These Face Masks for Sensitive Skin are Like a Tall Glass Water for an Irritated Complexion

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Taking care of sensitive skin is tough. You have to be incredibly careful with products you incorporate into your routine, or you risk accidental skin irritations, like redness, rashes, dryness, flakes, or an allergic reaction. I would know because I have sensitive skin and test hundreds of products yearly for potential site coverage, and sometimes, despite my best efforts to avoid them, skin irritations occur. Although it's a bummer, my hands-on approach to testing enables me to share only the best new products, including these face masks for sensitive skin.

Best Face Masks for Sensitive Skin

• Best Overall: PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Face Mask

• Best Budget Buy: Embryolisse Intense Moisturizing Mask

• Best for Combination and Oily Skin: Phytomer Hydrasea Rehydrating Face Moisture Mask

• Best for Post-Procedure Care: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask

• Best for Mature Skin: Epionce Enriched Firming Mask

What to Consider

As our beauty editor who focuses heavily on skincare products and innovations, I learned the ingredient label is the biggest and most important aspect to consider when shopping for a new face mask for sensitive skin. Ahead, we'll look at some of my favorite dermatologist-approved skincare ingredients that are gentle enough for sensitive skin types.

Best Ingredients

Non-irritating skincare ingredients reign supreme. Here's a look at some other derm-loved ingredients worthy of your next face mask for sensitive skin that go beyond the basic components, like ceramides, chamomile, and oat extract.

• Hyaluronic acid was by far the most common ingredient among my recommended face masks for sensitive skin. The clear ingredient holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water to moisturize the face and plump up fine lines and wrinkles. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara, M.D., previously highlighted hyaluronic acid as a fantastic ingredient for treating rosacea.

• Niacinamide, sometimes called vitamin B-3, can be safely mixed with pretty much every popular skincare ingredient you can think of, including vitamin C, retinol, peptides, and antioxidants, to name a few. “All skin types and conditions can benefit from niacinamide, as it improves epidermal barrier performance,” Rhea Souhleris Grous, aesthetics director and founder of La Suite Skincare at Union Square Laser Dermatology, previously told us. “It is essential for skin health as well as anti-aging.”

• Aloe Vera is known for moisturizing and calming skin redness, so experts suggest using it in sunburn treatments. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung, M.D., previously explained aloe vera contains antioxidants, enzymes, fatty acids, antimicrobials, glucomannan, and other long-chain sugar molecules found in the body that calm irritation and lock moisture into the skin while promoting healing.

• Squalane is "safe for any patient to use regardless of skin condition or sensitivity since it’s not a known allergy or irritant,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Malini Fowler, M.D. previously told us. It's so gentle that it can even help sensitive skin patients with eczema and psoriasis. Those with acne-prone skin will appreciate that it's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't contest the pores, leading to zits and blackheads.

Worst Ingredients

A good rule of thumb is to avoid acids except for hyaluronic acid, which is hydrating for sensitive skin. Also, skip face masks with harsher active ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid, which can be too potent for sensitive skin. The pros also advise against face masks made with sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.

How We Chose

Good news: I'm on what sometimes feels like a never-ending quest for skin-soothing products, and all of these face masks passed my vetting process. In addition to the ingredient list, I got hands-on with these products and even used some for nearly a year, so you know they're legit.

I considered their texture, feel, and immediate and long-term results, such as hydration, calming redness, minimizing flakes, and how long they take to absorb. I also wore some of these products as face moisturizers and tested how they played underneath makeup, like liquid and powder foundations.

While they're all incredible in their unique way, my best overall pick is from PCA Skin, and you'll understand why shortly. In the meantime, be sure to order one or all of these face masks for sensitive skin before they disappear during the forthcoming Amazon Prime Day Big Deal Days Event, which is essentially Prime Day 2.0, aka my favorite day of online beauty shopping.

Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Face Mask

My best overall sensitive face mask pick is from PCA Skin. The brand was originally introduced to me by esthetician Alessandra Cavallero of Spa Bem-Ti-Vi in San Francisco, and I quickly became a fan of their collagen cream and face wash for oily skin. This intensely hydrating and nourishing option has been wonderful for my sensitive skin during the colder months in NYC.

I love using this product for several reasons, but let's start with the universally beneficial ingredients. As its name implies, hyaluronic acid is the star ingredient. But it's not just regular HA — there are two types.

Sodium hyaluronate is a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid that increases the moisture of the upper skin layers. There's also hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid paired with hydrolyzed GAG, which are low weight, meaning they dive deep into the skin to reduce wrinkles.

Niacinamide and panthenol round out the impressive ingredient list for this nourishing face mask for sensitive skin.

More: Editor-Tested LED Face Masks Safe for Sensitive Skin

Intense Moisturizing Mask

Looking to plump up your tired, sensitive skin? This face mask from Embryolisse is a wonderful treat that costs only $25, making it a great budget-friendly self-care gift for yourself or a loved one.

Intense Moisturizing Mask does just that — it's enriched with hyaluronic acid and white nymphaea for instant moisture. It even relies on aquatic ingredients, like sea minerals and seawater, to smooth and plump up mature sensitive skin without irritation.

For added confidence, this product earned rave Amazon reviews, and our readers can't get enough of Embryolisse! Their signature Lait Crème Concentré was a top 5 best seller during our summertime Amazon Prime Day sales coverage.

Hydrasea Rehydrating Face Moisture Mask

Cavallero introduced me to Phytomer products, including this face mask, way back in 2018 — and I've been a fan ever since. The non-comedogenic face mask is a hydrating creamy lotion that is lightweight enough for oily skin types to use for about 5 minutes to rehydrate and soothe their face. Those with dry skin can use it up to 10 minutes.

Inspired by French waters, Phytomer utilizes aquatic ingredients, including algae and gorse water, to boost moisture, stimulate proteins, and strengthen the skin barrier.

This face mask can be used up to twice weekly. Although it's not designed as a sunburn treatment, I've used mine to help soothe a light one. I applied a thick layer of product across my face, and my skin soaked it up — and after an hour, it looked less pink and felt more rebalanced.

Phyto Corrective Mask

My go-to New York esthetician is Yuko Funaki of Moonflower Spa, and she recently reintroduced me to the genius of SkinCeuticals Phyto products. I visited her spa after a recent skin treatment elsewhere that left my skin dry, flaky, and pink. Funaki customized my facial to include the Phyto Corrective Gel, and after we both saw and felt a dramatic change in my skin, I knew SkinCeuticals' face mask would be a winner for at-home care.

Although the bright green face mask might be alarming, don't misinterpret its skin-calming powers. 9% of its formulation relies on botanical extracts (hence the green hue!) and hyaluronic acid, which calm, cool, soothe, and moisturize my skin. It's even clinically tested for safety after in-office skin procedures, including lasers, PDT, and IPL.

And get this: It's the only featured option on this list that uses dipeptides to reduce heat sensitivity to immediately calm and comfort the skin.

Enriched Firming Mask

Epionce is a newer brand on my radar. Cavallero praises the entire line of products, and I've even started to incorporate their oily skin face wash into my daily routine. We're both impressed with their botanical-based face mask for sensitive skin because it soothes and visibly improves the skin's elasticity and firmness.

This face mask is excellent for mature or dry skin types because it contains highly emollient properties, such as a proprietary blend of barrier lipids. It's also designed to calm skin redness and irritation while providing welcome hydration.

Like others on this list, Epionce's face mask for sensitive skin contains hyaluronic acid, but there's also shea butter. Overall, this is a winning final pick for treating your delicate skin type because it's gentle AF and free of potential allergens like parabens.

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