. They come in sheet masks (like the kind you use on your face) or creams and lotions. Some say they smooth, lift, plump, clear, etc.
Some masks are more intense than others and bring the heat (literally, a hot, warming sensation). “Just be aware because some of these will have an anticipated reaction — which is good,” Fenda says. “Just take extra precaution with sunscreen as well.”
Most masks can only offer surface-level results though — butt stuff like cellulite has to do with muscles, not so much skin. While some reviewers do see surface-level results, it may take months of consistent use and it’ll probs beat up your wallet too.
It’s a good idea to read instructions, ingredients, and reviews carefully online before you buy. It’s also best to do a patch test before covering your entire ass with any new-to-you product. (You’ll thank us later.) You can also use OTC key ingredients without a mask to address the specific booty concerns we pointed out.
Finally, whether you mask it or not, remember to be proud of the wagon you’re draggin’.
0 Commentaires