It’s no secret that sheet masks are on fire. This category was growing double digits in 2014 and showed no signs of slowing down in 2015. Sheet masks vary in the skin-loving material they come in, but one of the most innovative masks that we can barely keep in stock at Glow Recipe is the Whamisa Sea Kelp Facial Mask.  This true ocean-to-face facial starts with a sheet mask is made entirely of 100% vitamin-rich sea kelp and a full bottle of brightening, hydrating serum – and we’re happy to announce that we’re now back in stock of this bestseller!

While sheet masks in general are a great way to supplement your skincare routine, there are tips and tricks to get the most out of these at-home facials.

1. Longer is not better

It’s normal to think that if you get X amount of benefits from 20 minutes, an hour must mean triple the results. This type of logic doesn’t always apply to sheet masks. Sheet masks create a barrier to intensively infuse the skin with hydrating and anti-aging ingredients. But if the sheet mask itself dries out, it will start sucking moisture out from your skin. 20 minutes should be the maximum amount of time you use them – enough to deliver key ingredients but before the mask starts to dry. A Glow Recipe Glow Tip is to never sleep with a sheet mask on – while it might seem like the ultimate way to hydrate your skin, you’ll actually wake up with a paper-dry skin.

2. The Ingredient List is KEY

What makes sheet masks so effective? These masks essentially ‘force-feed’ your skin a intense amount of skincare ingredients in a short period of time. The ‘sheet’ creates a barrier for your skin, so that these ingredients can be delivered continuously and without risk of evaporation. This is why it is so important to turn that sheet mask around and look at the ingredient list that you are ‘pumping’ into your skin. Look for options that are paraben, mineral oil, synthetic dye free to minimize irritation. This is also why we love sheet masks such as the sea kelp or hydrogel sheet masks, where even the sheet itself is made of skin beneficial ingredients such as aloe and kiwi extract.

3. What comes before & after a sheet mask is just as important as the sheet mask itself

We get a lot of questions on when to use a sheet mask in the routine. Before applying your mask, you need to start with a cleansed and toned canvas, ready to receive all that nourishing goodness. This can also be achieved through exfoliation. While our skin is supposed to naturally turnaround every 4 weeks, this process gets slower as we age and due to environmental aggressors, creating a ‘backlog’ of dead skin cells that prevent skincare ingredients from going where they need to. I like to use a gentle exfoliator before using the Sea Kelp Sheet Mask so that I know I’ve ‘cleared a path’ for good ingredients to go where they need to.

Sheet masks are infused with serums that are designed to penetrate the skin efficiently. For drier skin, we recommend sealing in the treatment with an occlusive moisturizer afterwards. This, however, really depends on your skin needs and concerns. Once you remove the sheet mask, remember to gently pat in the remaining serum into your skin to aid absorption. And a quick tip – if there’s any serum sloshing around the inside of your sheet mask packet, apply this to your face, neck and back of hands before you apply the sheet mask for maximum efficiency. Whamisa soaks all of their sheet masks in what is equivalent to a bottle of skin-loving serum, meaning you want to get all of the nourishment and hydration you can out of your packet and mask for the ultimate glow.

4. Not all sheet masks are created equal

There are now a staggering array of sheet mask technologies, ranging anywhere from paper, fabric, cotton, hydro-gel, bio-cellulose to sheets made of 100% natural ingredients (like sea kelp). With the more accessibly priced sheets, it’s important to check that the sheet is a high- quality-cotton (preferably 100% for breathability) and that it isn’t bleached.  This is because while the serum the sheet mask is drenched in is important – so is the delivery system that’s hugging your skin.

Different masks have varying levels of adherence to the skin. Adherence is a key reason we haven’t found a cotton or fabric sheet mask that we want to curate at Glow Recipe. If a sheet mask is constantly falling, sliding, slipping off (which equates to a less effective transfer of ingredients), it’s going to be that much harder to include it in your daily routine.

Gently peel off the sea kelp sheet from the protective cover before applying

All in all, sheet masks are a great way to boost your skincare routine and also customize it, based on your skin concerns. Find one that you love and use 1~2x a week to keep your skin looking its best!

Get your glow on!
Sheila