LAY IT ON THICK

15 Best Face Masks to Renew and Revitalize Skin

These soothing, dead-skin-sloughing, and brightening treatments do all of the work.
Best Face Masks a collage of Paula's Choice The Outset and Hyper Skin masks on a gray background
Wesley Hall for Allure / Courtesy of brands

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, kaolin, salicylic acid | Who It's For: Those seeking the clarifying effects of clay without dryness

Best for Dry Skin: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask With 10.5% Squalane

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask With 10.5% Squalane in white jar with white lid

Kiehl's

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask With 10.5% Squalane

Why It's Worth It: This velvety, overnight balm won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award for its high content of fatty acids, which repair and strengthen the skin barrier throughout the night. Notably, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask With 10.5% Squalane is a rich, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic formula that won't rub onto the pillow while you sleep and won't clog pores.

Editor Tip: In a pinch, this face mask can double as an ultra-gentle cleansing balm. Massage onto dry skin before wiping it off with a face cloth. (We recommend reaching for a regular-duty cleansing balm for heavy and/or waterproof makeup.)

Key Ingredients: Squalane, glycoprotein | Who It's For: People with dry or sensitive skin

Best for Oily Skin: Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask in teal tube and wooden cap

Caudalie

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

Why It's Worth It: Combat excess oil and breakouts with the deep-cleansing Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Instant Detox Mask. This mask contains papaya enzymes to brighten and pink clay and coffee to target blackheads. Commerce writer Jennifer Hussein was thoroughly impressed by the instant, glowing gratification this mask provided after a mere 10 minutes, and commerce editor Sarah Han finds the contrast between the pink paste and tiny black dots/pores (folks with trypophobia, be warned) is so satisfying — so it's safe to say this one's worth the TikTok-induced hype.

Editor Tip: It's effective yet gentle enough to use twice a week.

Key Ingredients: Pink clay, caffeine, glycerin | Who It's For: Anyone seeking smaller-looking pores

Best Peel: Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel

Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel set with brush

Shani Darden

Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel

Why It's Worth It: Yet another 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, the Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel exfoliating treatment is a favorite of executive beauty director Jenny Bailly, who uses it for luminous-looking skin and barely-there pores ahead of a big trip, presentation, or party. This two-step treatment consists of an exfoliating portion, powered by a blend of alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid. The clay mask works as a neutralizing step, which helps the skin keep a healthy PH level throughout exfoliation. Here, the neutralizing ingredients consist of kaolin and bentonite clays.

Editor Tip: It's potent, so you should only use it twice a month, max.

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, kaolin clay | Who It's For: People seeking resurfacing (who aren't especially sensitive)

Best for Plumping: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask in soft blue jar with lid

Laneige

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Why It's Worth It: Don't sleep on Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask, which, as one Allure editor put it, feels like the mask equivalent of skin-care models rinsing their faces "by dramatically splashing water on it in slow motion." It's spiked with squalane which is known to mimic your skin's natural lipids, boosting moisture retention.

Editor Tip: Pair it with the brand's beloved Lip Sleeping Mask to maximize moisture replenishment while you snooze.

Key Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, probiotic-derived complex | Who It's For: People seeking a gentle, hydrating formula

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Tata Harper Clarifying Mask

Tata Harper Clarifying Mask in green jar with gold lid

Tata Harper

Tata Harper Clarifying Mask

Why It's Worth It: For skin feeling dry and out-of-sorts, consider Tata Harper's Clarifying Mask. This mask pairs bentonite clay with salicylic acid to counteract breakouts and includes quartz-derived microcrystals to refine and polish skin gently. Botanical ingredients like lavender extract, oat kernel oil, and rosehip seed oil work together to calm any potential irritation.

Editor Tip: The formula is created and packaged on founder Tata Harper's Vermont farm — being able to pinpoint where your skin care is coming from is a nice feeling.

