These Aesthetician-Approved Face Masks Can Transform Dry, Dull, and Acne-Prone Skin (2024)

Face masks typically aren't a daily skincare step but more so a once-in-a-while indulgence like an at-home spa treatment. Whether you reach for one weekly, every couple of days, or sporadically, there's no denying the benefits of this add-on.

"There are so many different kinds of masks—clay, cream,sheet—and each one accomplishes something different," says celebrity aestheticianTaylor Worden. Containing high concentrations of skin-loving ingredients, she explains that they can deliver big payoffs (think: a rush of hydration, a plumper complexion, breakout prevention, and less visible pores.) Plus, while all skincare counts as self-care, face masks have that TLC appeal.

With insight from Worden and two board-certified dermatologists in mind, we selected several best-sellers to put to the test in our everyday lives for a couple of weeks. We evaluated each product based on type, application, ingredients, efficacy, benefits, feel, appearance, and skin type compatibility, then we narrowed it down to the best face masks out there today.

Our Top Picks

Jump to Review
Jump to Review
Jump to Review
Jump to Review

What We Like

  • Hygienic pump dispenser

  • Calms redness and illuminates skin after one use

  • Noticeable reduction in dark spots

  • Accessible and affordable

What to Consider

  • Nothing

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, licorice root, cucumber extract | Benefits: Exfoliates, fades dark spots | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The simple act of applying a face mask and relaxing with it on can be a powerful form of self-care—even better when it produces a noticeable improvement in the look and feel of your skin. That's exactly what this mask did when we tried it out. The lightweight, jelly texture was easy to spread across our skin and comfortable as it dried. After just one use, it significantly calmed redness and illuminated our complexions. After using it consistently once a week for a couple of weeks, we saw visibly reduced hyperpigmentation, smoother skin texture, and an all-around skin glow. Considering that this mask delivers on all of its claims, not to mention the accessible price point, we recommend it to anyone in the market for a weekly skincare treatment.

Key Ingredients: Black rose, vitamin E, shea butter | Benefits: Smooths, illuminates, hydrates | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This ultra-creamy formula is pillowy-soft and easy to apply. After trying it out, we can tell you it works wonders for combination skin, addressing both dryness and an oily T-zone. With consistent use, you can count on a reduction in dry patches and a more hydrated, plump complexion. That said, since it's somewhat heavy, it may not be ideal for those with oily skin. While it's quite expensive, a little bit goes a long way, and since it's not a wash-off product, we think it's a fair value.

What We Like

  • Delivers radiance with AHA and BHA Rose Complex

  • Leaves skin noticeably softer

  • Gel texture feels refreshing

What to Consider

  • Doesn't make a noticeable difference in skin texture

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, resveratrol | Benefits: Illuminating, exfoliating, calming | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We loved the gel texture and slightly cooling feel of this refreshing mask. It's easy to apply and mess-free, so you can walk around your home and get other things done before rinsing it off. We also liked that it didn't dry down to a tight or uncomfortable finish. It has a blend of AHAs and BHAs (in the form of glycolic and lactic acid), which can help with skin cell turnover and shrink the look of pores. Immediately after using this mask, our skin was softer, more hydrated, and radiant. It didn't do much in terms of improving texture. But after consistent weekly use throughout our testing period, our complexions looked more lively and glowy.

What We Like

  • Provides manual and chemical exfoliation

  • Easy to apply and comfortable to wear

  • Visibly improves skin texture for more radiant skin

What to Consider

  • Can be a bit intense upon first application

  • Takes a bit of effort to remove

Key Ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, AHA, aluminum oxide crystals | Benefits: Exfoliating | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This popular mask provides dual exfoliation (chemical and physical), thanks to pumpkin enzymes and AHAs for chemical exfoliation, as well as aluminum oxide crystals to physically polish away dead skin cells. The thick, gel-like texture has a fine grit, which makes application easy and ensures the physical exfoliation isn't overly harsh. It also has a delicious pumpkin scent that isn't too overpowering. Admittedly, the mask felt pretty intense at first: It caused a slight burning sensation, but it quickly subsided, and we didn't experience the same discomfort after the first use. It's definitely a powerful formula, so it can take some time to build up a tolerance. After keeping it on for about five minutes and washing it off, our skin felt softer and had a healthy-looking glow.

What We Like

  • Leaves skin feeling hydrated and looking plumped

  • Lightweight, cooling texture

  • Gel consistency is easy to apply and remove

What to Consider

  • Doesn't produce noticeable long-lasting results

Key Ingredients: Snail mucin, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, licorice root | Benefits: Hydrates, illuminates, targets dark spots | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you're coming from a sweaty gym session or a long day at work, applying a refreshing face mask and putting your feet up might be the pick-me-up you need. We adore this one because of its lightweight gel consistency and cooling feel that instantly calms. It's formulated with 95% snail mucin, which might sound gross, but it's a natural source of hyaluronic acid and glycerin that plumps the skin and delivers ample moisture. It's also a pretty affordable product considering how much you get and that a little goes a long way. This mask helped hydrate our skin, leaving us with glowy, toned complexions. The overall user experience was enjoyable, though we didn't see a noticeable difference in texture, pore size, or dark spots.

