The 13 Best Face Masks for an At-Home Spa Day, Tested & Aesthetician Approved

Best Overall

Rosen Skincare Smooth Jelly Mask

$18 at Target View on Rosenskincare.com View on Beautylish.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Efficacy
  5/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, licorice root, cucumber extract | Benefits: Exfoliates, fades dark spots | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The simple act of applying a face mask and relaxing with it on can be a powerful form of self-care—even better when it produces a noticeable improvement in the look and feel of your skin. That's exactly what this mask did when we tried it out. The lightweight, jelly texture was easy to spread across our skin and comfortable as it dried. After just one use, it significantly calmed redness and illuminated our complexions. After using it consistently once a week for a couple of weeks, we saw visibly reduced hyperpigmentation, smoother skin texture, and an all-around skin glow. Considering that this mask delivers on all of its claims, not to mention the accessible price point, we recommend it to anyone in the market for a weekly skincare treatment.

Best Splurge

Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask

$200 at Nordstrom View on Sisley-paris.com $200 at Neiman Marcus

Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  4.5/5
• Efficacy
  4.5/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Black rose, vitamin E, shea butter | Benefits: Smooths, illuminates, hydrates | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This ultra-creamy formula is pillowy-soft and easy to apply. After trying it out, we can tell you it works wonders for combination skin, addressing both dryness and an oily T-zone. With consistent use, you can count on a reduction in dry patches and a more hydrated, plump complexion. That said, since it's somewhat heavy, it may not be ideal for those with oily skin. While it's quite expensive, a little bit goes a long way, and since it's not a wash-off product, we think it's a fair value.

Best Illuminating

Then I Met You Rosé Resurfacing Facial Mask

$56 at thenimetyou.com $56 at sokoglam.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Efficacy
  4/5
• Appearance
  3.5/5

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, resveratrol | Benefits: Illuminating, exfoliating, calming | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We loved the gel texture and slightly cooling feel of this refreshing mask. It's easy to apply and mess-free, so you can walk around your home and get other things done before rinsing it off. We also liked that it didn't dry down to a tight or uncomfortable finish. It has a blend of AHAs and BHAs (in the form of glycolic and lactic acid), which can help with skin cell turnover and shrink the look of pores. Immediately after using this mask, our skin was softer, more hydrated, and radiant. It didn't do much in terms of improving texture. But after consistent weekly use throughout our testing period, our complexions looked more lively and glowy.

Best Exfoliating

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

$60 at Amazon $60 at Ulta $60 at Target

Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  4/5
• Efficacy
  4/5
• Appearance
  4.5/5

Key Ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, AHA, aluminum oxide crystals | Benefits: Exfoliating | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This popular mask provides dual exfoliation (chemical and physical), thanks to pumpkin enzymes and AHAs for chemical exfoliation, as well as aluminum oxide crystals to physically polish away dead skin cells. The thick, gel-like texture has a fine grit, which makes application easy and ensures the physical exfoliation isn't overly harsh. It also has a delicious pumpkin scent that isn't too overpowering. Admittedly, the mask felt pretty intense at first: It caused a slight burning sensation, but it quickly subsided, and we didn't experience the same discomfort after the first use. It's definitely a powerful formula, so it can take some time to build up a tolerance. After keeping it on for about five minutes and washing it off, our skin felt softer and had a healthy-looking glow.

Best Refreshing

Peach Slices Snail Rescue Intensive Wash-Off Jelly Mask

$17 at Amazon $17 at Ulta $17 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Application
  4/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Efficacy
  5/5
• Appearance
  3/5

Key Ingredients: Snail mucin, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, licorice root | Benefits: Hydrates, illuminates, targets dark spots | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you're coming from a sweaty gym session or a long day at work, applying a refreshing face mask and putting your feet up might be the pick-me-up you need. We adore this one because of its lightweight gel consistency and cooling feel that instantly calms. It's formulated with 95% snail mucin, which might sound gross, but it's a natural source of hyaluronic acid and glycerin that plumps the skin and delivers ample moisture. It's also a pretty affordable product considering how much you get and that a little goes a long way. This mask helped hydrate our skin, leaving us with glowy, toned complexions. The overall user experience was enjoyable, though we didn't see a noticeable difference in texture, pore size, or dark spots.

Best Soothing

Kiehl's Calendula Petal-Infused Calming Mask

$47 at Sephora $47 at Ulta $47 at kiehls.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  4.5/5
• Efficacy
  4/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Calendula extract, aloe vera | Benefits: Soothes, hydrates | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Soothing masks like this one are great when your skin looks or feels irritated—think redness, flaking, or itching. This mask from Kiehl's contains calendula extract, which has healing properties, as well as aloe vera to calm inflammation. It has a creamy gel texture that feels incredibly soft as you apply it. Once it's on, the formula produces a slightly cooling sensation that feels amazing on stressed skin.

We found it comfortable to wear and thought our skin looked healthier and more hydrated after just one use. With continued use, it delivered a smoother, plumper complexion. Although we didn't notice a lasting difference in the hydration levels of our skin, this mask is an excellent option for when you need a quick moisture boost.

Best for Enlarged Pores

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment

$78 at Amazon $24 at Sephora $78 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Papaya enzymes, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Benefits: Exfoliates, helps clear pores | Size: 0.5–5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chances are, you've heard of this treatment mask—or at least seen it on social media. It's been a longtime player in the exfoliation category, and considering how effective it is, we get the hype. The formula boasts a blend of fruit enzymes, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to provide chemical exfoliation, along with silica to physically buff away dead skin cells.

