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Best sheet masks to hydrate and nourish your face

It would be a huge understatement to say that our beauty routines have been revolutionised by K-beauty influences. From essences and glass skin to the hugely popular sheet mask, Korean beauty trends are the gifts that keep on giving.

The latter, the sheet mask, gives you a chance to pamper yourself in 10 to 20 minutes without fuss or mess. Stepping onto the scene only a few years ago, you can now find variations of the skincare essential from almost every major brand on the market and in the shelfies of beauty fans everywhere.

A steadfast step in our #SelfCareSunday skincare regime, it is not just the serial killer-esq selfies that has led to the ubiquity of this genre of at-home facial. They just work. The sheets - made typically from paper or cloth - are drenched in serum and when placed over the face, form a seal for the skin-nourishing ingredients to allow for maximum absorption.

They also tend to target specific skincare concerns and work as an instant pick-me-up. Whether you're looking for lifting, hydrating, brightening or soothing, you'll find the latest and greatest buzz ingredients to solve your skin woes, as well as some more eyebrow-raising ones that contain unusual ingredients like snail mucus or 24k gold that are certainly worth trying.

Use as regularly as you like, whether you prefer a couple times a week or to follow in the footsteps of SoKo beauty experts who swear by daily application. If you can manage to align things properly, why not try the latest trend of multimasking and don a hair mask at the same time?

A word of warning: it’s a common misconception that the longer you leave a sheet mask on your face, the more effective the result. Depending on the instructions, this can actually be counterproductive and dry out your skin if you leave on for longer than 20 minutes.

Shop our edit of the best masks below

GLAMGLOW Bubble Sheet Mask

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If you enjoy the pampering experience of the sheet mask, this option takes it to the next level with real entertainment value too. Composed of bamboo, the mask is soaked in an infusion of charcoal and green tea and oxygenates when it comes into contact with your skin. This means clouds of fluffy bubbles all over your visage, which will not only step up your selfie game but will also deeply cleanse the skin below. The result? A complexion that's glowing and hydrated.

£8 | Look Fantastic

Foreo Cannabis Seed Oil

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It may or may not come as a surprise but cannabis is brimming with skin-boosting benefits. From being an anti-inflammatory to being packed with antioxidants, it can work wonders in combatting the damaging effects of external aggressors and leaving you skin brighter, clearer and more radiant.

This mask from Swedish tech experts Foreo combines this powerhouse ingredient in one of the most concentrated masks around with 210mg of cannabis seed oil sourced from Germany. Pair with the brand's UFO device to maximise the acne-fighting and redness-reducing properties.

£18.99 for 6 | John Lewis

Patchology Perfect Weekend FlashMasque Trio

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This trifecta of skin-boosting masks target specific skincare concerns to leave your skin more hydrated, radiant and soothed than ever. The masks; Hydrate, Illuminate and MilkPeel offer real results to reinvigorate your complexion with an effect you'll notice instantly. They fit well on the face without creating a dripping mess so you can get on with the ironing or relaxing on the sofa.

£18 | Space NK

Holika Holika Prime Youth Black Snail Repair Hydro Gel Mask

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Take a leaf out of the K-Beauty handbook and try something different for this week’s Self-Care Sunday. The nourishing face mask uses real extracts of Black Snail Slime that gets to work rehydrating and firming skin. You can also thank this mask for its instant brightening effect.

£5.95 | Look Fantastic

MISSHA Mascure Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Sheet Mask

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Hyaluronic acid is one of those powerhouse ingredients with huge moisturising properties - meaning its a godsend for thirsty, dry and dull skin. This mask is infused with the acid which means calming, cooling and soothing for your tired skin. It is gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin and sticks well onto the skin to prevent slippage during application.

£4.50 | Feel Unique

Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask

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Hailed a Holy Grail product by beauty editors everywhere, Estee Lauder’s award-winning Advanced Night Repair is offered in mask form to treat your skin to an instant injection of hydration. The hyaluronic acid contained in the formula penetrates deep in the skin’s surface to leave your skin looking healthy, fresh and prepped.

4 for £64 | Estee Lauder

LAPCOS Red Wine Face Mask 5 Pack

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We couldn’t resist the playfulness of this mask infused with our favourite tipple. The red wine face mask encourages you to maximise the benefits of the antioxidant-rich drink that also boasts skin firming effects. While it's not neccessary to pour yourself a glass of Bordeaux, when wearing a mask like this - how can you resist?

£13 | Feel Unique

Rodial Snake Bubble Mask

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This innovative Rodial option may just be the scariest looking when it comes to your mid-mask selfie but it is effective in unclogging your pores and targeting fine lines and wrinkles.

The serum contains Syn-Ake Dipepide that targets signs of ageing, Hyaluronic Acid to plump and moisturise and O2 bubbles to oxygenate and refresh skin. This is combined with bamboo charcoal for a deep cleanse and a nourishing blend of ceramide, collagen and vitamins A and E.

