Face masks serve many purposes and come in nearly as many formats—clay, gel, cream, sheets, and more—yet they’re like nothing else in your skin care routine. Masks are typically not used on a daily basis, like a cleanser, moisturizer, or sunscreen, they feel just as indispensable as the products you apply every morning and night. Chalk that up to their unique dual nature of both luxury and potency. “Face masks are an indulgence and can help target or address specific skin concerns. They are formulated to deliver a high concentration of active ingredients to help address particular concerns, like dryness, dullness, acne, or discoloration. They also offer an opportunity to pamper your skin with a spa-like treatment.
Some masks pamper and perfect better than others, which is why we set out to test dozens of formulas and to determine which ones refine, calm, hydrate, and simply outperform all the others so you know which to incorporate into your regimen once or twice a week.
How to Pick a Face Mask
Face masks can range in use from hydrating to purifying, and can include a wide variety of ingredients aimed at unique skin problems. Those with sensitive skin or rosacea will want to pick a mask that has minimal active ingredients because these may cause further irritation and dryness. Masks that include aloe, chamomile, or squalene are more suitable for this skin type. However, individuals with oily, acne-prone skin will benefit from the exfoliating properties of salicylic acid and may want a more aggressive face mask to unclog pores and remove excess bacteria on the skin.
Our Top Picks
1.Gleamin Vitamin C Treatment Mask
What We Love: Gleamin’s Vitamin C Treatment Mask is the definition of an overachiever, addressing a wide range of concerns with impressive efficacy, particularly its ability to reduce different types of discoloration, from acne scars to age spots to melasma. Plus, the clay base is just as effective at keeping pores clear in the pursuit of fewer breakouts and even helps treat ingrown hairs and bumps wherever they may pop up. Over time, we definitely observed more evenness after using the thick, creamy formula.
Who It’s For: If you like those feel-it-working masks that tighten and sometimes tingle, you’ll love how this will make your skin feel immediately softer after 10 minutes. The accompanying little brush also makes it easy to apply the thick creamy formula evenly.
Active Ingredients: Kakadu plum, turmeric root, kaolin clay | Key Benefits: Fades discoloration, prevents breakouts | Size: 2.5 oz
2.The Inkey List Madecassoside Mask
Why We Love It: This mask works in 10 minutes to calm irritated and inflamed skin with a cooling, minty sensation. This is thanks to the key ingredient: madecassoside—a component found within centella asiatica (a medicinal plant), which helps to reduce inflammation and redness, as well as hydrate and plump skin. Our skin felt smooth, refreshed, and soft after use, and using it regularly helped our skin tolerate some of the stronger skin care ingredients, like retinoids and acids, we layer on after.
Who It’s For: If you have dry, inflamed skin, this is the mask for you since it keeps your skin healthy and even-toned. If your skin needs a boost of extra hydration, keep this mask on for 30 minutes. When used as a leave-on treatment, it helps restore the skin’s barrier and lock in moisture.
Active Ingredients: Madecassoside, sunflower seed oil, ginger root extract | Key Benefits: Hydrates, calms | Size: 1.7 oz
3.Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask
Why We Love It: When it comes to splurging, there’s one brand we will gladly give our money to: Sisley Paris. The luxe beauty line features hair care, makeup, and skin care musts, but their masks really shine. And though it’s difficult to choose just one, the Black Rose Cream Mask just might be our favorite. This anti-aging formula is made with black rose (which smooths skin), padina pavonica (which refreshes and replenishes the complexion), and shea butter (which nourishes and soothes the skin’s barrier). What makes this product stand out is its ability to effectively diminish the signs of tired skin—it quickly revitalizes complexions, leaving skin glowy, dewy, and luminous.
Who It’s For: We consider this mask to be a hydrating hero, given the noticeable difference in our skin after each use: Softer, smoother, and definitely bouncier and more plump. Because the mask hydrates skin so deeply, it ultimately makes it more supple and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which means you’ll be able to enjoy long-lasting results. However, it’s worth noting that if you have acne-prone skin this mask might not be the best fit.
Active Ingredients: Black rose, padina pavonica, shea butter | Key Benefits: Plumps, hydrates, brightens | Size: 2 oz
4.Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask
What We Love: This best-selling product is safe for all skin types and works to address uneven texture, lighten dark spots, and plump fine lines and wrinkles. Made with two kinds of vitamin C—one that’s water-soluble to add luminosity, and another that’s oil-soluble to provide ample protection against UV damage—this mask works hard to visibly brighten skin immediately and in the long term. Unlike other vitamin C-based formulas, the thick, creamy texture didn’t burn or make our skin tingle whatsoever but rather offered an amazing balance between hydrating and active ingredients.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking to glow, this mask is for you. Aside from brightening and hydrating skin, the formula also targets uneven texture, smoothing the complexion over time. Major bonus: The light purple hue means that there’s no better mask to take selfies in.
