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The best sheet masks are more than just selfie material—they’re serious skin-care products designed to hug your face, soothe your skin, and deliver high concentrations of potent ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, snail mucin, and retinol. These serum-drenched, clingy-drapey sheets target a ton of concerns, ranging from dryness to dullness to fine lines, and come in options that offer as much versatility as the tinctures on your sink. There are cheap and cheerful options we’ll proudly stand behind (K-beauty does these best) as well as higher-end picks that double down on the actives for serious results. Read on for our roundup of the best face masks, including editor picks and insight from board-certified dermatologists on how the skin-care science actually plays out. Ok, now take that selfie.
Our Top Sheet Masks
- Best Overall: Dr. Jart Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Serum Face Mask, $37 (5-pack)
- Best Overnight: Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask, $19 (4-pack)
- Best Lifting: Numbuzin NAD+ BIO Lifting-sil Full Face Mask, $22 (4-pack)
- Best for Dry Skin: Loops Dream Sleep Nighttime Slugging Face Mask, $35 (5-pack)
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Mask, $20 (10-pack)
- Best for Mature Skin: Some by Mi Retinol Intense Daily Mask, $22 (30-pack)
- Best for Dullness: Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask, $25 (5-pack)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the benefits of using a sheet mask?
- Do sheet masks actually work?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Dr. Jart Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Serum Face Mask
Why it's worth it: If we didn't know better, we'd say Dr. Jart himself did an extra year at sheet mask school just to bring us the Cicapair Sensitive Skin Serum Mask. Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes. The gel-like cellulose texture is the perfect vehicle for the brand's proprietary Cicapair serum, which touts plentiful cica and R-Protector, a complex packed with palmitoyl tripeptide-8 to help reinforce the skin barrier. Yes, the mask is slimy (as many of the best sheet masks are), but that just means it's super saturated with the good stuff. Don't forget to pop it in the fridge before applying for some DIY cryotherapy. The whole Dr. Jart Cicapair line is worth exploring, like the Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask, which we reviewed here.
Tester feedback: "One thing about me is that my skin is, like, super red almost all the time, and it makes putting on makeup so much harder than it needs to be," says senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "That's why, before a special occasion, I always slap on a Dr. Jart+ Cicapair sheet mask while I'm doing my skin prep. The cold compress (I keep mine in my fridge), soothing serum, and extra occlusion always leave my skin plump, hydrated, and most importantly, soothed."
Key ingredients: cica, allantoin, peptides | Benefits: cooling, redness-reducing | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 5 | Leave-on time: 15 minutes
Best Overnight: Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask
Why it’s worth it: Collagen-rich, pore-blurring, and all kinds of elasticity-boosting, Biodance’s Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask slays every time. It’s powered by 234 dalton ultra-low molecular collagen—meaning the collagen particles are small enough to absorb deeply and effectively into the skin. (For context, 234 is an impressively low molecular weight.) You’ll also get a serving of hyaluronic acid and line-softening galactomyces.
Nina Desai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan Beach, California, told Allure that hydrolyzed collagen—like the stuff in this mask—helps refresh your skin cells to produce brand-new collagen. And, unlike many of its peers, this mask is meant to stay on for three to four hours—you’ll know it’s ready to peel off when it becomes translucent. Because of the extended leave-on time, the brand suggests wearing the mask to bed (that’s how our editors like to do it, too) for the best results. However, if you’re a tosser-turner, you may want to stick to daytime wear to avoid getting goo on your pillowcase.
Tester feedback: “After using this mask for a week, my skin feels firmer, looks brighter, and is so hydrated—like my face went on a retreat and came back dewy, healthy, and refreshed,” shared shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis in her review. “As someone who doesn’t drink as much water as I should (don’t tell my doctor), this mask is the hydration my skin has been craving for months.”
Key ingredients: hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, galactomyces | Benefits: elasticity-boosting, pore-blurring | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 4 | Leave-on time: 3 to 4 hours or overnight
Best Lifting: Numbuzin NAD+ BIO Lifting-sil Full Face Mask
Why it’s worth it: Numbuzin’s No.9 NAD Bio Lifting Full Cover Facial Mask is a talented little number that comes in a unique two-piece design— the top section lays across your face while the bottom stretches around your chin and hooks onto your ears to provide a physical lift—in addition to the one you get from all the gooey goodness. The larger portion of the mask is formulated with NAD+, a coenzyme that supports collagen production and soothes antioxidative stress, and the lower chin piece puts polylactic acid to work in each little microfiber of the mask to lift, firm, and improve texture and tone evenness. Once you’ve layered on the two different sections of the mask, secure the whole thing with the included lifting band, which wraps around your face and fastens at the top of your head to keep everything snugly in place for the duration of your sheet soak.
