We Tried Out All the Best Face Masks, And These Are the Ones to Buy ASAP
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The BestProducts.com team loves a good face mask. Is there any better way to treat yourself to an evening of self-care? They’re relaxing, fun to use, and leave your skin looking better than before.
The only issue is that there are about a zillion options on the market, each promising a different number of benefits. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the choices! So, 10 of us editors took some of the most popular, top-rated options (29 to be exact), tested them out ourselves (for 129 hours), and created this list with only the ones we truly loved.
Here's what we based our final list on:
1. Value
2. Whether the mask lived up to its claims
3. Immediately noticeable results
Keep reading to see which ones made the cut!
Learn More About Our Editors' Picks:
'It’s 100% Worth the Splurge'
We’re already obsessed with all things Peter Thomas Roth, so it wasn’t hard to fall for this gorgeous, glittery face mask. It gets a 10 from us based on the packaging alone! The gold jar looks great sitting on a shelf, and even better, it makes for a luxe-looking gift. The mask itself has a jelly-like consistency that’s created from actual 24-karat gold and colloidal gold, which has anti-aging benefits, along with ingredients like caffeine, peridot, and hyaluronic acid, that work together to make skin appear energized, firmer, and hydrated.
Contributing editor Zarah Karavana used this mask on a peeling sunburn, and reported that “by the end of the treatment, my skin was hydrated, flake-free, and far less red and irritated.”
While this mask is definitely a bit pricey, she also says that “the tub is LARGE, so it’ll basically last forever.” If you’re looking for a life-changing results, this probably isn’t the right choice, but for a radiant glow in less than 10 minutes? It’s 100% worth the splurge.
'My All-Time Favorite Face Mask'
When skin needs a hard reset due to blemishes, excess oil, and clogged pores, it’s probably time to call in the help of a mud mask! Glamglow’s Supermud Clearing treatment is a more intense version that uses a proprietary blend of six acids, plus Activated-X charcoal, to clear up your complexion.
Editors Brian Murray and Kayla Ramsey put this mask to the test, and both gave it a glowing review! Brian pointed out that you don’t need to have active breakouts to see benefits from this treatment, and that it’ll make your skin feel extra-clean.
“I thought this mask was great! It does sting a little in the first 10 minutes, but then that goes away. My face felt really cleansed after.” Ramsey reported that it was a miracle-worker for an oily T-zone, and said “this is my all-time favorite face mask and because the results are so instantly visual, I think it totally lives up to the hype!” As for price, both felt like it’s well worth the cost, and that the jar will last for a long time.
'May Buy Several of These... They’re So Cheap'
Skincare can be insanely pricey, but you definitely don’t have to clear out your bank account to enjoy a quality mask session. K-beauty brand Tonymoly has some of the best sheet masks you can buy, and they’re all less than $4! Along with a budget-friendly price tag, we love that these come in a wide variety of options with skin-benefitting ingredients, including coconut, green tea, and red wine.
Senior SEO manager Erica Murphy tried out the brand's rice mask, and said that “the next day after using this mask, I really noticed a difference in my skin. It was brighter and really hydrated, and I didn’t have any breakouts. That’s always a concern for me after trying something new on my face.” She also found it to be a perfect travel companion! “I feel like I would use it after a long weekend or trip," she said, "when my skin needs a little extra love.”
Kayla Ramsey gave the avocado sheet mask a try, and was also a fan. Although her skin wasn’t totally transformed, she felt “relaxed and pampered” and said she “may buy several of these again to use with my girlfriends during a girls’ night in because they’re so cheap.”
'Magic In a Beautiful Little Bottle'
Sleep masks go to work overnight so that you wake up looking refreshed and hydrated. They take beauty rest literally! Glow Recipe’s popular Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is just as fun to apply as it is beneficial to your skin. And, it smells like a Jolly Rancher! The jelly texture feels cooling on the face, and it’s even “pillow-proof,” so you can toss and turn without worrying about the mask rubbing off.
Contributing editor Sanah Faroke spent 30 hours putting this sleep mask to the test, and calls it “magic in a beautiful little bottle.” She also said, “this Glow Recipe mask did more than I could ever hope for in a mask. It hydrated my skin from the moment I lathered on a full layer onto my face with a cooling, refreshing feeling thanks to the amino-acid watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid.” As for whether she would buy it again? “This definitely lived up to the hype, and I’ll for sure be a repeat buyer of this glow mask.”
Pro tip: Pat the product onto your skin, as opposed to rubbing it in, which can cause the jelly to peel.
'A Must-Have For Stashing in Your Carry-On'
A mask that doubles as a moisturizer? Yes, please! This multipurpose mask is a must-have for stashing in your carry-on. Of course, you can put it to work any time, but the hydrating formula is a perfect alternative to sheet-masking mid-flight, since it won’t scare off your seatmate. Plus, there’s no rinsing required in the gross airplane bathroom! Just blot the excess with a tissue or washcloth after 10 minutes to reveal plumper skin and reduced fine lines. It can also be worn as an overnight mask.
