Top 5 Skin-Saving Ingredients to Look for in Face Masks: Your Ultimate Guide to Healthy Skin

We genuinely believe face masks are one of the best ways to nourish your skin. As a skincare company that specializes in face masks, we admit there’s a chance we may be biased here…but still.

Face masks are tons of fun to use, but they’re much more than a cute little exercise. If used properly, face masks can help heal most common skin concerns, such as: 

• Dryness
• Oiliness
• Acne breakouts
• Premature aging
• Irritation
• Sunburn
• Dullness 

…and the list goes on! Face masks offer a targeted, intensive treatment for your skin, delivering essential nutrients and hydration directly where they're needed most. They provide a moment of self-care, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Whether you're dealing with dryness, dullness, or breakouts, there's a face mask designed to address your specific skin concerns.

In this guide, we'll explore five top skin-saving ingredients you should look for in face masks to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, plump, and protected. From aloe vera's soothing properties to hyaluronic acid's hydrating benefits, these 5 ingredients are must-haves to look out for next time you purchase a sheet mask.

Top 5 skin-saving ingredients to look for in face masks

Next time you purchase a face mask, look for one of these 5 ingredients:  

1. Aloe Vera for soothing & calming
2. Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating & plumping
3. Kaolin Clay for detoxifying & cleansing impurities
4. Bakuchiol for balancing & smoothing
5. Vitamin C for brightening & clearing

Each sheet mask serves its purpose and will help you achieve your healthy skin goals. Let’s dive deeper into each ingredient and how a sheet mask featuring those ingredients can improve your skin!

#1: Aloe Vera: Prepare to soothe and calm

Aloe vera is renowned for its amazing soothing and hydrating properties. This natural ingredient gently nurtures your skin while providing a calm and rejuvenating feel. Aloe vera is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help to soothe irritated skin and provide deep hydration.

Benefits of Aloe Vera:

• Deeply hydrates the skin, preventing dryness and flakiness.
• Calms redness and inflammation, making it perfect for sensitive skin.
• Provides a cooling effect, great for soothing sunburns or irritated skin.

Our favorite aloe vera sheet mask

The MoodMask™ Press Reset Sheet Mask is the best way to press reset on your skin with a combination of aloe vera, antioxidant-rich shisandra berry, and calming sage and lavender.  

Whether you're seeking relaxation or revitalization, this soothing, restorative experience is your ticket to a renewed and restored complexion. This mask is perfect for soothing your skin after a day in the sun. Be prepared to experience tranquil energy and a radiant glow in just 10 minutes after using this sheet mask!

Other ingredients that soothe the skin:

• Chamomile: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile helps to calm and soothe the skin.
• Cucumber Extract: Provides a cooling effect and helps to reduce puffiness and inflammation.
• Green Tea Extract: Rich in antioxidants, it helps to protect the skin from environmental damage and soothes irritation.

#2: Hyaluronic Acid: A hydration powerhouse

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin and known for its remarkable ability to retain moisture. Fun fact – hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water! This makes it a great hydrating agent, helping to plump up the skin, and resulting in a more youthful and supple appearance. Read more about the hype on hyaluronic acid.

Benefits of hyaluronic acid in sheet masks:

• Intense Hydration: Attracts and retains moisture, locking in hydration.
• Enhanced Skin Elasticity: Promotes collagen synthesis, improving skin firmness and elasticity.
• Reduced Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Deeply hydrates and plumps the skin, making fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
• Skin Barrier Protection: Forms a moisture-retaining barrier, protecting the skin from environmental stressors.
• Soothes and Calms Irritated Skin: Provides relief for sensitive or irritated skin, calming inflammation and redness.
• Compatibility with All Skin Types: Suitable for dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin.

Our favorite hyaluronic acid sheet masks

For the ultimate sheet masks that will restore moisture to your skin, check out: 

• FlashMasque Hydrate 5-Minute Sheet Mask
• Serve Chilled Rosé Sheet Mask

FlashMasque Hydrate 5-Minute Sheet Mask

This FlashMasque Hydrate 5-Minute Sheet Mask delivers hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to the skin quickly and effectively, helping to reduce dryness and reinvigorate the skin in as little as five minutes. It also has betaine, an ingredient designed to help the skin retain moisture for superior hydration. This mask is ideal for restoring moisture to your skin after traveling or following our Detox Smartmud mask. 

Serve Chilled Rosé Sheet Mask

This mask helps renew and restore the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Our Rosé mask contains hyaluronic acid, plus it’s packed with vitamin C and folic acid to protect your skin from free radicals. It’s also infused with resveratrol and strawberry extract to soften, soothe, and calm the skin. 

Don’t underestimate this pink, rosé-scented sheet mask – it’s a powerhouse that helps protect your skin from harmful free radicals while soothing.

#3 Kaolin Clay: Detoxifying and cleansing

Kaolin clay is a gentle, natural clay mineral that detoxifies, cleanses, and clears impurities from the skin. It absorbs excess oil and impurities from the skin's surface, helping to unclog pores and prevent breakouts. Its gentle nature makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Benefits of kaolin clay:

• Deep Cleansing: Absorbs impurities and excess oil, providing a thorough cleanse.
• Gentle Exfoliation: Slightly abrasive texture that effectively removes dead skin cells.
• Refines Pores: Minimizes the appearance of pores, leaving the skin smooth and even.
• Balances Oil: Absorbs excess oil without stripping the skin's natural moisture.
• Soothes Irritation: Calms inflamed or irritated skin, providing relief.

