What types of face masks are best for sensitive skin?

The best face masks for sensitive skin are soothing, cooling, and calming, which is why it's crucial to look for anti-inflammatory ingredients. In addition to minimizing irritation, many formulas provide other benefits like hydration. "If you are able to balance your hydration and redness with sensitive skin, most of your unwanted side effects subside," says LaPaglia. Some face masks also offer gentle exfoliation. However, Murray tells Byrdie that "papaya enzymes or polishes with rice powder are a better option" for those sensitive to AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids).

What ingredients should you avoid in face masks if you have sensitive skin?

"While many people are OK using products with synthetic/natural fragrances and essential oils, they can be sensitizing," explains Murray. Additionally, she recommends steering clear of formulas with simple alcohols. "I also would avoid using harsh scrubs that contain large exfoliating granules," she adds.

Do face masks for sensitive skin expire?

Like all skincare products, face masks for sensitive skin will eventually expire. Most last roughly 12 to 24 months after the manufacturing date, though it depends on the formula, container, and what preservatives are used. Look for the PAO (period-after-opening) symbol on the back of the container. The number in the symbol tells you how long it'll last after you open it.

The 14 Best Face Masks for Sensitive Skin of 2022

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If you're the type of person who likes the idea of getting a facial but is afraid of what a mystery formula might do to your delicate complexion, you're in the right place. Today's over-the-counter face masks offer an effective, at-home solution for spa-like skin care treatments, and many are specifically formulated with sensitive skin in mind.

"Look out for anything oat-related, [as well as] aloe, hyaluronic acid, chamomile, and calendula," says licensed skincare expert Lauren LaPaglia, explaining that these ingredients are both hydrating and soothing.

Licensed esthetician Dana Murray of Babe + Beauty recommends steering clear of formulas with alcohol and added fragrance, whether it's synthetic or from a natural source, like essential oils. In addition to the ingredients LaPaglia mentioned, Murray is a fan of green tea, cucumber extract, allantoin, arnica, niacinamide, squalane, and cica (centella asiatica) for those battling dryness, breakouts, eczema, rosacea, or general inflammation.

Scroll down for the best face masks for sensitive skin.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask at Amazon

Best Budget:

Aveeno Soothe Oat Face Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract at Amazon

Best Drugstore:

Yes to Cucumbers Cooling Jelly Face Mask for Sensitive Skin at Amazon

Best Splurge:

Eve Lom Rescue Mask at Nordstrom

Best Hydrating:

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask at Amazon

Best Cooling:

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask at Amazon

Best Restorative:

Klur Supreme Seed Delicate Purification Mask at Klur.co

Best Reparative:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask at Amazon

Best Conditioning:

Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask at Glossier.com

Best Exfoliating:

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask at Sephora

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust Byrdie?

View On Amazon View On Skinstore.com

What We Like

Leave-on formula
Clinically-tested
Gentle

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Contains fragrance

Murray recommends the Phyto Corrective Masque from the cult-loved brand SkinCeuticals. Flaunting a blend of skin-soothing ingredients, the formula contains all-stars like calming dipeptides, anti-inflammatory botanicals, cooling cucumber extract, and ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid.

The versatile gel can be rinsed off or left on overnight, and you won't have to worry about it stinging or irritating your skin. While it's formulated for sensitive complexions, this brilliant face mask can benefit all skin types.

Aveeno Soothe Oat Face Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract

Courtesy of Walmart

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Non-comedogenic

What We Don't Like

Contains fragrance

Murray is a fan of Aveeno for sensitive complexions. Formulated for dry, reactive skin types, the brand's Oat Face Mask contains nourishing pumpkin-seed extract, redness-reducing feverfew, and soothing prebiotic oat.

Yes to Cucumbers Cooling Jelly Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Courtesy of Walmart

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Natural formula

What We Don't Like

Contains fragrance

This drugstore gem contains soothing, calming ingredients like cucumber and aloe vera, plus redness-reducing and mildly exfoliating willow bark extract. The Cooling Jelly Mask also hydrates the skin with standbys like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore

What We Like

Award-winning formula
Great for after-sun care

What We Don't Like

Expensive

If you can swing the steep price, you might consider investing in Eve Lom's Rescue Mask. This award-winning clay mask is infused with itchiness-relieving and naturally cooling camphor, plus healing honey and finely ground sweet almond seeds for mild exfoliation.

4.7

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Net-a-Porter

What We Like

Fragrance-free
Lightweight
Eco-friendly packaging

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Reviewed: We Tried the Newly Re-Formulated Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

If its hydration you're after, your best bet is Summer Fridays' Jet Lag Mask. The beloved formula calls on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, and ceramides to deliver much-needed moisture, plus niacinamide and vitamin C for a radiance boost.