Key Ingredients: Bentonite clay, honey, lemon tea tree | Who It's For: People dealing with acne and blemishes

Best for Mature Skin: Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask

Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask in white jar

Mario Badescu

Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask

Why It's Worth It: If you're worried your clay mask may be too drying, you need to try Mario Badescu's Super Collagen Mask. Even though the kaolin clay is designed to absorb oil from the skin, the soothing blend of oatmeal and collagen in this mask will help restore lost hydration, explains Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist Michele Farber, MD. While all skin types can benefit from this mask, it's especially beneficial for mature skin.

Editor Tip: Since it targets fine lines and clogged pores, it's helpful for anyone experiencing menopause-induced acne.

Key Ingredients: Collagen, oatmeal, kaolin | Who It's For: People seeking smoother, firmer skin

Best for Large Pores: Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Detox Face Mask

Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Detox Face Mask in soft lilac jar

Fenty Skin

Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Detox Face Mask

Why It's Worth It: The Fenty Skin Cookies N Cream Whipped Clay Detox Face Mask is the perfect mattifying treatment mask for oily, acne-prone skin, which is why it won a 2022 Best of Beauty Award and Readers' Choice Award in 2023. It features a double dose of charcoal and salicylic acid, two ingredients known for their shine-reducing abilities, to mattify your complexion and balance oil production. (Despite the name, it's fragrance-free.)

Editor Tip: It has charcoal beads for manual exfoliation so be aware if you have sensitive skin.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, charcoal, kaolin | Who It's For: People with excess skin or larger pores

Best for Discoloration: Hyper Skin Fade and Glow AHA Mask

Hyper Skin Fade and Glow AHA Mask in peach tube with red cap

Hyper Skin

Hyper Skin Fade and Glow AHA Mask

Why It's Worth It: The Hyper Skin Fade and Glow AHA Mask contains a 2022 Allure Best of Beauty-winning combo of two of the most effective AHAs (or alpha hydroxy acids) — 5% glycolic acid and 5% mandelic acid — to exfoliate the skin and get rid of congestion gently. But wait, there's more! "This mask also contains niacinamide and bearberry to fade dark spots and soften the skin," says Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. "This makes this mask ideal for people who currently have acne-prone skin since it's so decongesting, but it also helps those looking to treat older scars and smoothen their skin."

Editor Tip: The Black woman-owned brand is focused entirely on delivering hyperpigmentation solutions to people with darker skin.

Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, papaya enzymes, sea buckthorn oil | Who It's For: People with medium to deep skin tones

Best for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask in tube packaging

First Aid Beauty

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

Why It's Worth It: New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, turns to the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask for stressed or irritated skin. "Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and sea buckthorn provide intense hydration to dry skin while soothing, nourishing, and protecting the skin barrier," she says. Kick back and relax for 10 minutes while the calming ingredients do its thing — and up the frequency to two or three times if you'd like. It's that gentle.

Editor Tip: It's very soothing if you use it after sun exposure since it can help quell redness.

Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, bisabolol, shea butter | Who It's For: People with reactive or compromised skin

Best for Combination Skin: Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask

Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask in light aqua colored jar with gold spoon

Tatcha

Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask

Why It's Worth It: It can be hard to know when you've kept your mask on for the right amount of time. Too long, and you can irritate the skin, but too little, and you wonder if you made a difference. However, the Tatcha Clarifying Clay Mask has found a solution by changing from green to red after it's been massaged in, so you know when it's time to take it off. Containing a self-warming mix of Japanese clay, konjac, and volcanic ash, it works to decongest pores — all while exfoliating and hydrating the skin.

Editor Tip: The mask can be applied in as little as three minutes, making it a good option for those with limited time.

