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20 Best Face Masks for Dry Skin, According to Skincare Experts

These moisture masks instantly quench dehydrated skin.

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best face masks for dry skin
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Whether it's a sheet masks or overnight pick, a soothing face mask can work wonders on thirsty skin — and it’s a great excuse for taking some time for self-care to relax and reset. The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has a history of testing innovative face masks including sheet masks and overnight masks.

In our tests, face masks are evaluated both by scientists in the Lab using technical instruments like the Corneometer, which measures skin moisture levels, and on consumer testers around the country. Testers evaluate the masks on their ease of use (such as application, scent, and texture) and effects on the complexion, including look and feel of skin after use. In the Lab's overnight face masks test, scientists recorded 696 hydration measurements with the Corneometer device and we found that some were even more hydrating than past night cream winners.

Get fast relief for a parched complexion with the best hydrating face masks for dry skin, according to GH Beauty Lab testing and experts, including finds for firming mature skin, calming sensitive skin, and smoothing out acne- and blackhead-prone skin. Thanks to testing paired with expert and beauty editor input, we found the best masks for dry skin on the market:

1
Best Overall Face Mask for Dry Skin

Amorepacific Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Masque

Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Masque
Credit: Amorepacific

Pros

  • Most moisturizing formula
  • Works overnight
  • No rinsing

Cons

    Amorepacific’s overnight mask won the GH Beauty Lab’s test, upping skin moisture levels by a whopping 49%. The no-rinse mask is like a super-strength night cream. Swap it for your go-to product before bed whenever you need an extra hydration boost.

    2
    Best Drugstore Value Face Mask for Dry Skin

    Bliss In the Honey Mega Moisturizing Honey & Lavender Mask

    In the Honey Mega Moisturizing Honey & Lavender Mask
    Credit: bliss

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Spa-quality
    • Aromatherapy benefits

    Cons

      GH's beauty director recommends this bargain pick from spa brand Bliss, which is packed with moisturizing honey. Also formulated with calming lavender oil, this is a great before-bed mask. Use it up to three times per week!

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      3
      Best Sheet Mask for Dry Skin

      Skin Laundry Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask

      Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask
      Credit: skin laundry

      Pros

      • Most hydrating sheet mask
      • Firms and plumps skin

      Cons

        A great fast fix for moisturizing and plumping skin in minutes, Skin Laundry’s mask boosted hydration 25% — the best in our Lab's sheet mask tests! We also like that it has just the right amount of serum in the package so it’s not too messy.

        4
        Best Value Sheet Mask for Dry Skin

        Dr. Jart Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask

        Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask

        Pros

        • Proven hydrating effects
        • Budget-friendly

        Cons

          For a bargain sheet face mask, look no further than this Dr. Jart packet, infused with hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. In the GH Beauty Lab's sheet face mask test, it increased skin moisture levels by 23% over six hours after use, per measurements with the Lab's Corneometer machine. 

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          5
          Best Hydrating Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask

          Editor’s Choice
          Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask
          Now 69% Off
          Credit: fresh

          Yes, it’s pricey, but this Fresh pick is one of the best face masks GH's beauty director has ever tried. It’s super-rich and indulgent, made of real honey and shea butter, and full of botanical oils (meadowfoam, jojoba, sunflower seed). “I have super dry, flaky skin all year long,” she says. “This feels soothing and pampering, like a mini spa treatment, and never irritates my skin.”

          6
          Best Face Mask for Extremely Dry Skin

          Julep Night Shift Sleeping Mask

          Night Shift Sleeping Mask

          A richer version of night cream, this no-rinse night mask from Julep was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's overnight face mask test for effectively moisturizing even extremely dry skin. Formulated with a mix of shea butter and natural oils, it raised skin’s hydration levels by a near-record 43% in Lab testing. Our experts liked it so much they gave it a 2018 GH Beauty Award!

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          7
          Best Firming Face Mask for Dry Mature Skin

          Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask

          Bio Lifting Mask
          Credit: Chantecaille

          Active ingredients like peptides in this luxurious Chantecaille mask help firm skin, while botanical oils like rose and apricot nourish. "I use this in the shower, and my face feels softened and plumped immediately after rinsing it off," GH's beauty director notes.

          8
          Best Face Mask for Dry Skin and Acne

          Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Night Mask

          Radiance Renewal Night Mask
          Credit: paula's choice

          A light, gel formula made with breakout-fighting willow bark and hydrating hyaluronic acid, this Paula's Choice mask is great for skin that's both dry and acne-prone. It goes on silky-smooth and leaves skin soft after use. "My skin was smoother, brighter, and almost poreless," an Amazon reviewer raved. 

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          9
          Best Dermatologist-Recommended Face Mask for Dry Skin

          SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque

          Hydrating B5 Masque
          Credit: SkinCeuticals

          Created by dermatologist gold standard brand SkinCeuticals, this face mask is loaded with super skin-quenching ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. "My dehydrated face soaks up the cooling formula," GH's beauty editor says. "It really works."

