While some skin care brands fade away, Erno Laszlo has stood the test of time for nearly a century. Founded by a legendary Hungarian dermatologist famous for treating the skin of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Greta Garbo, and more, the brand built a reputation for customized skin care routines and double cleansing long before it became an industry buzzword. One of my favorite products in the lineup is the Tightening Treatment Mask (also a 2026 NewBeauty Award winner). Here’s why:

Benefits of Erno Laszlo’s Tightening Treatment Mask

Unlike your average sheet or cream mask, this is a two-step modeling mask that feels like an at-home spa treatment where you can also play beauty chemist. Like the brand’s cult-classic Vitality Treatment Mask (which sells one every four seconds around the world), mix liquid activators and mineral powder, mix for about a minute until a smooth mousse-like consistency, then apply generously. The texture is surprisingly satisfying, thick enough to adhere without dripping, yet light enough to glide over the skin. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and it transforms into the rubberized peel-off mask that my fellow beauty addicts and I know and love.

But what is happening to your skin during those 15 minutes? Tightening active ingredients like Hexapeptide-9 and Hydrobiome Microfermentation target visible signs of aging to lift, tighten and smooth skin. Hexapeptide-9 in particular is a highly effective signal peptide that not only stimulates cells to repair damage and promote collagen production, but also strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier. It also contains an advanced mineral complex that helps purify and soothe. I also like that this formula addresses glycation. Glycation is one of the less discussed causes of visible aging, causing skin to lose firmness and elasticity.

Peeling off the mask is the most satisfying part of the experience. If you apply it thick enough (and don’t skimp), it has a weird rubber mask effect that lifts and instantly refreshes your skin. After one use, my skin looked smoother and firmer, especially along the jawline and cheekbones. Perfect for your weekly skin reset (the perfect addition to your Sunday self-care routine) or as a step to prep your skin before a big event.

clinical results

In clinical studies, participants saw a 17 percent increase in skin firmness and a 20 percent increase in skin firmness after just one use of the mask. After using the mask weekly for 28 days, participants showed a 23% reduction in the amount of wrinkles. 100% of users said their skin felt firmer, supple, and plumper. And 97% of people said their fine lines were improved and their skin looked lifted.

conclusion

At $110 for four masks, this is definitely in the luxury category, but it feels like it’s worth the splurge (it’s also a great gift for the girl who has it all). Between the ritualistic experience and visible results post-mask, this is the kind of product you’d expect from a brand whose founder helped shape modern skin care almost 100 years ago.