The 10 Best Face Masks for Acne Scars

Acne and scarring: Two skin woes that go hand in hand. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over 50 million Americans are affected by acne annually. When it comes to fading acne scars, there are all kinds of product options. From serums to cleansers, home remedies, and more, there is no shortage of formulas that promise to banish acne scars. Of them all, a face mask is one of the best products for bringing on clear, glowing, radiant skin.

"Masks are a huge part of the skincare market," says dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, MD. "The application of face masks offers benefits because they allow for contact with active ingredients under occlusion, i.e a layer of covering. This process enhances penetration of those ingredients."

"Face masks can improve skin healing and accelerate the clearance of associated hyperpigmentation," says dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD. "Face masks that improve moisture retention can temporarily improve the appearance of indented acne scars, but are not a permanent solution."

We tapped Drs. Nazarian and Camp as well as a skin expert and makeup artist to figure out which masks have the best acne-fading reputation.

What to Look for in Face Masks for Acne Scars

Type

From scrubs to creams to sheets and peels, there are several types of face masks to treat acne scars. When exploring masks, consider which specific type will best heal your acne scars. If you’re looking for added exfoliation properties, a scrub is a great option. If you want to avoid messy application, opt for a sheet mask that’s easy to apply and remove.

Formula

Face masks differ in what specifically they target, key ingredients, and how “clean” they are. If you also want to tackle wrinkles or hydrate your skin, look at other listed benefits on the product’s packaging. Finally, if you’re committed to all-natural, vegan, or cruelty-free masks, it’s also important to double-check the product’s packaging and the company’s core values.

Ingredients

As for ingredients, if you have sensitive skin or find yourself irritated by salicylic acid, pay attention to the dominant ingredients to avoid inflammation on top of acne scarring.

"Many masks contain hyaluronic acid, squalane, or ceramides, and these ingredients allow the skin to rebuild itself with the building blocks for retaining and drawing in moisturizer, but really it’s the ingredient in the mask that matters most," says Dr. Nazarian. "Vitamin E is an important ingredient that can improve the appearance of old acne marks and pigment. Masks containing retinol, bakuchiol, or peptides can also stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin fibers, and are probably the best way to really address scars from acne."

Dr. Camp adds that vitamin C protects skin from free oxygen radicals and can improve the appearance of dark spots. "Niacinamide can also help improve the appearance of dark spots while helping to calm skin and even skin tone," he says. "Alpha-hydroxy acids like lactic acid and glycolic acid can act as gentle exfoliants to improve skin texture and brightness."

Keep scrolling to discover the best face masks for acne scars according to our experts.

Best Overall: Ren Clean Skincare Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

What We Like

• Potent formula
• Pump bottle
• Little goes a long way

What We Don't Like

• Strong smell
  

This peel-off mask has an effective concoction of four acids to speed up cell turnover and leave you with baby-soft skin. The powerful grouping of acids helps to even out the skin tone and diminish the look of dark spots over time.

Benefits: Exfoliates, boosts radiance, smooths texture, firms | Active Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Brightening: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

What We Like

• Smells good
• Quick results
• Littles goes a long way

What We Don't Like

• Not ideal for sensitive skin

Mōda artist and skin expert, Dominique Lerma, loves this triple-action mask because it revitalizes dull-looking skin with its exfoliating properties while soothing acne-prone areas. "I am especially a fan because pumpkin is packed with fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids to increase cell turnover and boost collagen production," she says.

Benefits: Exfoliates, peels, boosts radiance, smooths texture | Active Ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, alpha hydroxy acids, aluminum oxide crystals | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty Free: No

Best Exfoliating: Noto Botanics Resurface Scrub

What We Like

• Potent formula
• Natural ingredients
• Preps skin for serum application

What We Don't Like

• Can be drying
  

Makeup artist, Gloria Noto, suggests using this scrub as a mask to reap optimal benefits. All of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) blended with the grounded walnut shells deeply penetrate the skin when you let it seep in for at least five minutes. "Once ready to remove, you are adding extra resurfacing by gently exfoliating the micro-ground walnut shells off of your face," Noto explains. "AHAs are known to help repair and bring fresh skin to the surface."

Benefits: Exfoliates, boosts radiance | Active Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids, walnut shell powder | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Sheet Mask: Joanna Vargas Dawn Face Mask

What We Like

• Potent formula
• Easy to use
• Paraben-free

What We Don't Like

• Pricey

Exfoliating powers are always a plus when looking to fade acne scars. According to celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas, the mask contains mandelic acid along with vitamin C, which makes it exfoliating and healing; the perfect combo for people with acne and scarring.

