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When fine lines, sun spots, and sagging begin to set in, the best face masks for mature skin can provide the plumping moisture your skin might have lost over time. Sure, there are so many serums, creams, and at-home treatments developed for aging skin, but masks have a major advantage in that their ultra-concentrated formulations have been specifically crafted to address signs of aging at a much more intensive rate than the rest of the products in your routine.
“Generally speaking, masks are used intermittently to help give your skin a boost when it needs it," David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, previously told Allure. So, if you find your skin needs a nourishing, sag-reducing pick-me-up, you’ve come to the right place. We asked board-certified dermatologists for their favorite line-defying face masks—check out their picks, below.
Our Top Face Masks for Mature Skin
- Best Overall: Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask, $215
- Best Eye Mask: SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask, $50 (6-Pack)
- Best for Sensitive Skin: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque, $70
- Best for Dry Skin: Blue Lagoon Iceland Skincare Mineral Mask, $45
- Best Plumping: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask, $84
- Best Firming: Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask, $96
- Best Brightening: EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask, $56
- Best Sheet Mask: La Mer The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask, $200 (6-Pack)
- Best Overnight Mask: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask, $45
Best Overall: Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask
Sisley-Paris
Black Rose Cream Mask
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: Stop and smell the roses—and let them nourish your skin, too. Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask delivers an instant boost of hydration and radiance. “This mask combines black rose extract, vitamin E, and shea butter to deeply hydrate, smooth fine lines, and restore volume to mature skin,” says Deanne Mraz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Westport, Connecticut. Its dense texture sits for 10 to 15 minutes, creating a barrier that helps the ingredients absorb more effectively. “It’s incredibly calming and an excellent choice for complexions that are parched or irritated. I even use it on early morning flights to the West Coast to counteract the skin-parching airplane air, so I can step off the plane and head straight into meetings looking refreshed,” she says.
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying Sisley Paris’s Black Rose Cream Mask
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after using Sisley Paris’s Black Rose Cream Mask
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee, 38
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"I have sensitive skin, and this mask felt incredibly gentle and soothing from the moment I applied it. I love a good sheet mask, but sometimes I don’t want to scare my kids! This one goes on like a soft cream, with a subtle rose scent that’s calming instead of overpowering. You leave it on for 15 minutes, then sweep away whatever hasn’t sunk in with a cotton pad, though most of it melts right in. Honestly, my skin could handle this every single day, especially in the drier months, for an instant comfort boost for my skin.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
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- Key ingredients: black rose, shea butter, squalane, grape extract, jojoba seed oil
- Who it's for: anyone with dry skin, fine lines, or wrinkles
- Fragrance-free: yes (no added synthetic fragrance; scented with natural rose oils)
Best Eye Mask: SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Masks
SkinMedica
Instant Bright Eye Mask (Pack of 6)
Amazon
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Masks deliver hydration, brightness, and a cooling refresh to the undereye area in just 15 minutes. “This can be used alone or in combination with the SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream or your own eye cream. I like eye masks to help improve penetration of active ingredients,” says Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. In addition to making your eye creams work more effectively, the formula includes antioxidant-rich golden root extract to defend against free radical damage, baker’s yeast to help brighten and even tone, and golden herb extract to soothe and calm delicate skin. “As skin ages, the most common changes around the eyes are fine lines, wrinkles, undereye bags, dark circles, and dry or crepey skin. This undereye mask can help hydrate and plump dry skin, while the cooling effect of the hydrogel can also help reduce puffiness,” she says.
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Masks
Deanna Pai
Pai after using SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Masks
Deanna Pai
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai, 36
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"I usually find undereye masks to be slimy and generally annoying—and without enough payoff to balance out the drawbacks. Enter these, which actually feel luxurious—with a comfortable grip and smooth outer side, which makes them much easier to apply—and brightened my eyes in under 10 minutes. My entire eye looked more refreshed, which is why they've become my go-to before things like weddings and the rare night out." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: golden root extract, baker’s yeast, golden herb extract
- Who it's for: people with undereye puffiness
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque
SkinCeuticals
Phyto Corrective Mask
SkinCeuticals
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: When mature skin is feeling overworked, whether from a cosmetic treatment, environmental stress, or just daily lifestyle habits, SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque is a great reset. “It is very soothing, so I find it beneficial for sensitive, post-procedure skin, but also in general to rehydrate and soothe red or irritated skin. I also love that it is fragrance-free because many masks have fragrance and can be overpowering for people who are sensitive to fragrance,” says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. The bouncy gel formula blends thyme, cucumber, and olive leaf extracts with hyaluronic acid to restore moisture and bring comfort to skin.
Visuals director Kathryne Hall after applying SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque
Hall after applying SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque
Tester feedback from visuals director Kathryne Hall, 49
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“While I need more time to see if really reduces my redness, I really like this mask. I was expecting something that hardens but it feels like a lightweight moisturizer. I had to remind myself to rinse it off because I forgot I had it on. My skin feels great so far.” —Kathryne Hall, visuals director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: cucumber, thyme, olive extract, hyaluronic acid
- Who it's for: anyone with sensitive or reactive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: Blue Lagoon Iceland Skincare Mineral Mask
Blue Lagoon Iceland Skincare
Mineral Mask
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: If your skin feels especially dry and flaky, try slathering on Blue Lagoon’s Skincare Mineral Mask, a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner. Its blend of jojoba oil, glycerin, aloe vera, and thermal water sourced from Iceland delivers an intense surge of hydration while soothing sensitive skin, leaving you with your bounciest, softest complexion yet.
