Best Face Masks for 2023

Who doesn’t love a good face mask? This must-have beauty tool is a great way to moisturize, plump, exfoliate, and brighten your skin. Masks can also help shrink pores, control breakouts, and give your face a natural glow.

To many, using a mask is an essential daily step that shouldn’t be skipped. If you can’t incorporate a mask in the daytime, adding it to the mix at night is a smart choice to improve your skincare routine and get in a bit of self-care. 

Whether you prefer sheets, peel-off, rinse-off, or even overnight solutions, we’ve rounded up a solid range of options to target a variety of skin concerns. Better still, these masks work come at different price points, ensuring that you don’t have to forego glowing skin, regardless of budget. Keep reading to learn more about picking the right sheet mask for your needs and skincare habits. 

Best face masks overview:

• Best overall: Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution
• Best budget: The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask
• Best bubble: Pixi Beauty Glow O2 Oxygen Mask
• Best clay: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
• Best hydrating: Pop Beauty Jetsetter Anti-Fatigue Mask
• Best magnetic: E.l.f. Cosmetics Superrevitalize Magnetic Mask
• Best overnight: Derma’e Overnight Hydrating Facial Mask
• Best jelly: iPop Beauty Natural Soft Hydro Jelly Mask Powder Set
• Best for eyes: Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
• Best brightening: Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow
• Best peel-off: Yes to Grapefruit Iridescent Peel-Off Mask
• Best exfoliating: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment

How we chose the best face masks

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including benefits, active ingredients, when to apply, mask type, and more, to create a short list of the top face masks. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best face masks for each category.

Our picks for the best face masks

If you’re a face mask newbie, you might want something easy to apply and less likely to aggravate your skin. We recommend Dr. Jart’s Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution. This moisturizing mask features ingredients that are generally well-tolerated by all skin types. 

Since its focus is solely on hydration, you don’t have to worry about stronger active ingredients that might aggravate underlying skin concerns. You’ll also appreciate that this mask was clinically tested to increase your skin’s moisture levels by 72% with just a single use. Its active ingredient is glycerin, which works to attract moisture and help your skin retain it.

Benefits: Moisturizing | Active ingredients: Glycerin | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Single sheet

One mantra we stand by at Glowsly is that good health and beauty products don’t necessarily need to be expensive. The Body Shop’s British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask is just one of the brand’s masks that can be used to create a customized treatment solution for whatever ails your skin. 

This particular mask is designed for dehydrated skin and features a vegan formula. It plumps and tones your skin while providing you with some aromatherapy. The formula also contains rosehip oil, real rose petals, and aloe vera to boost the moisturizing effects further.

Note that this is a rinse-off mask and that it doesn’t dry down. That’s welcome news to anyone who dislikes that tight feeling that some more traditional masks can create.

Benefits: Moisturizing | Active ingredients: Rose petals, rosehip oil, aloe vera | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Rinse-off

Do you like to know that your mask is working once you’ve applied it to your face? Pixi Beauty’s Glow O2 Oxygen Mask will let you know, thanks to the bubbling formula that perks up your complexion and banishes dull skin. 

Key ingredients include an oxygen complex, ginseng, caffeine, and antioxidants — all known to brighten and awaken your complexion. Meanwhile, probiotics strengthen skin, and lactic acid detoxifies and gently exfoliates. This rinse-off mask is intended to be part of your prep routine. 

You should use it right before you moisturize and prime for the plumpest visage when you apply makeup. We did find that some reviewers mentioned that this mask could be drying if you didn’t instantly moisturize after removing it.

Benefits: Moisturizing, plumping, brightening | Active ingredients: Oxygen complex, caffeine, ginseng, antioxidants, probiotics, lactic acid | Time: Before makeup application | Type: Rinse-off

Despite lots of innovation in the mask world, we still love a classic clay mask. Aztec Secret’s Indian Healing Clay is made from bentonite clay sourced in Death Valley, California. While it’s safe for all skin types, this is a great option specifically for people with acne or oily skin, as it works to deep clean your pores. 

This pick is also free from fragrances, additives, or animal products. However, while the brand confirms that the mask is safe for all skin types, it carries a warning that slight redness is possible in the initial hour after application.

You may find this pick requires a bit of trial and error to create the right consistency for applications. For best results, don’t exceed using this more than once a week unless you have more extensive acne or oiliness.

Benefits: Pore-refining | Active ingredients: Bentonite clay | Time: Once per week | Type: Rinse-off

Anyone with seriously dry skin knows that many masks might not be up to the task of providing proper hydration. This is especially true if those masks rely on thin serums or are of the classic peel-off or drying clay varieties. 

Thankfully, Pop Beauty’s Jetsetter Anti-Fatigue Mask is an ultra-hydrating alternative that leverages the power of ceramides to give you a potent boost of moisture. Combined with collagen, galactomyces, ginseng, and arginine, the ingredients work to nourish, plump, brighten, and repair your skin. The final addition of niacinamide improves your skin’s texture.

