17 Best Cruelty-Free Face Masks

Biossance – Squalane + Glycolic Renewal Mask

VEGAN

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When you feel like your dull skin no longer wants to wake up, it is time for this 10-minute acid-based mask-scrub hybrid to bring it back alive. When ready to rinse, massage the mineral spheres in for a gentle scrub. Made with top-notch ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalane, AHA’s and licorice root, the formula helps target dullness and discoloration and leaves skin radiant and glowing for days. It has an initial tingle, but goes away quickly.

Note: this mask will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

Skin type: all skin types

Skin concerns: dullness, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, pores, fine lines

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, alcohol, silicones, synthetic fragrance, animal (by)products, animal testing

Pixi – Glow Mud Mask

VEGAN

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If you suffer from acne, this clay-based mask is your mask. You probably have to try to believe it, but this 15-minute facial starring kaolin and sea salt draws out all the oil and dirt from your imperfections, making them shrink instantly. The mud really gets into the pores, turning them super clean, and keeps skin from breaking out any further. Ginseng and aloe vera balance out the skin and make it look healthy. Pixi’s clay mask dries quickly and is easy to rinse off.  

Skin type: oily and acne-prone skin

Skin concern: acne, congested pores, enlarged pores, oily skin

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, animal (by)products, animal testing

Paula’s Choice – Super Hydrate Overnight Mask

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When winter weather hits and your skin can use a bit of extra moisture, this mask is a very good way to get the job done. The winner of Allure’s Best of Beauty 2020 is formulated with glycerine and shea butter to deeply hydrate and reishi mushrooms to calm the skin and reduce redness. The lightweight gel-cream texture is easy to apply, sinks in fast and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin at all. It can be used as an overnight leave-on mask as well a 20-minute wash-off.

Skin type: dry, dehydrated, irritated skin

Skin concerns: dryness, dehydration, irritated skin

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, animal testing

Ole Henriksen – Cold Plunge Pore Mask

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This turquoise clay mask is a great way to start your day with. It has a cooling sensation and a minty spa-like scent that wake up your senses as well as your skin. It is the perfect step before makeup as it turns skin smooth and radiant. Made with lactic acid and salicylic acid to deep-cleanse and tighten the pores. It keeps oil and acne under control, though is non-drying, which is a rare combination. The mask doesn’t dry hard like some clay masks do, and it rinses off easily.

Note: Don’t forget to wear sunscreen if you are using acid exfoliation. It makes your skin more sensitive to the sun

Skin type: oily and acne-prone skin

Skin concerns: congested pores, enlarged pores, acne, oily skin

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, alcohol, silicones, animal testing

Parent company: Ole Henriksen is owned by LVMH, a company that does test on animals

Drunk Elephant – T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial

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No need to go out for a chemical peel as this exfoliating mask turns skin brand new in 20 minutes from the comfort of your home. Many raving reviews are saying this product improved their skin dramatically. How? The combination of 25% AHA (alpha-hydroxy acids) and 2% BHA (beta-hydroxy acids) eliminates every single dead skin cell there is. It evens out and brightens skin tone and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. No tight feeling skin after this mask, as it comes with marula oil to finish it off. The result: baby-soft skin that is glowing from within.

Note: wear sunscreen on a daily basis when using this mask, the acids can make your skin more sensitive to sun’s rays

Skin type: all skin types except for very sensitive skin

Skin concerns: dullness, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, congested pores, enlarged pores, acne, fine lines

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, fragrance, animal (by)products, animal testing

Parent company: Drunk Elephant is owned by Shiseido which is not a cruelty-free company

Lancer – Clarifying Detox Mask

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Sulfur is one of THE ingredients against acne, making this 3% sulfur mask an outcome for acne-prone skin. It also contains clay (absorbs oil), green tea (anti-inflammatory) and azelaic acid (brightens), that all work together to clean out and minimize pores and heal blemishes. Although sulfur is known to not smell the best (to put it lightly), this mask has a relaxing herbal-citrusy scent.

