The 11 Very Best Facial Masks

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Active ingredients:Colloidal oatmeal, bisabolol, shea butter, sea buckthorn| Price point:2 ounces at $18 per ounce

When picking the best face mask for most people, I factored in all skin types and price. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair mask fits the bill because it’s hydrating, soothing, and nonirritating, so it shouldn’t cause issues for folks with sensitive skin and it’s priced at about $20. DermatologistDr. Azadeh Shirazisays the colloidal oatmeal and bisabolol calm irritation and reduce inflammation, while the shea butter locks in moisture; it’s also packed with antioxidants to reduce signs of aging. I recently tried it out when my skin was left dehydrated after a week of overexfoliating. I had dry patches on my cheeks even after taking a break from actives and using only moisturizer. The mask has a creamy but not too thick consistency and little flecks of oatmeal in it. I left it on for ten minutes, and after I rinsed it off, my skin felt smooth and plump without looking greasy. Because it is pretty moisturizing, the only skin types I’d say it might not work with are clogged or oily skin, which we have more options for below.

Active ingredients:Black-tea complex (black-tea ferment, black-tea extract, blackberry-leaf extract, lychee-seed extract), peptides, hyaluronic acid| Price point:3.3 ounces at $29 per ounce

Dry and dehydrated skin can benefit the most from face masks because they provide an intense moisture boost and lock in hydration, says dermatologistDr. Lauren Penzi. Look out for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, and squalene. Dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp and cosmetic chemist Valerie George both like Fresh’s Black Tea Peptide Overnight Mask because it boosts moisture with hyaluronic acid and improves skin elasticity with its black-tea complex. It is on the pricier side, but you’re getting the benefits of hydrating and lifting with this. Plus, it works as an overnight mask, so you don’t have to worry about washing it off before bed.

Active ingredients:Probiotic-derived complex (lactobacillus ferment lysate and trehalose), squalane, niacinamide, saururus chinensis extract| Price point:2.3 ounces at $14 per ounce

Laneige makes a deeply hydrating overnight mask that’s about $14 per ounce (marginally less expensive than Fresh’s mask above). Shirazi says the combination of squalane, niacinamide, and probiotic complex makes it brightening and good for your skin barrier. Like the Fresh mask, this can be used as the last step in a nighttime skin-care routine to lock in moisture throughout the night. I tested it out myself, applying it after my retinol and moisturizer. The gel-like consistency is less viscous than the First Aid Beauty mask and sinks in nicely. I’ve only used it as an overnight treatment because of this; I don’t see a reason to have to wash it off right after applying it. My skin has felt much plumper and dewier after using it, and my pores didn’t seem clogged afterward, either.

Active ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, allantoin, bisabolol, panthenol, and cucumber extract|Price point:2.25 ounces at $21.78 per ounce

George goes back to this Summer Fridays mask because it’s packed with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, as well as soothing ingredients like allantoin, bisabolol, panthenol, and cucumber extract. Instead of being a wash-off mask, this one’s meant to stay on overnight and sink into the skin. Because of that, it can also be used as a moisturizer, eye cream, or hand and body lotion. This is a great option if you’re someone who only needs the occasional face mask and would rather spend on skin care that’s more versatile.

Active ingredients:Centella asiatica, ophiopogon japonicus |Price point:50 ml at $1.04 per ml

When we spoke to experts about thebest products for treating redness and rosacea, aesthetician Candace Marino recommended No7’s overnight treatment. “This is the 911 product that every rosacea client should have on hand at all times, especially during the winter months,” she says. It’s made with ingredients such as centella asiatica (known for its calming properties) and ophiopogon japonicus, which helps to reinforce and maintain the skin’s barrier.

Active ingredients:Glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid, chickpea flour| Price point:1.69 ounces at $47 per ounce

Exfoliating masks can help with improving skin texture, reducing dark spots, and unclogging pores. Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial mask combines AHAs like glycolic, lactic, and citric acids with salicylic acid (more on what AHAs and BHAs dohere) to exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog pores. It’s also packed with antioxidants and soothing ingredients to boost collagen and improve skin texture. Penzi and Shirazi both say it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

Active ingredients:Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid |Price point:1 ounce at $9.50 per ounce

The Ordinary’s peeling solution is packed with both AHAs and BHAs: glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. Because it’s so strong, it’s important you don’t overdo it, meaning only use it once a week at most and don’t leave it on longer than ten minutes. As long as you don’t overexfoliate, the results of this mask are great. I’ve tried it myself and have noticed my skin’s less oily and brighter overall after using it just once.

Active ingredients:Kaolin clay, aloe vera, bentonite clay| Price point:4.2 ounces at $11 per ounce

If excess oil and shine is your concern but you’re not dealing with acne, a simple clay mask (sans salicylic acid) can help absorb moisture and oil. Both Camp and dermatologist Dr. Miriam Hanson like Kiehl’s clay mask because it keeps excess oil at bay with kaolin and bentonite clays. Plus, the aloe vera helps add moisture and soothe skin so you shouldn’t feel too dry after using it.

Active ingredients:Salicylic acid, tea-tree-leaf oil, larch arabinogalactan, sage extract, cucumber extract, oat-kernel extract, bisabolol| Price point:1.7 ounces at $33 per ounce

The right face mask can calm an active breakout and keep it from spreading.Aesthetician Kristin Gunnsays clay or charcoal masks are best for oily and acne-prone skin because they can absorb excess oil, kill bacteria, minimize pore size, and reduce inflammation. Her favorite is Revision’s Pore Purifying Clay Mask because it does all of the above. The salicylic acid and larch arabinogalactan gently exfoliate the skin while cleansing pores, and the tea-tree, sage, cucumber, and oat-kernel extracts soothe irritation.

Active ingredients:Salicylic acid, kaolin clay, charcoal powder, 4-t-butylcyclohexanol| Price point:1 ounce at $14 per ounce

The Ordinary, known for its simple yet effective formulas, has a clarifying mask for less than half the price of the Revision. According to Penzi, the salicylic acid, charcoal, and coal work together to remove buildup and dead skin cells, resulting in clearer skin. She adds that it’s an excellent spot treatment for both whiteheads and blackheads.

Active ingredients:Vitamin C, niacinamide |Price point:1.41 ounces at $11 per ounce

Dr. Jart’s face mask is unique in that you apply the serum on your face and lock it in using their cryo rubber mask. The serum’s formulated with vitamin C and niacinamide for brightening and fading dark spots and the mask is said to have a slight cooling effect. George, who uses this herself, says this never fails to get compliments on how bright her skin looks.

Active ingredients:Vitamin C, arbutin, bearberry extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid| Price point:1.7 ounces at $23 per ounce

Vitamin C was by far the No. 1 ingredient our experts mentioned for tackling dark spots. It’s a powerful antioxidant that protects skin from free radicals while brightening. This Paula’s Choice mask combines vitamin C with other brightening ingredients, arbutin and bearberry extract, to help even out skin tone. Shirazi says it’s effective for promoting cell turnover tofade hyperpigmentation, too.

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