Active Ingredients: Japanese beautyberry, fruit extracts | Key Benefits: Brightens, plumps | Size: 1.7 oz
5.Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
What We Love: It’s made with pumpkin enzyme, which smooths the skin’s surface, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which deeply exfoliate, and aluminum oxide crystals, which effectively polish the skin and cleans out pores, resulting in skin that felt really clean and refreshed every time we used the mask.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking to refresh dull skin, this mask is just the thing you need. Aside from its ability to make your face glow, the mildly gritty consistency isn’t too harsh on the skin, so it doesn’t require any rubbing to still get the full brightening benefits.
Active Ingredients: Pumpkin enzyme, alpha hydroxy acids, aluminum oxide crystals | Key Benefits: Brightens, exfoliates, clarifies | Size: 5 oz
6.Kiehl’s Calendula Petal-Infused Calming Mask
What We Love: Made with handpicked calendula flower petals and aloe vera, this hydrating mask works to refresh and renew skin in no time. This mask felt great on our skin as we massaged it all over our face, and our skin appeared completely renewed after rinsing it off. Aside from our newfound glow, our skin felt hydrated and nourished on a deeper level, and by the look of our healthy, smooth complexion, the benefits weren’t just in our heads.
Who It’s For: If you want to soothe your skin instantly, this leave-on hydrating mask can give you healthier-looking, glowing skin and a smooth complexion in five minutes. You’ll notice that your skin feels more supple, soft, and nourished.
Active Ingredients: Calendula extract, Aloe vera | Key Benefits: Hydrates, calms, softens | Size: 3.4 oz
7.Bubble Overnight Hydrating Face Mask
What We Love: Adding one more minute to your nighttime skin care routine with this mask twice a week can make a major difference in your skin’s glow without compromising your sensitive skin’s comfort. This lotion-like formula moisturizes above and beyond any night cream while exfoliating with kojic and mandelic acids, both of which are gentle enough for easily aggravated skin.
Who It’s For: This mask is for anyone looking to give their morning routines a head start on dewiness with effective overnight exfoliation without irritation. And, thanks to anti-inflammatory arnica and a well-protected skin barrier, there’s no redness in sight.
Active Ingredients: Mandelic acid, kojic acid, maple sap, arnica | Key Benefits: Hydration, gentle exfoliation | Size: 1.7 oz
8.Then I Met You Rosé Resurfacing Facial Mask
What We Love: Made with both glycolic and lactic acids, the formula instantly exfoliates the skin, ridding it of dead skin cells. Plus, it’s formulated with salicylic acid, which works to clean out congested pores and make skin brighter and incorporates resveratrol into its ingredient list (a plant compound that acts as an antioxidant), which helps strengthen and hydrate the skin barrier while also working to prevent premature aging. Upon waking, our skin had a pretty glow and felt very soft, which is especially notable since we’re prone to dry, itchy skin.
Who It’s For: If you want to give your skin the pick-me-up it needs, this resurfacing mask is it. Skin will look brighter and more radiant and feel moisturized and soft. Using this can make you feel like you’re doing something good for your skin.
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, lactic acid, sugarcane extract, glycolic acid, salicylic acid | Key Benefits: Brightens, exfoliates, softens | Size: 1.7 oz
9.Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
What We Love: This transforms from a creamy concoction to a dried-down detoxifier that lets you literally see your pores purge. As its kaolin clay base firms up to a stiffened state, it sops up the excess oil that contributes to the appearance of large pores and potential breakouts. Meanwhile, caffeine energizes your complexion to leave it radiant as soon as you rinse.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for the next best thing to shrinking your pores, this formula practically flushes them out, making them less apparent. We also love the glowy look and fresh feeling that’s revealed, earning it a twice-a-week rotation to reset our skin.
Active Ingredients: Kaolin clay, caffeine | Key Benefits: Absorbs excess sebum, smooths | Size: 2.5 oz
10.Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
What We Love: Made with turmeric extract to lighten hyperpigmentation and promote bright, glowing skin, it evens out skin tone both instantly and over time. Plus, it’s made with gritty mineral powder, which deeply exfoliates the skin and cleans out pores—just be sure to keep a washcloth on hand to remove every last trace of it before continuing with the rest of your skin care routine. As for the kicker, this mask is also formulated with aspen bark, a naturally occurring BHA that’s rich in salicylates and helps to visibly refine the skin’s texture.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for a one-and-done face mask, this is just the thing you need to address several skin concerns at once. Thanks to strategic ingredients, it delivers on its promises, working quickly to make skin brighter, smoother, and healthier with a lasting natural glow. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to get their skin in good shape before an event.
