Sheet masks-an easy, fun skincare treatment that many are familiar with! But, did you know that there is a correct way to use them? And that there are some tips and tricks to help them work more efficiently? Read on to learn more!
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What ARE Sheet Masks?
Sheet masks are made out of various materials and are shaped like, well, a face! These masks are soaked in a concentrated skincare serum and packaged until ready to use. Usually there are eye and mouth cutouts, and different types of masks may have different shapes and cutouts for the nose area.
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Look At Active and Useful Ingredients
Not all sheet masks are created equal! It's all in the formulation! It's important to keep in mind as well, that just because something has a higher price tag, it doesn't mean that it is more effective or better for your skin. There are a variety of skin-loving ingredients, and you want to ensure that they are high up in the ingredient list deck on the packaging. You may also want to research ingredients to treat specific concerns-like tea tree and salicylic acid if you are acne prone and experiencing excess oil!
Look at the ingredients and search for things like:
*Salicylic Acid
*Lactic Acid
*Glycerin
*Hyaluronic Acid
*Tea Tree
*Squalene
*Shea Butter
*Avocado
*Camellia
*Chamomile
*Artemisia
*Ceramides
*Vitamins C, E, A, B3
*Fruit Enzymes (Papaya, Lemon, Apple, Raspberry, Peach)
*Aloe
*Oats
*Sea Buckthorn
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Prep Your Face
Make sure that you have cleansed your face before applying your sheet mask! This way you will not be trapping bad bacteria, excess oil, makeup and debris, etc. in your skin. Cleansing first will also allow the serums and active ingredients in your mask to perform well-leading to a better treatment! Do not apply moisturizer before using a sheet mask! -
Applying The Mask
Once you have cleansed your skin and chosen the your mask, it's time to apply it to your face! If the mask is folded, gently unfold and lay over your face. Check to see if your mask has a backing-some masks, like our Waffle Masks, have backings on them; make sure to remove this so the mask adheres better and the serums can better reach your skin! - Try to make sure the mask makes as much contact with your skin as possible-you don't want many air bubbles or dangling mask edges! You can gently tap and smooth the mask over the contours of your face. If you find that the eye holes or mouth opening are a little too small, you can carefully stretch them to fit better (or you may need to trim the openings a little larger).
Note - Some masks may have a lot of excess of serum-when you remove the mask from its packaging, you can gently squeeze some of this back into the open mask packet.
- Many masks recommend leaving it on for 10-20 minutes, depending on the mask. Do not leave the mask on longer than recommended, as they may dry out and actually remove/absorb moisture back out of the skin! Or it may even cause irritation. Two things we want to avoid!
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Removing The Mask
You can simply gently peel of your sheet mask, starting at an edge and peeling from there. Softly tap in the serum that's left on your skin. If there is serum left in the packaging, you can apply this to your neck, décolleté, and tap more into your facial skin. Follow with your usual skincare routine like eye cream and moisturizer!
Click here to explore our Sheet Masks: Sheet Masks
