How do face masks work?

“Masks are concentrated treatments that deliver a megadose of the product’s ingredients, regardless of what benefits you’re looking for,” says Dr. Yadav. Because they’re so potent, they can deliver results in a shorter amount of time, which is why many are often meant to be used a few times per week.

How often should you do a facial mask?

Follow the instructions on the particular mask you’re using. Gentler, more hydrating formulas typically can be used more frequently than stronger, more exfoliating ones, but, as a general rule of thumb, once a week is usually a safe bet.

How do you use a facial mask?

You can use it at night, after you’ve washed your face but before doing any other skincare steps, says Dr. Yadav. “With sheet masks that leave residual serum on your face, you can use this step in lieu of or in addition to your regular serum step before following with a moisturizer,” she adds.

The 11 Best Facial Masks for Brides

There are certain staples in a skincare routine—think cleanser, sunscreen. And then there are the fun add-ons—things that aren’t necessarily a bare necessity, but that do have many benefits and can be a totally worthwhile addition. Face masks most definitely fall into that category. Think of them as an easy (and fast) way to get a hefty dose of good-for-your skin ingredients, no matter what kind of benefits or results you’re after. To that point, there are masks out there for any and every complexion concern, no matter whether you need some extra moisture, brightening, calming, purifying…you name it. Not to mention that they’re just enjoyable to use. “They're also a great way to decompress. Taking a 15-minute break to do a mask is a nice way to de-stress from wedding planning,” says Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist in Toronto.

The best way to pick one is to go based on your particular skin types and needs, though, as a general rule of thumb, those that offer intense nourishment and hydration tend to be a great pick for brides, notes Dr. Yadav. Working one into your routine is super simple, too. She recommends using one at night, after cleansing, but before performing any other steps in your skincare routine. Yep, it’s as simple as that.

Sold on incorporating a mask into your wedding skincare prep plan? Here, the best facial masks for brides.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask

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Best Drugstore:

Burt’s Bees Hydrating Sheet Mask at Beallsflorida.com

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Best Exfoliating:

Renée Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel at Reneerouleau.com

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Best for Dry Skin:

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream-Infused Mask at Drjart.com

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask at Amazon

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Best for Oily Skin:

Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask at Amazon

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Best for On-the-Go:

TULA Detoxifying & Toning Face Mask Stick at Nordstrom

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Best Brightening:

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Biocellulose Brightening Treatment Mask at Nordstrom

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Best for Pre-Makeup:

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Mask at Dermstore

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Best Overnight Mask:

Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Mask at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ

Sephora

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Drunkelephant.com

This mask is a cult-classic, a title that’s well-deserved, according to Dr. Yadav. “It's one of the more potent masks out there, using a blend of alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids to help resurface skin and clarify pores,” she says. It also brightens skin with chickpea flour, which—fun fact alert—is an ingredient a lot of Indian brides use in facial treatments before their wedding. Also nice: It works after just one use to leave skin looking glowier, and comes with a bottle of the brand’s marula oil, meant to be used afterward for extra hydration.

Price at time of publish: $80

Target

View On Beallsflorida.com View On Burtsbees.com View On CVS

Pick up one (or a few) of these awesome sheet masks during your next drugstore run. This hydrating variant is great for quenching parched skin, although there are also refreshing, calming, and brightening variants available. At this price point, you can easily afford to check out a few/all of them. You really can’t go wrong, as they all work in just five minutes, and are made of a bio-cellulose material that adheres nicely to the contours of your face without slipping or sliding.

Price at time of publish: $3.59

RenÃ©e Rouleau

View On Reneerouleau.com

This may be called a peel, but it’s essentially a wash-off mask. Loaded with six different alpha-hydroxy acids, it’s an amazing (yet still gentle) exfoliating option that targets everything from dullness to uneven texture to prominent pores to breakouts. It’s also loaded with antioxidant-rich berries, which give it both its raspberry jam-like appearance and deliciously yummy scent.

Price at time of publish: $88.50

Sephora

View On Drjart.com View On Kohls.com View On Sephora

“This mask is loaded with ceramides to help restore the skin's moisture barrier, leaving your complexion balanced, nourished, and glowing,” says Dr. Yadav of another one of her picks. She also lauds it for how well it sticks to the face, a boon given that many other sheet masks tend to slide around. Plus, there’s plenty of serum left in the pouch after using it, which is great to apply to other spots like your neck, chest, and hands, she adds.

Price at time of publish: $15

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Firstaidbeauty.com

If your skin is easily stressed out or irritated, it can make sense that you may not want to add more products into your routine, but this product is one that’s worth incorporating. It’s both extremely moisturizing (a win since dry skin and sensitive skin go hand-in-hand) as well as extremely soothing, thanks to the use of ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal and oat bran. It’s also dermatologist-tested as well as free of fragrance, dyes, parabens, formaldehydes, and other potentially-irritating ingredients.

