There's nothing like a nice pamper to relax and unwind, and luckily we don't have to pay extortionate prices for a spa treatment since the rise of 'sheet masks'.
Sheet masks are face-shaped masks that are made out of thin pieces of cloth with holes for your eyes, mouth and nose. Granted, you can end up looking pretty creepy when wearing one of these, but they're soaked in serums to give your skin a real breath of fresh air.
Big brands such as Garnier and The Body Shop have jumped onto the sheet mask hype, offering quick fixes for facials for less than £5. The single use masks come with a variety of different nourishing ingredients to target different skin types, and there are so many available to purchase.
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We tried several different sheet masks from Boots, Amazon, Oliver Bonas and Superdrug to see if we could find any stand out winners. Here's our verdict.
Garnier Vitamin C Shot Fresh-Mix Tissue Max
I love sheet masks, particularly because of the price. I'm a big fan of the Garnier masks, purely because there are so many different options out there to suit different skin types. My skin in particular can look very dull and dry, despite the weather being vibrant and somewhat sunny at the moment, I find my skin is still lacking that nourishment and glow. The Garnier 'Vitamin C Shot' tissue mask is 'enriched with vitamin C' designed to energise and illuminate skin, which I definitely could do with!
The mask contains the quantity of one bottle of serum, which sounded absolutely dreamy to me. It has a 'do it yourself' option where you squeeze and pop the packaging to allow the serum to mix into the mask effectively. This was quite satisfying to do and didn't leave too much mess, something which is often unavoidable with moist soggy sheet masks.
At £2.19 on Amazon Prime, it was really quick and easy to purchase my mask and get it the next day for a pamper evening. With some masks costing £5 or more depending on which brand, I thought this was a steal, especially from a reputable brand like Garnier.
After mixing the serum on my mask, I took it out and placed it on my face. After a bit of manoeuvring and a few funny looks from my boyfriend and my dog, I let the mask sink in for 15 minutes on my face as per the instructions.
When a few minutes had passed, I could already feel the mask tingling into my skin, it felt really refreshing and almost cooling. It didn't sting or make me feel uncomfortable, and once I peeled it off it was really satisfying to rub the excess serum into my skin.
The results? My skin felt soft and smelt amazing, it definitely had a glow to it after the serum. However, I didn't notice any extremely drastic results, because this was my first time using the mask.
Perhaps if I'd have been a continuous user of the mask I would've noticed results instantly, but my skin still felt dewy, soft and moisturised nonetheless.
Price: £2.19
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Amazon
Oh K! Glowing Vitamin C Sheet Mask
When I spotted this on the shelves in Oliver Bonas I loved the bright zingy packaging and it looked like something that would revive my skin and hopefully leave it looking bright and refreshed. The mask contains hyaluronic acid and claims to 'improve skin hydration and uneven skin tone'. I can suffer with a few red patches here and there and my skin is always on the dry side, so I was hopeful this would work as promised to leave me fresh faced.
Having given up using wipes a long time ago, I also liked that the mask is biodegradable. I'm not a regular user of sheet masks, still preferring a cream mask as part of my skin care routine, but every now and then it's nice to try one for an extra hydration boost.
To use this mask, you have to first prepare it, by adding a powder that's kept in a separate pouch at the top of the mask, to the serum inside. It's quite straightforward once you've read the instructions, but I found the powder didn't appear to mix properly without me sticking my fingers in and swirling it around.
Once I put the sheet mask on, I felt a bit of a tingling sensation, which wasn’t particularly pleasant but I persevered and left it on for the 15 minutes suggested. The tingling settled a bit, but something that bothered me throughout, was the smell. Because of the packaging, I’d been expecting an orangey, zesty vibe, but instead there was an unpleasant metallic smell. Annoyingly, this scent stuck around even after I’d removed the mask.
After removing the mask and massaging in the rest of the serum, my skin was left feeling quite tacky to the touch. But on a positive note, it did look really bright and clear or any redness.
