What are the main benefits of sheet masks?
This Korean phenomenon has caught the attention of the media and aestheticians because everyone uses multiple different colored sheet masks. But is this just a trend or is it the new standard for our skincare routine? Well, we wanted to list all the benefits of sheet masks.
Hydration
The main purpose of sheet masks is to moisturize the skin by containing all the ingredients in an ideal formula for your needs. They are rich in serums that penetrate deep into the skin and contain extremely high concentrations of active ingredients. This helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
Someone once told us a metaphor that we really like: your skin is like a fish, it needs constant water to survive, so moisturizing is essential.
Look for ingredients like squalene, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, rice bran oil, and macadamia oil, all of which have been shown to be moisturizing.
No Mess
We are very proud of our charcoal masks, but when you are done using them, you need to cleanse your entire face to remove all the ingredients and ensure that the pores are closed. With some products that cling to the face, this can be an uncomfortable process (luckily, it wasn’t for us because our formula doesn’t work).
With a sheet mask, however, there is no mess as you place it neatly on your face and the sheet is the same shape as your face. You then don’t have to remove it at the end as the serum will continue to penetrate the skin and work its magic like a moisturizer.
Never
Since the formula sits close to the skin and is pushed up by the cloth, it has nowhere to go except to be absorbed by the skin. However, this is another reason why we stress the importance of preparation beforehand, exfoliation opens up the pores and removes dead skin cells and oil from the surface of the skin. Other masks may evaporate, but when it comes to absorption, sheet masks are a winner.
Clean and Hygienic
Like any beauty product, they can become unhygienic over time because bacteria can accumulate on them when we touch or use them. Think of it this way: you may have dirt on your hands, and every time you put your fingers in the product, it spreads bacteria that then reaches your skin. The advantage of a sheet mask is that it can only be used once, which means it is more hygienic than any other mask in its class.
No More Guesswork
We are often asked how much of each of our products you should use. We try to label our products as closely as possible, but it can still be a confusing process, especially when you’re trying something new. Sheet masks take the guesswork out of it, as the exact amount you need is dispensed on each sheet.
Youthful Glow
We all have a natural glow on our faces when we’re young, but as we age, it fades away. Certain ingredients in sheet masks can combat this, giving your complexion a more radiant look. Look out for vitamin C, licorice root extract, or niacinamide, for example.
Great for Sensitive Skin
Many people suffer from sensitive skin, which can make the choice of products for their daily skincare routine problematic. Sheet masks don’t require as many preservatives as other products like moisturizers and similar creams, so the risk of irritation is much lower.
Fights Acne
In addition to moisturizing the skin, many people use sheet masks for the added benefits and acne-fighting ingredients, such as charcoal or green tea. Procoal is an activated charcoal beauty brand, so we know a lot about activated charcoal!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
