Experts Say These Face Masks Actually Help Heal 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. Rest assured that if you're convinced you can't ever catch a break from its side effects like scarring, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation, you're not alone, and you will get through this. Trusting in a reliable skincare regimen will make all the difference.

When it comes to fading acne scars, a lot of products come into play. There are serums, cleansers, home remedies, and more that you can use for treatment. One of the best products for bringing on clear, glowing, radiant skin is a trusty face mask. Curling up on your couch with Netflix going and a face mask on could be the answer to getting those dark spots to finally fade away. We tapped the pros to figure out which masks have the best acne-fading reputation.

Best Overall: Ren Clean Skincare Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

Active Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

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.

Best Brightening: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask Enzymatic Dermal Resurfacer

Key Ingredients

Alpha-hydroxy acids are a group of acid compounds most often derived from plant- based sources. There are a variety of different ones out there, some of which include glycolic (derived from sugarcane) and lactic (derived from sour milk). While they all act on the surface of the skin as chemical exfoliants, they differ in size and subsequently penetration and potency.

Active Ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, alpha hydroxy acids, aluminum oxide crystals | Size: 5.0 ounces | Cruelty Free: No | ishonest Clean: Yes

Moda 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.

Runner-Up, Best Exfoliating: Noto Botanics Resurface Scrub

Active Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids, walnut shell powder | Size: 2.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

Founder of skincare line Noto Botanics and 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."

Best Sheet Mask: Joanna Vargas Dawn Face Mask

Key Ingredients

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, including the skin, but we cannot produce it on our own. For the skin, it helps to boost collagen, fade discoloration, and fight free radicals.

Active Ingredients: Mandelic acid, vitamin C | Size: 4.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

Exfoliating powers are always a plus when looking to fade acne scars. "This mask has mandelic acid along with vitamin C, so it's both exfoliating and healing, which is perfect for people with acne and scarring,” celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas explains.

Best for Hyperpigmentation: May Lindstrom The Problem Solver Face Mask

Active Ingredients: Raw cacao, rhassoul clay, activated bamboo charcoal | Size: 8.45 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

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 aides with fading hyperpigmentation while also treating current breakouts."

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

Active Ingredients: Pink clay, vitamin C | Size: 1.2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

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.

Best Clay Mask: H is for Love Propolis Face Mask

Active Ingredients: French green clay, kaolin clay, vitamin C | Size: 5.07 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

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.

Best Calming: L: A Bruket Hydrating Face Mask

Active Ingredients: Aloe vera, cucumber extract | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty- Free: Yes | ishonest Clean: Yes

This Swedish skincare line's international skin advisor Teja Mulic always recommends this mask because it's great for soothing the skin and calming down microinflammation, as it's formulated with aloe vera and cucumber extract. "Acne-prone skin is often sore, irritated, and dehydrated from deep cleansers used every day that balance sebum production," Mulic explains. "Therefore, it is ideal to use products with calming and super-hydrating ingredients to balance and calm the inflammation, which helps avoid scars."

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.

Why Trust ishonest

American Academy of Dermatology. Skin conditions by the numbers.

Ewg skin deep® | what is ascorbic acid(Vitamin c). EWG.

Ewg skin deep® | what is mandelic acid. EWG.

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