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Holy Sheet: Sheet Masks for Every Skin Issue Beauty Blitz
Like BB creams, sheet masks have migrated from Asia to take the U.S. beauty market by storm in recent years. Now there are more options than ever — but if we’re going to get all Hannibal Lecter with our beauty regimen, we’d better see some real results. We tested out 10 skincare-focused sheets — from from full face tissue masks to eye patches — to find out which ones are worth the trouble. If the mask fits…
Photo by: Kaitlyn Dreyling -
SK-II Facial Treatment Mask Beauty Blitz
“The idea of wearing a blanket of goop on my face has kept me away from sheet masks. Lately, though, I’ve heard so many raves about innovation in this category. I decided to try this one, because it’s based on SK-II’s popular skin essence. I slipped the wet cotton mask out of a foil envelope and unfolded it. Good first impression: It didn’t cling to itself like Saran Wrap. The circular mask covered my entire face from hairline to chin and ear to ear with thoughtful openings under the nose, the eyes and mouth. There were slits around the edge to help customize the fit, making the treatment easier and more comfortable. My skin looked plumped and felt smooth to the touch. I’d do it again before an on-air appearance to give my skin a boost.” —Polly Blitzer, Beauty Blitz FounderSK-II Facial Treatment Mask, $125 for 10 -
Tatcha Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask Beauty Blitz
“I have new, unwelcome fine lines around my eyes, so I decided to see if a luminizing, hydrating mask could make a noticeable difference. Each soaked sheet (made out the same biocellulose used to treat burn victims) is shaped like a Nike ‘swoosh,’ so it treats the entire crow’s feet and undereye area. The occlusive fabric helps seal in the formula’s Okinawa red algae and peony extract blend. The pieces felt like cool, wet gel patches, but after a few minutes I felt a warm pins-and-needles tingle. I removed them after 15 minutes, and the area was plumped and hydrated, not as withered looking. The tingle continued until the remaining liquid dried.” —P.B.Tatcha Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask, $95 for 10 treatments
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Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Eye Smoothing Mask Beauty Blitz
“I was happy the formula didn’t run, so I didn’t need to micro-manage the pads or fuss with the area. The foil packet contained two thin pieces of felt-like material soaking in a shallow plastic tray. They were shaped like giant lima beans to conform to the undereye area. The retinol-spiked ‘essence’smells fresh and floral, kind of like elegant Febreeze, to be honest. They stay in place without peeling, drying or itching. There’s a slight tingle during the treatment, but no stinging. The illustrated instructions were easy to follow (score!). After removing, I dabbed leftover essence in the tray onto pressure points around the eyes. You don’t need to wash off the essence, which is a major plus. It sits on the skin and continues treating. My undereye area felt softer and looked more alive, less dull.” —P.B.Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Eye Smoothing Mask, $63 for 12 packets -
Biobliss Micro-Current Anti-Wrinkle Patch Beauty Blitz
“I was a little freaked out by the warning on the label that advised pregnant women and people with pacemakers to consult a physician (!) before using this forehead patch, which has tiny batteries embedded in it to deliver skincare ingredients via microcurrent. But I didn’t feel anything unusual as I wore it for 30 minutes over my worry lines. What was unusual was the smell: As soon as I opened the package I noticed a weird plasticky odor, kind of like when you buy a new shower curtain liner. The patch, which has a gel surface infused with anti-aging ingredients, was easy to apply, but I didn’t notice any difference afterward. My fine lines were still there, and my skin didn’t seem any plumper or more hydrated.” —Wendy Rodewald-Sulz, Editorial DirectorBiobliss Micro-Current Anti-Wrinkle Patch, $80 for 4 -
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Full Hydrogel Mask Beauty Blitz
“As someone who hates messy masks, I appreciated this non-goopy option. Instead of a tissue saturated with serum, this two-piece sheet mask has a gel coated surface that melts into skin without migrating into my eyes or hairline, like other masks have a tendency to do. The gel felt cool on my face and left my skin dewy and hydrated after 30 minutes. And because the two-piece design and stretchy material allowed me to get a perfect fit, I was so comfortable in the mask that the time flew by.” —W.R.Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Full Hydrogel Mask, $9 for one; $42 for five -
Etude House Bebe Elbow Mask Beauty Blitz
“This mask involves two steps: first, you apply the lotion; then you stick the flower-shaped, hyaluronic gel-infused patches over your moisturized elbows. The masks stayed on pretty well while I washed dishes, and my elbows felt slightly more hydrated afterwards, but the effect didn’t last long. I was hoping the treatment would help clear up an eczema patch on one of my elbows, but it didn’t quite do the trick.” —W.R.Etude House Bebe Elbow Mask, $1.50 for 1 -
Wei East Gingko Leaf Repairing Decolletage Treatment Pad Beauty Blitz
“I love that there are sheet masks for different parts of the body. This one for the décolletage is especially great because I’m not one to work my skincare down all the way to my chest. The extra large sheet came in a tray, making it easy to unfold without making a mess. The only thing that took some getting used to was how extremely cold it was when I put it on. It was uncomfortable for a few seconds, but I’m sure I wouldn’t be complaining after a hot day at the beach or pool. The best part? You only have to leave it on for 10 minutes!” —Klaudia Tirico, Beauty Editor -
Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Brightening Mask Beauty Blitz
“As an instant complexion pick-me-up, this mask works wonders. Although the serum-infused sheet was very goopy and hard to unfold, the way your skin feels after just 20 minutes of wear is so worth the extra few minutes it takes to put it on. The minute I placed the thin, silky sheet on my face, I was immediately in relaxation mode. The fresh scent wasn’t too overpowering, but rather soothing. This is a great mask to apply before a big event. My complexion felt extremely hydrated and looked radiant – all without feeling too greasy or making my skin look shiny. Plus, because the material was so light and thin, it didn’t slide off my face. I was actually able to get some things done around the house while wearing it!” —K.T.Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Brightening Mask, $130 for 10 -
Etude House Cherry Lip Gel Patch Beauty Blitz
“Leave it to Korean beauty brand Etude House to make this adorable cherry-scented lip mask. It’s like a sliver of Jell-O in the shape of a pout that claims hydrating and plumping benefits. Although it was super cute, I found it to be too big for my lips and hard to keep on. I expected it to have a very sweet artificial flavor, but I didn’t taste anything – a good thing! After about 20 minutes, I didn’t see much of a difference. My lips looked like I had just applied lip balm - smooth and supple. But for 20 minutes, I’ll stick to my Chapstick.” —K.T.Etude House Cherry Lip Gel Patch, $2 for 1 -
Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Purifying Mask Beauty Blitz
“There isn’t a pore-minimizing product that I won’t try, so I couldn’t wait to take this mask for a spin. The soft cloth was very wet, but didn’t make a mess. It laid perfectly well on my face, cooling it on contact. I started to feel a slight tingle after a few seconds, but it wasn’t irritating or uncomfortable. It just felt like it was, well, working! My skin felt tighter the second I took the sheet off, and, once I worked the excess serum onto my face, I could feel it working deep in my pores. This mask scores major brownie points for putting in overtime.” —K.T.Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Purifying Mask, $29 for 5
