Sheet masks have been on the market for quite some time, but only recently has this sheet-masking trend been on every skincare enthusiasts’ radar. Originally from South Korea, sheet masks are made up of a thin sheet of light cotton, hydrogel, or polymer, with holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth, and are drenched in a nourishing essence. Derm to Door founder, Dr. Lily Talakoub, explains that sheet masks contain advantageous skin ingredients that penetrate the outer layer of the skin better. Compared to clay, mud or paste masks that dry up, sheet masks stay on for 15 minutes and leave your skin feeling hydrated.
Sheet masks are a safe addition to your skincare routine and work best if incorporated at night, after a gentle cleanse and left on for around 10 to 15 minutes. For Dr. Lily, she recommends not wiping the ingredients off after taking off the mask. She says, “let the serums soak in for the rest of the evening. It will feel wet initially but will soak in leaving skin plumped and hydrated.” If not at night, Dr. Lily also recommends using sheet masks after workouts. She says that using one allows the skin to calm down, especially when used after a long run when the skin is dry, dehydrated and red.
There is a sheet mask for every skin type and concern on the market, allowing people to choose from brightening, detoxifying, moisturizing, clarifying, soothing, purifying, firming, hydrating, nourishing and more. To narrow down the overwhelming search process, some of Dr. Lily’s favorite sheet masks include: Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle 24k gold mask, Karuna brightening mask, Eve Lom white brightening mask.
With an array of sheet mask types to choose from, Dr. Lily suggests looking for key ingredients that target your skin concerns such as hyaluronic acid or aloe for dry and sensitive skin, vitamin C for dull skin, seaweed and algae for purifying, and charcoal and peptides for detoxifying. It is important to keep in mind your skin type and your skin concern when using facial products, in order to see optimum results.
When dealing with acne-prone skin, Dr. Lily says, “sheet masks deliver less exfoliating and cleansing properties and more nourishing properties that one can gain from using a serum.” Hence, she recommends to those with acne-prone and oily skin, to use traditional or clay masks that allow for exfoliation and manage excess oil to prevent future breakouts. Our favorite clay mask to purify and unclog skin is the Revisions Skincare Black Mask.
During the winter, Dr. Lily says, “the dry air outside and dry heat in our homes tend to such the oil and moisture out of our skin.” Although challenging to treat, dry skin can greatly benefit from hydrating sheet masks that contain nourishing serums and hyaluronic acid that allow the skin to rehydrate without feeling sticky and heavy. She recommends the Lapcos Hyaluronic sheet mask or the Patchology Hydrate 5-minute Sheet Mask.
Keep in mind that sheet masks are not only reserved for women. In fact, Dr. Lily believes that men would benefit from using sheet masks since they are easy to apply and easy to use. Compared to mud masks or peel off masks that don’t work well with facial hair, sheet masks easily go on the skin without the need to massage, lather, or wash off after use, thus making sheet masks more efficient minus the mess.
An additional benefit of men using sheet masks is its ability to help sooth razor burn, sun burn, dehydrated skin or dry skin. Dr. Lily says that hydrating masks work best for soothing or cooling needs to decrease inflammation and redness. She says, “I use these masks in my office after aggressive laser procedures to decrease redness and inflammation. They work wonders.”
Shop dermatologist-recommended sheet masks and skincare products at dermtodoor.com.
