What is your preference and why?

I prefer makeup, but I think there should be a combination of both in every house as some people will prefer one over the other. To me masks serve a different function than someone with makeup.

Last year in my first year of acting I always did my own make up.

It always seemed to run with my sweat and I always hated washing it off.

Ive been saving up all this year and will be ordering a CFX Yorick Bloody mask by the end of the week.

It will definitly take some getting used to, but I think it is worth the heat and sweating in the end, Ill just have to stay really hydrated.

I like the effect that silicone masks add to a haunt, they're very realistic.

But for an enitre haunt I agree that it depends and should be mixed up based on where the actor is in your haunt..

Well I agree it depends on what your using them for... my experience says and Im sure all would agree.... that the stuff outside gets the most attention .... so Id put the makeup and kickass costumes outside for the que line. Best actors deserve to be seen.... the rest of the stuff inside where they will be gone in a flash ( not saying anyone should skimp on the costumes and masks etc. ) but you spend seconds with the actors inside and spend up to hours with the que line actors....

We all love prosthetics and makeup but they do take precious time to apply.
The more an actor is exposed to critics = better costuming and make up
Less time exposed = less makeup and costuming

Unless youve got the time and need of course !

Just my .02

I swear by makeup since it can be customized and changed up every night. I'm not a huge fan of masks, because when I see them I think of the company that made them, not about the actor attempting to scare me.

That's funny! You get distracted recognizing the mask and think of the company that made it.
I am the same way when watching an old war movie seeing the tanks, getting distracted thinking of the country that made it, especially distracting when American Sherman tanks have the rising sun meatballs painted on them!
("WE made everyone of those 300 Sherman tanks in our factorys..so how did the Japanese get those tanks?")
Distracting thoughts sure can remove us quickly from the make-believe world they try to create for us.

Having been a makeup artist for 14+ yrs, I agree with a lot of the posts, siding on the side of makeup. There is a place for masks, but I have nothing new beyond the scenarios already mentioned.
I do have to say, that even if you're scaring in lowlight, you can do makeup that would enhance the experience and it make it scarier. You would just make the contrast of highlights and shadows more defined, which would distort the human features even further. However, if your makeup dept isn't skilled enough to do it right, it could blow up in your face.
It may be to your overall benefit to get your artists some training so they can be quick and good.
As for masks, the really expensive ones can be pretty sweet, but sweaty!
In my experience, the majority of houses that use masks, seem cheesy and the customers don't "get" it. There also tends to be a lax in attention to detail, i.e. exposed skin at the neckline, no black around the eyes, pink lips and mouth...
Just my opinion!

In my home/yard haunt acting, I've done both.

This past season at The Bates, I originally was supposed to wear a mask but it was decided it didn't work. So we just did makeup. I was cool with either, but ultimately I believe the makeup only created a better character.