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Whether you’re battling redness or clogged pores, a face mask will help calm and soothe. Our experts have rounded up the best masks that deliver.

This mask delivers both chemical and physical exfoliation, using glycolic acid to peel away dull skin cells and aluminum oxide crystals to physically polish. It also contains pumpkin oils, which have been shown to help skin appear healthier and make makeup easier to apply.

1. Erno Laszlo Red Seaweed Extract & Glycerine Mask

Founded by the beauty icon, Erno Laszlo (who was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner and Marilyn Monroe), this luxury skincare brand is renowned for its black cleansing bar and its solution-driven serums and moisturizers. This nourishing mask is formulated with red algae extract and glycerine, which help soften skin while improving texture and reducing signs of aging. It also contains niacinamide, which helps reduce redness and fine lines while hyaluronic acid provides a plumping effect.

This clarifying mask is perfect for anyone with blemish-prone or congested skin. It features a natural smectite clay and mineral-rich white and pink clays, which remove impurities and excess oil without drying out your complexion. It also helps refine skin texture with thyme and olive extracts while a blend of calming and soothing ingredients soothe redness and reactivity.

This overnight mask is perfect for anyone who needs a little extra TLC while they sleep. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and peptides to firm and plump your complexion while also smoothing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains a blend of antioxidants to protect against free radical damage while soothing and hydrating your skin with acai berry, raspberry and brambleberry extracts. To use, emulsify a small amount in your palm with water and smooth over face before bed, and rinse in the morning. Typically, this mask costs around $30 for a 1.7 oz.

2. Skin Republic Energising Face Mask

This mask from the multi award-winning, women owned brand combines clinically proven formulations with nature s restorative properties. The nutrient rich blend of 10 superfoods including acai berries, chia seeds, black tea and rosehip nourish, revitalise and detoxify skin leaving it looking healthy and firm.

This potent anti-ageing serum soaked sheet mask is formulated for men’s skin and targets fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. The addition of collagen improves skin elasticity and firmness and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots. This mask is free from parabens and cruelty free.

This self-warming foil mask from Barber Pro utilises your body’s natural heat to reflect back onto the skin, maximising absorption of the key ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and CoQ10. We particularly liked that this didn’t leave the face too wet when it was removed and is the perfect quick fix for a morning dash out before work or a night out. It also comes in two distinct parts, making it beard friendly. The mask is simple to apply, and although it doesn’t have the long list of active ingredients found in some of our favourites like Erno Laszlo above, it does deliver an impressive boost for a very reasonable price. We also found it to be extremely effective at minimising the telltale bags under the eyes. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for any man who is struggling with puffiness or tiredness.

3. Origins Ginseng & Vitamin C Brightening Mask

A face mask clings to the skin and delivers ingredients more deeply than a serum or moisturizer. For that reason, it’s often formulated to target specific concerns like pore congestion or fine lines and wrinkles. Masks are also a great way to boost your at-home skincare routine and add extra hydration.

This gel mask from Origins is a leave-on formula that brightens skin instantly and long term. Its 3-Glow Complex includes Snap encapsulations that burst on application to deliver a relaxed, radiant look while proprietary plant-based Veggie-Liposome Vitamin C increases brightness over time. Plus, caffeine from coffee beans helps energize and refresh the complexion.

When choosing a face mask for sensitive skin, look for products that contain soothing ingredients such as aloe, green tea, chamomile and cucumber extract. These will help calm skin and reduce redness and inflammation. If you’re dealing with acne or blemishes, masks that contain salicylic acid are a good option to help combat breakouts and unclog pores.

For oily skin, a clay or charcoal mask may be helpful to absorb excess oil and keep pores clear. For combination skin, choose a mask that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid to moisturize and anti-aging ingredients to fight fine lines and wrinkles.

A fabric mask is one of the most comfortable options on our list. These include the N95s favored by healthcare professionals and essential workers. They come in many styles, from those worn by Billie Eilish to those designed by Fendi and Palm Angels.

