Sheet masks have been popping up all over social media this year, and for good reason—they consistently can help brighten, tighten, hydrate the appearance of the skin, and leave you looking beautiful in a flash.

Though there seems to be more sheet masks around today than Starbucks, not all sheet masks are created the same.

They have a few distinguishing factors, including their feel, fit and function.

If you are considering trying the latest skin care craze, it’s important to know how they work in order to choose the best one for your skin.

What to Look For in a Sheet Mask

The Function / Ingredients

The number one thing to look for in a sheet mask is the ingredients. This is what separates one mask from another.

Look for a mask that sets itself apart from the crowd with ingredients like Seaweed, the best skin care ingredient, and technologically advanced skin care ingredients like peptides. A few key peptides to look out for:

• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 – A chain of three amino acids that works in conjunction with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. Known to help increase the appearance of elasticity.
• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 – A chain of three amino acids known to help increase the appearance of firmness and tightness in the skin.
• Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 – A chain of four amino acids known to help reduce the appearance of puffiness.
• Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 – A chain of six amino acids known to help increase hydration in the skin through water-binding properties and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Other sheet mask ingredients with serious skin benefits:

• Niacinamide – Also known as Vitamin B3, functions to brighten the appearance of skin while promoting hydration and improving the overall look of skin.
• Adenosine – These proteins are known to play a crucial role in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines that appear on our skin as we age.
• Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract and Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract – Provides the skin with immediate smoothing of facial wrinkles.
• Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) – Extremely moisturizing to the skin. Natural moisturizing polysaccharide present in the skin. Is known to hold 100x its weight in water.
• Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice  – Contains over 200 substances, including 20 minerals, 20 amino acids, 12 vitamins, and active enzymes.
• Enteromorpha Compressa Extract (Ulva) – A yellow green seaweed that is known for its soothing sensation.
• Mirabilis Jalapa Extract – Native to tropical America, Mirabilis Jalapa is commonly used in areas of Brazil. This extract is known to be useful in the presence of dry skin.
• Alpha Arbutin – A new active ingredient in powder form known to help brighten the appearance of uneven skin
• Diglucosyl Gallic Acid (DGA) – More potent than Vitamin C and Kojic Acid, this ingredient is known to help restore a perfect-looking complexion while it helps even the appearance of the skin tone.
• Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract – Ingredient known for brightening the appearance of the skin.
• Carrageenan – Derived from red algae known as Irish Moss (Chondrus Crispus), Carrageenan is a gel with excellent emollient properties.

The Feel

Sheet masks come in a variety of different materials, and much like bedsheets, they have different grades.

To prevent our mask from feeling gooey and tacky (like many other masks) we’ve chosen a high quality woven fabric, allowing product to soak the sheet mask itself.

The Fit

Size matters! You will want to look for a sheet mask which sits close enough to the eyes to reach the thin, delicate areas in need of hydration, yet won’t get product in your eyes.

The same with the mouth cutout and nose. Again, you want to feel the product, not taste it.

The Benefits of Sheet Masks

No Mess

Usually when you want to treat yourself to a mask, it involves slathering a cream all over your hands, then all over your face, all while not making a mess.

With sheet masks, more of your time is spent caring for your skin, not cleaning it off. Any excess serum left over can be wiped into the skin using the mask itself.

Results

Just because it’s lightweight doesn’t mean it’s not a heavy hitter!

Most sheet masks come pre-soaked in a serum which can contain various beneficial ingredients.

Look on the label for ingredients like seaweed, peptides and other ingredients that can help improve the appearance of your skin.

The serum provides the skincare benefits and the cloth-layer of the mask ensures that the good stuff doesn’t just evaporate from your skin, but makes contact throughout the time of application.

Sanitary

Individually packaged masks mean there’s no more risk of contaminating the whole jar of cream for one application!

The less we introduce bacteria and dirt onto our skin, the better.

This also means no more guesswork when it comes time to figure out how much product to use. Simply lay the mask on your face, pat it gently into place and that’s it.

Easy and Accessible

Want to introduce your friends and family to skin care? Get them a sheet mask!

Easy enough for anyone to apply, yet potent enough for the skin care aficionado, sheet masks are the perfect go-to solution before a night out, or when your skin needs to bounce back to normal.

How to Use Sheet Masks

Sheet masks are great to use as part of a morning or night routine, or by themselves.

The best time to use a sheet mask in your routine is before you moisturize, so you can give your skin all the beneficial essence on freshly cleansed skin, before your layers of moisturization.

Those moisturization layers will help seal the essence in.

1. After washing your face with a cleanser, apply a sheet mask for your skin type directly onto your face with paper backing.
2. Adjust mask to fit tightly to the contours of the face, and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
3. Remove the mask, but do not blot or rinse. (Use mask to wipe excess moisture into the skin.)
4. For an at-home facial experience, follow your sheet mask with a hydrating seaweed serum and seaweed moisturizer to help seal in all those beneficial ingredients.

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