If you have sensitive skin, it’s almost always a good idea to keep your skin care routine simple. Often, all you really need is a good cleanser, serum, and moisturizer, but if you want to add a worthy self-care routine to your routine, it doesn’t hurt to use one of the best face masks for sensitive skin .
Next, you’ll find gentle mask recommendations like the super-popular (and Camille’s favorite) Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask and the ultra-hydrating Blue Lagoon Mineral Mask. These masks will be your new skin savior without any harsh ingredients. So, kick back and have a mini at-home spa day with the best face masks for sensitive skin.
Featured images from our interview with Sanetra Nere Longno.
Our top picks
- Camille’s top picks: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask — Summer Fridays $49
- Camille’s other favorites: Activist Manuka Honey Mask — $65 at Activist Manuka
- Camille’s splurge choices: Blue Lagoon Mineral Mask — Blue Lagoon $95
- Best Dermatologist Recommendations: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Mask — $3.59 at Target
- Best Face Masks for Dry Sensitive Skin: Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask — $52 at Sephora
Best facial mask for sensitive skin
1. Camille’s first choice:Summer Friday Jet Lag Mask
The Camille Styles team has been swearing by this viral mask for years because it rejuvenates dry and tired skin overnight. The nourishing formula is enriched with gentle skin moisturizers like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to hydrate and smooth even the most sensitive skin types. Even if you have highly reactive skin, you can rest assured that your complexion will stay calm and happy because this mask is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and also has the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval.
2. Camille’s other favorites: Activist Manuka Honey Mask
Honey is more than just a sweetener added to food. Manuka honey, in particular, which is rich in antioxidants, is known for its powerful healing properties, and Camille likes to use this mask from Activist Skincare when she’s experiencing any skin concerns.
This luxurious yet simple formula is made with 100% Manuka Honey to help clear up rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and acne. If you don’t suffer from any of these skin issues, this is still a worthy addition to your routine as it can help promote skin regeneration and leave a healthy glow.
3. Camille’s splurge: Blue Lagoon Mineral Mask
People travel thousands of miles (and spend thousands of dollars) to step into the geothermal waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. These spring waters are known to have anti-aging properties and help strengthen the skin barrier. Luckily, you can experience the rejuvenating benefits of the Blue Lagoon in the comfort of your own home with this mineral-rich mask. The formula is infused with bioactive blue lagoon water to help calm your complexion, whether you’re using it as an overnight mask or an all-over repair cream.
4. Best Dermatologist Recommendations: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizing Mask
Sheet masks are a quick, easy way to add moisture, and few can compare to Neutrogena’s affordable Hydro Boost Mask. Dermatologists continually recommend this brand (and product) for its ability to soothe dry skin that comes in contact with hyaluronic acid. The gel texture also enhances the overall treatment, as it soothes and balances skin as you wear it.
Expert Tips: Store in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before use for extra calming coolness.
5. Best Face Masks for Dry Sensitive Skin: Youth to the People Super Berry Hydration + Glowing Dream Mask
If you’re after plump, radiant, soft skin, this mask is a must-have. Enriched with antioxidant-rich superberries like acai, prickly pear, and goji berries as well as THD ascorbic acid (a powerful yet gentle form of vitamin C), this thick overnight mask feels like a rich layer of cream envelops the skin. In the morning, your complexion will look brighter and more elastic, like you just had a high-end facial.
6. Best Whitening Facial Masks for Sensitive Skin: Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Mask
Some people with sensitive skin may have a complicated relationship with vitamin C. However, Tatcha has crafted the ideal Vitamin C mask so that those with sensitive skin can enjoy the non-irritating benefits. Violet-C combines two forms of antioxidants with the brand’s signature Hadasei-3 Complex to deeply hydrate and enhance radiance. You’ll notice a difference in your radiance after just one session.
Expert Tips: You can use Tatcha’s “Will this work for me?” quiz on the product page to find out if the formula is right for your skin type.
7. The Best Calming Masks for Sensitive Skin: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Ultimate Detoxifying Moisturizer
Peter Thomas Roth’s ultra-calming cucumber gel mask works to combat redness. Whether you suffer from rosacea or are dealing with an annoying sunburn, applying it to your face will provide instant relief.
Botanical extracts such as cucumber, papaya, chamomile, lingonberry and aloe vera quickly soothe the skin and absorb moisture, helping to speed up the repair process and prevent future dryness. Best of all, you can use it as a quick at-home spa treatment or leave it on overnight for a massive boost of hydration.
