Masks aren’t just for Halloween anymore. They’re the newest thing in do-it-yourself facials, and celebrities from Emma Stone to James Franco are loving them. Who wouldn’t? Though they can temporarily make you look like Hannibal Lecter, they’re mess-free, ultra-hydrating, travel-friendly and affordable. And, after you remove one, you don’t need to wash off any residue; just wait for your skin to dry and go. “Sheet masks provide a physical barrier to prevent evaporation of the serums they contain, so they penetrate deeper into the skin,” says Kathryn Murray Dickinson, owner of Aillea in Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Larimer Square. “They can get rid of fine lines and dehydration and reduce redness and inflammation.” From full-face masks to concentrated treatments, here’s everything you need to know before pressing one on.
Do a full facial. Prepping for a big night out? Settling in for a long flight? Had one too many martinis?
Skin just feeling tight and dry? Grab a full-face sheet mask. Made with skin-boosting ingredients like aloe vera, sea kelp, natural extracts and coconut gel, these masks brighten and moisturize in 15 to 20 minutes.
Use them as often or as little as you like (though experts recommend at least once a week). Pro tip: To apply, press in around the eyes first, then work your way down and around to secure the rest.
Revitalize your eyes. Just want to focus on that pesky under-eye area? Eye sheet masks contain hyaluronic acid, peptides and collagen to get rid of puffiness, inflammation, dark circles and wrinkles in this sensitive area. Experts suggest using multiple times a week, and leaving on for more than 15 minutes each time. Pro tip: Refrigerate your eye masks to enhance results.
Luxe your lips. Take a selfie in a lip mask, and you’ll look like you went crazy with fillers. But it’s worth it: By the end of the treatment, you’ll have soft, moisturized lips. Set aside 10 to 20 minutes to let the collagen or fruity extract formulas do their magic before applying lipstick. Pro tip: Be prepared to not talk.
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