The Best Face Masks for Reducing Redness
Struggling with redness this season? Same. And we're far from the only ones. The harsh winter weather has a tendency to take a serious toll on our skin, thanks to factors like wind and aggressively dry air leaving our complexions looking worse for wear. (And that doesn't even take into account the moisture-sucking central heating.) For those out there with easily irritated skin, this means redness is ever-present once winter hits, but whether it's just a seasonal skin woe or you happen to suffer from redness year-round, thankfully there are a slew of calming face masks on the market made specifically for inflamed skin. Ahead, find 11 of treatments — including a few expert recommendations — that really pass the redness-reducing test.
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Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque
1/13Kiehl's
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque
This face mase is a weekly treatment for decongesting pores while you soothe skin with Amazonian white clay, aloe, and oatmeal.
We love it so much we added it to our limited edition 2022 Best of Beauty Allure Beauty Box. You can score the Allure Beauty Box here for access to even more editor favorites — for just $80. Check out beauty's top subscription box on TikTok at @allurebeautybox.
2/13Skin Inc. Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask
Made with gentle and hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and algae extract, this quick-absorbing mask is perfect for those with redness due to severely dehydrated skin. "I like to apply a thin layer of this cooling, gel mask onto the eyes and face for quick treatment," says makeup artist Elisa Flowers. "It's non-irritating and perfect for people with dry, sensitive skin."
$45 (Shop Now)
3/13Dr. Hauschka Soothing Mask
Another favorite of Flowers is this creamy treatment, which contains skin-soothers jojoaba oil and chamomile. "This is excellent for comforting and hydrating dry, red, irritated (as well as sunburned) skin," she tells Allure.
$39 (Shop Now)
4/13Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Mask
Another go-to for appeasing dry and aggravated skin, Flowers says this Origins treatment aids in calming redness caused by acne and rosacea. "This rich, creamy mask re-balances moisture, evens out the complexion, and is loaded with earthy ingredients, such as calming reishi mushrooms and anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger," she explains.
$31 (Shop Now)
5/13Mario Badescu Calma Mask
Makeup artist Ingeborg swears by this green-hued, evening primrose-infused mask for both sensitive and acne-prone skin, as it works to balance the complexion while soothing it at the same time. "I see impressive results after just one use — a total skin-saver," she says.
$22 (Shop Now)
6/13Alchimie Kantic Mask
Another must-have for Ingeborg, this creamy treatment mask is loaded with soothing botanicals, as well as oats and wild pansies, which are known to speed up the recovery of distressed skin. "[This one] is a multi-tasker that leaves the skin calm, smooth, firm, and even-toned," says the makeup artist. Need we say more?
$57 (Shop Now)
7/13Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Sheet Mask
When you're pressed for time and need to calm skin in a flash, these throw-on-and-go sheet masks from French skin-care brand Eau Thermale Avène are serious lifesavers. "I carry them with me on travel jobs as they relieve sun and windburn on location shoots," Ingeborg reveals. (Keep that in mind next time you go skiing in subzero weather, folks.)
$9.50 (Shop Now)
8/13Joanna Vargas Euphoria Mask
Joanna Vargas is a celebrity facialist, founder of her own salon and skin-care collection, and all-around complexion expert. She swears by one of her latest products, the Euphoria Mask (already sounds amazing, no?), for fighting redness, as it contains several ingredients that are known calming agents. "It has aloe vera for soothing sensitive, red skin, plus a lot of chamomile, which is great for calming and hydrating irritated skin," she says. "It also contains hyaluronic acid for calming rawness from extreme dryness."
$75 (Shop Now)
9/13Eau Thermale Avène Antirougeurs Calm Soothing Repair Mask
See, I told you Avène is no joke — even New York City-based dermatologist Sejal Shah recommends the brand. "This is a great mask to help immediately relieve redness, inflammation, and irritation associated with reactive and post-procedure skin," she tells Allure. Shah adds that the mask's thermal spring water specifically calms and soothes stressed-out skin. "It's also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic," she says.
$35 (Shop Now)
10/13REN Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask
As someone who suffers from perennially red facial skin, I've tried a plethora of redness-relieving products on the market, and this mask is easily one of the most effective — at least in my case. The creamy formula contains white mushroom extract to soothe swelling, redness, and itchiness, as well as arnica, which assuages inflammation almost instantly. Throw it on for 10 and your complexion will thank you.
$38 (Shop Now)
11/13First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask
Another one of my must-haves, this ultra-calming mask is chock-full of nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and bisabolol, all of which work to heal and hydrate irritated skin.
$24 (Shop Now)
12/13Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask
This Mario Badescu mask contains super-soothing azulene, chamomile extract, and balsam peru, which is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that comforts distressed complexions (a.k.a. mine.) Plus, it's blue, so you can't lose.
$18 (Shop Now)
13/13Eminence Organic Calm Skin Arnica Masque
Arash Akhavan, board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology & Laser Group in New York City, says this mask is ideal for rosacea-prone skin. "It contains anti-inflammatory arnica and calming oils, such as linseed oil, which soothe irritated skin," he says. What's more: Antioxidants in this formula also aid in fighting off free radicals, which can also cause unwanted inflammation.
$54 (Shop Now)
Hair Texture: Fine-ish
Hair Color: Medium-to-dark brown
Biggest Hair Concern: Breakage, breakage, breakage
Skin Tone: Light/Medium with neutral undertones
Skin Type: Dry/Sensitive
Greatest Skin Concern: Redness ... Read more