8. The Best Overnight Masks for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Night Moisturizing Mask, containing 10.5% squalane
Every winter, my skin suffers from the dry, cold temperatures. As soon as I feel my skin starting to feel dry and tight, I reach for this thick, gentle mask. Super humectants, including squalane (a natural humectant that locks moisture in the skin) and glacier glycoprotein, make skin a water magnet, retaining moisture even in the driest seasons. Since introducing this into my daily routine, the flakes and dry patches have been gone forever. Plus, it’s paraben- and fragrance-free, which is a plus for those with sensitive skin.
9. The Best Clay Masks for Sensitive Skin: Mara Spirulina + Ashwagandha Volcanic Sea Mud Detoxifying Mask
Most clay masks can be a little too stripping for sensitive skin, but this one is an exception because it combines volcanic ash, algae, and ashwagandha (a plant that helps promote hydration). The creamy, clay formula gently detoxifies pores and prevents irritation. After washing off, your skin won’t feel tight, instead staying soft and elastic with hydrating honey and soothing green tea.
10. The Best Exfoliating Masks for Sensitive Skin: Alpyn Beauty Wild Bilberry Whitening Peeling Mask for Sensitive Skin
For people with sensitive skin, exfoliation is often a one-way ticket to skin irritation. However, Alpyn Beauty has cracked the code and created an ultra-gentle mask that expertly removes dead skin, blackheads, and other impurities without leaving you feeling red, rough, or dry. The secret is the all-natural Octacid Complex, which uses good-for-you alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) to dissolve dull, dry skin. It also contains chamomile and colloidal oatmeal to help deeply moisturize and soothe skin, leaving a happy complexion.
11. The Best Hydrating Masks for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oatmeal Mask
In just 10 minutes, this mask works its magic to rebalance even the most dehydrated complexions. With colloidal oatmeal as a key ingredient (a dermatologist-recommended skin soother that boosts hydration and calms eczema flare-ups), this mask helps the most sensitive skin types. Shea butter and sea buckthorn also enhance the restorative properties of oatmeal, keeping your skin soft and conditioned.
12. The Best Face Masks for Acne-Prone and Sensitive Skin: Peach slice snail rescue intensive wash off jelly mask
Acne-prone, sensitive skin can be tricky: You want a lightweight mask that won’t clog your pores or cause any adverse reactions, while also addressing breakouts. This mask does it all with the help of snail mucin. The feather-light jelly has become a popular ingredient in the skin-care world. It helps repair texture and nourish every inch of skin, reducing the appearance of acne scars, discoloration and dehydration.
raw material
No matter your skin type, it’s always important to check the ingredient list before using a new product. However, this is Critical For those with sensitive skin. Some of the most common additives in skin care products can cause irritation (including fragrances and essential oils), so you want to make sure the mask you choose contains only the gentlest ingredients. Colloidal oatmeal, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and cucumber are four ultra-nourishing ingredients that soothe and replenish the skin barrier, perfect for sensitive skin. Most of the masks on our list contain at least one of these.
your concerns
Does your skin feel particularly dry and flaky? Are you struggling with acne breakouts or rosacea? Before choosing a mask, consider your skin’s specific needs. By choosing a product that addresses the concerns you’re trying to solve, you’ll be one step closer to clear, elastic, healthy-looking skin.
If you’re looking to hydrate, look for a mask with super moisturizing agents like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask contains both ingredients. For those with acne-prone skin, Peach Slices Snail Rescue Intense Wash-Off Jelly Mask will help clear up breakouts and prevent acne scars. As for rosacea, you can’t go wrong with the super-soothing First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oatmeal Mask.
Expert Tips: Allergic reactions can sometimes be a symptom of sensitive skin, so be sure to get an allergen test before using a new product. Apply a small amount of product to clean skin on the inside of your arms and leave on for as long as directed. After 7 to 10 days, if you don’t experience any itching, swelling, or redness, you’re ready to start. As always, if you have any major concerns, talk to a dermatologist to make sure you’re using products that won’t irritate your skin.
Package
In most cases, face masks come in one of two forms: a squeeze tube or a tub. Packaging has no effect on the performance of the formula itself, it comes down to personal preference. That said, dermatologists often recommend opting for tube products because bacteria are more likely to emerge and contaminate tube products when you scoop the product out with your bare hands. If you choose a bathtub, make sure to always use clean hands to apply the product.
Prices are accurate at time of publication.
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Post updated on June 27, 2024
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