We Found the 10 Best Face Masks for Every Skin Type (Because You Don't Need 50)

Your best glow yet is en route.

A split image of Kaitlyn McLintock ad Alyssa Brascia testing face masks.
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock; @alyssabrascia)
Jump to category:
By
last updated
Contributions from
in Buying Guides

Take it from someone who owns more than 50 face masks (give or take) but only uses, oh, about five regularly: You don't need enough face masks to fill a gigantic Sephora store or, heck, even one-sixth of your bathroom cabinet. In fact, face masks (although extremely delightful to use and fun to shop for) can be considered a mere add-on to your regular skincare routine.

“Masks are designed to deliver a higher concentration of actives in a short amount of time to deliver quick results,” says board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD. Using too many formulas—especially if they're not suited for your specific skin type or concerns—might actually lead to unintended skin issues, not to mention a wounded bank account. “Face masks differ from other skincare products, like moisturizers, as they [are] intended to treat a specific concern and are most often used in addition to the products you’d use on a daily basis, like cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen,” explains board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. To put it plainly, you don’t need to use these products every day—maybe once or twice a week, if that.

Being the beauty-and-skincare enthusiasts we are, we decided to help you pare down your options depending on how your complexion is wired. Whether you experience oily, sensitive, dry, or mature skin, we found the best options suited to enhance, improve, and heal your skin. Keep scrolling for the best derm- and editor-approved face masks on the market today, from sheet masks to peel-offs, and yes, even PDRN K-beauty options.

best-face-masks-288798-1598473045674-main

(Image credit: @lucyhale)

The Best Face Masks, at a Glance

Best Overall: Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask

An image of Kaitlyn McLintock wearing a face mask.

(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

Best Budget: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Ginseng Collagen Mask

An image of Alyssa Brascia wearing a face mask.

(Image credit: @alyssabrascia)

Best Drugstore: Loops Sunrise Service Brightening Mask

Best K-Beauty: Biodance Rejuvenating Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask

An image of Hailey Bieber with a face mask on.

(Image credit: @haileybieber)

Best for Dry Skin: Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Mask

Best for Mature Skin: Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Mask

Best for Oily Skin: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

A woman applying clay mud to her face like a mask.

(Image credit: @fridacashflow)

Best Overnight: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5

Best Clay: Caudalie Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask

An image of a woman wearing a sheet mask.

(Image credit: @bellathomas)

What to Look For in a Face Mask

  • Type: There are several kinds of face masks, and King has all the explanations for you. “Clay masks absorb excess oil. Sheet masks and hydrogel masks are usually primarily hydrating, but of course, read the ingredients/packaging to check,” she recommends. “Sleeping masks are sometimes all about moisturizing, sometimes with added beneficial, gentle ingredients like peptides—but sometimes they also contain exfoliating ingredients, so check the label,” she adds. Peel-off masks also offer gentle exfoliation, but King advises against people with dry skin trying them.
  • Ingredients: Each face mask offers different benefits, so your best bet is to look a bit closer at the ingredients list to get a better idea of your end results. King recommends looking for humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help hydrate the skin, and on the other hand, keeping an eye out for fruit enzymes for gentle exfoliation and brightening. She also suggests clay or charcoal for oily skin, plus salicylic acid for acne. If anti-aging is what you’re after, King suggests looking for antioxidant-rich formulas for its protective benefits—and consider anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera or cica for its soothing, redness-calming benefits.
  • Wear time: Depending on the kind of mask you choose, each will have different wear times. Whether you want to do a quick mask before bed (ahem, the Loops Sunrise Service Brightening Mask) or prefer to sleep in one (we love the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm for this), there’s a mask out there that will fit your wants and desires on the timing front, too. Just make sure to read the instructions and see how frequently use is recommended.

What are the most effective face masks?

Well, the best face mask is the best face mask for you. By first identifying what you’d like to target (think: dryness, blemishes, or plain de-gunking), you can choose your intended mask with more clarity. Since masks aren’t wholly necessary, they should either fill a gap in your current skincare selection or intensify what you’re already practicing (e.g., more hydration for already-dry skin or an exfoliating mask for someone who doesn’t own other exfoliating products).

Which skin types are face masks best suited for?

“There is a face mask for everyone, really,” says Hartman. “Lightweight gel face masks are ideal for oily or acne-prone skin, as the lightweight formula is less likely to clog pores and trigger breakouts. Clay masks work well for anyone with acne-prone skin or anyone looking to remove dirt, oil, and debris from pores,” he explains. “Thicker cream masks can help soothe dry skin, reduce irritation, and boost the health of the skin barrier. Exfoliating masks that contain chemical exfoliants like AHAs or BHAs work well for anyone looking to improve overall skin texture and tone.” And sleeping masks simply offer deep hydration while you rest.

Do dermatologists recommend face masks?

Yes, dermatologists recommend face masks—just with the right usage. “Typically, patients don’t use a face mask daily,” says Hartman. “It’s a treatment used one to two times a week as needed.” King agrees, but says the type of mask it is plays an even larger role. “If it's a mask designed for hydrating and moisturizing, then you can do it as often as you'd like. If it's a mask with active ingredients designed to exfoliate, like salicylic acid, or drying ingredients like clay, then I would suggest starting once per week,” she explains. “If you have particularly oily skin, then you may be able to tolerate these masks more often, and if you have dry or sensitive skin, then it may be best to avoid these types of masks altogether.”

How We Chose

We began by testing many masks ourselves—our team of beauty editors owning well more than 150 cream, sheet, hydrogen, clay (you name it!) masks collectively. From there, we combined our ratings of each to determine which are best for what skin types, keeping in mind a range of budgets and skin concerns to best cater to our readers’ needs. We also consulted dermatologists to get their recommendations and expert opinions on the matter, breaking down which face masks are best for whom (and who should avoid them altogether).

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

Erin Jahns
Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.

With contributions from
Latest
You might also like
View More ▸