What Our Testers Say

“The Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask brings the spa into your home with a moisturizing formula that can be used as a regular mask, an under-eye treatment, or even a primer.” — Melony Forcier, Product Tester

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Gentle
Lightweight
Great for after-sun care

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Contains dyes

When your inflamed skin craves a cooling sensation, reach for this gel mask. With soothing cucumber, calming chamomile, redness-reducing aloe, healing allantoin, and softening papaya extract, it pulls out all the stops for sensitive complexions.

KLUR Supreme Seed Delicate Purification Mask

Courtesy of Klur

View On Klur.co

What We Like

Made with organic ingredients
Fragrance-free
Can be used weekly

What We Don't Like

Expensive

KLUR's New "Purification" Clay Mask Will Make You Rethink How You've Been Masking

It's nice to have a tub of Supreme Seed on hand for when your dermis could use a bit of TLC. Made with fragile skin in mind, this purifying face mask soothes, nourishes, and restores balance to the skin barrier.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Walmart

What We Like

Non-comedogenic
Hygienic container

What We Don't Like

Contains alcohol

If you're facing winter dryness, eczema, painful sunburn, or wind-chapped skin, you can count on First Aid Beauty to help it heal. This oatmeal-infused mask simultaneously moisturizes, soothes, nourishes, mends, and protects the skin barrier.

Courtesy of Glossier

View On Glossier.com

What We Like

Fragrance-free
Absorbs quickly
Great for beginners

What We Don't Like

Contains alcohol

Glossier's creamy, dreamy Moon Mask conditions the skin with replenishing squalane and hyaluronic acid. What's more, the fragrance-free formula contains earth-sourced moisturizers, plus healing honey and soothing aloe. The result? A calmer, healthier-looking complexion.

Courtesy of Glow Recipe

View On Sephora View On Glowrecipe.com

What We Like

Natural formula
Leave-on formula

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask Is a Treat for Skin

This Byrdie favorite from Glow Recipe provides ever-so-gentle exfoliation with naturally sourced lactic acid and glycolic acid. Thanks to soothing ingredients like watermelon and pumpkin extract, it fosters a glowy complexion without irritating sensitive skin.

What Our Testers Say

"This stuff works! Whether overnight or just for 10 minutes, it 100% plumps and brightens the skin." — Emily Algar, Product Tester

Topicals Like Butter Mask Hydrating Mask

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora View On Mytopicals.com

What We Like

Buttery consistency
Hygienic container

What We Don't Like

Small amount

Eczema can be a real drag. Since the cause isn't always apparent, it's good to have something in your arsenal to address flare-ups. This small but mighty little tube soothes irritation, minimizes redness, nourishes stressed skin, and replenishes the moisture barrier.

Pholk Beauty GlowUp Mask with Apple + Hibiscus

Courtesy of Pholk Beauty

View On Pholkbeauty.com

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Smells good

What We Don't Like

Requires mixing

When it comes to treating hyperpigmentation, Pholk's GlowUp Mask is just as good as a spa facial. Containing malic acid and oat flour, it gradually clears dark spots and soothes inflamed skin.

CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

Courtesy of Walmart

View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Walmart

What We Like

Leave-on formula
Hygienic container

What We Don't Like

Thin consistency

If you want something that works while you get your beauty sleep, your best bet is the Overnight Spa Mask from CosRx. Boasting a blend of rice extract, niacinamide, and allantoin, the fragrance-free formula calms, hydrates, and boosts radiance all at once.

Inna Organic Rose Geranium Soothing Facial Mask

Courtesy of Inna Organic

View On Amazon View On Innaorganic.co

What We Like

Made with organic ingredients
Great for after-sun care
Easy to use

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Partial to sheet masks? Inna Organic's Rose Geranium Mask has your name on it. Each absorbent cotton sheet is soaked with anti-inflammatory ingredients sensitive complexions crave, like chamomile, aloe, and betula pendula sap.

Final Verdict

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque (view at Amazon) is by far the best face mask for sensitive skin. The professional-grade formula calls on anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe, calm, moisturize, and heal stressed complexions. If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, go with Aveeno's Oat Face Mask (view at Amazon). And if you're in the market for a formula that hydrates without irritation, your best bet is the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask.

What to Look for in a Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Ingredients

When it comes to skincare for sensitive skin, the most important thing to consider is the ingredients list. According to Murray, people with reactive or inflamed complexions should look for products containing colloidal oatmeal, calendula oil, centella asiatica, niacinamide, aloe vera, squalane, arnica, green tea leaf, cucumber extract, chamomile, allantoin, bisabolol, and marshmallow root.

