Sheet Mask

What is a sheet mask?

A sheet mask is a face-shaped sheet with cut-outs for the eyes, nose and mouth, soaked in a concentrated essence or serum. It was invented in Japan and made famous by Korea, where a sheet mask is part of many people’s daily evening routine.

How does a sheet mask work?

The secret is occlusion: the sheet lies on the skin like a film. The essence can’t evaporate, the top layer of skin swells slightly and absorbs more moisture and actives. Afterwards your skin looks:

• plumper and smoother, because fine dehydration lines are filled out,
• more radiant, because well-hydrated skin reflects light better,
• calmer, if the mask contains cooling ingredients such as centella or aloe.

What materials are there?

• Cotton and non-woven fabric: The classic. Affordable, well soaked, for every day.
• Hydrogel: A gel that hugs the skin closely, cools and barely slips. It often turns transparent as you wear it – typical of Biodance’s Real Deep Masks.
• Bio-cellulose: A very fine material produced by bacteria. It clings like a second skin and releases actives particularly evenly.

How to use a sheet mask properly

1. Cleanse and apply a toner.
2. Apply the mask: Line it up with your eyes and nose first, then smooth it out towards your chin and temples.
3. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Hydrogel masks often longer – check the pack.
4. Don’t let it dry out: A dry mask draws moisture back out of the skin.
5. Remove and pat in: Massage in the remaining essence, including on your neck and décolletage.
6. Seal it in: Finish with a moisturiser so the moisture stays in your skin.

Tip: In summer, pop the mask in the fridge beforehand – it has an extra de-puffing effect.

How often?

Two to three times a week is ideal. You can use mild, hydrating masks every day – just as many Korean women do. Use masks with acids or strong actives less often.

Korean sheet masks

From our range: the Airy Fit Sheet Masks by MISSHA, the Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask and the Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Mask by Biodance, the PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask by medicube, the Collagen Mask – Rice 70 Glow by Anua and the Energy Masks by innisfree. You’ll find all masks in our Korean sheet masks collection.

What does the research say?

A review shows that occlusion – covering the skin – increases the hydration of the stratum corneum and can improve the absorption of many actives into the skin (Zhai & Maibach, Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001). This is exactly the effect a sheet mask uses.