What We Like

  • Helps calm redness and stressed skin with calendula and aloe vera

  • Lightweight, cream-gel texture

  • Leaves skin extra hydrated

  • Easy to apply and remove

What to Consider

  • Doesn’t produce long-lasting results

Key Ingredients: Calendula extract, aloe vera | Benefits: Soothes, hydrates | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Soothing masks like this one are great when your skin looks or feels irritated—think redness, flaking, or itching. This mask from Kiehl's contains calendula extract, which has healing properties, as well as aloe vera to calm inflammation. It has a creamy gel texture that feels incredibly soft as you apply it. Once it's on, the formula produces a slightly cooling sensation that feels amazing on stressed skin.

We found it comfortable to wear and thought our skin looked healthier and more hydrated after just one use. With continued use, it delivered a smoother, plumper complexion. Although we didn't notice a lasting difference in the hydration levels of our skin, this mask is an excellent option for when you need a quick moisture boost.

What We Like

  • Unclogs and minimizes appearance of pores

  • Provides physical and chemical exfoliation

  • Leaves skin looking glowy

What to Consider

  • Initial feeling on skin can be a bit harsh

Key Ingredients: Papaya enzymes, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Benefits: Exfoliates, helps clear pores | Size: 0.5–5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chances are, you've heard of this treatment mask—or at least seen it on social media. It's been a longtime player in the exfoliation category, and considering how effective it is, we get the hype. The formula boasts a blend of fruit enzymes, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to provide chemical exfoliation, along with silica to physically buff away dead skin cells.

We experienced some stinging with the first application. (The brand warns users that it'll cause some tingling and potentially redness initially, but the intense feeling can be alarming.) However, these sensations didn't last long, and the formula worked wonders at removing dead skin cell buildup and visibly improving the appearance of pores. After using it, our skin looked more even and super glowy.

What We Like

  • Can be used as a scrub or detoxifying mask

  • Leaves skin looking even and radiant

  • Fine, gritty texture makes application easy

  • Visibly reduces appearance of pores

What to Consider

  • Gritty particles could be slightly abrasive on sensitive skin

Key Ingredients: Turmeric, mineral powder, aspen bark | Benefits: Illuminates, exfoliates, helps fade dark spots | Size: 1–3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Products that can be used in multiple ways earn extra points in our book, and this exfoliating mask is one of the best. It has the texture of a scrub so that it can be used in the shower or whenever you wash your face. It also works as a treatment mask that you can leave on for about two minutes before washing off. The formula contains turmeric to help illuminate your complexion and target hyperpigmentation, mineral powder for physical exfoliation, and aspen bark (a naturally occurring BHA) for chemical exfoliation. We liked the gritty consistency because the granules were pretty fine—it also helped us apply it as it didn't slide around on our faces. But those with sensitive skin might find it too abrasive. After rinsing it off, we were extremely impressed by how even and radiant our skin looked—our pores appeared smaller, dead skin cells were removed, and our complexions looked healthier overall.

What We Like

  • Doesn't burn or tingle

  • Luxe, creamy texture

  • Leaves skin looking glowy thanks to two types of vitamin C

What to Consider

  • Results don't last long

Key Ingredients: Japanese beautyberry, vitamin C, fruit enzymes | Benefits: Illuminates, gently exfoliates, helps fade dark spots | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Like many skincare actives, vitamin C can be sensitizing, but not with this mask. We tried it out on sensitive skin, and it didn't sting or lead to a burning sensation (something reactive complexions may experience with similar products). The luxurious feel of the thick, creamy texture and gorgeous purple hue of the container really enhanced our experience. This formula contains two types of vitamin C, plus fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate and help illuminate your skin. We noticed an immediate improvement in the radiance of our complexions after using this mask. While the glowy effects didn't seem to last more than a few hours, it did calm redness and addressed dry patches.

What We Like

  • Pillowy soft, gel-cream consistency

  • Deeply hydrating

  • A little bit goes a long way

  • Niacinamide helps smooth the appearance of pores and fine lines

What to Consider

  • Leaves a minor tacky feeling on the skin

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, panthenol, beta-glucan, shea butter | Benefits: Smooths, hydrates, illuminates | Size: 0.85–5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This face mask has a seriously unique texture—it's incredibly soft and gel-like yet somehow still creamy. It spreads like butter, so a tiny bit goes a long way. The formula contains niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help even out skin texture, soak up oil, and reduce the appearance of pores. It worked remarkably well to deeply hydrate our parched skin and prevent dry patches. We noticed a plumping effect, which helped smooth the appearance of fine lines. Not only that, but this mask blurred the look of enlarged pores and left us with a more radiant complexion. It had a slightly tacky feel, but it wasn't uncomfortable at all and didn't stick to our pillowcases or sheets.