Just one annoying blemish? This mask also works wonders as a spot treatment.

Skin type: acne-prone skin

Skin concerns: acne, congested pores, oily skin

Free of: paraben, animal testing

REN – Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

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This in one of REN’s bestsellers and once you have tried it you’ll understand why. Formulated with a blend of 4 AHA’s being glycolic, lactic, citric and tartaric, this powerhouse mask cleanses out pores and renews your complexion. The AHAs resurface the skin and visibly improves firmness and reduces fine lines, making this exfoliating mask ideal for aging skin. It also diminishes the visibility of pores, pigmentation and other imperfections and leaves your skin bright and glowing for the rest of the week. The consistency is quite thick and honey-like, yet washes off easily. The skin can be slightly red directly after use, so make sure you have your moisturizer ready. 

Note: wear sunscreen on a daily basis when using this mask, the acids can make your skin more sensitive to sun’s rays

Skin type: all skin types, especially aging skin

Skin concerns: aging skin, dullness, congested pores, enlarged pores, pigmentation, acne scars, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, silicones, synthetic fragrance, animal testing

Parent company: REN is owned by Unilever which is not a cruelty-free company

Aztec Secret – Indian Healing Clay

VEGAN

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Is your acne-prone skin in serious need of a detox? This one-ingredient clay mask will do just that. Clay absorbs excess oil and clarifies the pores to help clear breakouts. This 100% natural calcium bentonite clay is to be mixed with water, or for an even deeper cleanse, with apple cider vinegar. The clay becomes quite hard on the skin and it can feel a little tight when clay-free again, but nothing a moisturizer can’t fix. Best part? It is very affordable and you get a lot of product.

Skin type: acne-prone skin

Skin concerns: acne, oily skin, congested pores, enlarged pores

Free of: paraben, sulfates, silicones, alcohol, oil, synthetic fragrance, animal (by)products, animal testing

Youth To The People – Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

VEGAN

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Has the winter dried out your skin? This rich and creamy overnight mask deeply hydrates while you are sleeping. Besides super moisturizing ingredients squalane and prickly pear, it also contains superberries (read: antioxidants) to target free radicals ánd vitamin C to brighten and even out skin tone. The yellow mask has a light fruity scent which smells good enough to eat. Wake up to skin that is hydrated, revived and glowing. This is what we call a beauty sleep.

Skin type: especially dry skin types

Skin concerns: dry skin, dullness, uneven skin tone

Free of: paraben, sulfates, silicones, alcohol, animal (by)products, animal testing

Herbivore – Blue Tansy Fruit Enzyme Resurfacing Clarity Mask

VEGAN

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Clean beauty lovers can’t get enough of this mask for its refreshing jelly texture and skin-clearing properties. With aloe vera being the first ingredient, we know our skin is going to to love it. The mask also contains glycerin and white willow bark, which is a natural and gentle form of salicylic acid. The papaya and pineapple extracts are there to exfoliate the skin while blue tansy calms and reduces any redness. Bonus for the glass bottle, that you can re-use for whatever.

Skin type: oily and acne-prone skin

Skin concerns: oily skin, acne, dullness, uneven skin texture, enlarged pores

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, synthetic fragrance, animal (by)products, animal testing

Kora Organics – Turmeric 2-in-1 Brightening & Exfoliating Mask

VEGAN

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If you are somebody that likes to feel the scrub but also wants the benefits of an enzyme exfoliation, try Miranda Kerr’s turmeric mask. Using organic rosehip seeds and BHA you get the best of both worlds. The scrub particles are gentle and not abrasive at all. Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components to revive the skin and bring out its natural glow. This facial smells like a spa and leaves skin feeling clean and smooth, never stripped or dry.

