Top 10 Brightening Face Masks
Cure Dull, Lackluster Skin With These Brightening Face Masks
Glowing skin is officially in. And contrary to popular belief, you can indeed achieve the look without dousing your face in bronzers, highlighters, and illuminators which—let's be real—can sometimes just give us a post-spin-class sweaty look rather than a golden-goddess one. This is where brightening face masks come in. Packed with antioxidants and skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, a brightening face mask is all you need to hydrate, nourish, and bring back luminosity to lackluster skin. Below, we've rounded up the Top 10 brightening face masks on the market thanks to the help of our unique algorithm that factors in best-selling beauty buzz, real user reviews, editorial recommendations, and more. From an at-home peel that promises to kill acne scars overnight to Miranda Kerr's all-time favorite, the face masks that follow are guaranteed to give you a boost of brightness and the natural, glass-like glow you seek—no sparkly makeup required. Opening image: @koraorganics
Love our 10 Best Brightening Face Masks? Check out our 10 Best Brightening Serums next!
October 1, 2019
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The Rankings
Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
BEST FOR: With a blend of natural BHAs and enzymes, this mask not only gets your glow going, but it'll also kick dark spots and old acne scars to the curb—we're talking overnight, people.
LOVED FOR: This resurfacing mask gives the instant glow you'd get from a traditional peel, sans the downtime and irritation that typically comes with it. In other words, it's the best way to achieve a luxurious, spa-like experience from the comfort of your own couch.
Ren Clean Skincare Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
WHAT IT DOES: While this mask's main duty is boosting brightness, you'll also notice a serious reduction in wrinkles, fine lines, blackheads, and blemishes. This is due to a powerful blend of natural fruit acids—glycolic, lactic, citric, and tartaric—all of which do an excellent job of exfoliating and supporting natural collagen production.
HELPFUL TIP: Since the innovative pump dispenses exactly how much product you need for a perfect masking sesh, there's pretty much no way to overdo it here. This is a good thing because you definitely don't want to overdo it when it comes to acid-packed products.
Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask
WHAT IT DOES: This radiance-reviving mask uses not one, but two types of vitamin C to help reveal glowing, soft, and hydrated skin the second you rinse it off. Packed with Japanese beautyberry and complete with an Instagrammable purple hue, think of this mask as a juice detox, but for your face.
USERS SAID: "This face mask is wonderful! It left my skin smooth, decreased the redness I always had on my cheeks, and it lifted the darkness I had around my eyes! I am so impressed by this product!"
Summer Fridays Overtime Mask
BEST FOR: This buzzed-about mask is all about exfoliating gently and safely with mild exfoliants rather than synthetic abrasives, so it's great if your skin is extra sensitive.
LOVED FOR: Reviewers rave that this mask is perfect for fall—all the way down to the copper-colored packaging and pumpkin spice scent.
Glamglow Flashmud Brightening Treatment
USERS SAID: "I almost never take the time to write a review, but I need to sing the praises of this mask. Every time I use it, I can see a noticeable difference in the brightness of my skin. It gives me a visibly balanced skin tone and has helped fade my dark spots. In short, it is by far the best mask I've ever used."
HELPFUL TIP: Glamglow recommends applying this mask in circular motions to amp up its exfoliating powers.
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
BEST FOR: If your pores appear a little too large for comfort, this brightening and tightening mask is your fix. It acts as a vacuum to draw out excess oil and toxins, combat decongestion, and reveal a luminous, poreless complexion.
FUN FACT: Thanks to the addition of essential oils like lavender and sage, this mask will also effectively fight off blemishes and prevent new ones from forming, too.
I Dew Care Disco Kitten Illuminating Diamond Peel-Off Mask
BEST FOR: With pearl powder to exfoliate and brighten and diamond powder to remove impurities and illuminate, we can assure you that this mask is key to achieving the dewy skin of your dreams.
LOVED FOR: Both satisfying and mess-free, the peel-off formula is a total game-changer.
Kora Organics Turmeric 2-in-1 Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
WHY YOU NEED IT: With turmeric to brighten and papaya enzymes to chemically exfoliate, this two-in-one mask is an excellent way to streamline your skincare routine.
BEST FOR: Since it uses gentle exfoliants rather than AHAs, this mask is ideal for even the most sensitive skin.
Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial
USERS SAID: "I'm on my fourth jar of this lovely, magical stuff. I've never experienced such smooth, soft results all from one product. The first week I used it, I noticed my skin look refreshed, bright, and healthy. It's my go-to product, and I don't think I'll use anything else!"
FUN FACT: To get the most out of your mask, we recommend resisting the urge to use it during the day. Korres specially formulated this product for use overnight because that's when our skin is in "recovery mode," so it's more receptive to the skincare products you apply. Trust us on this one.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial Mask
WHY YOU NEED IT: Formulated with 25% AHA blend and 2% BHA, this mask provides a pro-quality facial at home. Think greater clarity, improved texture and tone, and a more youthful-looking appearance with each use—all for just $80.
FUN FACT: If you don't believe us, just go check out the 200,000 likes and 1,000 reviews on Sephora's website.
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