What We Like

  • Chemical exfoliation addresses multiple concerns

  • Noticeable results

  • Hygienic air-tight container

What to Consider

  • May be too intense for sensitive skin

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Benefits: Exfoliates, improves texture, unclogs pores | Size: 0.5–1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're dealing with uneven texture, dullness, blackheads, dullness, discoloration, or dark spots, 20 minutes with this Byrdie favorite will make you feel like a whole new person. This resurfacing mask helps improve uneven texture and gives dull complexions a glowy boost while unclogging pores and elevating elasticity. A blend of AHAs and BHAs dissolves dead cells on the outermost layer of your skin to reveal smoother skin underneath. We also appreciate the airtight container, as many masks require you to dip your fingers into a lidded tub. Just be mindful of the fact that it can be too strong for sensitive skin types, so perform a patch test. before slathering it all over your skin.

What We Like

  • Fun to use

  • Tightens and improves elasticity

  • Dermatologist-recommended

What to Consider

  • Single-use kit

Key Ingredients: Beta-glucan, peptides, botanicals, antioxidants | Benefits: Smooths, illuminates, tightens | Size: 1 use | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"The Hanacure All-In-One Mask also deserves mention for its proprietary Octolift technology," says dermatologist Dr. Claire Wolinsky, MD. "It's a fun peel to use and will leave the skin feeling tighter, thanks to effective peptides and antioxidants." Part of the joy is that, as it dries, it crinkles onto your skin and makes you look temporarily—for lack of better term—worse. (Lots of people post "during" photos of this alarming crinkle effect on Instagram.) Then you peel it off to reveal a smoother, plumper-looking complexion. We just wish there were more masks included in the kit, considering the price.

What We Like

  • Easy to apply and stays in place

  • Addresses multiple skin concerns including fine lines

  • Leaves skin smoother and more radiant

What to Consider

  • Leaves skin feeling slightly tacky

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, copper peptide, phospholipids | Benefits: Improves texture, addresses dullness | Size: 1 or 6 masks | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sheet masks are great single-use skincare treatments, but can be frustrating to use since they're typically one-size-fits...hardly anyone. While many slip and slide around your face, this one has two pieces, which makes application super easy—and, unlike many other sheet masks, it stays put until you're ready to take it off. After letting it baste for about 20 minutes, you can count on ultra-hydrated and plump skin that looks smoother, tighter, and more radiant. It can, however, leave skin feeling a little sticky right after you take it off.

What to Consider When Buying a Face Mask

  • Skin Type and Concern: Your skin type and any specific concerns you'd like to address will help determine which type of face mask you should get. For instance, if your skin is sensitive or dehydrated, you might look for a soothing, hydrating formula. If you're battling breakouts, an absorbent, pore-clearing mask may be the best choice.
  • Ingredients: You should also pay attention to the ingredients list, as this will give you clues as to what a mask can accomplish. "Popular ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and botanicals can help soothe and restore the skin barrier," says Dr. Wolinsky. Dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes, MD, says people with sensitive skin should avoid masks containing fragrance, as it could be a potential irritant. For dry skin, she recommends hydrating formulas.
  • Type and Application: Face masks come in various forms. There are single-use sheet masks, which are typically individually wrapped and designed to be placed directly on the face. You'll also find lots of options that come in tubes, tubs, and airtight containers. These work more like face lotions or moisturizers, except they're often meant to be rinsed off after a short period. If you're tight on time, something you can apply with your fingers and leave on overnight is your best bet.

FAQ

  • Do dermatologists recommend face masks?

    When used correctly, Dr. Madfes says face masks can benefit the skin. "Face masks give a little extra attention to one's facial regimen," she tells Byrdie. "The benefit of masks is to achieve a higher concentration of actives." So, if you're struggling with a specific concern, like dryness or dark spots, a face mask designed to target the issue can give you the skincare boost you need.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a skincare aficionado and freelance copywriter specializing in wellness and lifestyle. Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. Both authors have tested dozens of face masks, including a majority on this list.

  • Taylor Worden is a New York-based celebrity esthetician and the founder of Taylor Worden Skin.
  • Dr. Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD, of Madfes Dermatology & Aesthetics Group, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.
  • Dr. Claire Wolinsky, MD, is a New York dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation.

According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough face masks from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us atcontact@byrdie.com,and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

These Aesthetician-Approved Face Masks Can Transform Dry, Dull, and Acne-Prone Skin (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6371

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.