Face mask skincare for dry or sensitive skin
When skin is dry and thirsty, a hydrating mask or one formulated specifically for dryness is the way to go. The Anti-Stress Mask by Cellcosmet is a mattifying, hydrating and soothing cream mask for dry skin, and the Maschera Acido Jaluronico by Juki no Shingyu is a soft gel designed to hydrate and restore elasticity. If you prefer a mask that works while you sleep, there is the Masque de Nuit Velours aux Fleurs de Safran by Sisley, soothing and restorative, formulated for dry skin with thyme honey, shea butter and saffron flower extract. The house also suggests it as a ten-minute SOS mask. Le Masque Crème by Evidens de Beauté is soothing and nourishing too, with La Foux spring water and the triple collagen the house uses as its signature ingredient.
For sensitive skin, look to soothing masks. Sisley also offers the Masque Givre au Tilleul, a soothing mask suited to sensitive skin. The Beauness Spa Mask Sheet by Menard is a contoured single-use sheet soaked in hydrating, soothing and protective ingredients.
For tired skin
Signs of fatigue are the focus of masks the houses describe as anti-fatigue, de-stressing or revitalizing. The Masque Crème à la Rose Noire by Sisley combines black rose extract, Padina pavonica and winter cherry calyx, and the house recommends it for signs of fatigue in fifteen minutes. The Prime Renewing Pack by Valmont is creamy but not greasy and is presented as an anti-fatigue mask.
Other masks for tired skin aim for a toning or de-stressing effect. Le Masque Spécial by Evidens de Beauté, from the Saho Perfecting range, feels fresh, toning and revitalizing, and the Maschera Viso Anti Stress by Juki no Shingyu is creamy and de-stressing.
To firm and plump
If you want firmer or fuller-looking skin, you can choose between firming and plumping masks, available in both gel and sheet formats. The Maschera Viso Collagene Rassodante by Juki no Shingyu is a firming collagen-based gel. Le Masque Hydralift 7 Minutes by Evidens de Beauté is a hydro-firming mask for deep hydration that plumps the skin. The Hydrogel Face Mask by Augustinus Bader is a hydrogel sheet mask that instantly hydrates, evens out and plumps the skin.
For combination and blemish-prone skin
Combination skin or skin prone to blemishes calls for an absorbing, purifying mask. Dark Shadow from the Marina Mazzolari line pairs microporous vegetable charcoal and salicylic acid in a hydrocolloid texture, with prebiotics and probiotics for the skin microbiome. The Detox Face Mask by Malin+Goetz is a five-minute oxygenating gel mask that cleanses, purifies and brightens.
For oily skin, there are masks designed specifically for it. The Stabilizing Cleansing Mask by Natura Bissé contains salicylic acid and aloe vera, is designed for oily skin and works as a daily cleanser or a weekly mask. The Maschera all'Argilla Verde ed Ananas by St Barth is recommended by the house for normal to oily skin.
For the eye area
The eye area has its own masks, aimed at puffiness, swelling and dark circles. The Masque Contour des Yeux by Sisley, with ginkgo biloba and arnica, works on under-eye bags in ten minutes, and the Maschera Contorno Occhi by Juki no Shingyu contains Pacific Ocean seawater and three peptides and targets swelling. The Cellcollagen Eye Contour by Cellcosmet is a collagen sheet mask soaked in cellular serum, with plumping, anti-puffiness and anti-dark-circle effects.
For everyday eye care, take a look at the eye and lip creams collection.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a face mask in the morning or at night?
It depends on the formula: some masks are made for nighttime. The Maschera Intensa da Notte by Mazzolari, with tripeptide 28, is formulated for overnight use, when skin is more receptive. The Sleeping Beauty from the Marina Mazzolari line also works throughout the night, and Sisley's Masque de Nuit Velours supports dry skin while you sleep.
What is a sheet mask?
It is a mask made of a sheet, fabric or film already soaked in treatment. One example is the Beauness Spa Mask Sheet by Menard, a single-use hydrating and soothing sheet; The Hydrogel Face Mask by Augustinus Bader is a hydrogel sheet with TFC8. Cellcosmet's Cellcollagen Eye Contour are collagen sheets soaked in cellular serum for the eye area.
How often should you use a face mask?
It depends on the mask: each house states the frequency for its own product. St Barth, for example, recommends the Maschera all'Argilla Rosa e Frutto della Passione once a week, left on for about 15 minutes. Estée Lauder's Perfectly Clean, on the other hand, is a daily cleanser and a mask in one product.
What is the best face mask for dry skin?
You need a mask formulated for dry skin. Sisley's Masque de Nuit Velours aux Fleurs de Safran works overnight with thyme honey and shea butter; Cellcosmet's Anti-Stress Mask is a hydrating, soothing cream mask. There is also St Barth's Maschera all'Argilla Rosa e Frutto della Passione, recommended for normal and dry skin.
What face mask is best for combination or acne-prone skin?
You need an absorbing, purifying mask. Dark Shadow from the Marina Mazzolari line pairs microporous vegetable charcoal and salicylic acid in a hydrocolloid texture; the Maschera Viso Purificante by Terme Imperiali, with kelp, coralline algae and rhatany extracts, is designed for skin that tends to be oily. For a cleansing action with red clay, there is Sisley's Masque Éclat Express.
What is the difference between a gel and a cream face mask?
The difference is in the texture. Juki no Shingyu's Maschera Viso Collagene, for example, is a firming gel, while Sisley's Masque Crème à la Rose Noire and Valmont's Prime Renewing Pack are cream masks, and the Valmont one has an ultralight, non-greasy texture.
Do you need a special mask for the eye area?
Yes. Sisley's Masque Contour des Yeux, with ginkgo biloba and arnica, works on under-eye bags in ten minutes; the Maschera Contorno Occhi by Juki no Shingyu contains lily and hawthorn extracts. For daily use, there are eye and lip creams, made for the same area.
What face mask is best for dull skin?
You need a mask designed for radiance. The Masque Éclat Express by Sisley is made with red clay, plus carrot, red vine and rosehip extracts; the Luminosity Lumimask by Valmont is a mask and exfoliant in one that refines skin texture in 10 minutes. There is also Cellcosmet's Precious Mask, an evening-out gel-cream.