Our favorite kaolin clay sheet masks

• SmartMud Detox Mud Face Sheet Mask
• Smooth Exfoliating Mask

Detox SmartMud™ No-Mess Mud Mask

The Detox SmartMud™ No-Mess Mud Mask not only harnesses the detoxifying power of kaolin clay but also features volcanic ash to purify and renew clarity, activated charcoal to absorb dirt and oil, hydrolyzed collagen to plump and smooth, and glycerin to moisturize and tone. It also has activated charcoal to draw out dirt and oil from pores while hydrolyzed collagen plumps and smooths the skin.

Smooth Exfoliating SmartMud™ No-Mess Mud Mask

For a gentle exfoliation, try the Smooth SmartMud mask, which combines kaolin clay with lactic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA) to dissolve dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. This mask will gently dissolve and slough away dead skin cells without irritating or drying out your skin. The unique SmartMud delivery system combines the power of mud with the mess-free convenience of a sheet mask!

#4: Bakuchiol: Plump the skin without retinol 

Bakuchiol is derived from the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea corylifolia plant and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It’s a natural alternative to retinol, offering similar benefits without the dryness, peeling, or photosensitivity commonly associated with retinol..

Benefits of Bakuchiol:

• Boosts Collagen Levels: Increases collagen production, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines.
• Evens Skin Tone: Inhibits pigment production, resulting in a more even skin tone.
• Prevents Acne: Balances oil levels in the skin, reducing the likelihood of breakouts.
• Antioxidant Protection: Neutralizes free radicals, protecting the skin from environmental damage.
• Improves Photoaging: Minimizes sun damage and discoloration.
• No Irritation: Suitable for sensitive skin, as it does not cause dryness or redness.

Our favorite bakuchiol sheet masks

• Serve Chilled™ On Ice Hydrogel Mask

Serve Chilled™ On Ice Hydrogel Mask

This sheet mask will have you singing ice, ice, baby! This cooling, depuffing hydrogel mask combines bakuchiol with peptides and cloudberry extract to hydrate and refresh the skin. The bakuchiol in this sheet mask targets fine lines, crow’s feet, dark circles, and under-eye bags. The peptides work to smooth and plump while cloudberry extract packed with vitamin C brightens the skin.

#5: Vitamin C: It’s time to brighten and protect

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that brightens the skin and evens skin tone. It helps to inhibit melanin production, reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C also boosts collagen production, enhancing skin elasticity and firmness.

Benefits of Vitamin C:

• Brightens and Evens Skin Tone: Reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
• Antioxidant Protection: Shields the skin from free radicals and environmental pollutants.
• Hydrates the Skin: Increases hyaluronic acid production, attracting moisture to the skin.
• Stimulates Collagen Production: Promotes collagen synthesis, plumping and firming the skin.
• Boosts Sun Protection: Enhances the effectiveness of sunscreen, providing added defense against UV damage.

Our favorite vitamin C sheet masks

• Playing Defense
• Serve Chilled Bubbly Hydrogel Mask

Playing Defense

Playing Defense is crafted to be your go-to shield against environmental stressors, this powerhouse formula unveils a radiant, healthy glow that's sure to turn heads. Time to uncover the stars of this defensive powerhouse: vitamin C, ferulic acid, and vitamin E. Together, these key ingredients form a dynamic trio aimed at fortifying your skin's defenses, ensuring it stays resilient against external aggressors. 

Serve Chilled Bubbly Hydrogel Mask

The Bubbly Hydrogel mask is formulated with antioxidants resveratrol and orange extract rich with vitamin C to help protect from environmental stressors, and niacinamide to brighten dull skin. 

Pro-tip: Pair this sheet mask with the Bubbly Eye Gels for brighter, more revitalized under-eyes. 

Incorporating face masks into your weekly skincare routine

As you can see, incorporating face masks into your weekly skincare routine can be a game-changer for your skin's health and overall appearance. 

For best results, try using a face mask 2-3 times a week, and don’t forget to choose masks that target your specific skin concerns. 

The perfect weekly face mask routine

Here’s a sample skin routine to guide you towards the best weekly face mask cadence.

• Start your week with a detoxifying kaolin clay mask to cleanse and purify your skin. 
• Mid-week, use a hydrating hyaluronic acid mask to replenish moisture levels. 
• End the week with a brightening vitamin C mask to enhance your skin’s radiance. 

Pssstt! Don’t forget to apply your face mask to clean, dry skin and follow up with your regular moisturizer to lock in the benefits. 

This routine ensures your skin receives balanced care, addressing different needs throughout the week for a glowing, healthy complexion.

Glow On: Embrace the power of face masks for your best skin!

Incorporating face masks into your skincare routine is transformative for achieving healthy, glowing skin. 

From soothing aloe vera to hydrating hyaluronic acid, detoxifying kaolin clay, smoothing bakuchiol, and brightening vitamin C, each ingredient plays a crucial role.

Next time you're shopping for a face mask, look for these skin-saving ingredients to address your specific skincare needs. By incorporating these powerful ingredients into your routine, you can achieve the healthy, vibrant skin you've always dreamed of.

Treat yourself to a face mask featuring one or more of these top ingredients, and experience the difference in your skin's health and radiance. Happy masking!

Find the best face mask to fit your skincare goals by taking our face mask quiz!