Benefits: Smooths texture, reduces wrinkles, exfoliates, boosts radiance | Active Ingredients: Mandelic acid, vitamin C | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Size: 4.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Hyperpigmentation: May Lindstrom The Problem Solver Correcting Masque

What We Like

• Warming sensation
• Quick results

What We Don't Like

• Pricey
  

The best remedy for curing cold-weather blues? A warming mask, of course. "This is a warm correcting mask that is rich in raw cacao," Lerma adds. "Its unique formula heals inflammation and aids with fading hyperpigmentation while also treating current breakouts."

Dr. Nazarian adds that hyperpigmentation, although different from classic scarring, happens a lot after breakouts. "You can decrease the production of melanin with certain enzymes, such as licorice root extract, azelaic acid, vitamin C and kojic acid... and you can also use ingredients that stimulate cell turnover and sloughing, such as glycolic acid or other alpha and beta hydroxy acids."

Benefits: Boosts radiance, fades hyperpigmentation, provides antioxidant protection, restores skin barrier | Active Ingredients: Raw cacao, rhassoul clay, activated bamboo charcoal | Skin Type: All | Size: 8.45 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Firming: Palermo Vitamin C Facial Mask - Pink Clay + Rosehip

What We Like

• Non-irritating
• Quick results
• Smells good

What We Don't Like

• Messy application
  

This mask is rich in rosehip, vitamin C, and strawberry extracts. "These ingredients are key in the production of collagen, which can help heal scarring, plump up the skin, and reduce the appearance of sun damage," Noto says.

Benefits: Exfoliates, boosts radiance, firms | Active Ingredients: Pink clay, vitamin C | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Calming: H is for Love Propolis Face Mask

What We Like

• Tingling sensation
• Natural ingredients

What We Don't Like

• Pricey
  

Noto points out the generous amount of clay in this mask, which draws out impurities, deep-cleans clogged pores, and prevents future breakouts and scarring. "This mask also has orange peel and frankincense, which are both known to help heal and purify the skin," she explains.

Benefits: Boosts radiance, unclogs pores, prevents scarring | Active Ingredients: French green clay, kaolin clay, vitamin C | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Size: 5.07 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Oily Skin: Proactiv Skin Purifying Mask

What We Like

• Helps moisturize skin
• Non-greasy, non-comedogenic formula

What We Don't Like

• Unpleasant smell
  

Dr. Nazarian notes that Proactiv's Skin Purifying Mask primarily contains sulfur, but also contains tea tree oil and vitamin E for addressing old acne marks and stains. "It’s meant to be left on for 10 minutes; I find it to be an effective and efficient product if someone has oily skin," she says.

Benefits: Unclogs pores, absorbs excess oil, prevents blemishes | Active Ingredients: Sulfur, tea tree oil, clay, kaolin clay, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Fine Lines: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask

What We Like

• Non-acnegenic
• Helps moisturize skin
• Fragrance-free

What We Don't Like

• Pricey
• Only once a week
  

Acneic skin can be subject to harsh treatments and medications, especially those that dry and irritate your skin. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Mask features a combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients, which make it calming and help fight free-radical damage, which prevents premature skin aging. "It also has ingredients that improve skin's ability to retain and attract moisture and can help with fine lines and wrinkles, and even mild scarring from old acne marks," says Dr. Nazarian. "Additionally, the caffeine that’s included in the formula helps improve puffiness and redness to give skin a fresher appearance."

Benefits: Reduces fine lines, moisturizes skin, brightens skin | Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, algae extract, squalane oil, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 4 masks | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Clarifying: Glytone Acne Clarifying Treatment Mask

What We Like

• Cooling sensation
• Minimizes appearance of pores
  

What We Don't Like

• Can dry out skin

Dr. Camp's pick for a face mask is Glytone's Acne Clarifying Treatment Mask. "Sulfur, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, is combined with glycolic and lactic acid to treat and prevent acne and promote a clearer complexion," he says of the exfoliating mask. Dry and sensitive skin types may want to avoid this pick as it can cause dryness and irritation.

Benefits: Cleans pores, prevents new acne from forming, calms redness | Active Ingredients: Sulfur, lactic acid, glycolic acid, aloe, bisabolol | Skin Type: Oily, Combination | Size: 3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

We're giving top picks to the Ren Clean Skincare Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask. With a powerful blend of four acids to promote quicker cell turnover, this mask will give you soft, even-toned skin and fade your acne scars over time. Have acne scars on your body? Look no further than the Noto Botanics Resurface Scrub. Its gentle but effective blend of AHAs and grounded walnut shells will promote new, healthy, and glowy skin.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Maya Allen is an experienced journalist who has covered all things beauty for Byrdie, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, O, The Oprah Magazine, and many more publications. This article was also reviewed by a certified-board dermatologist, Dr. Rachel Nazarian, whose writing contributions have been featured in Byrdie, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and more.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any face masks for acne scars from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.