13 Useful Sheet Mask Tips No One Gave You, But We Will (2024)

Sheet masks are so common now that even Indian brands like Forest Essentials and Nykaa have their own line of the Korean beauty staple. But if you're new to these items or don't exactly know what they do and how they work--the following sheet mask dos and don'ts will help you out:

Most sheet masks are supposed to be applied the night before

In most cases, sheet masks don’t give instant results. They contain essences that work best when left on to work on the skin overnight. So, unless a product specifically says it’s like an instant facial, use it the night before a big event.

They should NEVER be applied on top of makeup or dirty skin

You need a clean, smooth, and grime-free canvas for your sheet mask. Imagine being outside for a long time, with your skin attracting dirt and grease. What is the point of piling on moist skincare on top of that? It will just clog your pores, be unable to reach deep within the skin thanks to a barrier of dirt, and just generally be counterproductive. So don’t go by what influencers do.

Don’t waste the essence in the packet--use it on your body or pour it into a container to use later

Sheet mask packets come with a lot of excess essence that can’t always be utilised completely. All of it also can’t be applied on the neck or hands, since there is a whole lot if it and it’s usually too sticky. So be wise and transfer this essence to an empty bottle so you can use it later.

Cut the mask’s edges and use the trimmings to cover the areas the mask can’t reach

A lot of Korean sheet masks are not designed keeping Indian features in mind, so the size and shape of the masks don’t always work for our faces. How do you make it work, then? Well, cut off the excess portions around the edges and use the trimmings to cover areas where there isn’t enough of the sheet mask to go around. Usually, the under-eye area and sides of the nose need more product.

There is such a thing as leaving it on for too long

If a sheet mask says it should be left on only for 10 to 15 minutes, don’t keep it on beyond half an hour. You can tell if it is completely absorbed when the sheet mask doesn’t feel as wet upon touch anymore. Why can’t you leave it on for longer? Well, when your skin has drunk up as much of the essence as it can, the sheet mask starts re-absorbing the essence from it, which is counterproductive.

Don’t wash off the essence before sleeping

Sheet masks contain loads of nutritive ingredients to help nourish the skin, and many of these take time to work. So, leaving it on overnight helps these substances do their job better. Washing your face after using a sheet mask is a waste, because it washes off the nutritive layer the product formed on the skin.

Use a sheet mask no more than twice a week

Much like sleeping packs, sheet masks are an indulgence and a way to pamper your skin when it feels and looks spent, dull, and tired. These pick-me-ups, when used everyday, make the skin lose its ability to replenish and renew itself unaided.

Oils and creams can always be applied after using a sheet mask

If you have dry skin, or feel that using a certain skincare product helps keep your skin healthy, don’t skip it. Sheet masks are usually just good for hydrating the skin and doing what they claim to do (brighten, nourish, heal, et cetera). Your skincare products might function differently--so don't skip them thinking a sheet mask is enough.

You must wash your face the next morning

Skin can get overburdened by the heaviness of a sheet mask, especially if you have oily or combination skin. So start with a fresh and clean face in the morning after using a mask.

Yes, they can cause oily skin to break out, so choose wisely

Yes, hydration is important for oily skin too. But too many chemicals, too much moisture, and even the slightest hint of oil can lead to a breakout if your skin is prone to it. So, picking a sheet mask that suits your concerns is the smart thing to do. This means it's better to go for a lime or green tea mask instead of a shea butter or avocado one. Ergo, steer clear of heavily moisturising sheet masks and go for a non-sticky tea tree or rose mask.

You need to make sure your skin’s surface is smooth and buffed so that the product can penetrate easily

It's really hard to get a mask to adhere to an uneven surface. So, if someone with a stubble, bumps, or any other kind of texture tries to use a sheet mask, it doesn't fully stick to the skin--and hence, the essence it contains doesn't even touch all of the skin, let alone get absorbed uniformly.

No matter what they claim, the effects of sheet masks don’t last for more than two-three days, at best

Investing in a sheet mask which is outrageously expensive is not recommended unless you can really afford it. Most of the time, the effects last only for a few days. That gold sheet mask might be great for a bourgie Instagram post, but it won't change your skin forever! Does paying thousands of rupees for it feel justified?

Their primary function is hydrating the skin, so applying ones with ingredients meant to cleanse or purify skin is useless

The function of clay masks or face washes is to cleanse skin. They work like soaps, in the sense that they remove impurities by dissolving dirt in them and then getting washed out with water.

Sheet masks are moisturising cloths that quench the skin and deliver moisture to it. So how does it make sense to use a charcoal or clay sheet mask? Is it going to deposit charcoal or clay into skin? If it does, that doesn't make any sense because these are particulate ingredients that need to be washed off for them to help skin.

So, we suggest you opt for serum-like sheet masks that help hydrate, brighten, protect, and nourish skin.

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