Hydrating, soothing, smoothing... There's one for everyone
The world of Korean beauty has given us essences, BB creams and of course, the very best sheet masks. They might look a bit frightening (bubble face masks are even weirder), but the nourishment and benefits that they deliver are second-to-none.
They’re the perfect pick-me-up when skin is in need of a little TLC. Simply smooth one over your face, watch whichever TV show you’re currently binge-watching and let it work its magic – the mask acts as a barrier to seal in the ingredients so that your skin has to soak them up, rather than any evaporating from the surface.
Once you’re done, simply massage any excess serum into your skin and let it soak up the goodness for a complexion that instantly looks and feels better. Keep reading to find out where to buy the best sheet masks, from Korea and beyond.
What are sheet masks made of?
Sheet masks usually made using paper or cloth. They’re saturated in a solution that’s packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol or glycolic acid, depending on your skin’s needs. There are also hydrogel or biocellulose options, which are often better at moulding to your facial contours and staying in place.
And as each comes in its own individual sachet, they’re easy to throw in an overnight bag or suitcase. Portable and great for your skin.
Best sheet masks Korean
Pretty much every skincare brand under the sun now offers some kind of sheet mask, but the originals were born and raised in Korea itself, with some even using niche ingredients like snail and jellyfish extracts. Below are some of the best loved SoKo sheet mask brands.
Dr.Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask, £5.50 ASOS
With a team of dermatologists behind it, this brand is affordable science at it’s finest. For skin that’s in desperate need of a long glass of H2O, this mask made from cellulose fibre flushes the skin with aquaxyl and hyaluronic acid to immediately hydrate dry skin. If you can leave it on for a full 40 minutes, you’ll be laughing.
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Oh K! Purifying Pink Clay Sheet Face Mask, £5 Beauty Bay
A super fun brand that takes the traditions of So-Ko beauty and gives them a playful edge. If your skin feels quite congested, then this mask will make an excellent addition to your routine. It will help unclog pores and detoxify the skin.
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Of course, sheet masks are so popular now that you’ll now find them lining department store beauty halls and pharmacy shelves just about everywhere, from both skincare and make-up brands.
Keep scrolling for our hand-picked edit of the best sheet masks you should shop now.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask, £3.50, Boots
An easy and affordable post party pick-me-up for skin, these masks can deliver the equivalent of 30ml of serum to skin while you wear them.
Erborian Bamboo Sheet Mask, £6, Fabled
French-Korean brand Erborian is famous for launching the first BB cream into Europe and, unsurprisingly, they also make excellent sheet masks. Soothing Bamboo is known for its moisturising ability and this cellulose mask will leave your skin smooth and refreshed.
MZ SKIN Hydra Lift Golden Facial Treatment Mask, £85 for 5 Net-A-Porter
When a brand is created by an aesthetic doctor, we instantly trust that they know what our skin needs. So we are all on board with MZ Skin's vitamin C and collagen rich sheet mask, which is a perfect treatment for lacklustre and dull skin. Ideal before an important event.
Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Masks, £60 for 6, medik8.com
Made from biocellulose and formulated with soothing algae, these great masks by Medik8 are great if your skin is feeling a bit irritated or unhappy, and a firm favourite of Team MC.
Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask, £45.95, Fabled
Pure liquid retinol (a derivative of vitamin A) penetrates the skin and works to re-plump it from the inside out. With regular use you'll see softened lines, well moisturised, vibrant and smooth skin. It also comes in two pieces, so you can use it over cleansed skin with ease once a week and leave on for 15-minutes.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis 3D Moisture Infusion Mask, £46 for 4, Space NK
Chapman originally developed this mask for use in her facials. Her clients loved it so much that luckily it's available to all of us now. Which is brilliant because trying to get an appointment with the woman herself is TRICKY. It is indeed pretty special. The mask itself is 440 times finer than fabric masks so you can be sure you're getting the max out of the ingredients. It re-hydrates, plumps and smoothes - which is music to our ears.
La Mer The Hydrating Facial, £200 for 6, Fabled
Yeah we know, bit pricey, but it's La Mer. Your skin will love you for treating it to this. It's celebrated Miracle Broth is super-rich in nutrients and so tackles dryness, firmness and texture. This mask comes in two parts - one for the top half of your face and one for the lower - just leave it on your skin for eight minutes to work its magic and then massage the residual product into your skin. There are six in the packet.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Power Foil Mask, £52.70 for 4, Fabled
Another overnight wonder mask, Estée Lauder's foil mask will deeply moisturise your skin. This is definitely one to wear for Instagram.
Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask, £18, John Lewis
So this is a bit different; this is a dry sheet mask. Which for some of you, will be a bit of a relief as some of them can be a bit drippy...
Charlotte Tilbury's makes you look a little bit like Jason for the Halloween movies, but it's worth it because it's intelligent. It has this super smart technology that releases exactly what your skin needs and where. Dry on the chin? Let CT sort that out for you...
Eve Lom Brightening Face Mask, £45 for 4 Space NK
Alongside a pigmentation-busting routine, this mask will help brighten dark spots and smooth skin tone, leaving skin look more luminous.
Lancer Skincare Lift & Plump Sheet Mask, £29 Lookfantastic
Another doctor brand and a Beauty Editor favourite. Mature skin will fall in love with its ability to plump and tighten after only 15 minutes.
