The best face masks *ever* for every skin concern, tried and tested by the GLAMOUR beauty team
Face masks have climbed the skincare ladder. They’ve lifted themselves from sludgy banana-scented goop (the kind we’d cake our faces in at sleepovers), to a high-tech and ultra effective way to give our skin an instant hit of love. Chuck one on, and you could be letting yourself in for a boost of luminosity, hydration and pore-refining goodness, with very little input.
Leading experts in the field of skincare have turned to masks as a reactive way to bolt-on the extra ingredients our skin needs at optimal points throughout our week. You might not need to marinate in hyaluronic for 20 minutes every day, but that big work event on Thursday might call for some extra basting come Wednesday night.
Best face masks at a glance – our top picks:
- Best face mask with azeliac acid: Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial, £60, Space NK
- Best purifying face mask: The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask, £20, The Body Shop
- Best affordable sheet mask: Sephora Collection Lychee Face Mask, £3.99, Sephora
- Best premium face mask: Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask, £95, Dr. Barbara Sturm
As such, the options available have become even more targeted and sophisticated. “We already have masks for 11 different body parts [including the eyes, lips and entire face],” says Net-A-Porter's Global Beauty Director, Newby Hands. “And within these, we have firming masks, hydrating masks, brightening masks, lifting masks – it’s truly a full walk-in wardrobe of masks.”
It’s clear that brands are keen to make the most of a solution that consumers can’t seem to get enough of. But with so much choice available, it can be difficult to figure out which face mask is right for you. To help you make that choice, we've put together a full edit of all the best face masks out there, including options that take into consideration all preferences, budgets and skin types. Enjoy.
Scroll down to shop our edit of the best face masks to try now...
Best purifying clay mask
The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask, £20, The Body Shop
Why we love it: Charcoal is known for its purifying qualities, which is perfect for unclogging pores and removing excess oil. Made to be environmentally friendly, this clay mask leaves you skin glowing and feeling cleaner than ever – even though the application can seem a bit messy.
Key ingredients: Himalayan bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves and tea tree oil.
Best for: purifying oily skin.
Looking to save? Check out these The Body Shop discount codes.
Best face mask with azelaic acid
Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial, £60, Space NK
Why we love it: One of the brands newest (and the biggest) launches of the year, this leave-in mask works as a multitasking treatment, designed to help achieve a brighter and more even complexion. Infused with axelaic and salicylic acids, the Bouncy Brightfacial penetrates deep into the skin to tackle redness and even out the skin tone, while the triple antioxidant brightening complex tackles dark spots and hyperpigmentation – leaving you with supple, soft and healthy-looking skin (yum). Use it on its own or combine with your go-to skincare heros to whip out a cocktail facial.
Key ingredients: azelaic acid, salicylic acid, ceramides, niacinamide.
Best for: evening out the skin tone & brightening.
Enjoy big savings when shopping for face masks using these Space NK discount codes.
Best affordable sheet mask
Sephora Collection Lychee Face Mask, £3.99, Sephora
Why we love it: Sephora sheet masks are iconic for reason. Not only are they super affordable, but they also deliver incredibly impressive results. This new-generation fibre mask is designed to boost your skin's natural radiance, thanks to the included botanical extracts – all formulated with 95% naturally derived ingredients, by the way.
Key ingredients: lychee fruit extract, glycerin, citric acid.
Best for: boosting radiance.
Save big when shopping for face masks using these Sephora discount codes.
Best mask with hyaluronic acid
Why we love it: This two-step moisturising treatment mask features a highly concentrated dose of hyaluronic acid for healthier, more hydrated skin. Using Korean gel mask technology, this product delivers instant cooling and allows you to absorb all the ingredients more efficiently, helping you keep your face stave off dryness for longer.
Key ingredients: clay, algae extract and hyaluronic acid.
Best for: dehydrated and dry skin.
Save big when shopping for face masks using these Sephora discount codes.
Best nourishing face mask
Why we love it: You'd be forgiven for mistaking this nourishing face mask for a good ol' jar of honey. It has a nutrient-rich formula fuelled by propolis, amino acids, ceramides and panthenol to help prevent moisture loss and replenish your skin's natural barrier. The best part is that it's cruelty-free and free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and synthetic fragrance. Au naturale.
Key ingredients: glycerin, niacinamide and honey extract.
Best for: a radiant finish.
Enjoy big savings when shopping for face masks using these Space NK discount codes.
Best resurfacing face mask
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial, £25, Cult Beauty
Why we love it: Who needs dull skin anyway? This face mask from Drunk Elephant features 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acids, which helps deeply exfoliate and resurface your skin. The best part is that it's suitable for all skin types, since it gets rid of dead skin cells gently and leaves your skin feeling cleaner than ever without causing any redness or irritation.
Key ingredients: glycerin, salicylic acid and citric acid.
Best for: clarifying and resurfacing skin
Looking to save? Check out these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best premium face mask
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask, £95, Dr. Barbara Sturm
Why we love it: This anti-aging cream mask is perfect for anyone in need of an instant hydrating boost. It's perfect for treating your skin after exposure to the sun or other external elements, thanks to a calming infusion of aloe vera and chamomile. Guaranteed to leave your skin feeling soft and supple.