This hydrating mask is easy to apply, and any excess can be wiped off or worked into the skin for additional moisturizing benefits.

Benefits: Moisturizing, plumping, brightening | Active ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, galactomyces, ginseng, collagen, arginine | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Wipe-off

Magnetic masks are by no means new. But if you’re familiar with some of the original versions that hit the market, they were far from enjoyable to use. While applying the magnetic mask was easy, taking it off was a pain. Plus, some of the original scents were cloying, and formulas were very drying. 

Eventually, E.l.f. caught wind of the magnetic mask craze and created a complete, easy-to-use solution: a magnetic, ultra-hydrating citrus-scented mask. The Superrevitalize Magnetic Mask is a creamy magnet-infused mask that draws impurities out of your skin without stripping it. 

This pick comes with a large surface magnetic dual-purpose wand and applicator tool that can easily remove large swaths of the mask off your face in a single movement. It also comes with wand covers for a mess-free experience. Key ingredients include carrot seed oil and vitamins C and E. Once you’ve removed the mask, your skin is left hydrated, thanks to the oil ingredients.

Benefits: Moisturizing, purifying | Active ingredients: Iron powder, carrot seed oil, vitamins C and E | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Magnetic

Whether you’re short on time or like to leverage your beauty rest for skin prep, Derma’e’s Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Overnight Facial is a moisture-rich plumping mask that gives thirsty skin a shot of hydration when needed. It’s easy to incorporate into your existing evening skincare routine, as it should be the last product you apply — even after moisturizer. 

It features soft moisture beads and easily absorbs into the skin, but note that you’ll want to rinse your face in the morning if you feel any stickiness — even if the brand’s instructions suggest otherwise.

Benefits: Moisturizing | Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid | Time: Overnight | Type: Rinse-off

Not everyone likes peel-off masks because they can be a real pain to remove. This is especially true for some of the more aggressive ones. So, if you want the benefits of a mask but with a gentler formula that’s less intimidating, you might consider a jelly mask. Jelly masks are trendy across East Asia and are just starting to gain visibility elsewhere. 

We can’t lie: Similar to DIY clay masks, you’ll experience a serious learning curve with DIY jelly masks as you have to determine the right ratio mix of water to jelly powder. But once you figure it out — including how to properly apply without it dripping all over the place — you’ll never look back. 

The Natural Soft Hydro Jelly Powder Set from iPop Beauty is available in 13 types to tackle a wide range of common skin concerns. This clay-free mask is made from refined alginate and rose petal extract. You’ll enjoy a cooling effect as it dries down, and best of all, when it’s time to remove the mask, it gently peels off.

Benefits: Moisturizing | Active ingredients: Refined alginate, rose petal extracts | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Jelly peel-off

Most all-over face masks aren’t actually intended to be applied to the delicate skin of your under-eye area. So, if you need to target undereye bags or dark circles, you’ll need something specifically for the eyes. Skyn Iceland is a fan-favorite solution for this and is often found backstage at fashion weeks around the world. 

These dry, cooling under-eye gels contribute to banishing puffiness while also firming your delicate undereye skin. Better still, if you’ve had it with wet undereye patches that slide or drip serum down your face, the dry formula leveraged here will be a welcome change.

This pick is 100% vegan and features key ingredients like coenzyme Q10, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, a proprietary Icelandic complex, hydrolyzed extension, and acetyl hexapeptide-8.

Benefits: Moisturizing, plumping, brightening | Active ingredients: Glycerin | Time: Morning/evening, pre-makeup application | Type: Undereye gels

No one wants to walk around with dull, fatigued skin. Youth to the People’s Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask is a 2-in-1 solution for dull, thirsty skin. Key ingredients include vitamin C for brightening, squalene and hyaluronic for moisture, and a superberry blend for antioxidants to combat free radical exposure. 

This pick is specifically intended to be an evening skin solution that works more as an overnight mask. The brand also suggests using it if you’re just beginning a retinol routine. For best results as a retinol companion, apply it before and after the retinol step. Just keep in mind that this mask is slightly heavier, so people with oily or acne-prone skin might need to adjust frequency to optimize results.

Benefits: Moisturizing, brightening, protective | Active ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, squalene, superberry blend | Time: Evening/overnight | Type: Rinse off cream

Some people love the tactile experience of a classic peel-off mask. While it’s still important to be mindful of how often you use this mask style, a peel-off mask can be oddly satisfying — taking us back to our preschool days when we peeled glue off our hands. 

If you’re ready to upgrade your peel-off mask routine, the Yes To Grapefruit Iridescent Peel-Off Mask is a great option that incorporates antioxidants from grapefruit and vitamin C to tackle dull and uneven skin tones. Apply it, then let it dry down for about 10 minutes before peeling. 

We like that this pick features a built-in applicator for a mess-free experience. For those seeking a social media-worthy experience, you’ll appreciate that this mask dries to an iridescent sheer finish for those TikTok and Instagram Stories and Reels.

Just remember that this mask qualifies as mechanical exfoliation, so you’re literally removing a layer of dead skin when peeling it off; don’t use it too frequently, or you could see irritation.