Key Ingredients: Okinawa kucha clay, konjac, volcanic ask | Who It's For: Those who want a quick yet effective treatment

Best Overnight Mask: Paula's Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask

Paula's Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask in bright green tube with clear cap

Paula's Choice

Paula's Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask

Why It's Worth It: A 2020 Best of Beauty winner, Paula's Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask is an excellent choice for anyone, especially those with dry and sensitive skin. The cream-gel formula is infused with calming reishi mushrooms, soothing algae, shea butter, and glycerin to lock in moisture while you snooze. Come morning, you'll wake up to plumper, dewier skin. You can also use it as a 20-minute wash-off mask if that floats your boat.

Editor Tip: It contains a powerful peptide called pentapeptide-59 (which appears frequently in Paula's Choice products) that inhibits sensitivity, helping to quell redness and irritation.

Key Ingredients: Reishi mushroom, algae, shea butter | Who It's For: People with especially dry or inflamed skin

Best Budget: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque in silver tube with frosted cap

The Ordinary

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

Why It's Worth It: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is ideal for people with oily and acne-prone skin because its main ingredient, 2% salicylic acid — along with kaolin and charcoal — sloughs off dead, pore-clogging skin cells and speeds up the healing process of inflamed pimples. You can apply it twice a week on clean, dry skin, for up to 10 minutes. We love a low price point, highly potent formula.

Editor Tip: Don't use it at the same time as retinoids or vitamin C, since the combination can be irritating.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, charcoal, clay | Who It's For: Those with active breakouts

Best Non-Greasy: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Sleepair Intensive Night Mask

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Night Mask green jar with white lid and label on light grey background

Dr.Jart+

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Sleepair Intensive Night Mask

Why It's Worth It: Another bedtime buddy, the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Sleepair Intensive Night Mask is a lightweight, redness-reducing gel mask that seriously soothes and strengthens your skin with Centella asiatica and allantoin for a healthier-looking complexion. The mask is non-greasy, so it won't transfer pesky residue onto your pillowcase. In her review, one Allure editor glowingly described the effect of the mask, saying, “My skin instantly felt soothed. I imagine this to be a dream for sunburned or irritated skin. It was like a veil of calm coating my skin.”

Editor Tip: Don't forget your serum and moisturizer before applying this facial mask. Keeping it in the family, we like Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Sensitive Skin Serum and the Cicapair Sensitive Skin Moisturizer.

Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica, allantoin | Who It's For: People with redness or dullness

Best for Scarring: Rosen Smooth Jelly Face Mask

Rosen Smooth Jelly Face Mask pump bottle with white label and red contents on light grey background

Rosen

Rosen Smooth Jelly Face Mask

Why It's Worth It: Struggling with scarring? Dueling with dark spots? Rallying against redness? Okay, okay, you get it, and so does the Rosen Smooth Jelly Face Mask. This weekly mask's formula smooths and evens out skin tone, thanks to lactic acid, yogurt, and cucumber extracts. Use three to four pumps for 15 minutes at a time — and in conjunction with your existing scar treatment routine for the best effects.

Editor's Tip: If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test before going all in.

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, yogurt extracts, cucumber extracts | Who It's For: People with moderate to severe dark spots and uneven texture


Frequently Asked Questions

How do face masks work?

Face masks are "designed to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to your skin," Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, tells AllureDavid Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in NYC, confirms that it's essential not to use them more than the product-recommended frequency. "Generally speaking, masks are used intermittently to help give your skin a boost when it needs it," Dr. Kim explains.

How do I use a face mask?

The exact way to use a face mask generally depends on the type of mask you're using. "You can get masks for clarifying, brightening, hydrating, soothing, or anti-aging," explains Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. "You should test the ingredients of the mask on your hand first if you have sensitive skin, and always keep it on for the least number of minutes [the brand recommends] the first time using it." After applying the mask and letting it dry, wash it off with water (or a gentle cleanser if it's an acid-based mask) and apply moisturizer. Dr. Wolinsky suggests not using drying masks more than twice a week, but you can use hydrating masks more often.

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best face masks, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, formula, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.