Tester feedback: "Do I look like I've ahem just gotten work done? (A core memory of shopping in Seoul is seeing girls who look like the above photo just casually making the rounds in a Dr. Jart+ store—but I digress!) Sure, but who cares? I love a sheet mask that innovates," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "The ear loops, combined with the band—which you can loosen and tighten at your discretion and comfort level—oh so subtly gives my jawline a boost. It could be a placebo effect, but I do think I see the slightest difference in my before and after selfies. But, if you're looking for more visible results, I'd definitely go straight for a microcurrent device."
Key ingredients: NAD+, peptides | Benefits: lifting, hydrating | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 4 | Leave-on time: at least 20 minutes
Best for Dry Skin: Loops Dream Sleep Nighttime Slugging Face Mask
Why it's worth it: If you're not yet hip to the time-tested skin care practice, slugging is the process of applying a generous layer of petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or Aquaphor) on your face before bed to "[push] the [skin-care] products underneath into the skin and prevent the environment from pulling water out of the skin overnight [leading] to fresh, plump skin in the morning," per New York City board-certified dermatologist Elyse Love, MD. Loops' Dream Sleep Nighttime Slugging Face Mask is the brand's take on slugging, swapping jelly for a serum-like blend of plant oils, bakuchiol, niacinamide, and ceramides, served via sheet mask. The result is your new bedtime wind-down routine…and a hydrated, plumped-up complexion.
Tester feedback: "This mask is truly juicy. It's a perfect before-bed hit of hydration on nights where I can't be bothered to do anything besides wash my face," says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. "Despite the saturation, the mask really doesn't slide about, which I appreciate. This is possible thanks to the textured application side, which works, but it does feel a little prickly on the space between my nose and upper lip."
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, bakuchiol, ceramides | Benefits: hydrating, plumping | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 5 | Leave-on time: 10 minutes
Best Post-Procedure: SkinCeuticals Biocellulose Restorative Masque
Why it's worth it: SkinCeuticals makes formulas that give the prescription stuff a run for its money, and the Biocellulose Restorative Masque is no exception. Each mask in this six-pack is a treat for skin that's just been through it, so to speak. We're talking a post-procedure face that's warm to the touch from the redness alone, fallout from chemical peels and laser treatments, and the like. "It's a great calming mask that helps with redness, recovery, and downtime. It's very gentle, so I recommend it to patients after laser treatments," shares David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
This sheet mask addresses the irritation with cooling, calming, and breathable biocellulose fibers made from fermented coconut water and soothes vulnerable, raw skin as it adheres. Use it after an in-office treatment as intended or as a bi-weekly moisture boost, even if you haven't just visited the derm.
Key ingredients: biocellulose fibers | Benefits: cooling, soothing | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 6 | Leave-on time: 10 to 15 minutes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Mask
Why it's worth it: If you have acne-prone skin, we can hardly blame you if you hesitate before straying from your carefully crafted regimen. But if sheet mask FOMO has been creeping in, the Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Mask is a solid pick—especially if your breakouts tend to be oil-driven. Tea tree oil is a naturally antibacterial sebum-fighter and helps calm red, irritated skin without stripping. Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills, explains that tea tree "helps calm the skin and reduces redness caused by acne pustules." It's kind of like the natural version of benzoyl peroxide, "but with fewer side effects such as dryness, irritation, itching, and peeling," adds Dr. Shamban. "Its potent germ-fighting properties also make tea tree oil a valued natural antiseptic for skin abrasions and cuts."
The mask itself is derived from bamboo, which is widely considered hypoallergenic. Apply it following your cleanser and toner (consider one of Mediheal's fantastic toner pads for this step), make sure it clings tightly around your nose and mouth (likely two of your oiliest areas), and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Mediheal notes that the formula contains less than 5% synthetic fragrance, but don't get it twisted—that means it's low enough to not even be included in the ingredients list. Still, we appreciate the heads-up.
