• A good face mask can work wonders on your skin, but there are so many out there, it can be hard to decide which one is right for your needs.
  • Our favorite face mask is the creamy, gentle Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask because it really works to cleanse your skin and help improve its health in the long run.

Let’s face it – a lot of face masks are totally useless.

Sure, they might keep the Sunday Scaries at bay for 15 minutes or, in the case of the colorful and glittery ones all over social media, make a great selfie. But do they really do anything?

In my six-plus years covering beauty, I’ve tried countless face masks and treatments. Most of them have been entirely forgettable. I kept using some of them out of a sense of obligation and a desire not to waste. But life is short. Do you really want to waste your limited face masking time on products that do next to nothing? I think not.

In general, I use masks for three main purposes – hydration if my skin is feeling dry and tight, calming if I’m irritated, or detoxing and pore-clearing if I’m breaking out a lot. I have pretty sensitive skin, so I don’t like to use anything too harsh all over.

I tend to apply more active masks like the kinds that help diminish breakouts, in targeted areas like the T-zone. I reserve soothing, moisturizing formulas for more delicate areas like my cheeks. The following list features picks from both categories but they all have one thing in common – they gave me results.

Here are the best face masks:

Updated on 2/6/2020 by Mara Leighton: Changed the best detoxifying face mask from Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Mask to the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask.

The best face mask overall

Cult-favorite Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask truly is as good as everyone says because it won't dry you out or leave your face feeling tight.

I've had a jar of the Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask languishing in my face mask drawer (yes, I have a whole drawer) for longer than I care to admit. I finally tried it for the first time a few months ago and I'm kicking myself for not testing it sooner.

Like most clay masks, this one is designed to heal blemishes, decrease the appearance of pores, and minimize oil production. Unlike most clay masks though, it's really gentle. Fresh's version is chock full of soothing ingredients like sandalwood oil, chamomile flower, and lavender water. I counteract any dryness I feel afterward by misting with a hydrating toner.

I tend to focus it on my T-zone where I experience the most blackheads and breakouts, but I have used the mask all over my face without irritation. You're only meant to leave it on for three to five minutes, so it doesn't have a chance to dry down and become really hard to remove. The mask can also be used as a cleanser and a spot treatment.

Beauty experts at Allure, Nylon, and The Cut also highly recommend this mask for both spot treatments and all-over use.

Pros: Gentle and effective clay mask, easy to wash off, non-irritating

Cons: High price tag

The best soothing face mask

Foto: sourceKiehls

Got sensitive skin? Keep Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque on hand to combat irritation and redness.

I never know just when my skin is going to react poorly to a situation; it can certainly get red and itchy at the mere suggestion of overstimulation. There are so many factors that can set me off - too much sunshine, an ill-fated skin-care experiment, too many active ingredients.

Enter the Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque.

It's a soothing, hydrating gel mask, and the perfect follow up to more intensive treatments that might leave skin inflamed. As the name suggests, the formula contains calming calendula flower petals and aloe. When you apply it to the skin, it feels instantly cooling, but not in that artificial, hurting-not-helping way some products have.

There's some debate over the effectiveness of calendula as a soothing ingredient, but from my own experience, this mask is great at calming down the redness in my skin, possibly thanks to the aloe.

As FutureDerm points out, the ingredients list boasts brightening ingredients as well, but you may want to be wary if you're sensitive to citrus oils. I've used it as a follow-up to particularly drying treatments and after a long day outside that resulted in harsh sunburn on my face. I definitely see myself picking up a second jar after I finish the first.

The Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque has also been recommended by Allure.

Pros: Soothing and hydrating mask, easy to wash off

Cons: Avoid if sensitive to citrus oils, might have a tingling sensation if left on too long

The best sheet mask

Foto: sourceSK-II

When your skin needs an instant boost, reach for the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask.

Sheet masks are great for that instant boost of hydration and brightening effects. I love to use them on flights or before a big event. My favorite is the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask, which I used right before my wedding. It's totally worth the 15 minutes you'll spend looking like Jason from "Halloween," I promise.

This is basically SK-II's popular Facial Treatment Essence in sheet mask form. A cocktail of amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals work together to brighten and rejuvenate the skin. Each individually-packaged mask is sold in packs of 1, 6, or 10.

Apply the essence-saturated cotton sheet to your face for 10-15 minutes, discard, and pat the rest of the serum into your skin - do not rinse. If you wash your face, you'll be wasting all the good stuff. Let the essence absorb and move on with the rest of your skin-care routine.

As with most SK-II products, the Facial Treatment Mask is really pricey. But you can't beat the instant results you get. Countless beauty editors and experts agree. It's been recommended by Allure and Harper's Bazaar, among others, and here at Insider Picks, we rated it our top sheet mask pick overall.

Pros: Hydrating and brightening mask, great for special events, packaged individually, fragrance-free

Cons: Expensive

The best overnight face mask

Foto: sourceLaneige

If hydration is a top concern, reach for the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask 2-3 times a week for major moisture.

When my skin is really dry, I love to reach for a hydrating overnight mask. My favorite is the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, which has also been featured on Insider Picks before.

This mask combines Laneige's proprietary Sleep-Tox and Moisture Wrap blends that respectively repair and hydrate the skin overnight with hydro ionized mineral water to ensure your skin retains moisture longer.

Plus, it smells like the feeling you get during the relaxing end of yoga class with notes of rose, orange flower, and sandalwood.

The texture is more like a very thick gel moisturizer than a traditional mask. It goes on clear, albeit a bit wet, and dries down to a slightly dewy finish. You could leave the house in this if you wanted, though it feels a bit tackier than your average moisturizer so I only use it at bedtime as directed. When I wake up, I wipe any residue off with micellar water.

The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask was also a 2017 Allure Best of Beauty winner.

Pros: Hydrating, lightweight, dries clear, can be worn outside

Cons: Not fragrance-free

The best detoxifying mask

Foto: sourceAmazon

The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask exfoliates the skin and draws impurities out of pores like a vacuum to improve your complexion's clarity, tone, and texture.

The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask has been mythologized by the internet. It has thousands of reviews, high ratings, YouTube trials, and testimonials with millions of views - and it deserves the recognition, especially for the cost.

It's a tub of 100% natural calcium bentonite clay, a highly absorbent natural resource that occurs when volcanic ash ages over time. The clay should be mixed with equal parts raw apple cider vinegar or water before being applied to the face, but I've had better results, particularly with texture, when using apple cider vinegar. If you find it too strong, consider diluting it with half apple cider vinegar and half water.

Once applied, the mask quickly dries and tightens. This mask is strong, so if you have sensitive skin, try a patch test on your forearm before using it on your face.

After washing it off, my skin's texture is baby-smooth and very red (this should subside over the next 30 minutes). Current blemishes appear less angry and inflamed, and they recede faster. With repeated use, I think it has helped me fend off impending breakouts too. Apple cider vinegar and clay are powerful exfoliants, and, over time, my tone has become a bit more even.

You can leave the mask on for five to 10 minutes according to the company, but celebrity dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman recommends you leave it on only until you feel the clay tightening and drying on top of your skin (likely between two to five minutes). If you delay taking it off, and it sucks up too much oil, your skin may start to compensate by producing even more oil than it did before. In this instance, the clay works too well.

Afterward, you'll want to double down on hydration with moisturizers. Personally, I love Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream. - Mara Leighton, Insider Picks senior reporter

Pros: Exfoliates dead skin, works to improve tone and clarity, affordable

Cons: Powerful, potentially drying with overuse

Check out our other skin-care product buying guides

Foto: sourceShutterstock

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