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Byrdie / Danie Drankwalter
When you're dealing with a blemish-prone complexion, your daily skincare routine is of the essence. But what about the stuff you use once in a while, like a face mask? As it turns out, the sheet variety might give you a boost in pimple-fighting power while calming inflammation and potentially helping fade acne scars.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask, which uses a combination of salicylic acid to unclog pores, tea tree to prevent new breakouts, and chamomile to calm inflamed skin. For a more affordable pick, consider Yes To Tomatoes Acne Fighting Paper Mask, which also contains salicylic acid as well as fruit enzymes to encourage cell turnover and purge pores.
According to Picky medical advisor Claudia Christin, MBBS, PhD, masks aren't always as effective as leave-on products simply because they're on your skin for a short period. "However," she says, "there are some ingredients you can look for that may help fade acne scars" and keep breakouts at bay.
"A face mask with exfoliating ingredients may help remove the pigmented skin cells to reveal brighter, [more] even-toned skin," Christin tells Byrdie. She recommends alpha-, beta-, and poly-hydroxy acids (AHA, BHA, and PHA, respectively).
We conducted hours of research on the best sheet masks for acne. We tried some of the top-rated masks out there; our testers took note of how effectively they cleared pimples, unclogged pores, and the effect the masks had on skin texture. We also considered a range of skin types and concerns, from sensitive to oily and everything in between. Our team then combined these results with our own research of fan favorites plus skin-expert picks to create this list.
We rounded up the best sheet masks for acne below.
Best Overall
Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Healing Solution Mask Sheet
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Stylevana
Gently exfoliates
Unclogs pores
Calms inflammation
Nothing
The best option in the battle against breakouts comes from Korea's leading sheet mask brand, Mediheal. The Essential Blemish Control Mask calls on BHA superhero salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and unclog pores while chamomile calms any redness you currently have, and tea tree oil helps keep future pimples at bay.
This K-beauty favorite comes in packs of one or five, each individually wrapped. Just place the sheet over your face, leave it on for about 15 minutes, and gently massage any remaining product into your skin or rinse it off if it feels tingly.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, chamomile | Benefits: Prevents breakouts, controls oil production | Skin Type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Amount: 1 or 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
Yes To Tomatoes Acne-Fighting Paper Mask
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Amazon
Affordable
Gently exfoliates
Treats and prevents
Contains synthetic fragrance
One of the budget-friendliest options that actually lives up to its claims, this treatment mask contains salicylic acid and pumpkin enzymes to help clear and prevent pimples.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, pumpkin enzymes | Benefits: Clears skin, prevents breakouts | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, combination | Amount: 1 or 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
Garnier SkinActive Super Purifying Charcoal Sheet Mask
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Amazon
Affordable
Absorbs impurities
Fades scars
Contains PEGs
Contains synthetic fragrance
From the drugstore, we like Garnier SkinActive. This sheet mask contains charcoal to draw out impurities and reduce shine, while algae extract helps fade acne marks.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Charcoal, algae extract | Benefits: Hydrating, purifying | Skin Type: All | Amount: 1 or 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Oil-Free
Karuna Clarifying+ Facial Sheet Mask
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Ulta
Non-comedogenic
Gently exfoliates
Calms inflammation
Contains PEGs
Contains synthetic fragrance
Oil-free products are ideal for acne-prone skin, as they're unlikely to clog your pores. Not only will this non-comedogenic mask not clog your pores, but it'll actually help clear them out, thanks to a blend of BHA and honey.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, honey | Benefits: Unclogs pores | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Amount: 1 or 4 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Oily Skin
Talika Bio Enzymes Purifying Face Mask
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Amazon
Adheres well
No messy drips
Noticeable results
High price per mask
This option from Talika was a hit with our home tester, who said it made her skin look visibly brighter and more radiant. She also liked that the mask adhered well to her face without any messy drips.
Price at time of publish: $13
Active Ingredients: Plant enzymes | Benefits: Unclogs pores, controls oil | Skin Type: Oily, combination | Amount: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What Our Testers Say
“My skin didn't feel tight, greasy, or overly saturated with the product, and I immediately noticed that my skin's overall tone was significantly more even and clear.” — Erin Jahns, Product Tester
Best for Clogged Pores
Ulta Beauty Clarifying Honey Peel Off Mask
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Ulta
Affordable
Reduces shine
Clarifying
Not ideal for sensitive skin
Contains synthetic fragrance
Clogged pores? This peel-off mask is your best bet. The honey-infused formula works to absorb excess shine, clarify your complexion, and balance oil production.
Price at time of publish: $4
Active Ingredients: Honey extract | Benefits: Unclogs pores, balances oil production | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, combination | Amount: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Treatment
Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution
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Amazon
Controls sebum production
Treats and prevents
Calms inflammation
High price per sheet
Contains PEGs
This treatment mask from Dr. Jart+ delivers a one-two punch of acne-fighting power. Salicylic acid gently exfoliates and controls sebum production, while tea tree oil works on keeping your complexion clear.
Price at time of publish: $9
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree oil | Benefits: Clears skin, evens tone | Skin Type: All | Amount: 1 or 5 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Skin-Clearing
ZitSticka Press Refresh Hydrogel Exfoliating Sheet Mask
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ZitSticka
Gently exfoliates
Smooths uneven texture
Reduces redness
Contains PEGs
Contains synthetic fragrance
Press Refresh contains both AHA and BHA, as recommended by Dr. Christin, to gently exfoliate, smooth uneven texture, and increase cell turnover. You'll also get a dose of redness-reducing, skin-clearing niacinamide (vitamin B3).