Key ingredients: tea tree, glycerin, allantoin | Benefits: oil-fighting, redness-reducing | Fragrance-free: yes (less than 5%) | Mask count: 1 | Leave-on time: 10 to 15 minutes
Best for Mature Skin: Some by Mi Retinol Intense Daily Mask
Why it’s worth it: Retinol is beloved by our editors with maturing skin who are looking to soften fine lines and amp up elasticity, and Some by Mi’s Retinol Intense Daily Mask is one of our favorite ways to cash in on the superstar ingredient. These silky, serum-drenched sheets deliver a triple-threat blend of retinol, retinal, and bakuchiol—working in tandem to refine texture and soften the appearance of wrinkles. Bonus: Pineapple extract is in the mix to gently boost cell turnover.
Unlike a straight-up retinol serum, this dosage is mild enough for everyday use, so you can incorporate it into your routine without stressing your skin. Plus, the bang-to-buck ratio is unmatched—each box contains 30 masks worth of moisturizing goodness. Once you’ve let the mask lay on your face for 10 to 20 minutes, gently tap any excess product into your skin to get the most out of each sheet session.
Key ingredients: retinol, bakuchiol | Benefits: line-smoothing, texture-evening | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 30 | Leave-on time: 10 to 20 minutes
Best for Dullness: Cosrx Snail Mucin Sheet Mask
Why it's worth it: Since stateside skin care caught wind of snail mucin's benefits, the K-beauty staple hasn't left the spotlight—and Cosrx's Snail Mucin Sheet Mask is a perfect way to see what all the fuss is about. This snail mucin-rich, cellulose-derived mask clings to your face for dear life, delivering a bounty of hydrating and nourishing goodness, boosting brightness and bounce, and promoting a more even skin tone (this stuff helps with discoloration from bygone breakouts, too).
Don't be put off by preconceptions if you've yet to tango with the ingredient for fear of sliminess. Snail mucin is "a complex mix of peptides, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and metal ions (such as zinc, copper, iron, and manganese)," sums up Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Translation: It's a powerhouse ingredient that does a bit of everything. Let the mask sit for 10 to 20 minutes to let all that essence soak in and prepare yourself to bask in your new glow.
Key ingredients: snail mucin, allantoin, tea tree extract | Benefits: brightening, tone-evening | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 10 | Leave-on time: 10 to 20 minutes
Best Pre-Event: SK-II Pitera Facial Treatment Mask
Why it's worth it: Picture this: The gala is mere hours away, and your face has, for some reason, decided to be the driest, dullest it's been in months. Okay, even if the gala is actually just a second date at a wine bar, last-minute skin panics call for SK-II's Pitera Facial Treatment Mask. These splurgey sheet masks are teeming with the brand's proprietary Pitera complex, a rejuvenating fermentation-derived blend of 50 micro-nutrients featuring antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. This cocktail tackles skin-barrier damage and its resulting tired-looking skin and helps maximize moisture retention, starting with the moisture from the mask itself. The aftermath of this mask serves as a terrific canvas for the rest of your skin-care regimen and eventual makeup application, helping your products go on smoother and your face look brighter beneath it all. If the price tag is giving you pause, we get it. There are much cheaper options on the market, but this is the mask to spring for if you're after a special occasion purchase.
Tester feedback: "Whether I'm on a plane and want to hit the ground running—and, well, not look like a decaying zombie doing so—or have a special occasion like my birthday party, I save SK-II masks to revitalize my face, stat," says Han. "This rather thick boi is truly drenched in essence, and my skin looks like a water balloon exploded all over it afterward. The only downside is, yes, the price. If you're looking for a non-single-use option, I'm such a fan of the standalone facial essence, too, and so is our editor in chief!"
