If there’s something skincare savants can agree on, it is that facial masks are a great addition to any beauty regime. This, however, begs the question: which mask works best for your complexion? The sheer variety of products available means that there’s something for everyone—but the challenge ultimately lies in choosing the right one for you. This is where we come in. Over the past month, the Vogue Singapore beauty team has tested out an array of formulations, from mud and clay types to overnight variants that boast close to instantaneous results. To help narrow down your selection, we recommend you begin by identifying your skin type and concerns. For example, if your focus is anti-ageing, look for facial masks that are specifically designed for it. You can opt for a lighter formula if your skin doesn’t play nice with dense masks, and vice versa. The right mask shouldn’t just effectively target your problems but leave it at a better state than it was previously. Masks should work with your skin, not against it.
Second, the method of application. Its benefits are the most important, but it’s still relevant to consider—the last thing you want is unnecessary hassle during application and cleanup. Cream or clay masks are good for precise application and waste reduction, while sheet masks are easier and more convenient to apply. Tangentially related is the time needed for the mask to work its magic. Do you prefer a fast-acting product or one you can leave on overnight? Think about what best suits your modus operandi for a hassle-free masking session. Our full curation for your perusal, below.
1 / 20
Best do-it-all mask: Sigi Skin Tea-Tox Sheet Mask
Beloved and for good reason, few sheet masks harness the magic trifecta of being hydrating, nourishing and brightening like Sigi Skin’s. Imagine 20 per cent of probiotics on a microfibre sheet; all it takes is a single use of Sigi Skin Tea-Tox Sheet Mask to renew and transform your skin. Formulated specifically to heal and repair the damage of pollution and environmental stressors, this soaked sheet harnesses the power of cold pressed yuzu extracts, kombucha and sake extracts. Beyond eliminating redness, it also gives a much-needed hydration boost while nourishing your skin from within.
$36 for a box of 4, available at Sigi Skin
2 / 20
Most restorative sheet mask for sensitive skin: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Mask
Devout users of the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum are sure to adore its mask variant. Its winning formulation comprises madecassoside revered for its wound-healing abilities; skin-restorative ginseng root extract; as well as hydrating Jujuba fruit extract. This makes it a top pick for tight, sensitised, or inflamed complexions, with it effectively calming while also nourishing problematic skin in under 15 minutes. Do note, however, that each sheet is soaked in concentrate that emits a ginseng scent which could pose an issue to those sensitive towards strong smells.
$75, available at Sulwhasoo
3 / 20
Best soothing sheet mask: Guerlain Abeille Royale Honey Cataplasm Facial Mask
To describe the Guerlain Abeille Royale Honey Cataplasm Facial Mask as a rich, decadent concoction would be apt. This formidable powerhouse is inspired by the healing powers of honey-soaked dressings, where each sheet is soaked in copious amounts of the maison’s exclusive royal jelly and Ousessant honey. This results in a deeply moisturising, calming invention that quells inflammation as well as dehydration, making it the ideal solution for individuals dealing with dryness and skin-reactivity on long-haul flights. Furthermore, each sheet is made of a newly-discovered biocellulose that boasts unparalleled lightness, which allows it to cling onto facial contours seamlessly.
$203, available at Guerlain
4 / 20
Most comforting mask for sensitive skin: Gummy Sheet Mask Collagen Milk Sticker
This cheap and cheerful sheet mask is just the thing for skin that’s dull, angry and needing a quick pick-me-up. Made by K-Beauty great, Abib, its cream/essence-like texture puts the fire out of irritated complexions with a combination of niacinamide, glycerin, chamomile and a slew of peptides. But it does more than just comfort skin: it actually helps it look brighter, more rested and feel more resilient. For that reason, it’s our pre-party go-to. And as a bonus, the generous helping of essence within means it can be also applied to legs and limbs as you kick back and mask up.
$5.90, available at Watson’s
5 / 20
Best sheet mask for an intense hydration boost: IDS DermaShield Mask
Drenched with the good stuff, and nothing comes close when you’re on the hunt for a medical grade pick that nourishes the skin to full effect. We’re talking some much-needed hydration—induced by its notable inclusion of hyaluronic acid—for a thoroughly rejuvenated mien the next morning. It also takes our highly-polluted environment into consideration; a blend of antioxidative ingredients such as apple fruit extract and edelweiss, doing god’s work for us in preventing radical damage and reducing inflammation. It’s a must-reach for days you need a total reset—you’ll thank us for the bouncy, lifted mien you’ll be rewarded with the day after.
$114.45 for a box of 10 sheets, available at JYX Shop
6 / 20
Best overnight skin hydrator: Paula’s Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask
This isn’t new news, but in a society where modern, fast-paced living is a norm, it’s easy to forget that the skin often reflects what’s going on inside of our bodies. Stress—whether self-inflicted or from the environment—manifests through the skin as redness, dryness, irritation or breakouts, which in turn stresses us beauty enthusiasts further and repeats the vicious cycle. But fret not, for there is a cure which comes in the form of an intense overnight mask from Paula’s Choice. Apart from moisturising the mien, this is packed with antioxidant-rich shea butter and glycerin to replenish, as well as reishi mushroom and cloudberry which calm and reduce redness. Best of all, the product is completely fragrance-free, so it doesn’t aggravate my skin condition any further. For those plagued by the aforementioned skin concerns, this mask is the pick for you.