We experienced some stinging with the first application. (The brand warns users that it'll cause some tingling and potentially redness initially, but the intense feeling can be alarming.) However, these sensations didn't last long, and the formula worked wonders at removing dead skin cell buildup and visibly improving the appearance of pores. After using it, our skin looked more even and super glowy.

Best Multipurpose

Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask

$73 at Sephora $18 at koraorganics.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  4/5
• Feel
  4/5
• Efficacy
  5/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Turmeric, mineral powder, aspen bark | Benefits: Illuminates, exfoliates, helps fade dark spots | Size: 1–3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Products that can be used in multiple ways earn extra points in our book, and this exfoliating mask is one of the best. It has the texture of a scrub so that it can be used in the shower or whenever you wash your face. It also works as a treatment mask that you can leave on for about two minutes before washing off. The formula contains turmeric to help illuminate your complexion and target hyperpigmentation, mineral powder for physical exfoliation, and aspen bark (a naturally occurring BHA) for chemical exfoliation. We liked the gritty consistency because the granules were pretty fine—it also helped us apply it as it didn't slide around on our faces. But those with sensitive skin might find it too abrasive. After rinsing it off, we were extremely impressed by how even and radiant our skin looked—our pores appeared smaller, dead skin cells were removed, and our complexions looked healthier overall.

Best for Sensitive Skin

Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask

$70 at Amazon $70 at Sephora View on Tatcha.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Efficacy
  4/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Japanese beautyberry, vitamin C, fruit enzymes | Benefits: Illuminates, gently exfoliates, helps fade dark spots | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Like many skincare actives, vitamin C can be sensitizing, but not with this mask. We tried it out on sensitive skin, and it didn't sting or lead to a burning sensation (something reactive complexions may experience with similar products). The luxurious feel of the thick, creamy texture and gorgeous purple hue of the container really enhanced our experience. This formula contains two types of vitamin C, plus fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate and help illuminate your skin. We noticed an immediate improvement in the radiance of our complexions after using this mask. While the glowy effects didn't seem to last more than a few hours, it did calm redness and addressed dry patches.

Best Overnight

Farmacy 10% Niacinamide Night Mask

$26 at Sephora $25 at kohls.com View on Farmacybeauty.com

Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Efficacy
  4.5/5
• Appearance
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, panthenol, beta-glucan, shea butter | Benefits: Smooths, hydrates, illuminates | Size: 0.85–5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This face mask has a seriously unique texture—it's incredibly soft and gel-like yet somehow still creamy. It spreads like butter, so a tiny bit goes a long way. The formula contains niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help even out skin texture, soak up oil, and reduce the appearance of pores. It worked remarkably well to deeply hydrate our parched skin and prevent dry patches. We noticed a plumping effect, which helped smooth the appearance of fine lines. Not only that, but this mask blurred the look of enlarged pores and left us with a more radiant complexion. It had a slightly tacky feel, but it wasn't uncomfortable at all and didn't stick to our pillowcases or sheets.

Best Resurfacing

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask

$80 at Sephora $80 at Ulta View on Drunkelephant.com

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Benefits: Exfoliates, improves texture, unclogs pores | Size: 0.5–1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're dealing with uneven texture, dullness, blackheads, dullness, discoloration, or dark spots, 20 minutes with this Byrdie favorite will make you feel like a whole new person. This resurfacing mask helps improve uneven texture and gives dull complexions a glowy boost while unclogging pores and elevating elasticity. A blend of AHAs and BHAs dissolves dead cells on the outermost layer of your skin to reveal smoother skin underneath. We also appreciate the airtight container, as many masks require you to dip your fingers into a lidded tub. Just be mindful of the fact that it can be too strong for sensitive skin types, so perform a patch test. before slathering it all over your skin.

Best Peel

Hanacure The All-In-One Facial

$29 at Violet Grey $29 at Neiman Marcus View on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Key Ingredients: Beta-glucan, peptides, botanicals, antioxidants | Benefits: Smooths, illuminates, tightens | Size: 1 use | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"The Hanacure All-In-One Mask also deserves mention for its proprietary Octolift technology," says dermatologist Dr. Claire Wolinsky, MD. "It's a fun peel to use and will leave the skin feeling tighter, thanks to effective peptides and antioxidants." Part of the joy is that, as it dries, it crinkles onto your skin and makes you look temporarily—for lack of better term—worse. (Lots of people post "during" photos of this alarming crinkle effect on Instagram.) Then you peel it off to reveal a smoother, plumper-looking complexion. We just wish there were more masks included in the kit, considering the price.

Best Sheet Mask

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Treatment Sheet Mask

$17 at Amazon $22 at Dermstore View on Perriconemd.com

Our Ratings

• Efficacy
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Application
  5/5

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, copper peptide, phospholipids | Benefits: Improves texture, addresses dullness | Size: 1 or 6 masks | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sheet masks are great single-use skincare treatments, but can be frustrating to use since they're typically one-size-fits...hardly anyone. While many slip and slide around your face, this one has two pieces, which makes application super easy—and, unlike many other sheet masks, it stays put until you're ready to take it off. After letting it baste for about 20 minutes, you can count on ultra-hydrated and plump skin that looks smoother, tighter, and more radiant. It can, however, leave skin feeling a little sticky right after you take it off.