In this article:
What face mask is best for my skin type?
Clay and charcoal masks for oily skin and congested pores
Sleep masks for dry or dehydrated skin
Brightening masks for uneven skin tone
Are sheet masks beneficial for skin?
What about peel off masks?
When and how to use face masks
Face masks can play a beneficial supporting role in a skin care routine when you want to do everything possible to keep skin in tip-top shape. If you’re wondering how to pick the right formula for your skin type/concerns and how to best incorporate it into your regimen, we’ve got the answers.
What face mask is best for my skin type?
To find the face mask that’s going to deliver the best results for your skin, you first need to identify your skin type and skin concerns, and then keep an eye out for these traits that all the best face masks share:
- Front-loaded with beneficial ingredients (antioxidants, emollients, hydrating humectants, etc.)
- Housed in opaque, air-restrictive packaging to prolong stability of the key ingredients
- Does not contain ingredients that are drying or irritating, including but not limited to denatured alcohol, fragrance, and essential oils (1)
Now that you’ve identified your skin type/concerns, our guide below will direct you to the mask that will best suit your skin’s needs.
Clay and charcoal masks for oily skin and congested pores
Both clay and charcoal have unique absorbent properties, and their gentle drawing action can help dislodge debris from congested pores (2). A well-formulated charcoal face mask or clay mask will leave your skin shine-free, but not dried out. Oil-absorbing face masks can be extremely beneficial for excessively oily, clog-prone skin or a shiny T-zone (nose, forehead, and chin).
When shopping for charcoal or clay masks, read their labels closely. Because these masks can feel temporarily "tightening" in use, it's important to select one that includes emollients and soothing agents. As always, steer clear of common skin irritants, including high amounts of drying SD or denatured alcohol, menthol, eucalyptus and tea tree oil.
Sleep masks for dry or dehydrated skin
The typical goal of a “sleep mask” is to lock in hydration and potentially add anti-ageing benefits (depending on the formula). Keeping the beneficial ingredients on skin longer than a traditional, rinse-off mask means they have more time to work, making them more effective.
To help dry skin hold onto moisture longer, try a hydrating face mask with a mixture of emollients, humectants, and replenishing ingredients (3). Even if it isn’t labeled as a sleep mask, you can leave it on overnight to give skin as much time as possible to reap the benefits.
If your skin isn’t dry per se, but skews more toward oily/combination with signs of dehydration (i.e., it feels tight/parched underneath but produces adequate oil the surface), using a lighter weight overnight mask can be extremely beneficial.
Brightening masks for uneven skin tone
Brightening face masks are intended to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and bring radiance to a dull complexion. The best of them include concentrated combinations of effective brightening ingredients, such as arbutin, licorice, bearberry, vitamin C, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide (4, 5, 6).
Brightening masks are excellent for anyone wanting to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and get a glowing complexion.
Are sheet masks beneficial for skin?
Sheet masks tend to be more of a skin care gimmick, and when poorly formulated (using the types of irritating ingredients mentioned earlier, especially fragrance), they can end up doing more harm than good. Further, sheet masks have been called into question from a sustainability perspective due to creating extra waste from their single use packaging format (7).
If you still want to give sheet masks a go, just be sure to check the ingredient list to ensure the formula is free of irritants.
What about peel off masks?
Peel off masks can provide a fun sensorial experience, but don’t have any advantages over traditional masks. Worse, they often contain high concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol, which gives the mask its film-forming peelable texture but can have a drying and irritating effect on skin.
Don’t get a peel off mask confused with an exfoliant peel mask—the two are very different. Exfoliant peel masks contain concentrated exfoliating acids that unglue the bonds of dead cells trapped to skin’s surface, unveiling the smoother, healthier-looking skin underneath (8). These can be very beneficial for all skin types.
When and how to use face masks
The cadence of how often you should apply a face mask comes down to a matter of personal preference combined with your skin’s need. Some people like to incorporate face masks into their daily routine to target ongoing issues, while others use masks as more of an occasional or weekly treat. You can experiment to see what works best for you, but if the product’s instructions suggest limiting application to once a week (which is often the case for high concentration exfoliating masks), it’s best to follow those directions.
Whether it’s a clay mask, cream mask, exfoliant peel mask, or any other type of face mask, always cleanse your skin first. After the face mask is rinsed off, follow with the rest of your skin care routine. If the face mask is supposed to be left on overnight, apply it as the last step in your nighttime skin care routine.
References for this information:
- Contact Dermatitis, July 2001, pages 221-225
- Clays and Clay Minerals, January 2022, ePublication
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, October 2018, pages 693-702
- Phytotherapy Research, March 2021, ePublication
- Dermatology and Therapy, September 2017, pages 417-424
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, May 2019, pages 454–459
- Journal of Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2019, pages 1-10
- Clinics in Dermatology, 2001, pages 460-466