Price at time of publish: $36
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide | Benefits: Exfoliating, unclogs pores | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Amount: 1 or 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Exfoliating
iNNBEAUTY Project Face Time Magic-Melting Peel
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iNNBEAUTY Project
Smooths uneven texture
Fades scars
Reduces redness
Not technically a sheet
InnBeauty's Magic-Melting Peel contains AHA lactic acid plus PHA, two derm-recommended ingredients for gentle exfoliation. In addition to smoother, more even-toned skin, you can expect a clearer complexion with minimal redness.
Price at time of publish: $42
Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, polyhydroxy acid, niacinamide | Benefits: Smooths skin, evens tone | Skin Type: All | Amount: 1 or 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Soothing
Avène Soothing Sheet Mask
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Bluemercury
Reduces redness
Non-comedogenic
Adheres well
High price per mask
As with all Avène products, this sheet mask leans on its signature thermal spring water to calm inflammation and reduce redness associated with breakouts. And since it's non-comedogenic, it won't clog your pores.
Price at time of publish: $42
Active Ingredients: Thermal spring water | Benefits: Calms inflammation | Skin Type: All | Amount: 5 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Pore-Minimizing
TonyMoly Tako Pore One Shot Nose Pack
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Amazon
Affordable
Absorbs impurities
Controls sebum production
Contains PEGs
Doesn't cover entire face
We're sorry to say there's nothing you can do to make your pores go away. However, this cute little sheet mask can help shrink the appearance of the ones on your T-zone while giving blackheads the boot.
Price at time of publish: $4
Active Ingredients: Marine extracts, dead sea salt, Madagascar mud | Benefits: Unclogs pores, tightens skin | Skin Type: Oily, combination, acne-prone | Amount: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Preventative
Patchology Moodmask The Good Fight Clear Skin Sheet Mask
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Patchology
Gently exfoliates
Absorbs impurities
Fights bacteria
Contains PEGs
Contains synthetic fragrance
If you're trying to prevent acne, The Good Fight contains active preemptive ingredients. A powerful yet non-irritating blend of salicylic acid and tea tree oil gently exfoliates to clear your pores while tackling blemish-causing bacteria.
Price at time of publish: $5
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree extract | Benefits: Helps prevent breakouts, balances oil production | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, combination | Amount: 1 or 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best K-Beauty
Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Mask Pack
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Amazon
Reduces redness
Treats and prevents
Nothing
Korean beauty brands reign in the sheet mask category, and Benton is no exception. Centella Mask Pack leans on cica (Centella asiatica) to soothe inflammation, heal current blemishes, and prevent more from cropping up.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Centella asiatica | Benefits: Calms inflammation, heals blemishes | Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone, sensitive | Amount: 1 or 10 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Quick-Fix
MMSkincare MMBalance Face Mask
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MMSkincare
Calms inflammation
Non-comedogenic
Dermatologist-developed
Expensive
Contains PEGs
Balance Face Mask is packed with oil-balancing properties, making it a good choice for those with oily or combination skin. Niacinamide helps to support skin barrier function, helping to heal active pimples without irritation, which makes this product ideal for use in a pinch.
Price at time of publish: $22
Active Ingredients: Canadian willow herb, niacinamide | Benefits: Adapts to skin's needs | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, combination | Amount: 1 or 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
Our number one pick is Mediheal's Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask, which calls on BHA and tea tree oil to tackle breakouts and chamomile to calm your skin. But if you're looking for a little more exfoliating action, go with ZitSticka Press Refresh Hydrogel Sheet Mask.
Meet the Expert
- Claudia Christin, MBBS, is a certified medical doctor with a PhD in dermatology from Seoul National University. A medical advisor at Picky, she focuses on educating people about skincare science and cosmetic formulas.
- Ellen Marmur, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of MMSkincare.
What to Look for in a Sheet Mask for Acne
Acne-fighting ingredients
In order to treat acne, you need acne-fighting ingredients. Opt to choose formulas that are made with ingredients that help eliminate and treat acne. AHAs (salicylic acid, glycolic acid, etc.) and green tea are just some of the ingredients that will help rid your skin of pesky breakouts. These ingredients may also help with other skin conditions, like hyperpigmentation.
Comfortable wear
A mask that wears comfortably can enhance the self-care experience. Look for masks that appear to be cut to the size of your face or are designed to adhere to its contours.
Formula
Because there are so many different sheet masks out there, make sure you choose the ones that are designed to treat acne. They'll typically contain acne-fighting ingredients and work to treat and prevent breakouts. Try to also find a formula that claims to clarify or purify and helps reduce excess sebum production, which can cause more oil (and breakouts).
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a commerce beauty writer and skincare savant. For this story, she compiled insights from a PhD in dermatology and a board-certified dermatologist, who provided expertise into the best ingredients for treating, preventing, and healing acne. She looked at dozens of options from a broad range of brands, referenced peer-reviewed articles on different formulations, and ultimately selected those that offered effective results with minimal irritation. Additionally, she consulted our testing insights to help inform her decisions. You can find more of Theresa's bylines on MyDomaine and The Spruce.
Byrdie contributor Erin Jahns is a hair, makeup, and nails expert and beauty editor with over five years of experience in the industry. She is currently the senior beauty editor at WhoWhatWear.
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