Benefits: Brightening | Active ingredients: Vitamin C, antioxidants | Time: Morning/evening | Type: Peel-off

Exfoliation is critical for proper skincare. But not everyone knows how — or wants to — dedicate the time to exfoliate properly. Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment does the heavy lifting for you with a formula rich in a 2.5% pH-balanced AHA complex and niacinamide. Both of these work to improve texture and boost cellular turnover. 

Meanwhile, this mask leverages the power of seven different hyaluronic acid weights to provide intense hydration and a plumper visage. Quinoa peptides also work to refine pores, even skin tone, and create a radiant glow. This pick is meant to feel like a gel but dry like a serum for a light finish. 

In a month-long focus group, 32 respondents noted that after one night of use, their skin felt smoother and firmer and looked more radiant. But after four weeks of consistent use, participants indicated that their skin looked better, with a more even skin tone. Note that you should only use this product two to three times a week for best results.

Benefits: Exfoliating, brightening, moisturizing | Active ingredients: AHA complex, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, quinoa peptides | Time: Evening | Type: Overnight

The Boost Your Skin Needs

Face masks can be the secret ingredient to your skin routine that ultimately yields the best results. In most cases, these are intensive skincare treatments intended to reset your skin and lay the groundwork for your other products to be more effective. Whether you’re targeting dullness, dryness, acne or oil production, or even exfoliation, there’s a mask for that. 

If you’re just getting started with masks and are also learning what your skin needs, it’s best to start with a neutral moisturizing mask with gentle active ingredients. For example, start with a mask with squalene or hyaluronic acid — these are well-tolerated by most skin types. A great example is our best overall recommendation, the Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water jet Vital Hydra Solution. 

How to pick the right face masks for you

Face masks can be equal parts self-care and intensive skincare. The trick is picking the right mask to tackle your specific skin concerns while also being mindful of how the ingredients in your mask will work (or won’t) with the rest of your skincare product lineup. 

Skin type

Skin types can usually be broken down into normal, dry, combination, acne/oily, mature, sensitive, and troubled. Most of these are self-explanatory, but combination means you might have multiple skin concerns. Sensitive means your skin is easily irritated by harsh or specific ingredients or that you have inflamed skin from acne — which also means you need to use gentle ingredients. Troubled skin can range from experiencing significant blemishes to chronic dryness or reactions from sensitivities. 

Whichever skin concern you may have, your face masks should be compatible with that. As we’ve mentioned earlier, if you’re new to face masks, it’s always good to start with simple hydrating face masks with relatively neutral ingredients such as squalene or hyaluronic acid.

These are well tolerated by most skin types and are also least likely to negatively interact with any other skincare products you’re using. Meanwhile, if you’re educated about your skin’s issues, you can graduate to targeted face masks that tackle specific problems like acne, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation, dullness, or anti-aging. 

Ingredients

Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalene, vitamin E, and glycerin are common options that quickly boost moisture retention in your skin and are also fairly neutral. Masks that only contain these types of active ingredients can be used daily if you’d like. 

If you’re targeting exfoliation or dullness, AHAs, BHAs, and niacinamide can be effective options that gently lift dead skin but can’t be used every day. Brightening and anti-aging ingredients can include vitamin C or even retinols like vitamin A. Again, it’s best not to use these masks daily as it can encourage irritation from overexposure. 

Mask type

As evidenced by our guide, there’s a wide range of mask styles on the market. The most popular tend to be peel-off, rinse-off/wipe-off, sheet masks, and overnight masks. Peel-off masks can include jelly masks as well as traditional options that are applied wet but then dry down. Of the two, jelly masks are gentler. 

Rinse-off or wipe-off options include creams, gels, and clay masks. Clay masks offer that classic dried-down experience because they’re usually designed to purify your pores — but can be the most stubborn to rinse off. 

Sheet masks are a great beginner option as they’re premoistened sheets (sometimes paper, fabric, or even hybrid plastic-like materials) that are infused with a serum. You simply apply, wait for the recommended time limit, remove, and work any remaining serum into your skin.

Overnight masks should be applied after your nighttime skincare routine — preferably before you’re about to go to bed. Typically, you’ll need to rinse your face in the morning. 

FAQ

What’s the best facial mask brand? 

This is subjective, as what’s considered “the best” will depend on your budget, skin concerns, and even your experience with a specific product or brand. But for starters, we recommend Dr. Jart+, which is one of the world’s most popular face mask brands. 

Why are Korean face masks good?

South Korea is one of the top three nations in the world for skincare — sitting in good company with France and Japan. Similar to other Korean skincare products, the popularity of Korean face masks can link back to the nation’s emphasis on heavily investing in research and development to source innovative yet naturally-derived ingredients that provide proven and visible results. 

What face masks do dermatologists recommend?

Dermatologists make recommendations based on your skin type and specific concerns. So, there’s no single mask that’s universally recommended. However, most derms recommend options with gentle ingredients that are unlikely to aggravate your skin but will still yield visible results.