I was definitely impressed with the results, it’s just a shame the overall experience wasn’t more pleasant and at £5 it wasn’t cheap for a single use mask. Perhaps next time I’ll try one of the brand’s other masks and hope for a nicer scent.
Price: £5
Rating: 2/5
Where to buy: Oliver Bonas in stores or online.
Garnier Nutri Bomb Milky Sheet Mask Coconut and Hyaluronic Acid
I have combination skin so I'm always on the hunt for products that'll give me a kick of moisture when needed, or help clear up unwanted breakouts and oiliness. When I was maid-of-honour at my best friend's wedding last summer, the makeup artist had us all sit with a sheet mask on before she began working on our faces.
I used Garnier's Nutri Bomb Milky Sheet Mask Coconut and Hyaluronic Acid and instantly became a convert. The mask contains famed hyaluronic acid which is popping up in all manner of skincare products thanks to its potent hydrating and re-plumping powers.
At £1.99, this sheet mask is a budget friendly skincare treat that feels indulgent and effective. The coconut fragrance isn't overpowering while the active ingredients ensure it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and nourished every time I use it. It offers a much-needed moisture boost along with a healthy, dewy glow.
Garnier do a number of sheet masks to suit all manner of skincare woes and I've tried the lot. This one, and its Moisture Bomb Green Tea Hydrating face sheet mask, are my favourites. The green tea concoction helps refine pores and leaves my skin feeling calm, soothed and free from the dreaded oily shine which is often a dominant feature on my face.
It could be a placebo but I feel my makeup lasts significantly longer whenever I use a sheet mask before applying it, so I've got in the habit of using one before every night out. At my best friend's wedding, I didn't have to touch my makeup up once - granted, it was applied by professional makeup artist with the skills of a god but these sheet masks have worked so well for me that I'm convinced they play a part. They'll be a permanent addition to my skincare routine.
Like all sheet masks I've used over the years, I think the serum is quite excessive so would recommend removing a little bit of it with a cotton pad, then massaging the rest into the skin - they're not to be used if you're in a rush. Other than that, I wholeheartedly recommend trying one out for yourself.
Price: £1.99
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Boots
Simple Charcoal Purifying Sheet Mask
I've only used a sheet mask a handful of times over the years, as I find some can irritate my skin or cause me to breakout. I usually prefer a face mask that I apply to my face and wait for the product to harden before washing it off, as I see better results from these types of masks.
However, I was looking forward to trying a new sheet mask after not using one for a few years. When I visited my local Superdrug, there were a variety of masks available. I opted for the Simple Charcoal Purifying Sheet Mask which cost £1.49, as although I don't have oily skin which it's recommended for, I do suffer from the occasional breakout which charcoal is amazing for healing and preventing.
I cleansed my face before using the mask as the product suggests, then removed the black mask from the packet. I have to say I was quite shocked at the amount of serum inside - it was all over my hands, as well as the mask and packet. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as I'd rather there was plenty of serum than hardly any, but it made it hard to unfold the mask without ripping it. It also made it difficult to get the positioning of the mask correct on my face due to it slipping around.
After a few minutes, I had successfully unfolded the mask without ripping it and smoothed it into position. There wasn't really a smell which I liked, as masks that smell overpowering make me suspect there aren't natural ingredients in the serum. The mask stayed in position throughout the 15 minutes and after removing it, there was a lot of product still on my face. I patted it into my skin, but there was so much it would have been impossible for it all to absorb, so I got a cotton pad and gently dabbed it over my face to collect the excess serum.
An hour after using the mask, my skin looked glowing. The serum still hadn't completely absorbed, so I went to bed with my face feeling a little sticky still. In the morning, I was delighted at how soft my face was. Three days on and I've not had a single spot appear on my skin.
Of course, this could just be a coincidence, but the fact that no spots appeared after using the Simple sheet mask is a big win for me considering ones I've used in the past have caused me to breakout. Despite the slightly tricky application due to the amount of product, this is definitely the best sheet mask I've used.
Price: £1.49
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Superdrug
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