Price at time of publish: $24

Sephora

View On Amazon View On Kohls.com View On QVC

Dealing with perpetually slick skin? Dr. Yadav recommends this option. “It’s made with clay and volcanic ash, and features a lightly gritty texture that helps slough off dead skin while drawing oil and impurities out of pores. It's great for mattifying the skin,” she says. And, per the self-care part of things, it also has a very pleasant warming sensation that makes it a delight to use.

Price at time of publish: $70

Tula Claydate Detoxifying & Toning Face Mask Stick

Sephora

View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore View On QVC

Masking doesn’t have to be complicated. Swipe on this super smart, mess-free stick anytime, anywhere—on either dry or damp skin—and let it sit for eight to ten minutes before rinsing with warm water. Dr. Yadav likes both how easy it is to use, as well as the fact that it’s packed with clay, apple cider, and purifying witch hazel, a great pick for oily or combination skin.

Price at time of publish: $36

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Biocellulose Brightening Treatment Mask

Dermstore

View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore View On Sephora

If a dull or uneven skin tone is your main gripe, reach for this mask. Brightening vitamin C and exfoliating lactic acid are intentionally combined to work synergistically together, effectively increasing radiance, decreasing redness, and overall making lackluster skin look healthier, more radiant, and generally fresh and youthful. (Who wouldn’t want that?) We also appreciate that the mask itself is made from a biodegradable material, so there’s no need to worry about it having a negative impact on the environment.

Price at time of publish: $46 for 4

SkinCeuticals

View On Dermstore View On Skinceuticals.com View On Skinstore.com

In general, yes, a mask is great to use at night. However, it can also be good to use pre-makeup (especially before a big event), to get skin in tip-top shape and create the perfect canvas. Dr. Yadav says she loves this one for that very purpose: “It delivers deep hydration to skin while helping to repair its function, leaving it looking plump, fresh, and more luminous, making this a great pre-makeup step on your wedding day. (That’s all thanks to vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, and an advanced moisture complex in the gel formula.)

Price at time of publish: $66

Youth To The People

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Kohls.com

Theoretically, masks are something to work into your routine weekly or a few times per week. But this is a great pick if you want to make it a more regular occurrence, as it’s more of a night-cream/mask hybrid. It delivers the hydration you want from a night cream (credit squalane and plumping hyaluronic acid in the formula), but also offers some more potent benefits of a mask. Namely, brightening from vitamin C. The slightly fruity scent is just an added bonus.

Price at time of publish: $52

Lancer

View On Lancerskincare.com

Yes, this mask is very expensive, but if you’re looking to splurge, it’s well-worth every penny. Aside from the fact that it was created by a top dermatologist to the stars (Dr. Harold Lancer works with celebs like the Kardashians), it’s also a very effective, youth-boosting formula. Ingredients including saffron, Indian sandalwood, and red algae do everything from combat discoloration to fight inflammation to deeply moisturize. The peel-off format is fun and easy to use, and you do get a three month’s supply for this price; it’s meant to be used two to three times per week.

Price at time of publish: $350

Meet the Expert

Dr. Geeta Yadav is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto, Canada.

What to Look For in a Facial Mask

Your Skin Type

Given that there are so many different types of masks out there, the first thing you want to do is consider your skin type so that you can choose accordingly. Have dry skin? Look for something with hydrating ingredients such as ceramides or hyaluronic acid. (The winning Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream-Infused Mask and Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Masque fit the bill.) Super sensitive? Make sure whatever you choose is fragrance-free, like the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oatmeal Mask.

The Mask’s Benefits

In related news, you’ll also want to think about what kinds of benefits the mask promises to deliver. “What are you hoping to achieve from using a mask? If you want to help detoxify your skin and clear out your pores, look for ingredients like charcoal, clays, and salicylic acid. If you want more radiant skin, look for a treatment that promotes a healthy glow and a balanced skin tone—you'll get that from ingredients like vitamin C and alpha-hydroxy acids,” says Dr. Yadav, adding that nearly all brides could do with some deep hydration.

The Format

Masks come in all shapes and sizes, from cream ones in jars to single-use sheets. Whichever one you choose is largely a matter of personal preference; some people like creamy formulas that you wash off, while others like sheet masks that require no rinsing, says Dr. Yadav. That being said, she does point out that sheet masks are especially easy to pack and travel with, making them a good choice for a destination wedding or honeymoon.

FAQ

How do face masks work?

“Masks are concentrated treatments that deliver a megadose of the product’s ingredients, regardless of what benefits you’re looking for,” says Dr. Yadav. Because they’re so potent, they can deliver results in a shorter amount of time, which is why many are often meant to be used a few times per week.
How often should you do a facial mask?

Follow the instructions on the particular mask you’re using. Gentler, more hydrating formulas typically can be used more frequently than stronger, more exfoliating ones, but, as a general rule of thumb, once a week is usually a safe bet.
How do you use a facial mask?

You can use it at night, after you’ve washed your face but before doing any other skincare steps, says Dr. Yadav. “With sheet masks that leave residual serum on your face, you can use this step in lieu of or in addition to your regular serum step before following with a moisturizer,” she adds.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s also a recent newlywed, who used the Renée Rouleau mask featured on this list the night before her wedding.

The 18 Best Wedding Prep Skincare Products In 2023