$59 for 88ml, available at Paula’s Choice
7 / 20
Best sheet mask for refining skin texture: Romi Glow Getter Treatment Mask
It might be unrealistic to expect a sheet mask to deliver on smooth, even skin texture, but that is precisely what you get with sustained use of the Romi Glow Getter Treatment Mask. Old acne scarring appears less discernible within two weeks of use, alongside a newfound glow. This can be attributed to Romi’s cocktail of potent ingredients which includes pore-refining niacinamide, brightening Kakadu plum, as well as calming rice extract. Use it twice a week for the best results.
$29, available at Romi
8 / 20
Best brightening mask: Clé de Peau Beauté Brightening Mask Treatment Supreme
The appeal of a sheet mask lies largely in its convenience, but it’s safe to say that the discernible results gleaned from Clé de Peau Beauté multi-step treatment makes the extra time—and effort—worth it. Each set comprises six tubes of the brand’s Brightening Gentle Exfoliator Supreme alongside the Brightening Mask Supreme. For optimal results, it is recommended you exfoliate with the potent solution first and wash it off, before following it up with the mask application. Conceived utilising a multitude of skin-rejuvenating agents such as sea ferment brightener and olive leaf extract, smoother, bouncier skin is observed with just one use. Consistent use over the course of four weeks leads to a glowing, luminous visage, made all the more obvious thanks to the highly-hydrating capabilities of the Brightening Mask Supreme as well. Should you not have the luxury to indulge in the full ritual of this treatment, opt to let the Brightening Mask Supreme sit beyond the recommended 10 minutes and you’d be able to witness a new lustrous dimension to your complexion.
$460, available at Tangs
9 / 20
Best quick-fix mask: Torriden Cellmazing Vita C Brightening Mask Sheet
This is one of those travel essentials you’ll want to pack in your suitcase and carry-ons. A quick-fixer that lathers on Vitamin C within an ultra-moisturising sheet. Your skin get a healthy dose of glycerin, hyaluronic acid alongside other nutrients—ensuring healthier, glowier and even bouncier skin the next morning. Either purchase in loose sheets or in a pack for a consistent routine.
Torriden Cellmazing Vita C Brightening Mask Sheet, $6 for one sheet, available at Olive Young
10 / 20
Best overnight bang for your buck: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
The full benefits of a good night’s sleep are incomplete without an overnight mask. To take advantage of the fact that the body best repairs and regenerates itself as we doze, try incorporating Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask to your nightly routine, which provides boosted hydration till morning with the help of squalene. Smooth, lightweight and easily absorbable, the gel imparts a cooling sensation when applied, and allows me to wake up to refreshed, bouncier skin even if you’ve failed to hit your target number of beauty sleep hours.
$43.35, available at Laneige
11 / 20
Best cosmeceutical mask: Auteur Definitive Optimising Mask
There are elementary masks and then there are formulas designed to act in place of regenerative facials. German brand Auteur’s high active solution merges peptides with AHAs to deliver optimal results with just 20 minutes ingrained in the skin. It utilises X50® Myocept Peptide to reduce expression lines and wrinkles while the X50® Skin Barrier Peptide reconstructs and regenerates the epidermal layer of the skin. On top of that, acids like photic, glycolic and lactic work their respective magic to exfoliate and brighten. The best thing about the mask is that you feel the gears shifting as soon as you slather on the product—a slight tingling and tugging all over—until a thorough wash reveals a firmer, refreshed mien. It’s a clean, transformative effect that you get post-facials.
$376, available at Freia Aesthetics
12 / 20
High performance skin illuminating mask: SK-II Facial Treatment Mask
SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask is not the newest kid on the shelf but there’s a reason why this has been used by leading make-up artists backstage at fashion weeks for years. If you want crystal, clear skin in a flash, this Pitera-drenched paper sheet mask contains over 50 micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organic acids to help skin recover and perform at its best. Use as needed for lit-from-within skin.
$149, available at Tangs
13 / 20
Best sheet mask to score a radiant glow: Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic BioCellulose Brightening Treatment Mask
On days when you’re lacking that youthful, radiant glow, reach for a certain sheet mask from Dr Dennis Gross. Formulated with familiar skincare favourites such as L-Ascorbic acid, lactic acid and niacinamide, you can be sure that 15 minutes of quality time with this piece of film will improve your appearance greatly. Some observable effects after usage include a more even skin tone and a brightened complexion. However, responsible for elevating the experience are the gel-like coconut fibres that make up the mask itself, ensuring that it fits snugly around the contours of the face for maximum absorption and improved ingredient performance.
