Let me preface this article by saying that I absolutely, positively detest pampering.
Hear me out. Not only do pedicures, manicures, fancy cream treatments, and other forms of self-indulgence cost a ridiculous amount of money (I’m a notorious penny pincher), they’re messy and waste time. The thought of spending several hours glued to a chair while aesthetians secretly judge my mega-callused feet or ingrown hairs seriously sends shivers down my spine.
But while mindlessly scrolling through Instagram one day, an advertisement for a Korean-style sheet mask caught my attention. For just 15 minutes, $5, and no cleanup, I could dramatically reduce the size of my pores and take years off my face. And let’s be clear: any beautification that can simultaneously be done while I inhale Cheetos and wine on my couch is fine by me.
“Sheet masks are cotton-based sheets infused with serums or essences that can contain several ingredients to address a variety of skincare issues,” explains Shilpa Agarwal, a cosmetic dermatologist. “The biggest difference between a sheet mask and a traditional clay- or cream-based mask is the element of occlusion—the sheet itself creates a seal on your skin, preventing any of the mask’s essential ingredients from evaporating and helping them penetrate the skin.”
While that penetrative, hydrating seal is obviously what makes these masks so wildly popular with celebs and beauty bloggers, for me, the price (and amount of work required) was right. Could Korean sheet masks be the anti-aging agent this ridiculously lazy and frugal lady was looking for? I spent a week wearing four different types of masks to find out.