          10
          Best Face Mask for Dry Skin and Blackheads

          Bioré Blue Agave & Baking Soda Whipped Nourishing Detox Mask

          Blue Agave & Baking Soda Whipped Nourishing Detox Mask
          Now 25% Off
          Credit: Biore

          Bioré's face mask is the rare formula that contains salicylic acid to clear pores and high levels of glycerin to combat dry patches. "This mask helps lift away dirt and oil and purify clogged pores," an Amazon reviewer reported. "My skin feels instantly clean, refreshed, and oh-so-nourished."

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          11
          Best Anti-Aging Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Lancôme Advanced Génifique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask

          Editor’s Choice
          Advanced Génifique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask

          Soaked in the same amount of the active anti-aging ingredient in an entire bottle of Lancôme's iconic Génifique serum, this mask instantly smooths and revives skin. "It's the closest to a facial in a 'bottle' I've ever experienced— my skin was so dewy afterward," GH's beauty director says. And Nordstrom reviewers agree: "I was so amazed how my skin looked: It was plumper and looked younger," one noted.

          12
          Best Face Mask For Dry, Sensitive Skin

          Korres Greek Yoghurt Probiotic Superdose Face Mask

          Editor’s Choice
          Greek Yoghurt Probiotic Superdose Face Mask

          Soothe a reactive complexion with Korres's creamy face mask, based on yogurt, a classic remedy for calming redness and softening. "It makes irritated skin feel comforted and quenched at the same time," GH's beauty director says. 

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          13
          Best Natural Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Origins Drink Up-Intensive Overnight Mask

          Drink Up-Intensive Overnight Mask

          A top performer in the GH Beauty Lab's overnight masks test, this rich Origins formula is packed with naturally-derived plant oils like avocado, orange, castor, and apricot. And it proved to be a powerful skin moisturizer, increasing hydration levels by 35% in Lab measurements. 

          14
          Best Leave-On Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

          Jet Lag Mask

          This cult favorite Summer Fridays mask is a beauty editor go-to. No need to rinse it off: “It doubles as a primer in case your skin is really dry, so whenever I feel like I need an extra hydration boost, I just apply a thin layer before putting on my makeup,” she says. 

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          15
          Best Double-Duty Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Clark's Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask

          Editor’s Choice
          Deep Moisture Mask
          Credit: clark's botanicals

          Another GH beauty editor favorite is this rich glycerin and green tea cream formula from Clark’s Botanicals that can be rinsed off or left on skin overnight. “On days when my skin feels extra dry, I let it soak in as I sleep, and my skin is super-soft by morning,” she reports. 

          16
          Best Face Mask for Dry Winter Skin

          Dr. Hauschka Hydrating Cream Mask

          Hydrating Cream Mask
          Now 20% Off
          Credit: Dr. Hauschka

          For an extra intense dose of hydration, turn to this creamy Dr. Hauschka mask, loaded with botanical oils like sunflower, olive, avocado, and almond. "I love the citrusy scent and how rich it is— it's my favorite for the winter season," GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann says. "It takes a bit longer to absorb, but I rarely wipe off the excess after because it feels so good on my skin."

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          17
          Best Lightweight Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

          Water Sleeping Mask

          True to its name, this mineral water and hyaluronic acid gel overnight mask from Laneige moisturizes yet feels featherweight on skin. "For light hydration that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, this mask is perfect," says GH beauty assistant Katie Berohn. "It soaks into your skin almost immediately!"

          18
          Best Glow-Boosting Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Dr. Brandt Skincare Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask

          Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask
          Credit: Dr. Brandt

          This overnight sleeping mask from Dr. Brandt nourishes skin with yogurt, green tea, and manuka honey.  "It’s a soothing gel formula that literally melts into skin," says beauty editor Dori Price. "I actually use it as a night cream on nights my skin feels extra dry—it's super hydrating and softening and I wake up to plump, glowy skin."

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          19
          Best Face Mask for Dry, Red Skin

          Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Radiance Mask

          Soothing Radiance Mask
          Credit: Eau Thermale Avene

          Packed with fatty acids, this Eau Thermale Avène face mask fortifies a reactive, compromised complexion. "It's rich and creamy to the touch, but feels light on, and calms my skin quickly, especially redness," Wizemann notes. "I usually leave it overnight, but I use it during the day, too, when my face feels extra dry and sensitive — it leaves my skin feeling nourished and protected."

          20
          Best Brightening Face Mask for Dry Skin

          Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

          Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

          Think of this Youth to the People overnight mask with acai, goji berry, and prickly pear extracts as a replenishing superfood smoothie for your skin. "This is one of my all-time favorite sleeping masks," Berohn says. "It feels like an extra-rich night cream, and every time I wake up after I use it, my skin is noticeably brighter, glowier, and more hydrated."

          Headshot of Nicole Saporita

          Nicole Saporita was an editor and writer at Good Housekeeping from 2014 to 2020, where she researched, wrote and reported original content for the Good Housekeeping Institute and several other departments, including health, travel and family. 

          Headshot of April Franzino
          April Franzino
          Senior Beauty & Style Director

          April (she/her) is the senior beauty and style director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.

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