These 10 Hydrating Face Masks Are Giving My Dry Skin a Much-Needed Moisture Boost
My routine has gotten a serious winter upgrade.
Any reliable skincare routine includes the basics: a cleanser, a serum, a moisturizer, and the occasional exfoliant, but sometimes you need to throw in something a little more heavy duty, like a hydrating face mask, for a little oomph. I haven't always considered face masks to be a necessity, but I won't deny that they add an extra element of luxury to my self-care routine. But giving myself an at-home spa experience isn't the only reason I keep a hydrating face mask on deck. Dry skin can be caused by a variety of things (age, climate, a damaged skin barrier, et cetera.), but the rapid drop in temperature on the east coast and the resulting dry air is doing a number on my skin, and my usual moisturizer-serum combo hasn't been providing the relief it normally does.
Because of this, I've assembled a lineup of face masks that are giving me some reprieve right now. From sheet masks that provide a quick and easy hit of moisture to overnight masks that give me dewy skin while I sleep, these are my dry skin lifesavers at the moment.
Moisture Boost
These products can be used as masks and moisturizers, depending on what your skin needs, and they especially come in handy when you want to add moisture back to your skin without investing in too many products.
Summer Fridays's Jet Lag Mask is a multi-use product that can be applied as a mask or a moisturizer, but you can also apply it to your hands and body if need be. It has a really thick texture, making it a great option for people with dry patches or skin conditions like eczema.
Vitamin B5, niacinamide, and glycerin come together in this mask to restore moisture to dry, stressed skin.
On top of being ultra-hydrating, this mask features vitamin C to address dullness and dehydration. Apply it as a night cream or as a mask.
One and Done
Sheet masks always come in handy when you want to deliver a high concentration of quality, hydrating ingredients to your skin in a short amount of time.
This Korean mask comes with a highly potent ampoule filled with hyaluronic acid. Just apply it to your face like you would any other serum and follow it with the rubber mask to give the skin a cooling effect.
This is one sheet mask I keep in my bag when my skin gets really dry after traveling, and it gets the job done in just minutes. It's inexpensive, it doesn't make my face feel sticky like lots of other hyaluronic acid serums, and it doesn't cause my already oily skin to feel oilier.
Medicube's collagen mask has made a fan out of celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Doja Cat, and it's a K-beauty favorite for a reason. It combines moisturizing niacinamide, collagen, and peptides with PDRN to give the skin a dewy look with a reduced appearance of pores.
Beauty Sleep
Yes, you can wear masks while you sleep, and some of the best overnight formulas get the job done with a barely-there feeling.
The slugging trend is still very much alive, but instead of using your hands to apply a thick occlusive, this mess-free mask features a blend of six oils (macadamia nut, jojoba, grape seed, olive, avocado, and evening primrose) that hydrate the skin and prevent moisture loss overnight. Niacinamide and ceramides also make an appearance to add some hydration while also addressing uneven skin tone.
This mask has a thick, balmy texture that melts down into an oil once it makes contact with the skin and warms up. Apply it at night after washing your face, but if you really want to streamline your routine, it can also be used as a cleansing balm to remove heavy makeup.
If you like the idea of slugging, but can't wrap your head around sleeping with a thick jelly on your face, consider this as an alternative. It has a soft gel formula that feels more like a pudding, and it uses a combination of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate the skin overnight and address redness and irritation.
Don't underestimate the importance of a healthy, functioning skin barrier. If dryness and irritation are your main issues, grab this jelly mask, which features cooling niacinamide and squalane to provide barrier support overnight. Three different types of hyaluronic acid are also present to help the skin retain its moisture.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
