The beauty industry is riddled with various, sometimes complex, products all claiming to reduce your wrinkles, increase your health and make you look younger all in one product. But it’s difficult to choose the right products when there’s so much information out there. Perhaps the most common beauty hack is the sheet mask, meant to help you look good and feel good at the same time. But what are they, and what exactly do they do? Here’s the ultimate guide on sheet masks and why they’re beneficial for your skincare routine.
What is a Sheet Mask?
A sheet mask is essentially a sheet of material that contains certain ingredients to help improve the overall quality of your skin. There are tons of different types of sheet masks on the market, so some are made from materials like cotton or gel. And some contain ingredients like healthy vitamins, minerals and proteins for your skin.
All sheet masks essentially work in a similar manner, in which you remove the sheet from the packaging and place it on your face. After leaving it on for somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes, you can remove the mask and either rub the excess ingredients into your face or wash the residue off.
Some masks come in a full single face covering that leaves openings for your eyes, nose and mouth, while other masks come in multiple parts where you can place the top portion of your face on first before placing the bottom portion onto your jaw region.
Why are Sheet Masks Beneficial?
They’re Moisturizing
The most common benefit of using sheet masks for your face is the hydration it provides your skin. Sheet masks are soaked in healthy ingredients that are then placed on your face to allow your skin to soak up the vitamins for several minutes. Given that, your skin will feel fully hydrated right after the treatment as well as for hours afterward.
They’re Easy-to-Use
Unlike other masks that require you to scrub your skin prior to using and slather cream on your face to then leave on for half an hour before having to get up and wash it off, sheet face masks only require that you have a clean face beforehand. You can essentially grab a mask, put it on and lay in bed for the rest of the night after just throwing the mask in the trash afterward.
They Provide Skin with Healthy Ingredients
Lastly, sheet face masks are great for your skin because they provide your skin with healthy ingredients. The types of ingredients in your face mask can differ, as each product may cater to certain skin types more than others. But most at least have collagen or retinol in addition to vitamins and minerals that help your skin stay hydrated and healthy. If you’re not sure which products to use, consider purchasing a sheet mask set that contains various masks to try out.
How Do I Use a Sheet Mask?
There are many different products for sheet mask sets, but they all generally require the same treatment. You simply place the mask on your face and leave it on for as long as the directions say on the back of the mask packaging. There are some masks that you can use once a day if you have really dry skin. Or there are others that only require wearing around once or twice a week.
You should always place a sheet mask on only when your skin is cleansed. That way your skin can soak up all of the ingredients it needs quickly without a barrier in the way. After you leave the mask on for up to 30 minutes, you can either leave the residue or wash it off. You don’t need to put moisturizer or any creams on top of your face afterward, as the mask should leave a hydrating feeling.
Overall, there are tons of different sheet masks to choose from. Regardless of the types you choose, think about what you’re looking to get out of the mask set and set out to investigate the ingredients in each one. Once you find the right one, try to incorporate it into your routine and reap the benefits of having healthy skin that looks and feels good.
