MY TOP SHEET MASKS: FOR GLOWY, PLUMP, HYDRATED SKIN
I’m all about plump, healthy skin. Forget perfect skin. Just give me all the hydration and glow.
I’ve become quite the connoisseur of sheet masks in the past couple of years. Since moving to LA, I’ve noticed that the pollution that comes with city living can really affect my skin. When my skin is feeling dull, or tight (and not in a good way), I love to throw on a sheet mask for a hydrating, chill moment.
Let me paint a picture here. You’re in your apartment, tea (or wine) nearby, ready to apply a sheet mask, and camp out with Netflix. Please hold and read below first for a couple of essential tips.
A Couple Pre-Mask Tips:
I ALWAYS cleanse thoroughly & exfoliate before a sheet mask. Why? I cleanse to get rid of makeup, dirt, bacteria, and so on. I exfoliate with a chemical exfoliator (normally glycolic acid or lactic acid) to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, this way the nutrients from the sheet mask’s serum will sink into my skin and not be blocked by any pesky dead skin cells. If you’re sensitive to chemical exfoliators, try a fruit enzyme exfoliator or a granular physical exfoliator (aka a scrub). Just pretend that your face is like a blown up balloon that you don’t want to pop - that’s how gentle you should be if you’re using a scrub. This helps prevent damage to your skin.
I open up the packaging of the sheet mask to scoop out the excess serum to apply on my face and neck. THEN I apply the mask on my face. If there is still excess serum, I’ll scoop more out and apply on top of the mask. This way you don’t waste any product and you’re packing in the hydration.
Ok, now let’s get to my list of noteworthy masks.
#1 - Make P:rem Double Effect Layering Me Firming Mask.
I’m stockpiling this mask. I love it so much. I always take it with me when I travel. This mask truly turns my skin around. As the name explains, this mask has two layers. The first layer is thin and comfortable. The second layer is SO SOFT, it feels like a pillow on your face. It is thick but flexible. Besides the softness of this mask, it also wins me over with its ear hooks. Yep, it hooks over your ears and holds the mask against your neck and chin. This helps with the lifting effect and, of course, reducing the annoying slip-off-my-face thing that always happens with sheet masks. This mask is a Korean Beauty face mask, packed with many hydrating essences (a serum-like product, but a little thinner in texture). I love a sheet mask that you can wear for a while, this one stays saturated for 20-30 minutes+. Plenty of time for a couple chapters of your favorite book…or even a whole episode of Sex and the City. :)
#2 - Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Sheet Mask
I surprisingly just discovered this sheet mask during my, nearly weekly, Sunday perusal in the Sephora skincare aisles. This brand is considered “clean by Sephora”. I use Farmacy’s cleansing balm in my nightly skincare routine and have been wanting to try out more of their products. This mask has coconut water, which is amazing for hydration. I mean think about it, you drink a little too much wine and you grab a coconut water the next morning. Why? Because you dehydrated yourself, pal. Your skin drinks up coconut water just like your one-too-many-glasses-of-wine self does. This mask also contains our MVP, Hyaluronic Acid. Add in some key antioxidants (antioxidants help defend your cells from damage caused by potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals), and this face mask has locked in its place in my rotation.
#3 - Dr. Jart Ceramidin Facial Mask
This buddy has been in my rotation for a year or so. Similar to the Make P:rem mask listed above, the texture of the mask’s cloth is comfortable, thick, and soft. The serum in the mask is so smooth and luxurious. This mask is perfect for when your skin is feeling particularly dry and lackluster. This mask supports our skin’s ceramides. Cera what? Ceramides - they are our skin’s natural protection barrier. Ceramides are comprised of lipids (essentially organic fatty acids in your skin) and these lipids help form that barrier that protects your skin. The Dr. Jart team says it like this “Think of your skin as a brick wall: when it is first built, it is strong and sturdy. Over time, it needs fortification to remain strong. As we age, we lose ceramides, leading to a decrease in elasticity and moisture”. This mask also contains aloe vera leaf juice, which is very soothing and calming. The mask is very saturated with serum, allowing me to easily enjoy for 20 minutes +, perfect for a mini spa moment at home.
#4 - Peach Slices Hydrate Sheet Mask
We’re back again with a Korean Beauty sheet mask. Korean Beauty has hydration figured out. As the little sister of Peach & Lily, a leading Korean Beauty brand, Peach Slices’ masks held legitimacy for me when I spied them in the Target beauty aisle. This mask is my go-to mask when I need a quick, affordable fix of hydration. At $2.49, I throw in several of these whenever I’m running errands at Target. With all sorts of flower, fruit, and herb extracts, this mask is pack with antioxidants and helps boost hydration in your skin.
#5 - Trader Joes Rich Hydrating Sheet Mask
You read that right, pals. Trader-freaking-Joes. A friend told me she tried this mask and was pleasantly surprised. So a few months ago while I was grabbing quinoa, I stopped at their beauty aisle and picked it up. YOU GUYS. This mask has Vitamin C, Rose Hip Oil, Honey, Turmeric, Green Tea, a bit of Hyaluronic Acid, and MORE amazing ingredients. We see you Trader Joes, we see you. This mask is under $3 and a winner for me. I keep a few of these on hand and throw them on when I need a relaxing moment or some glow. The only thing I don’t like about this mask is that the cloth feels a bit stiff and smells kind of unpleasant to me... but because of those great ingredients, the price, and the glowy results I get - I’m in.
See below for all the links! Enjoy. <3
