Of all the beauty categories that are filled to the brim with various competitors, sheet masks may be the most saturated. Ironically, saturation is an important differentiator between sheet masks. Sheet masks are a dime a dozen, and to the untrained consumer, may seem like they are all the same. But this is far from true. Because there are so many sheet masks, many of which have eye-catching and gimmicky packaging, it can be hard to know which are worth your money and will actually do your skin good.
Many sheet masks are made with subpar ingredients or strong fragrances that can cause irritation. Or, perhaps worse, they have hardly any product at all so you’re wasting your time putting a nearly dry mask on your face, hoping something happens. So how do you weed out the quality from the fluff?
How We Tested
As a beauty expert, I spend my days testing skincare and makeup products in every category, and have been writing about them in magazines and talking about them on TV for more than a decade. Face masks also happen to be a way of life for me.
Sheet masks were one of the first self-care products I ever used (even before the term ‘self care’ had been coined). They started as a fun way to pamper myself, then turned into a relaxing way to unwind after a long day and finally evolved into an important part of my skincare routine. I am officially what I call a “masker.” I no longer use face masks on occasion, but rather on an every-third-night rotation as part of my extensive, multi-faceted skincare routine.
Sheet masks are not only a foundational part of the face mask world, I also find them to be intrinsically approachable, even for those typically intimidated by or uninterested in other beauty treatments. That is part of the reason why the market is so saturated! But trust me when I say, not all sheet masks are created equal. I’ve had more than one break me out into a full face rash that took weeks to subside. I’ve also used ones that were barely damp, scratchy and uncomfortable to wear and just a miserable experience in general.
So to break down the noise of the category, below are my five top favorite sheet masks. With so many out there, these picks stand apart.
The 5 Best Sheet Masks We Tested and Loved
Soon Skincare Biocellulose Brightening Face Mask
Why It Made the List: In a word, biocellulose. Not only does this mask feel like a cool, gel-like second skin that I quite frankly wish I could leave on my face forever, it also clings to your skin to help lock the serum in, so your face can absorb every bit of the ingredients (niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture and adenosine to increase collagen production, to name a couple). Luckily, it also happens to be soaked in enough serum that you can wear the mask for a very long time without it ever drying out. The result is hydrated, smooth, soft, glowing, happy skin.
Pros:
- Drenched in serum
- Can be worn for hours without drying out
- Leaves skin visibly improved
Cons:
- At $20 for one sheet mask, this doesn’t fit into the budget-friendly category.
Price: $20 at SoonSkincare.com
ESW Green Reset Anti Aging Raw Juice Mask
Why It Made the List: Sure, I criticized gimmicky packaging, but fun packaging that delivers? That’s just fine by me. This mask plays to the idea of being a juice cleanse for your skin, which is intriguing for a juice cleanse lover like myself. Plus, since it’s made with extracts from kale, broccoli, spinach and apple, it actually delivers a huge boost of collagen, antioxidants, Vitamin C and retinoids to your skin, so it really does live up to the packaging claims. The soft mask and excess of serum is instantly cooling and soothing, and skin looks healthier and feels restored and resilient when it’s removed.
Pros:
- Made with clean, real ingredients
- Sustainable
- Drenched in serum
Cons:
- There is so much serum on the super-soft fabric that it can be hard to unfold when you pull it out of the package.
Price: $6 at ESWBeauty.com
GLAMGLOW BubbleSheet Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask
Why It Made the List: Typically, when you think of a deep clean to your pores, you think of using a clay mask, but this unique mask actually opens your pores with bubbling cleanser, so that oxygen (and product) can get deep within your skin. The experience is not only fun (the mask starts out black and then develops a thick layer of white bubbles on top), but also perky, as the slight tingle and citrusy smell wake up your senses and skin. The final result is skin that feels noticeably more ‘open’ and clean. Your pores may not feel clogged now, but after using this mask, they will feel so incredibly revived and awake that you’ll realize just how clogged they must have been.
Pros:
- Detoxes your skin
- Has a subtle tingle
- Leaves your skin feeling ultra clean
Cons:
- So many bubbles form that they begin to drip off if you do anything too active while wearing this mask.
Price: $9 at Sephora
I Dew Care Here’s the Tea Tree Soothing Sheet Mask
Why It Made the List: Often masks that target oily skin or blemishes end up being drying, and then you’re left with a whole new set of problems. This mask is infused with tea tree and herbs and focuses on overall balance, so it soothes and treats blemishes, inflammation and excessive oiliness. Skin feels fresh and calm when you remove it, and blemishes diminish over time.
Pros:
- Calming
- Smells fresh
- Clears and soothes
Cons:
- Paper mask isn’t as soft as some others.
Price: $22 at Amazon.com
Joanna Vargas Euphoria Sheet Mask
Why It Made the List: Joanna Vargas is a NYC-based esthetician whose clients include the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rachel Brosnahan, Mindy Kaling and Keri Russell — just to scratch the surface. One use of this mask, and it’s clear why the woman behind it is the skin care expert to the stars. It’s a bold claim, but I can easily say that of all the sheet masks I’ve ever used, this one offered the most luxurious experience. The entire mask from the fabric to the serum to the scent feels high-end and special, and when you take it off, your skin looks touched by an angel. Second only to having Vargas herself pamper your skin?
Pros:
- Calms redness
- Nourishes skin
- Super soft fabric
- Luxurious experience
Cons:
- The mask only comes in a set of five, so it’s a pricier initial purchase.
Price: $75 at JoannaVargas.com (for five sheets)
The post Editors’ Choice These 5 Sheet Masks Outperform All the Others We’ve Tried appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