Key ingredients: Pitera complex | Benefits: brightening, barrier-repairing | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 10 | Leave-on time: 10 to 15 minutes
Best Eye and Cheek Mask: Superegg Calm Movements Eye & Cheek Mask
Why it’s worth it: Yes, we love an all-over sheet mask moment—but on days you’re craving a more targeted approach to TLC, Superegg’s Calm Movements Eye & Cheek Mask is your girl. This dual-zone mask delivers firming, elasticity-boosting care to the eye and cheek areas via a calming blend of cica, vitamin B5, and the brand’s proprietary White Duplex complex, which mimics the powerful nutrients in egg whites via 21 high-grade vegan ingredients. Then, another proprietary growth factor complex powered by neuropeptides (those tiny amino acid-based chemical messengers) steps in to support your skin barrier and promote bounciness. But our favorite part? The mask’s cutlet-shaped design allows for more breathing room around the eyes than your average sheet mask—so you get all the moisture and none of the stinging.
Key ingredients: tremella mushroom, hyaluronic acid, cica, vitamin B5, growth factor complex | Benefits: brightening, firming, hydrating | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 5 | Leave-on time: 15 to 30 minutes
Best Reusable: Skin Gym Reusable Face Mask
Why it's worth it: If you're looking to mix it up even more, may we suggest a reusable one? Pretty in pink, Skin Gym's Reusable Face Mask is an excellent place to start. Made of 100% silicone, this mask is built to supplement the skin care already on your face. While it isn't infused with serums, toners, or essences like the others on this list, the purpose of a reusable mask is to lock in all your products after you've applied them by creating an absorption-locking, occlusive barrier. As you begin your regimen, dampen the application side of the mask and set it aside for five seconds, getting nice and sticky, and then, once your timer goes off, lay the sheet atop your face and keep it on for 10 to 20 minutes (or overnight). After you remove the mask and massage any product residue into your skin, wash it with warm water and let it dry before your next use (you can get around 1000 uses out of this thing).
Key ingredients: silicone | Benefits: product absorption boosting, reusable | Fragrance-free: yes | Mask count: 1 | Leave-on time: 10 to 20 minutes or overnight
Best for Gifting: Tonymoly Ready, Set, Glow! I'm Sheet Mask Pack
Why it's worth it: The only thing better than one really good sheet mask is 10 really good sheet masks—especially when there's variety involved. Enter: Tonymoly's I'm Real Sheet Mask Bundle, complete with 10 unique, three-layer, essence-soaked masks tackling a generous range of skin concerns. Pores getting you down? Unwrap the I'm Charcoal or I'm Red Wine mask. Feeling dull? Tear open the I'm Lotus mask. Got dry, flaky skin? I'm Aloe Vera should do the trick. This cohort makes for a super sweet gift (easter basket toppers, anyone?), or, as a does-it-all activity for a DIY spa night with the besties. Before you bust them out, pop them in the fridge for a cryo-ish depuffing effect.
Key ingredients: aloe vera, green tea, charcoal, lavender, lotus flower, etc. | Benefits: varying | Fragrance-free: no | Mask count: 10 | Leave-on time: 20 to 30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a sheet mask?
Sheet masks can simultaneously be a special little treat and a staple of your skin-care routine. "Think of sheet masks as your skin's 20-minute staycation," says Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD. "These serum-soaked sheets (usually made of cotton, hydrogel, or bio-cellulose) create a barrier that locks in moisture and helps active ingredients penetrate more effectively." The benefits of a sheet mask depend on the individual product's formula, but you'll recognize familiar skin-care ingredients and benefits across the board. Dr. Gohara points out popular perks like hydration-boosting (hyaluronic acid or glycerin), brightening (vitamin C and niacinamide), calming (aloe vera, cica, green tea), and beyond. Plus, the act of putting a mask on in and of itself feels like peak self-care. "I recommend using sheet masks when your skin feels extra dry and dehydrated for that extra oomph," says Dr. Kim. "You can use them while watching TV, reading, or working, etc., and it's a good way to keep your skin supple and hydrated."
Do sheet masks actually work?
According to Dr. Gohara: "Yes—but think 'short story,' not 'novel.'" Even though they're effective at delivering the ingredients you want via an occlusive barrier that helps with absorption, they're not the be-all-end-all of skin care. "Clinical studies support their use for hydrating, soothing, and temporarily improving skin texture and radiance. However, they're not magic. A sheet mask won't replace consistent skin care, a balanced diet, or sun protection—but it can be a powerful supporting character in your routine," says Dr. Gohara. In other words, they're great, relaxing, fun supplements to a well-rounded routine and lifestyle.
Meet the experts
- Nina Desai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan Beach, California
- Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best sheet masks, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
A mask for every occasion, as we say:
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