Sheet Masks: the portable facial

by Colleen

Sheet masks, one of the latest beauty trends to come from Asia (check out cushion compacts), have quickly become my favorite step in preparing the skin for makeup.

Last year I traveled to Asia, (Singapore and Hong Kong) and one of the many beauty products I discovered and stocked up on were these genius sheet masks. They are all the rage in Asia and the shops I visited contained entire walls devoted just to sheet masks. There were masks for every skin care concern, even lip, hand and foot masks! They contained enticing ingredients like green tea, bamboo, pomegranate and even snail mucis!

Sheet masks made of cotton, silk of plant pulp are infused with the active ingredients so all you have to do is open the package, unfold the mask and press gently over your face. Sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes to let the mask work it’s magic. They come individually packaged which makes them super portable and hygienic, which is why I carry them now in my pro kit. No mess! I like to use them on my clients while they are having their hair done. It helps to hydrate and smooth the skin and also provides an often needed relaxation effect.Once the mask is removed, you can massage in any remaining product. If  too much product remains on the skin, I will spray the face with a water mist and tissue off the excess. These sheet masks hydrate the skin and plump up the fine lines, perfect pre- makeup.

Sheet masks have made their way to this side of the world and now we can all enjoy a few minutes of relaxation and rejuvenation.

In this photo I am wearing the Aloe sheet mask from The Faceshop.

Tip: They are great to take along on long flights. They aren’t a liquid so they will pass TSA and no one will notice your strange face when the lights are dimmed.

Here are some great sheet masks to try:

*SKII are the holy grail of sheet masks and leave your skin smooth and super hydrated with their Pitera extract – a favorite with models and makeup artists.