Skin type: all skin types

Skin concerns: dullness, uneven skin tone, uneven texture, pigmentation, irritated skin, acne, congested pores

Free of: paraben, sulfates, silicones, animal (by)products, animal testing

Dr. Dennis Gross – Clarifying Mask

VEGAN

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Being part of Dr. Dennis Gross it’s Blemish Solutions collection, this mask is packed with acne-fighting and anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as sulfur, bentonite clay and kaolin clay. 
It has a subtle menthol scent, but doesn’t give a burning sensation. Wear this mask overnight and wake up to clearer looking skin with blemishes and pores looking less noticeable. Unlike some acne-fighting products, this mask doesn’t cause any irritation or dryness. In fact, your skin will feel hydrated and soothed. 

Skin type: acne-prone skin

Skin concern: acne, congested pores, enlarged pores

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, animal (by)products, animal testing

Tata Harper – Resurfacing Mask

VEGAN

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Having a date or other occasion where you want to look your absolute best? In 20 minutes, this all-natural exfoliating mask purifies and brightens skin and reveals a serious glow. With several uses it evens out skin tone and improves the overall look of it. As this rosy-scented mask sets there can be a slight tingling sensation.

Skin type: all

Skin concerns: dullness, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, congested pores, enlarged pores, acne

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, oil, animal (by)products, animal testing

The Ordinary – AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

VEGAN

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Together with Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial, this is the most powerful exfoliating mask of this list. The high concentration of 30% AHA’s slouches off all dead skin cells, meanwhile the 2% BHA goes deeply into the pores to push out all excess oil and dirt. The 10-minute mask leaves skin clear with diminishes pores, acne scars and other imperfections. Don’t use this more than once a week and promise to wear sunscreen when using this mask.

Note: this is a high concentration of acids, don’t use it longer than 10 minutes and wear sunscreen

Skin type: all but very sensitive

Skin concerns: congested pores, acne, uneven skin texture, fine lines

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, oil, animal (by)products, gluten, animal testing

Parent company: The Ordinary is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that does test on animals

Korres – Hydra-Biome Yoghurt Mask

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From Greece with love. This mask is packed with high quality skin-loving ingredients, of which the second ingredient being yoghurt (first ingredient is water). Yoghurt is high in probiotics, which hydrate and is also known to help with fungal acne. It reduces redness and sensitivity. This mask also contain lactic acid for exfoliation and tons of hydrating oils and antioxidants. Skin is left fresh, hydrated and plump. It is also a perfect mask after a hot summer day to cool and relieve the skin.

Skin type: all skin types

Skin concerns: dryness, (fungal) acne, redness, irritated and sunburned skin

Free of: paraben, sulfates, animal testing

Antipodes – Aura Manuka Honey Mask

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This all-natural mask is made with the superfood manuka honey. Manuka honey is a natural humectant that is only found in New Zealand and is famous for its healing and calming properties. Together with glycerin, vitamin E and sunflower seed oil, this cleansing face mask locks in moisture, clears blemishes and calms down red and inflamed skin. As it is honey-based, the creamy formula washes off best with a wash cloth. This mask also works wonders as a spot treatment and potentially for eczema and rosacea.

Skin type: oily, dry, acne-prone, irritated skin

Skin concerns: acne, irritated skin, eczema, rosacea

Free of: paraben, sulfates, alcohol, silicones, animal testing

Glow Recipe – Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

VEGAN

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Besides being very hydrating, watermelon is full of antioxidants which are known to lower free radical effects, in other words: slow down the signs of aging. Watermelon is also high in vitamin A, which can help with acne as it reduces skin pore size and oil production. This watermelon sleeping mask also contains lactic acid to hydrate and glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and brighten the complexion. It is a lightweight gel-like consistency that is very suitable for oily and combination skin. This is one of the K-beauty brand’s most popular products, and we understand why. Oh, and it smells just like watermelon.

Skin type: all, especially oily, combination and acne-prone skin

Skin concerns: oily skin, acne, congested pores

Free of: paraben, sulfates, oil, animal (by)products, animal testing