Active Ingredients: Turmeric extract, mineral powder, Aspen bark | Key Benefits: Brightens, exfoliates, clarifies | Size: 3.4 oz
11.Laneige Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask
What We Love: “For dry skin, look for hydrating masks with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin,” says board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi—and you’ll find both in this jar, ready to attract moisture and provide line-smoothing plumpness, while peptides help noticeably encourage a lifted look with consistent use. If this overnight mask isn’t the definition of living the dream, we don’t know what is.
Who It For: If you love the idea of resting your head on a pillow and waking up to pillowy-soft skin, you need to schedule a twice-weekly sleepover with this mask. Applying the cooling, gel-like texture was an absolute delight, and while the hydrating feeling lasted as we drifted off, all the goodness was well-absorbed when our alarm went off in the morning.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, green tea probiotic lysate, peptides | Key Benefits: Hydrates, brightens | Size: 2 oz
12.Dr. Jart Cryo Rubber Firming Mask
What We Love: The two-step process of the cryotherapy-inspired mask had us feeling a bit like a mad beauty scientist with our own personal futuristic spa when applying the glycerin-spiked ampoule followed by the rubbery, moisture-sealing sheet masks. We couldn’t help but appreciate how the intensive application process forced us to really slow down and focus on ourselves, not to mention how the cooling effect—up to 11 degrees—is so refreshing and relaxing.
Who It’s For: This is for anyone looking to combat wrinkles with a futuristic-looking mask that firms, plumps, hydrates, moisturizes, and smooths skin. It’s intended to be kept on for over a half hour, so you really get an opportunity to chill (literally and figuratively) as its ingredients bring out the bounce in your skin.
Active Ingredients: Dipropylene glycol, glycerin,caprylic/capric triglyceride, niacinamide | Key Benefits: Firms,plumps, hydrates, moisturizes,smooths | Size: 0.14,1.4 oz
13.LOOPS Weekly Reset Rejuvenating Face Mask
What We Love: This five-sheet set means your skin is set for over a month of intensive moisturizing and sebum-absorbing power. It promises not to slip and slide as it refines pores, encourages cell regeneration, and makes sure it’s hydrated, not oily. We noticed there was no shortage of serum on the rubbery, two-piece masks, and the instantly noticeable results reflect just how much moisture the adenosine-rich formula imparts.
Who It’s For: If you want a soothing, skin-balancing face mask, this is truly one for every skin type and concern. In addition to revealing soothed, smoothed skin as soon as it was removed, its moisture lasted an amazingly long time (as opposed to seemingly evaporating in mere minutes). The adenosine-rich formula and blend of vitamins and minerals help foster a more youthful complexion.
Active Ingredients: Adenosine, honey, rice water extract | Key Benefits: Hydrating, pore-refining | Size: 5 masks
14.The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask
What We Love: You’ll be thrilled with the way this kaolin clay mask draws excess sebum off of your skin, while its salicylic acid gently clears pores to keep your complexion clear. It’s also remarkably soothing, thanks not only to its creamy, cooling texture but its calming, redness-reducing niacinamide and pansy extract.
Who It’s For: If you want a clay mask that has a rich and luxurious feel, you’ll be impressed with this smooth operator. Although it dries down like clay masks are meant to, it feels more like a friendly hug than an uncomfortable tightness. And once removed, the skin never looks or feels thirsty—just soft and even.
Active Ingredients: Kaolin clay, niacinamide, salicylic acid | Key Benefits: Clarifying, soothing, oil-absorbing | Size: 1.7 oz
How often should you use a face mask?
How often you use a face mask depend on the results you are trying to achieve. “Masks can definitely be used daily or just a few times a week,” “For instance, traditional clay masks can be used daily, but exfoliating masks should be used a few times a week. They can strip the top layer of the skin and provide a constant source of irritation if applied daily.” Be sure you are also paying attention to the manufacturer’s instructions for how often you should use a specific face mask so you don’t unintentionally harm your skin.
In addition to the results you are trying to achieve, it’s also important to take your skin type into consideration. “Typically, I always recommend using a face mask one to two times weekly for upkeep, however for some, I might recommend using one on an as-needed basis”. “If your lifestyle allows it and you’re able to accumulate a range of different face masks bespoke to you—you can mask every single night or multiple times a week.” Just throw on your comfy bathrobe and experiment at home to figure out what works best.
Do you apply face masks before or after your skin care routine?
“Typically, you apply a face mask before the skin care routine if used for cleansing or exfoliative purposes,” “Masks are meant to be washed off after a period of time and then followed by application of moisturizer.” However, if you are using an overnight mask, you would apply this mask either on top of your moisturizer or on cleansed skin. You would then leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning.
