EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask for dry sensitive skin
Aacomplex
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Bisabolol
Aloe Barbadensis Flower ExtractAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other nourishing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate hydration and barrier support for your dry and sensitive skin, as saccharide isomerate and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant benefits, while jojoba seed oil offers emollient properties to nourish dry skin.
- The formula is generally safe for your dry and sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and focuses on soothing components like bisabolol and lespedeza capitata stem extract leaf.
- While providing good hydration, the product's benefits are primarily supportive rather than directly addressing significant dryness or flakiness.
How to apply
- Use this creamy mask as part of your PM routine. Start applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the creamy mask after cleansing and toning , but right before your final moisturizer.
- Gently press a thin layer of the creamy mask into your skin, and avoid any harsh rubbing.
- For the best results with dry skin , apply the creamy mask directly onto clean skin.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the creamy mask too close to your eyes.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis night mask is highly praised for its lightweight, gel-like texture that effectively calms redness and strengthens the skin barrier without leaving a greasy residue. While it is a favorite for sensitive and acne-prone skin types seeking overnight rejuvenation, a subset of users with severely dry skin noted that it may not provide enough intense moisture on its own.
Highlights
Hydrating and soothing Mostly Mentioned
- “Wake up the next morning to hydrated skin.”
- “My skin feels so soft and with glow.”
- “Hydrates and soothes.”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbing quickly and leaving no residue.”
- “Lightweight, calming gel-like texture.”
- “No greasy or sticky feeling.”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “Takes down redness overnight.”
- “Redness around my cheeks and nose... was noticeably reduced.”
- “Helps reduce redness and irritation.”
Sensitive skin friendly Sometimes Noted
- “Non-reactive for my sensitive skin.”
- “Fragrance-free is also fantastic.”
- “Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “If you have severely dry skin, this is probably not for you.”
- “It might need more hydrating ingredients.”
- “Not as hydrating as CeraVe.”
Irritation potential Rarely Noted
- “Burnt my under-eye skin!”
- “This product dried my skin out.”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “It's not the most hygienic option.”
- “It would be nice if... a pump or a more sanitary dispenser.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, ellemesmedspa.com, bluemercury.com, trustpilot.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask work for dry sensitive skin?
This mask works well for dry sensitive skin by providing moderate moisture and barrier support through ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and soothing bisabolol, though other products fit this skin type better. A product of this type needs richer nourishing oils and deep-hydrating ingredients like glycerin and avocado oil to properly combat significant dryness and keep the skin feeling soft and smooth.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Saccharide isomerate and sodium hyaluronate provide moisture, while bisabolol and jojoba seed oil help calm and nourish dry and sensitive skin. To truly conquer dry skin, a product of this type needs rich nourishing oils and powerful humectants that deeply replenish moisture and relieve heavy flakiness overnight.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998
What does AA Complex do for dry sensitive skin?
AA Complex helps calm dry sensitive skin by reducing redness and irritation while supporting faster skin repair. It also works to keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2020
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This nourishing mask goes in your weekly routine, used after cleansing and before your treatment and moisturizer. A complete routine with gentle moisturizers helps improve hydration and comfort for dry skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your routine, applying it before your treatment step in the evening when using retinol, though a product of this type for dry and sensitive skin needs richer oils and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides to fully handle significant dryness.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this nourishing mask weekly as part of your routine for dry sensitive skin. Because it offers moderate hydration and soothing care, this skin type needs richer moisturizers with heavier nourishing oils and barrier-supporting ingredients to truly thrive.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because its formula lacks heavy, pore-clogging ingredients and focuses on gentle, soothing components. It also does not cause purging since it does not contain active exfoliating ingredients that speed up skin cell turnover.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025An amino acid complex formulated in a Skin Recovery System reduced skin irritation and redness while accelerating the skin repair process in 37 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Why other nourishing masks fit dry sensitive skin better
A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017Glycerol accelerates barrier repair and improves stratum corneum hydration compared to untreated and base-treated sites.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Taurine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Arginine, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Lespedeza Capitata Stem Extract Leaf, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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