What Is an Egg-White Face Mask, and Can It Boost Skin Health?

Egg-white face mask proponents assert that this DIY trend serves several purposes — including calming breakouts and firming the skin.

While in theory there may be some logic behind these claims, based on the nutritional properties of egg whites, the purported benefits are anecdotal and clinical evidence is limited, explains Adam Friedman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.

But there isn’t rigorous clinical evidence that egg whites actually yield similar or beneficial effects as a topical treatment when used on healthy people’s faces and applied at home, Dr. Friedman said.

“A protein film might offer momentary visible or even tactile benefits at best, but it does not translate into meaningful, lasting skin health outcomes or anti-aging benefits,” says Friedman.