The Best Face Masks, According to Glamour Editors

This mask is not for the faint of heart. The tingling sensation you feel on its first application never goes away no matter how many times you use it, which used to scare me, but I love it now. This is also the only facial I use, and I follow the instructions to a T. When I’ve hit the 20-minute mark, I’m immediately rinsing it off. There’s a noticeable difference in the look and feel of my skin when I use this; the smooth texture and glow lasts for days. It really is a facial in a bottle. —Khaliha Hawkins, producer 

My skin has taken a hit this winter and is looking dull and dry thanks chilly winds and an overactive radiator. Enter the PHAT Glow Facial, which is named for the PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) that it contains, which are a gentler version of AHAs. The gentle acids are perfect for my sensitive skin, and combined with the nourishing birch sap, it leaves my skin baby soft, glowing, and redness-free. It has a fun gummy texture that feels like a hug on my skin, and since there's no irritation, it's perfect to use before a night out. —Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate 

Glamglow's Thirstymud is the only mask I use that tingles in a really good way. I can immediately feel its refreshing effects on my skin after I put it on. It brightens up my face like nothing else. I tend to use this mask before going out on Friday nights since my skin is tired and dull from a long week. —L.S.

To me, this is the ultimate weekday mask: You need to do it for only 10 to 15 minutes, and you feel it working, i.e., tightening your skin a bit as it dries, almost instantly. I like its consistency too because it's closer to Play-Doh than cream, which, though weird at first, made application a lot easier since it spread pretty evenly from the get-go. Once I wash it off, my skin is bright, even, and super refreshed. —B.C.

Like all Kypris products, this mask is a whole sensory experience, from the look and the scent to the feel and the effects. It’s one of the most hydrating masks I’ve ever used. It’s definitely not cheap, but leave it on overnight as a sleeping mask and you will wake up looking like a million bucks. —Shamara Bondaroff, celebrity facialist

I love using this guy first thing in the shower as a scrub and leaving it on while I shampoo and condition my hair. Once it’s done its thing, I rinse it off, and my skin is so much softer and smoother. It smells like a pumpkin spice latte, which is also a huge plus. —Chriselle Lim, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle blogger

Putting this mask on is a dream because the cream is always cool, even if you don’t leave it in the fridge. Because of the thick formula, a little goes a long way, it never hardens, which makes the rinsing process just as soothing as the mask time. When you wash it off, you’re left with soft and glowy skin. —K.H.

I’ve considered the SK-II masks to be the gold standard of how masks should be done. This version isn’t a sheet mask, but a gel you apply overnight and wash off in the morning. It has the same key ingredient: a by-product of fermented sake, which has been proved to improve your skin’s texture and clarity. —Macrene Alexiades, M.D., dermatologist

When you hit 40, dry skin is a serious thing. The drop in hyaluronic acid and estrogen levels can be a one-way ticket to Dehydrationville. That’s why I’m constantly looking for quick, easy, and effective ways to hydrate—from cleanser to creams and everything in between. I can affirmatively say that this sheet mask lives up to its name. My trick is to use it on top of a barrier-repair cream once a week to really quench and lock in lasting hydration. —Mona Gohara, M.D., dermatologist

I'm hesitant to call any product a miracle, but this mask is truly a blessing in a jar. Its cooling gel texture soothes irritation and redness, and just 10 minutes reduces any active breakouts I have going on, even painful cystic pimples. Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and manuka honey work to kill bacteria and exfoliate, which helps heal current pimples and stop future ones from forming. I find most acne masks way too drying, but this one actually leaves my skin feeling plump and bouncy. A word of warning, it does smell a little funky, but it works so well I don't care one bit. —B.C.

I never expected a face mask to blow my mind, but this one does. Its soft gel-like texture is cooling the instant it hits your skin, and the fragrance from the chamomile is so soothing that I could literally feel my anxiety drop—just from how it smells when you apply it. It doesn't tingle or start to feel tight as it dries, and every time I use it, redness is reduced, my skin tone is even, and I'm left glowing. —Azadeh Valanejad, contributor 

In the past year or so, I've developed some cystic acne around my chin. It can be extremely frustrating to treat, mainly because it rarely ever comes to the surface. GlamGlow’s SuperMud Mask combines the benefits of a charcoal mask and a light exfoliating treatment all in one. My acne has subsided dramatically after adding this mask to my skin care routine a few times a week. I’m hooked! —T.G.

This is like the skin-care equivalent of a big glass of water on a hot summer day. The second the lightweight cream touches your skin, it transforms into a refreshing liquid serum that's cool to the touch. On nights when my face looks tired and my skin feels taut, I use this overnight mask in place of my favorite moisturizer and let its cocktail of skin-repairing ingredients—niacinamide, plant squalane, cermamides, and vitamin F—go to work while I sleep. I wake up to noticeably softer, more supple skin. Obsessed. —L.S.

Whenever the seasons change, my skin freaks the eff out—we're talking redness, itchiness, and rashy bumps on top of my usual breakouts. This mask is the only thing I can count on, every single time, to bring it back to normalcy. It looks just like a normal moisturizer, but after washing it off, all redness, texture, and discomfort is gone. While it has a creamy texture and leaves my skin super hydrated, it doesn't clog my pores or make my breakouts worse. Instead, it actually helps soothe red pimples too. I'm never without it. —B.C.

