Soothe Irritated, Itchy Skin With the Best Face Masks for Sensitive Skin (2025)

TL;DR

TheTatcha Violet-C Radiance Maskis by far the best face mask for sensitive skin, a brightening formula that leaves your complexion both more moisturized, soothed, and radiant.If you're looking to splurge, try the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask. It has a luxurious, rich texture to deeply nourish the skin—and has an amazing scent.

Our Top Picks

Benefits:Exfoliates, boosts radiance, combats uneven skin tone |Key Ingredients:Japanese beautyberry, fruit-derived AHAs |Skin Type:All |Size:1.7 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes

An exfoliating, brightening mask that won’t stress out sensitive skin? Believe it. This formula does exactly that, relying on several fruit-derived AHAs plus two kinds of vitamin C to leave your complexion smoother, more even, and softer, too. Still, it won’t trigger any irritation in the process. We couldn’t believe that there wasn’t any burning or tingling sensation involved when we used it—even on our rosacea-prone skin.

Who It's For

This face mask is for all skin types, but we recommend it for those with sensitive skin that want to gently exfoliate their skin without causing irritation.

Benefits: Hydrates, boosts radiance, soothes | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide, ceramides | Skin Type: All | Size: 2.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If it's 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. We especially love how versatile it is; sure, you can use it as a traditional mask, but it also works equally as well as an under-eye treatment or even a primer.

Who It's For

This face mask can be used by all skin types to boost hydration levels and boost radiance.

Benefits:Soothes, nourishes, restores skin barrier |Key Ingredients:Aloe juice, green tea, cica, kelp, evening primrose oil |Skin Type:Sensitive |Size:2 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes

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. We love that the kaolin clay used in this mask is significantly gentler than other widely used clays and nourishes the skin without any hard after-effects.

Who It's For

Use this face mask to restore balance to fragile and stressed skin and keep the skin barrier healthy.

Benefits: Gently exfoliates, soothes, boosts radiance | Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, pumpkin extract, watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: Sensitive | Size: 2.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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. In our experience, we were thoroughly impressed with how plump and bright it left our complexion, no matter whether we left it overnight or even for just 10 minutes.

Who It's For

This exfoliating sleep mask is suitable for sensitive skin with an uneven skin texture that is lacking in radiance.

Benefits: Soothes, reduces redness, nourishes, restores skin barrier | Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, cica, ceramides | Skin Type: Dry, sensitive, eczema-prone | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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. And to the point of moisture, we found this to be so hydrating that it even allowed us to skip a few steps in our skincare routine (namely a serum and moisturizer).

Who It's For

This very moisturizing face mask is for extremely dry and eczema-prone skin in need of some relief.

Benefits:Softens, hydrates, improves radiance |Key Ingredients:Lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid |Skin Type:All |Size:1.76 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes

Sure, this mask is pretty to look at (thanks to its gorgeous, naturally derived blush hue), but it’s a serious workhorse, too. We found it to be ideal for maximizing radiance and glow, while even making our fine lines and wrinkles ever-so-slightly less noticeable with continued use. Credit the addition of both alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids which address uneven texture and tone, as well as plenty of brightening antioxidants.

Who It's For

This treatment is ideal for anyone who wants to gently exfoliate their skin without causing irritation or disrupting the skin barrier.

Benefits:Hydrates, reduces redness, boosts radiance |Key Ingredients:Snail mucin, hyaluronic acid, cica, licorice |Skin Type:All |Size:3.38 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes

If you’re on the hunt for a mask that can do it all, look no further than this mega multitasker. There’s really not much that itcan’tdo. It relies on snail mucin (yes, from snails), an ingredient that does everything from fighting blemishes to targeting spots, and deeply hydrating. And from the sensitive skin side of things, it contains one of Murray’s top-recommended ingredients, soothing cica, as well as calming licorice extract. Our favorite part? How cooling and refreshing it feels when it goes on.

Who It's For

This jelly mask is a great all-around product for sensitive skin types that also deal with blemishes, dullness, and dark spots.

Benefits:Smooths, plumps, hydrates, softens |Key Ingredients:Black rose, vitamin E, shea butter |Skin Type:Dry, mature, dull, sensitive |Size:2 oz |Cruelty-Free:No

Yes, this pick is admittedly pricey, but we also found it worth every penny. We saw a visible improvement in our skin—more specifically when it came to how soft, smooth, and plump it was—even after one use. It’s super hydrating (and to that point, better if you skew on the drier side, it may be too rich if you’re oily), thanks to the use of shea butter, vitamin E, and phytosqualane. The rose in the mix not only gives this luxe formula its sophisticated scent, it also smooths your complexion.

Who It's For

This face mask is suitable for all skin types in need of long-lasting hydration and protection from free radicals in the environment.

Benefits:Hydrates, soothes |Key Ingredients:Calendula, aloe vera |Skin Type:All |Size:3.4 oz |Cruelty-Free:No

A soothing mask is basically a nonnegotiable if you have sensitive skin, and this one is a great choice. We couldn’t get over how hydrating and calming it was, soothing our skin in as little as 15 minutes. And despite how moisturizing it is, it still boasts a lightweight gel texture that washes off nicely. It’s fragrance-free, too, though the calendula in the formula still gives it a pleasant herbal scent.

Who It's For

While the face mask is suitable for all, it’s very beneficial for dry, irritated and redness-prone skin in need of comfort.

Benefits:Hydrates, reduces redness, boosts radiance |Key Ingredients:Vitamin C, squalane, hyaluronic acid |Skin Type:Normal, dry, combination, sensitive |Size:2 oz

Is this a night cream or a mask? Answer: A little bit of both. The hybrid formula looks and feels a lot like a nice thick moisturizer, but delivers a ton of benefits for your skin, mask-style. Namely, plenty of moisture (makes sense) as well as brightening vitamin C and a variety of different antioxidants. We tried this out after a week of travel and were impressed with how well it combatted stubborn dry patches and left our skin looking plumper and brighter by the next morning.

Who It's For

This overnight mask is for you if you want to target dryness and dullness at the same time.

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 or 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.