Application

When shopping around for face masks, you'll want to consider the application. Some formulas are meant to be rinsed off after a few minutes, while others can be left on for hours (or even overnight). Then there are sheet masks, which you place on your face for up to 30 minutes, then rinse off.

Container

Another thing to think about is the container. Many face masks come in small glass jars or plastic tubs. Each time you dip your fingers in, the product is exposed to bacteria, which is a concern for sensitive skin. If you struggle with eczema or have experienced bacterial skin infections in the past, you may want to look for a face mask with a more hygienic container, like a tube or a pump bottle.

FAQ

What types of face masks are best for sensitive skin?

The best face masks for sensitive skin are soothing, cooling, and calming, which is why it's crucial to look for anti-inflammatory ingredients. In addition to minimizing irritation, many formulas provide other benefits like hydration. "If you are able to balance your hydration and redness with sensitive skin, most of your unwanted side effects subside," says LaPaglia.
Some face masks also offer gentle exfoliation. However, Murray tells Byrdie that "papaya enzymes or polishes with rice powder are a better option" for those sensitive to AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids).
What ingredients should you avoid in face masks if you have sensitive skin?

"While many people are OK using products with synthetic/natural fragrances and essential oils, they can be sensitizing," explains Murray. Additionally, she recommends steering clear of formulas with simple alcohols. "I also would avoid using harsh scrubs that contain large exfoliating granules," she adds.
Do face masks for sensitive skin expire?

Like all skincare products, face masks for sensitive skin will eventually expire. Most last roughly 12 to 24 months after the manufacturing date, though it depends on the formula, container, and what preservatives are used. Look for the PAO (period-after-opening) symbol on the back of the container. The number in the symbol tells you how long it'll last after you open it.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in commerce, self-care, and beauty. For this story, she interviewed two licensed estheticians and researched various formulations, ingredients, and packaging types for face masks. She looked at dozens of products from a myriad of brands and combed through user reviews before landing on her final selections. As someone with a daily skincare routine nearing ten steps, she has tried a handful of products on this list, including Glossier, First Aid Beauty, Glow Recipe, and CosRx. Theresa has been writing for Byrdie since 2020, where she covers skincare, haircare, and makeup.

Meet the Expert

Dana Murray is a licensed esthetician, product developer, and beauty blogger. She is the creator of Babe + Beauty, a lifestyle site focusing on wellness and skincare.
Lauren LaPaglia (aka "Estie Bestie") is a licensed skincare expert and esthetician. She specializes in vegan and cruelty-free products and offers virtual skincare consultations.

Here Are the Best Face Moisturizers to Use for Sensitive Skin

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

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Savić VLj, Nikolić VD, Arsić IA, et al. Comparative study of the biological activity of allantoin and aqueous extract of the comfrey root: biological activity of comfrey root extract and allantoin. Phytother Res. 2015;29(8):1117-1122. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5356
da Silva Prade J, Bálsamo EC, Machado FR, et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of Arnica montana in a UVB radiation-induced skin-burn model in mice. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2020;39(2):126-133. doi: 10.1080/15569527.2020.1743998
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Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask

Best Budget: Aveeno Soothe Oat Face Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract

Best Drugstore: Yes to Cucumbers Cooling Jelly Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Best Splurge: Eve Lom Rescue Mask

Best Hydrating: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

Best Cooling: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask

Best Restorative: Klur Supreme Seed Delicate Purification Mask

Best Reparative: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

Best Conditioning: Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask

Best Exfoliating: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Topicals Like Butter Mask Hydrating Mask

Best for Hyperpigmentation: Pholk Beauty GlowUp Mask with Apple + Hibiscus

Best Overnight: CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

Best Sheet Mask: Inna Organic Organic Rose Geranium Soothing Facial Mask

Related Stories

Estheticians Weigh in: The 14 Best Face Masks for Sensitive Skin

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask

Best Budget: Aveeno Soothe Oat Face Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract

Best Drugstore: Yes to Cucumbers Cooling Jelly Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Best Splurge: Eve Lom Rescue Mask

Best Hydrating: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

Best Cooling: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask

Best Restorative: Klur Supreme Seed Delicate Purification Mask

Best Reparative: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

Best Conditioning: Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask

Best Exfoliating: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Topicals Like Butter Mask Hydrating Mask

Best for Hyperpigmentation: Pholk Beauty GlowUp Mask with Apple + Hibiscus

Best Overnight: CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

Best Sheet Mask: Inna Organic Organic Rose Geranium Soothing Facial Mask

Final Verdict

What to Look for in a Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Ingredients

Application

Container

Why Trust Byrdie?

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