I have combination skin that isn’t acne-prone or sensitive anymore, but I still treat it as if it is. As soon as I put this mask on, my skin started tingling, and I was so tempted to run into the bathroom and wash it off, but I stayed strong. I’m glad I did. I woke up the next day and was in love with my skin. Seriously, cue angels singing and a really dramatic chef’s kiss. I have scars and texture on my skin due to my cystic acne, and they were less prominent the next morning. I saw the biggest difference when I put my makeup on: Everything just looked smoother. —K.H.

If there were a factory-reset button for your skin, this exfoliating mask would be it. It's got a powerful but gentle blend of fruit enzymes to get rid of dead skin and blue tansy oil to reduce redness during the process. A fair warning: The smell is potent—like sulfur and citrus, not bad, but strong. I use it whenever my skin starts to look dull, and this wakes it right back up. —L.S.

This overnight mask is intensely moisturizing, and after going to sleep with some redness on my cheeks and zits lurking on my chin, I woke up to a glow. A glow! That never happens. Chalk it up to the formula’s soothing qualities. —Shanna Shipin, commerce editor 

I have pretty sensitive skin, so I shy away from peel-off masks, which, more often than not, leave my face looking blotchy and irritated. But despite my initial hesitation, I loved this mask. First off: It's a gorgeous metallic-y purple (thanks to the mask's acai extract). I felt straight-up regal putting it on. What's more, it peels off so easily and clears out your pores so well that it's like an at-home facial. Final verdict: This is one peel-off mask that's worth the splurge. —Jennifer Lance, contributor

I’m truly obsessed with this face mask from Aveeno. It feels just like those blackhead-removing pore strips—only less painful and for your entire face. It’s so satisfying to slowly peel off, and my skin feels baby soft after using it. It’s not an everyday item for me, since my skin is on the drier side, but it's the perfect mask for weekend binge-watching. —S.S.

Can I let you in on a secret? I don't love sheet masks. They're sticky and messy, and I get better results from traditional cream masks. Except for this one. These sheet masks are like a glass of water for my skin, and instantly bring it back to life when it's feeling super blah. If I use one before bed, I glow the next morning. And I'm not mad at the affordable price point either. —B.C.

My skin feels insanely soft after I use this mask. It takes about 20 minutes to dry but doesn't pinch your skin or leave gross flakes everywhere. With other clay masks, my skin will go back to being an oil slick after a few hours, but I'm noticeably shine-free for the rest of the evening—and the morning after—when I use this one. Normally, by the time I get to the office every morning, the foundation and concealer I put on at home has rubbed off and I’m super shiny (not cute), but this mask brings my oiliness way, way down. —Halie LeSavage, weekend writer

I love fancy sheet masks but I can rarely justify the cost, so anytime I get a gift card, they're the first thing I grab. Nine times out of 10, it's Estée Lauder's PowerFoil Mask, which delivers double the hydrating power of the brand's best-selling Night Repair Serum. The difference in my skin is instant. —L.S.

If I'm being totally honest, sometimes my fridge contains more face masks than it does food. I take my skin's hydration seriously, so this Neutrogena Radiance Boost mask has been on my radar for a while. Fitwise, this mask has flaps that allow you to completely cover your eyes and mouth. I know that this sounds (and looks) very creepy, but it truly is very relaxing. I'd definitely recommend adding this mask to your #selfcaresunday arsenal—just give your roommate a heads-up first. —Sarah Morse, contributor 

At $75 a pack, these sheet masks are most certainly a luxury, but they're absolutely worth every cent. Honestly, they're the next best thing to an appointment with the renowned celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas herself. The serum contains a plumping mix of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and peptides to smooth lines and boost cellular turnover. My skin drinks it up. —L.S.

As soon as winter hits, my skin instantly goes from calm and hydrated to red, blotchy, and insanely dry. I've resorted to putting the richest products I can find on my face before bed, and this is one of them. It's a creamy, thick formula that's not obnoxiously greasy, and thanks to avocado (hydrating), honey (soothing), and polyhydroxy acid (exfoliating), my skin is crazy-soft by morning. —Jillian Ruffo, contributor

When I'm looking for a light, refreshing gel-based mask (especially on warm nights), I gravitate toward Laneige. The Lavender Water Sleeping Mask delivers a cooling effect on my skin, and calms any irritation I may be dealing with. I'm a sucker for lavender, but if it’s not your cup of tea, it also comes in an unscented version. —T.G.

I discovered this mask after a trip to Tokyo. It was amazing but the crazy humidity and 13-hour return flight left my skin super confused: It was both very congested and dry and flaky. This mask was just the ticket. The four acids, including lactic and salicylic, busted through dead skin cells and clogged pores, leaving me with brighter, softer and clearer skin after one use. The mask has a cooling jelly texture that, as the name states, is really refreshing and energizing, and has aloe to moisturize and soothe skin. The directions say to leave it on until it dries, but I found five minutes to be enough. I promise, the glow and clarity is worth it. —B.C.

I discovered Yes To six years ago when I moved to New York City and had to take care of my skin on a budget. Even after multiple raises, I haven't looked back. Great news: The brand's only gotten better, as evidenced by how soothed and refreshed my typically angry red cheeks feel after using this. —L.S.