Tester feedback from executive beauty director Jenny Bailly, 48
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"I keep this blue tube next to my bed and when my skin is feeling parched, I never forget to make it the last step to my evening skin-care routine. Testament to its hydrating powers: Last year I put it on at the beginning of a 20-hour flight to Singapore and I swear my skin was glowier when I landed than it was at takeoff." —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: thermal water, jojoba oil, glycerin, aloe vera
- Who it's for: anyone with dry skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Plumping: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask
PCA Skin
Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask
Amazon
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: The game-changer in this face mask is its hyaluronic acid base, which hydrates the surface layer of skin rather than coating it with a veil of goopy moisture. “PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask contains moisturizing and soothing ingredients—including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and panthenol—to hydrate and rejuvenate skin overnight,” explains Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, who says applying it as the last step in your nighttime routine will lead to waking up with plumper, glowing skin.
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
- Who it's for: anyone with dry skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Firming: Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask
Fresh
Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why it's worth it: When your night cream just isn’t cutting it, Fresh’s Black Tea Peptide Firming Overnight Mask can be used every evening in its place. Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, is a fan of its hyaluronic acid- and peptide-powered formula because these ingredients, along with antioxidant-rich black tea extract, can help tighten, firm, and hydrate all at once. “The black tea complex improves skin elasticity, and hyaluronic acid heightens moisture,” he says.
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, black tea extract
- Who it's for: anyone who wants a firming, moisturizing mask that feels as much like a treat as it does a treatment
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Brightening: EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask
EltaMD
Skin Recovery Night Mask
Amazon
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: Snooze your way to calmer, plumper skin with this plush overnight mask. “EltaMD's Skin Recovery Night Mask is a hydrating mask that can repair a damaged skin barrier,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. The impressive tech behind the mask is due to the brand’s AAComplex and Chronobiology Technology, which work in sync with your skin’s natural nighttime repair cycle to replenish essential amino acids, strengthen the barrier, and reduce visible signs of irritation. A healthier skin barrier means better moisture retention, improved resilience against environmental stressors, and skin that wakes up softer, smoother, and glowing.
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- Key ingredients: amino acids, vitamin E, aloe, turmeric
- Who it's for: anyone with normal-to-dry or sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Sheet Mask: La Mer The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask
La Mer
Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask (Pack of 6)
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue
Why it's worth it: La Mer The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask takes the beloved classic Treatment Lotion formula and transforms it into an ultra-luxurious sheet mask experience. Each silky mask is drenched in the radiance-boosting essence, powered by La Mer’s iconic Miracle Broth (a nutrient-rich blend of sea kelp, minerals, and antioxidants), along with glycerin and algae extracts to deeply replenish moisture and soften the look of fine lines. “The sheet format creates a gentle occlusive barrier, helping these ingredients absorb more effectively, while delivering an immediate plumping and soothing effect,” says Dr. Mraz, who recommends it for people with mature or dry skin who need a quick radiance boost, especially after travel or a day spent in the sun.
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- Key ingredients: Miracle Broth, algae extract, sesame seed oil, eucalyptus, urea
- Who it's for: anyone with dry or dull skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Overnight Mask: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask
Kiehl's
Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Face Mask
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: Although Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask has “overnight” right in the name, Dr. Camp says this mask can also be used as a targeted 15-minute treatment. However you use this Allure Beauty of Beauty Award winner, expect your skin to feel smooth and supple after applying this squalane-powered mask. “A sugarcane-derived lipid, squalane helps maintain the integrity of the skin barrier to improve hydration,” he says of the star ingredient.
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- Key ingredients: squalane, glacial glycoprotein, salicylic acid
- Who it's for: anyone with dry skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use a face mask?
Skin’s characteristics change over the years in both obvious and not-so-apparent ways, so even if you’ve maintained an elaborate, diligent skin-care routine, you’ll likely experience a decrease in elasticity (the quality and quantity of our collagen plummets) and an increase in discoloration.
More than anything else, mature skin typically looks and feels much drier than it did in younger years—hence the need for moisturizing intervention through a hydrating, skin-plumping mask. “As we age, our capacity to retain water in the skin diminishes, so skin becomes drier,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “Dry skin can appear dull and make fine lines more noticeable.” So while you might have collected oil-absorbing, acne-clearing masks in your twenties, your now-seasoned skin’s needs demand a shift in priorities. And by “priorities,” we mean ingredients.
Which ingredients should my face mask have?
According to Dr. Murphy-Rose, dry skin and fine lines can be immediately improved with humectants like hyaluronic acid, aloe, and glycerin to “bring more water to the surface and help plump the skin.”, She also notes that adding ingredients like shea butter and colloidal oatmeal will also help with rejuvenation by deeply moisturizing and soothing dry skin.
In addition to moisturizing ingredients, those with mature skin should look for antioxidants when shopping for masks, says Dr. Camp. “Free radicals can damage cellular structures like DNA, lipids, and proteins, which can contribute to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots,” he tells Allure. Exfoliation and cell turnover are especially important in helping mature skin look and feel its best, so he also recommends masks with retinol and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Meet the experts
- Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Michele Farber, MD, a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best face masks for mature skin, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