4. Kiehl’s Beeswax & Aloe Vera Face Mask

The richly hydrating formula in this mask helps replenish lost moisture while softening dry, flaky skin. It’s a great winter pick for all skin types and can also be worn as an overnight mask.

This soothing, calming mask is packed with antioxidants to help soothe your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The clear gel formula is infused with hibiscus extract and calendula petals to nourish and calm skin, while Aloe Vera Leaf helps hydrate your complexion.

A must-have for dry winter skin, this moisturizing mask is formulated with rich fatty emollients and antioxidant peptides to restore your skin’s natural barrier and improve elasticity. The formula also mimics the vernix coating that’s found on newborn babies to give you that fresh, hydrated glow.

A clay mask that’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin, this one is formulated with Amazonian white clay (aka Kaolin) to gently cleanse your complexion while removing impurities that can lead to enlarged pores. It’s also enriched with oat kernel flour, which has anti-inflammatory benefits, and allantoin to soothe your complexion.

If you’re looking for a face mask that will deliver the ultimate in hydration, look no further than this luxe La Prairie pick. This sleep mask is infused with the brand’s special cellular complex to help firm and plump your complexion while you sleep. It’s also formulated with caviar to enhance radiance and even out your skin tone.

5. Kiehl’s Shea Butter & Rice Bran Face Mask

This mask is a great option for those with oily skin as it helps to reduce excess sebum. It’s also packed with hydrating ingredients like shea butter and rice bran. It has a creamy texture and is quite thick. It’s easy to apply and doesn’t feel dry or gritty on the skin, which is great for those who have sensitive skin. It’s recommended to leave this mask on for around 10-30 minutes. If you have oily skin, try to use this as a whole-face mask while normal or combination skin types can target it as a spot treatment for their t-zones.

This is a good choice for those who suffer from breakouts and congestion as it helps to purify pores. It’s formulated with kaolin clay, which draws out impurities to minimize pores and help skin look refined. It’s also infused with willow bark to naturally tone, niacinamide to improve skin’s appearance and kombucha black tea to balance the skin’s microbiome.

Another face mask that’s good for those with acne-prone skin is this one from Kiehl’s. It’s a gel-like formula that has a very soothing and cooling effect on the skin. It’s enriched with shea butter and other natural oils to provide hydration and nourishment. It’s recommended to leave this on for up to 30 minutes or even overnight. Thousands of Sephora customers have given this product five stars and swear by it, calling it a winter must-have for their skin.

6. Bioderma Hydrabio Hydrating Face Mask

A soothing, moisturizing mask that gives sensitive skin instant comfort. Every day, pollution, stress or cold weather disrupt the skin’s cellular activity and cause it to lose its radiance and moisture. This rich and creamy face mask for dehydrated skin contains the Aquagenium biological patent, which retrains the skin to activate its natural moisturising capacities. It stimulates the production of aquaporins, which are water channels in the skin, and helps it retain the water it needs to be balanced.

Unlike most products that simply contain humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, Bioderma’s targeted Hydrabio range is designed to teach the skin to generate its own hydration by activating the cells’ natural processes. The Hydrabio line includes specific cleansers for dehydrated skin (micellar water and milk), a moisture-generating serum and a rich cream. Apply this Hydrabio Hydrating Face Mask to the skin daily during the first week for an optimum result, then once or twice a week as a follow-up.

Founded by the creator of the super gentle Sensibio micellar water, this brand is known for its commitment to safe, hypoallergenic skincare that’s perfect for sensitive skin. The Hydrabio Face Mask is free of parabens, alcohol and colourants, and contains a blend of active ingredients that nurture a complexion that feels thoroughly quenched and looks radiant. As explained in a video review by muna, this face mask is the ideal addition to the winter skincare routine, when our skin can be particularly dehydrated.