$22, available at Sephora
14 / 20
Best in-flight mask: Aesop Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque
A win for frequent flyers or those with distressed and dehydrated skin, this lightweight mask soothes and hydrates tired skin with minimal fuss and fanfare (read: no one will ever know you’re even wearing a mask in-flight). Containing healing blue chamomile alongside niacinamide (vitamin B₃) and bisabolol, slather on this translucent gel-like mask to instantly calm inflamed skin. We love that it comes in a travel-friendly tube and can be layered underneath richer creams or boosted with Aesop’s vitamin-rich Damascan Rose Facial Treatment oil for when skin requires some heavy-duty hydration.
$73, available at Aesop
15 / 20
Best clarifying sheet mask for acne-prone skin: Luvum Pore Reset Mud Mask
We all have those days. When it’s pertinent to go above and beyond the usual regime. Luvum’s Pore Reset Mud Mask gets the job done: intended to target clogged pores and smoothen out uneven skin texture by melting away dead skin cells. Once applied, its pore-tightening functions kick in, led by the prime inclusion of natural sea slit mud containing bentonite, which acts as a natural ingredient for sebum absorption and reduction of pores. A gentle wash with lukewarm water gives way to a smoother, more lifted complexion, whilst visibly reducing any redness around pores. The best part? It’s all of the above, without the irritation. Now that’s a winner.
$36 for a box of 5 sheets, available at Ksisters
16 / 20
Easiest on-the-go skin reviver: MZ Skin Vitamin-infused Meso Face Mask
A ‘less is more’ philosophy can often be applied to skincare. Instead of overwhelming the skin barrier by introducing myriad ingredients, of which some may well do more harm than good to certain skin types, one can choose to go easy on their skin with gentler products. Should you be committed to the clean beauty approach, MZ Skin’s Vitamin-infused Meso Face Mask is safe for both you and the planet. Upon wear, a soothing effect is unleashed by aloe leaf juice, while green tea and liquorice extract provide relief to inflamed areas. While it’s unlikely to notice drastic improvement after one use, included antioxidants such as vitamin C and E do wonders for skin texture over time. Locking everything in is star ingredient hyaluronic acid, revealing a supple finish on the cheeks.
$200 for 5, available at MZ Skin
17 / 20
Best under-eye mask: Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches
Cooling to the touch, this bad boy is sure to hit it off instantly with those looking for a bright start to the day. A pair of cooling hydrogel eye patches, these under-eye masks are masterminded out of Professor Bader’s notable TFC8®, Trigger Factor Complex TFC™—a proprietary blend of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides which levels up its adaptive formulations, to smartly address individual skincare concerns and improve cellular renewal. In the case of the under-eyes, one might say that it works against the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and any evidence of hyperpigmentation, whilst its other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and fermented polysaccharide will leave your peepers hydrated and firmed up for the day.
Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches, $142, available at Tangs
18 / 20
Best revitaliser for mature skin: Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask
It’s ok to say it: some skins require a little more than just hydration, and Sisley‘s Black Rose Cream Mask exists for this very reason. The creamy floral-scented mask loaded with trace elements, vitamins and pro-youth actives to give weary, lined, and sallow complexions a boost. It features black rose extract which Sisley claims provides a smoothing, anti-free radical properties alongside plumping antioxidant- and polyphenol-rich Alkekengi Calyx which stimulates collagen synthesis, including vitamin E to reinforce the skin’s barrier. With consistent use, skin feels smoother, appears brighter and feels plump and pillowy to the touch.
$210, available at Sisley
19 / 20
Best all-round youth renewer: La Mer The Lifting and Firming Mask
Can any skincare product offer results as dramatic an in-clinic procedure? Sadly, no and we hate to be the ones to say it. However one can certainly maintain youthful skin (and perhaps prolong the effects of a tweakment or two) with consistent skincare. La Mer‘s The Lifting and Firming Mask wonderfully blurs skincare and self-care together in one pampering, pro-youth combination. Upon application, y0u’ll be cocooned in its wonderfully delicate floral scent. As a cream mask, work the product containing La Mer’s cell-renewing Miracle Broth ferment, potent algae and plant stem cells into your face to plump and promote microcirculation encouraging lifted, glowy skin post-facial.
$515, available at Takashimaya
20 / 20
Best firming and lifting sheet mask: Sooryehan Black Ginseng Firming Mask
As far as Korean skincare ingredients go, ginseng has long earned its stripes. It’s no wonder then, that this bad boy—infused with a generous heaping of ginseng root extract, licorice root and charcoal—is a natural winner for the taking. We’re looking at improved skin elasticity, impurity removal, skin exfoliation, smoother skin texture and a noticeable hydration boost, all in one. Considering the use of herbal ingredients throughout, you can also take refuge in knowing that the sensorial experience is calm, soothing and ideal to unwind under. By way of visible results? A gravity-defying lift for the taking.
$12, available at all The Face Shop Nature Collection outlets
