We tested 12 of the best face masks to see which ones *actually* work

They say: "Boasting a blend of barrier-replenishing ingredients including the likes of niacinamide, sodium PCA, plant squalane, five forms of ceramides, omega fatty acids and powerful antioxidants, Drunk Elephant's F-Balm effectively rehydrates hungover, overly-parched skin, making it soft and supple."

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: "If you have skin that's usually quite well-behaved, but every now it has a monumental tantrum and throws some monster breakouts, dryness and flakey patches your way, well firstly, I totally relate, and secondly, it's worth giving this mask a try. Drunk Elephant's F-Balm is designed to soothe and hydrate, whilst improving signs of damage, uneven tone and texture. The luxurious balm-like formula feels calming and cooling on the skin, plus, it's totally free-from essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical screens, fragrance/dyes and SLSs. Winner."

Rating: 10/10

They say: "Your skin cells work overtime shedding and renewing themselves. But sometimes—like your desktop—your complexion can get a little cluttered. Perfect for dull or congested skin, this clarifying mask uses vitamin-packed pumpkin and exfoliating apricot seed powder to gently polish away dead skin cells for a luminous effect."

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: "I applied this mask in the hopes that it'd help shed any dead cells on the surface of my skin, unclog pores, and brighten up my complexion. On first impressions, it reminded me of marmalade (not necessarily a bad thing), the grainy texture felt like more of an exfoliating scrub than a traditional face mask.

That being said, the mask worked really well on my congested t-zone. It reduced the appearance of any blackheads and I've noticed less of a shine across my forehead come 3pm. Overall my skin looked brighter, clearer and smoother."

Rating: 8/10

They say: "A blend of charcoal and clay provides an ultra-deep cleanse helping to draw out impurities from the pores to reduce the appearance of blackheads, blemishes and clogged pores. Salicylic Acid exfoliates deep into the pores, promoting a smoother and clearer complexion."

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: "I'm a big fan of The Ordinary, so I had high hopes for this mask, and guess what? It didn't disappoint. Salicylic acid is a powerhouse ingredient for blemish-prone skin, so if like me, you get a few hormonal breakouts every month, it's well worth keeping this in your bathroom cabinet. Apply a layer over the breakout and it'll help speed up the healing time."

Rating: 9/10

They say: "Protective skin care that calms and soothes the driest skin. An ultra-rich balm in a nourishing mask that softens and comforts the skin in just 10 minutes for deeply nourished skin that is soft, supple, radiant and feels great."

Claire Hodgson, Editor-in-Chief: "This face mask has been a lifesaver over winter. I was dubious about trying the "creamy, buttery texture”, as I have combination skin that breaks out easily, but I loved it. I always struggle with dry patches over the colder months that make makeup application almost impossible, but a 10-minute application of this mask before application totally smoothed the texture of my skin. It felt like it plumped me up and gave a shot of moisture, without leaving me oily or greasy."

Rating: 9/10

They say: "The Goddess Skin Clay Mask features ingredients to tighten pores, moisturise your skin and clear imperfections. Now everyone can have flawless, glowing Goddess Skin."

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: "Charlotte Tilbury's skincare doesn't get anywhere near as much hype as it deserves. This clay mask is perfect for combination skin types (like mine), it draws all that gunky stuff out of the pores, whilst also moisturising the skin - yep, really. This is one of the only clay masks I've ever used that doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight afterwards. How? The formula is loaded with sweet almond and rosehip oil to deeply nourish skin.After 10 mins on the skin this mask calms redness, minimises pores, and leaves skin soft and clear - no wonder Charlotte smothers it over celebrities' faces before they walk the red carpet. Expect your foundation to apply like a dream afterwards."

Rating: 10/10

They say: "Stimulate, clarify, and brighten skin with this revitalising mask. The mineral-rich treatment absorbs oil, draws out impurities, and fights breakouts while giving an energising boost to the complexion. Kaolin & sea salt purify while ginseng & aloe vera balance."

Alex Hering, Video Lead: "I was really impressed with this mask. Straight after using my skin looked plumper and had a definite ‘glow’ to it. The mask applies so smoothly – similar to a soft butter texture (not that I’ve ever put butter on my face, but y'know). I left it on for 15mins and after washing it off and towel drying I noticed my skin looked brighter than usual. The next morning my skin was noticeably plump and clear. It looked like I’d slept for 12 hours (sans the pillow marks on my cheeks, obvs)."

Rating: 10/10

They say: " The clay does not contain any additives or fragrance that make it pure, natural, and safe for the skin. It is considered the world's powerful facial formula to heal acne and blemishes. Within a few applications of Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay on the skin. One can find a noticeable transformation in the skin. Further, it beautifies and refreshes the hair when used as a facial mask. On the other hand, it also helps you reduce the redness and dryness of hair skin."