Key ingredients: aloe vera, kaolin clay and chamomile.
Best for: reducing irritation.
Best pore-cleansing mask
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, £28.50, LookFantastic
Why we love it: Designed to smoothen your skin texture and diminish the appearance of pores, this skincare product from Kiehl's uses Amazonian white clay to deliver unparalleled results. Filled to the brim with minerals, it also contains aloe vera as part of its formula to help soothe and detox irritated skin.
Key ingredients: Amazonian white clay and aloe vera.
Best for: refining and detoxifying skin.
Save big when shopping for face masks using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best overnight face mask
Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask
Why we love it: A must-have for your night-time skincare routine, this overnight mask removes any sign of tiredness by plumping your skin as you slumber. It also features some delicious-sounding ingredients like kombucha, black tea extract, blackberry leaf extract, and lychee seed extract, which acts as a miracle worker by rebalancing your skin with ease.
Key ingredients: black tea complex and peptides.
Best for: overnight use.
Enjoy big savings when shopping for face masks using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best face mask for irritated skin
Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Gras Sleepair Intensive Mask, £34, Dr. Jart
Why we love it: This night cream treats you to a spa-like experience while you sleep. Designed specifically for sensitive skin, this dermatologist-tested product sends in moisture deep into your skin to counteract any effects of dryness caused by dehydration or cold weather.
Key ingredients: tiger grass (centella asiatica), glycerin and niacinamide.
Best for: sensitive and irritated skin.
Best luxury face mask with pure 24 karat gold
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask, WAS £73 NOW £51.10, Cult Beauty
Why we love it: A face mask with 24K gold is as good as self-care can get. This pampering product may come with a hefty price tag, but its ability to diminish fine lines and rejuvenate your skin is unlike that of any other product on this list. After all, Peter Thomas Roth is a brand that specialises in high-quality skincare products.
Key ingredients: gold and caffeine.
Best for: reducing the appearance of fine lines.
Looking to save? Check out these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best sheet mask for fake tan lovers
St.Tropez Self Tan Express Face Sheet Masks, £5, Boots
Why we love it: Save yourself the hassle of a prolonged daily skincare routine using this face mask/fake tan hybrid to hydrate and give yourself a glowy bronze goddess look all in one go. Each mask allows you to control the depth of your tan too, depending on how long it's left on. After use, your tan will develop over 8 hours, while the hyaluronic acid included in the formula keeps your face well-hydrated all throughout.
Key ingredients: glycerin, citric acid, castor oil and hyaluronic acid.
Best for: self-tan lovers.
Save big when shopping for face masks using these Boots discount codes.
Best natural face mask
Super Greens Facial Mask, £6, Etsy
Why we love it: Some clay masks can be a tad too rough on the skin, but that's certainly not the case here. With ingredients such as spirulina and matcha powder, this green mask is made to help remove dirt, impurities and blackheads from your skin with ease. Did we mention that it's natural and organic too?
Key ingredients: kaolin clay, sweet almond oil, vitamin C powder and spirulina powder.
Best for: acne-prone skin.
Best face mask for gentle exfoliation
SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque, £72, LookFantastic
Why we love it: Enriched with a mix of botanicals, minerals and a hydroxy acid blend, this non-drying face mask is ideal for gently exfoliating and ridding your face of dead skin cells. It has a rich, mattifying formula that's suitable for normal, oily and combination skin to boot.
Key ingredients: kaolin clay, glycerin, chamomile and aloe vera.
Best for: combination skin.
Enjoy big savings when shopping for face masks using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best face mask with glycolic acid
REN Clean Skincare Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask, WAS £15 NOW £10.50, Cult Beauty
Why we love it: This travel-sized weekly treatment mask is powered by fruit-based enzymes and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to give your skin the radiant glow it deserves. So say goodbye to dead skin cells, since they won't be bothering you anymore.
Key ingredients: pineapple extract, papain enzyme, glycolic acid and AHA.
Best for: brightening skin.
Enjoy big savings when shopping for face masks using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best face mask to target blemishes
L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Blue Algae Face Mask, WAS £7.99 NOW £3.97, Amazon
Why we love it: Looking to unclog your pores and rid yourself of blackheads? Say no more. Made using three pure clays and marine algae extract, this L'Oreal skincare product is not only affordable, but also extremely effective in what it does. Perfect for clearing the skin without drying it out.
Key ingredients: kaolin clay, marine algae and glycerin.
Best for: blemish-prone skin.
Looking to save? Check out these Amazon discount codes.
Best face mask with salicylic acid
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque, £11.80, LookFantastic
Why we love it: Suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin, this face mask from The Ordinary features salicylic acid exfoliates deep into the skin, leaving behind a much smoother complexion. Perfect to use in the evenings when your skin feels especially congested after a long day of work and errands.
Key ingredients: kaolin clay, squalane, glycerin and salicylic acid.
Best for: oily and blemish-prone complexions.
Save big when shopping for face masks using these LookFantastic discount codes.