Melanie Yates, Best Products’ senior home decor editor, gave this mask a try for 10 nights, and reported that while the results weren’t drastic, “it was very soothing to wear, had no strong fragrance, and hydrated my skin very nicely.” She also found that it works even better as a neck and décolletage cream. “I applied it to those areas and found it added hydration and plumpness that was much more noticeable than on my face.”
Bridget Clegg, photo manager, thought that while a bit too expensive, this mask is ideal for travel. “I’d pack this for my next trip to combat the plane-induced dryness," she said. "Since you don’t have any visible mask on, it would be a good option for a longer plane ride.”
'I Did Feel a Glow Right After Using It'
Dry skin or not, hydration is always a good idea, and it’s even more necessary for reversing dullness and treating fine lines. Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy mask delivers a serious dose with this microfiber sheet that’s infused with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and botanical oils and extracts. Whenever skin is feeling parched, a 15-minute application of this single-use mask will get you closer to the ever-elusive dewy look.
After using it, lifestyle editor and Tatcha fan Brian Murray Jr. said, “I loved the feel of this one. It definitely felt like a high-quality mask. I thought it went on easily and fit my face perfectly. It was very hydrating, and I did feel a glow right after using it.”
'No Beauty Product Has a Better Cost-Per-Use'
You’ve likely heard or seen this product before, given that it has more than 16,000 (!!) reviews on Amazon, and nearly a five-star rating. This classic mask is made from calcium bentonite clay, which can help with clearing up pimples and excess oil, and it comes in a dry powder form that you mix with apple cider vinegar or water to make mask-ready. Although it’s slightly inconvenient to mix, a little powder goes a long way, so it’ll last you for years to come. For those with sensitive skin: Pay attention to the time to the suggested time allotment on the jar!
Melanie Yates is a longtime fan of this mask, and uses it once a week to treat oil and shrink pores. “I love that you can feel it working. After using the mask, my skin is red but it feels super-clean. It brings blemishes to the surface and really helps to purge skin when it’s having an off-week. I follow up with rosehip seed oil afterwards to calm the redness and re-moisturize.”
As for the shelf life, she says “no beauty product that I own has a better cost-per-use than the Aztec Clay Mask. That $13 jar will last you for years, if you just use a tablespoon of it at a time. Plus, it will never expire or degrade with age!”
'Left Me With a Glowing Glass Skin Look'
This Dr. Jart rubber mask is like a sheet mask, only more fun. It’s a two-step process that starts by covering your face with a highly-concentrated ampoule serum, which is formulated to clear breakouts and calm skin. Then, a two-piece rubber mask, that’s derived from algae, locks in the ingredients for a deeper penetration. It looks a little weird, but it feels super refreshing.
I gave this mask a try after reading numerous recommendations on the internet, and I’m happy to report that it lives up to the hype! It’s the first mask to ever perfectly fit my face (sheet masks always get in my hair; not great when you have plans later), and the rubber felt like a cooling jelly that I didn’t even mind leaving on for the 30-minute application time. After, it left me with a glowing “glass skin” look that I’ve never been able to achieve before.
'This Sheet Mask Turns Back Time'
Over time, our bodies gradually stop producing as much collagen, which leads to wrinkles and sagging. Yay. This sheet mask turns back time with natural and organic ingredients that hydrate skin, stimulate collagen, and improve elasticity. Along with making skin appear more youthful, it helps to reduce the look of dullness and fatigue, so it’s worth packing one of these on your next getaway, too.
This sheet mask was a favorite of food and drink editor Danielle St. Pierre, who reported that after using it, her skin “felt super hydrated and looked glowy and fresh. The results were immediately noticeable the night of wearing it, and the next morning my skin still looked bright and clear.” She also liked that it’s reasonably priced, and that it has “a lot of clean botanical ingredients, like blueberry extract, so it feels and smells amazing.”
'My Only Regret is Not Trying This Mask Earlier'
Do you really need a lip mask, too? After testing out this cult-favorite product from Laneige, the answer is a resounding yes. This little tub is packed with a magical blend of antioxidants, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid that moisturizes and reduces flakiness. It also comes with an applicator so you can apply generously without getting it all over your hands.
No lip balm had been able to help my flaky pout after a harsh, dry winter season, but with two nights of wearing this lip mask, it was completely healed! My only regret is that I hadn’t tried this Laneige mask earlier. I'd felt like it was probably just another overhyped beauty product, but I was totally wrong. It smells great, it’s not sticky, you can feel it conditioning right away, and it's never leaving my medicine cabinet again.
Check Out Our Testing Process:
164
Hours Hand-Tested
10
Editors Involved in Testing
29
Masks Tested
Read More:
Try One of These Lip Masks for an Instantly Improved Pout
Iconic Sheet Masks You'll Soon Be Obsessed With, Too
The Best Face Masks for Banishing Blackheads
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