Lia Mappoura, Beauty Assistant: "I'm just going to out right say that I am scared of face masks. Some people are scared of the dark or even ghosts but me? Face masks. And yes, I know that may sound strange but as someone with acne-prone sensitive skin, I tend to be wary about what I use on my skin. This, though, is like nothing I've used before. It is intense but if you leave on for 5-10 minutes top, it works wonders for clearing the pores".

Rating: 9/10

They say: "NIOD Flavanone Mud is a three-phase treatment that purifies, protects and responds. Which means it deeply cleanses and purifies the skin, decongests any environmental toxins, and helps skin build up defences against future damage."

Laura Capon, Acting Beauty Editor: "One of the things I want most in life (apart from the same genes as Jennifer Lopez) is glowing skin. Normally I can only achieve the glow I like from makeup but after using this decongesting face mask, my skin literally glows through my foundation. Packed with three different types of clay, it does have quite a tingling effect but it’s well worth it for the end result and I recommend it to everyone who shares my life of beaming skin."

Rating: 8/10

They say: "This ultra-gentle gel helps soothe, hydrate and detoxify the look of dry, irritated skin with botanical extracts of Cucumber, Papaya, Chamomile, Pineapple, Sugar Maple, Sugarcane, Orange, Lemon, Bilberry and Aloe Vera. Excellent for helping to calm and soothe the skin's appearance after sun exposure, peels, waxing, facials and extractions."

Laura Capon, Acting Beauty Editor: "When I say this face mask literally saved my skin, I’m only being slightly dramatic. After leaving a different (and very potent) face mask on my skin for too long, I was left with skin so red that I genuinely thought I might have to take a trip to the doctors. In my panic I found this in my skincare stash and after applying a thick layer of this cooling gel and leaving it on for 10 minutes, my burning, beetroot-red skin had returned back to normal. If you suffer from sensitive, or easily irritated skin this is a must-have."

Rating: 9/10

They say: "This mask uses the most advanced hydration active technologies, providing deep instant Hydration. It hydrates, moisturises, restores, replenishes and calms the skin. Designed for men and women."

Laura Capon, Acting Beauty Editor: "I love this face mask so much that I’ve used up the entire pot and need to restock. I tend to use it the most in summer and take it on holiday because it feels incredibly cooling on the skin and takes away that horrible tight feeling you get if you’ve been in the sun too long. It’s also one of the first things I reach for when I start to notice more fine lines appearing on my forehead because after a couple of uses it really plumps out my skin."

Rating: 9/10

They say: "This 4-in-1 treatment detoxifies and brightens in only 10 minutes. It tightens pores, boosts radiance and protects against damage caused by pollution."

Dusty Baxter-Wright, Entertainment Editor: "This mask promises to cleanse and detoxify the skin, while refining pores and brightening the complexion. Big asks. The mask smelt non offensive and came with a small brush so application was mess-free and easy, especially because you apply it to dry skin so don’t have to worry about it running. It dries hard after 10 minutes so your get that satisfying my-face-is-about-to-crack feeling, and then you rinse it off with warm water. My skin definitely felt cleansed and soft and looked brighter, but I wasn’t convinced my blackheads had been de-clogged or notice that my pores looked reduced. My skin felt smooth and tighter after multiple uses, but for £39.99, I’d have liked to notice less pores and more glow."

Rating: 7/10

They say: "Black Rose Cream Mask offers the skin "instant youth". Rich in active anti-ageing ingredients, it immediately gets to work on signs of fatigue and leaves the skin looking youthful and energised. It brings together three actions to restore a luminous complexion and redensified skin in just 10 to 15 minutes: a smoothing and plumping action, a revitalising action, and a softening and hydrating action."

Jess Edwards, Executive Editor: "This mask promises ‘instant youth’ – the Holy Grail - through smoothing, plumping and brightening. And it delivers. The instant hydration boost it gives your skin is clearly visible. I have quite sensitive skin, however, and the first time my skin was presented with this scented product, it did show signs of irritation. Thankfully, the irritation didn’t progress past ‘a little bit itchy’ and the third time I applied it, I didn’t notice it at all.My favourite thing about this mask is you don’t really have to take it off. It says on the instructions to remove any excess cream after 10-15 minutes with a cotton wool pad, but honestly my skin seems to soak it all up in that time anyway. The results really are instant – expect, glowy, fresh-looking skin in 10 mins.The main down-side of this product though is the price. I LOVE IT, so much that my camera-roll is now full of ‘no makeup, glowy skin selfies’ but would I pay £100 for it? I don't know."

Rating: 9/10