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

Egg whites are a popular breakfast option — but can this food also improve your skin when applied topically?

One of the latest TikTok beauty trends involves using raw egg whites as a homemade face mask. Some skin-care enthusiasts swear by its anti-aging and breakout-clearing effects.

Here’s what experts say you should know before trying this facial treatment at home.

Recipes on social media call for placing at least one egg white in a bowl and whisking it with a fork or other utensil until the consistency is smooth. Some people also combine additional ingredients like honey or lemon juice while whisking, although they’re not a necessary part of this mixture.

From there, the egg-white blend is applied to the face by hand or with a face mask brush applicator. Some people place a layer or two of tissue paper on top of the egg whites to create a sheet mask effect.

The mask is left on the face for about 10 to 15 minutes in order to garner the potential results, according to several videos. Many users report incorporating the egg-white mask into their skin-care routine a few times per week.

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.

Like other at-home beauty trends, this one doesn’t come without potential risks — particularly because the main ingredient hasn’t been clinically tested on human skin. Plus, homemade ingredients vary in concentration and purity, says board-certified dermatologist Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at New York Medical College.

Here are some of the potential risks that may come with using an egg-white mask at home:

• Allergic reaction: It’s possible that coming into contact with raw egg whites can lead to an allergic reaction — even if you’ve never been diagnosed with an egg allergy before. This can occur from the topical exposure to egg whites, or via accidental ingestion. The result could be hives on the skin or a more severe reaction.

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• Salmonella infection: Raw egg whites can be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which may lead to an infection that has the potential to be severe — particularly in older adults, babies, and people with compromised immune systems.

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  This infection can occur if you have a small break in the skin while applying an egg-white mask, or if you accidentally get some of the mixture in your nose, mouth, or eyes.
• Skin irritation: The proteins found in raw egg whites might trigger irritation on the skin or contact dermatitis, which happens when your skin is exposed to a substance that it’s sensitive to.

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  Because contact dermatitis is fairly common, experts say the chances of a skin irritation occurring after trying an egg-white mask are likely higher than getting an infection or experiencing an allergic reaction — particularly if you have sensitive or compromised skin.

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Most important, people with a known egg allergy should steer clear of this mask.

For others, Friedman says the risks still outweigh the benefits. And if you try it, know that you’re taking on all of these aforementioned risks, he says.

“DIY can be good social media clickbait, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your skin barrier,” he explains.

In addition to potential infection and irritation risks, experts generally discourage food-based DIY masks simply because natural doesn’t always equal better, notes Anthony Rossi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and founder of Dr Rossi DERM MD (which sells Dr. Rossi’s own line of skin-care of products).

“I’d say you’re better off eating egg whites for the nutritional value,” Rossi says. For face masks, there are definitely other substitutes.

Here are a few lower-risk, better-studied, and potentially more effective natural ingredients to use at home instead of egg whites — as long as you aren’t applying to broken or infected skin:

• Oatmeal: Research has shown that colloidal oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties and can be effectively used to treat dry, irritated skin. Mixing the oatmeal and water to form a paste for a face mask — or adding colloidal oatmeal to your bathtub for the skin on your body — can help soothe dry, itchy, or eczema-prone skin, says Marmon.

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• Aloe vera: Experts recommend aloe vera plant extract for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and moisturizing properties — which may be especially useful after sun exposure. Occasionally applying a layer of gel from the aloe vera plant to damp skin can help soothe mild skin irritation from a sunburn or acne, says Rossi.

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• Honey: According to studies, this sweetener — particularly raw or medical grade honey, such as manuka — can be safely applied to the skin for antibacterial, hydration, and wound-healing purposes. Marmon says that while this ingredient is not often recommended for use directly all over the face, a small amount may be lightly applied to the skin for minor spot treatment.

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In lieu of a DIY egg-white mixture, look for these store-bought skin mask product options, Friedman suggests:

• Clay masks made with kaolin or bentonite clay, which can help absorb excess skin oil and contribute to clearer skin.

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• Sheet masks containing niacinamide or hyaluronic acid, which offer hydration and skin barrier function support.

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• Peptide-based masks, which may encourage anti-aging effects.

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• Homemade egg-white face masks have been anecdotally touted on social media for their purported ability to smooth, tighten, and clear up skin.
• While some people may experience short-lived or superficial results from the proteins found in eggs, experts suggest proceeding with caution.
• Contact with raw egg whites comes with the risk of exposure to salmonella bacteria and may trigger skin irritation.
• To be safe, consider checking with a healthcare provider to discuss evidence-based skin-care products before trying this trend.