Apply for 10 to 15 minutes or after the bubbles have fully risen to make the most of the treatment and massage any remaining product onto your face. This is a slightly messier option than some of the other masks on this list so may not be the best choice if you're planning to use this on a flight.

£48 for 8 | Rodial

Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask

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This option from Medik8 uses a bio cellulose mask that is made up of millions of tiny natural fibres tightly woven together and acts as an impenetrable veil that locks in moisture and provides optimal delivery of the serum.

The serum itself is lightweight and will offer deep hydration with skin soothing properties. It is made up of natural zinc to calm skin, reduce inflammation and promote the skin’s natural healing process and as well as hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture, and rockweed algae extract for moisturising and antioxidant protection.

Leave on for 15 minutes and peel back to reveal rejuvenated skin. It can even be used on sensitive skin and is fragrance and alcohol free.

6 for £60 | Medik8

Kiehl's Instant Renewal Concentrate Sheet Mask

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Using cold-pressed Amazonian Oils (Copaiba Resin Oil, Pracaxi Oil and Andiroba Oil), the Kiehl’s mask provides a radiant and glowing skin transformation. The bio cellulose-embedded hydrogel mask can be applied on all skin types and should be left on for 10 minutes.

4 for £35 | Kiehl's

Dr Jart+ Rubber Mask Firm Lover

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Aside from the head-turning packaging, Dr Jart+ masks are unlike anything you’ve tried before. The two step process consists of an ampoule containing the serum, which should be massaged onto the face first. Next, place the rubber mask on to your skin and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes (and no longer than 40).

The ampoule contains a berry complex with salicylic acid to firm skin and red seaweed to maintain moisture and leave it soft and supple. The rubber mask, derived from algae, acts as a second skin to stop the active ingredients within the serum from evaporating, therefore encouraging a deeper penetration of the product.

£10 | Beauty Bay

Made from plant fibres, this mask offers that post-facial glow without the need for a spa appointment. The stretch fabric moulds to the contours of your face with a gel-serum that works to lift and plump your skin in 15 minutes and leave you with a youthful and radiant complexion.

£15 | Clarins

111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask

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Founded by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, 111SKIN’s sheet mask provides a luxe pampering treatment.

Silk amino acids, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract are combined to brighten, firm and moisturise skin. The formula also contains 24k gold particles and Damask rose extract for that extra element of TLC.

Leave the hydrogel mask on your face for 20 minutes and once it is removed, pat the remaining serum into skin. It works to promote healing, reduce hyperpigmentation and combat signs of premature ageing. Dreamy!

£20 | 111Skin

Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Face Sheet Mask

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For an instant moisture boost, keep this Garnier sheet mask in your beauty arsenal. Particularly helpful in the summer when your skin might be feeling dry and dehydrated, this mask will revitalise and revive radiance.

Leave the mask on for 15 minutes to treat your thirst-quenched skin to the combination of pomegranate extract, hyaluronic acid, and plant serum.

£2.99 | Superdrug

Neogen White truffle liftmax knit mask

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Neogen has taken a unique approach to sheet masking by creating this innovative knitted mesh design designed for maximum absorption and a secure fit. It is then soaked in an essence containing white truffle, avocado oil and propolis that works to rebalance, soothe and brighten your complexion. The addition of ceramides and milk protein work to infuse skin with moisture.

£6.50 | Selfridges

Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Single

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Facialist Sarah Chapman has designed this multitasking mask to rehydrated, plump and restore. It contains a moisturising mix of Pentavitin®, hyaluronic acid, rosewater as well as a multi-mineral energising complex that results in a glowing and balanced complexion.

Acting like a second skin, the Bio cellulose mask encourages a greater absorption of the formula. Apply, then sit back for 10-15 minutes.

£15 | Feel Unique

Simple Kind to Skin Radiance Boosting Sheet Mask

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This sheet mask from Simple may look unassuming but it is mighty. Created with naturally derived fruit enzymes, it floods an impressive level of moisture back into dull and dehydrated skin to leave it looking and feeling smooth and soft. The sheet itself is made from 100 per cent natural cotton and so, is biodegradable.

£1.45 | Superdrug

Lancer Skincare Lift And Plump Sheet Mask 1 Mask

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Give your skin the boost it needs with this highly-concentrated mask from Lancer. The sheet is infused with Apple Stem Cells and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 for a plumping effect and a more lifted and tighter look. This is also combined with Rose Water, Centella Asiatica Extract and Sodium Hyaluronate for the moisture hit your skin needs. Offering that professional facial quality in your own home, the miracle mask works wonders.

£29 | Feel Unique

Verdict:

Each masks target a specific skincare concern, so choosing just one is a very challenging task - but the GLAMGLOW Bubble Sheet Mask has won our hearts thanks to the playful bubbling effect and the hysterical selfies that our entire contact list seemed to enjoy.

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