a woman has applied face sheet mask | Does Face Sheet Masks Really Work

Face Sheet Masks: Everything You Need to Know

While you know the importance of putting on SPF daily and moisturizing your skin come bedtime, sometimes you crave something more to help spice up your regimens. Within the category of face masks are sheet masks, a single-use kind of face mask that is loaded with potential beauty benefits to moisturize, radiate, refresh or clear skin that's in need of something more than your standard skincare routine can offer.

What Are Sheet Masks?

The sheet mask trend stems from South Korea where too much time and effort is usually spent caring for the skin. Sheet masks are an integral part of the skincare routines in Korea, and with the glow-inducing benefits it provides, it easily seems why. Well, a sheet mask is a serum-soaked cloth sheet that has a few holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth. After laying the mask on your face for around 20 minutes, you throw it in the trash and enjoy the radiance and hydration it leaves behind.

Benefits of Sheet Masks

Do sheet masks really work? Let's take a look at the benefits of using a face sheet mask.

Increases ingredient absorption: Most sheet masks consist of butylene glycol, which works as a delivery agent to help ingredients absorb into the skin. They are also of a thinner consistency which allows the solution to be topically applied in a controlled setting for a longer time, thereby increasing absorption.
Easy to use: Unlike other masks on the market, there's nothing fancy required to do a sheet mask. Plus, they're designed to shape your unique facial structure.
Universally beneficial: There's a sheet mask which can be used for virtually every skincare concern, from anti-ageing to redness. This makes face sheet masks useful for any skin type, skin tone, and concern.
Soothes post-treatment skin: sheet masks can be a great addition to your post-treatment or post-peel regime. As these treatments can typically be very drying, a sheet mask might help revitalize the skin's hydration levels.

How to Apply?

There are a few basic rules to keep in mind when using a face sheet mask.

Wash your face: Just like applying skincare products onto dirty skin makes a product useless, applying a sheet mask to dirty skin is not recommended as well.

Apply the sheet mask and let it sit: It is recommended to leave the sheet mask on only for the recommended time on the packaging.

Continue your usual skincare routine: As sheet masks aren't a substitute for your overall skincare routine, if you have selected a daytime sheet mask, do apply SPF afterwards.

How Often to Use Sheet Masks?

For a mask containing active ingredients like glycolic acid or retinol, use only once a week or as directed on the label instructions. Think of sheet masks as a targeted treatment for your skin and then select the one that has ingredients that will address that skincare concern.

How to Find the Right Sheet Mask For Your Skin?

Sheet masks are available in a variety of forms. Different ingredients in each mask are meant for skincare concerns of every end of the spectrum. Here's how to grab the right mask based on your skin.

Oily Skin: Masks containing charcoal, retinol, or clay can help minimise pore size and also remove any excess sebum in the skin. Avoid sheet masks with fragrance, as they can increase skin sensitivity. A charcoal face mask is very effective for oily skin.

Dry Skin: For both dehydrated skin and dry skin, sheet masks can be very beneficial. Look for water-based hydration—aloe, water, chamomile, peptides, ceramides and glycerin are all wonder picks.

Post-Sun: Hydration is always necessary post-sun exposure. Sheet masks containing aloe and glycerine are great options for hydrating your skin, plus popping your mask into the fridge for a few minutes can provide an extra boost of cooling.

Anti-Ageing: If using sheet masks for anti-ageing benefits, look for ingredients like glycolic acid or lactic acid as these will help remove the surface layer of dead skin and provide a youthful glow.

Useful Sheet Mask Tips

Most sheet masks need to be applied the night before sleeping.
Never apply them on top of makeup or on dirty skin.
Don’t waste the remaining essence in the packet--use it on your body or you can pour it into a container to use later.
Don't leave the mask on your skin for too long.
Don’t wash off the essence before going to sleep. You should wash it the next morning.
Use a sheet mask only twice a week.
Oils and creams can always be used after using a sheet mask.
Make sure your skin’s surface is smooth and buffed so that the product can penetrate inside easily.
The effects of sheet masks don’t last more than two-three days, at best.
Their main function is to hydrate the skin, so applying ones with ingredients meant to cleanse or purify skin is just useless.

Take Away

As always, remember that every person’s skin type is different so what might work for someone might not work for you, and vice versa. Some try using them for skin whitening, blackheads and skin nourishment.

So before using any new product, pay special attention to some ingredients that you might have a reaction to.

And perform a patch test before using any new product on your skin. If any problem persists, the best is to consult your dermatologist.