I'm an Editor Who Has Tried Hundreds of Sheet Masks—These Are the 15 That Left Me With Glowing, Hydrated Skin
In my 20-year journey from blogger to beauty editor, I’ve tried over 100 sheet masks. In fact, I’d go as far as to say I’m a sheet-mask addict; I use one at least five times a week. Why, I hear you ask? Well, for me, they’re a way to instantly and dramatically improve the look of my skin before leaving the house, not to mention an effective way to treat any longer-term skin concerns. Think of them as a turbo-charged dose of skincare, with some even containing a full bottle’s worth of serum in one sleek mask.
But with so many out there to choose from, how do you know which are worth your time (and money) and which aren't? Fear not. I’ve whittled down the 100 masks I’ve tested to bring you a list of just 15 that I keep coming back to. These are the masks that will give you the most noticeable results, fast. So, sit back, read my recommendations and get ready to add one (or a few) of these gems to your basket.
But First, What Is a Sheet Mask?
If you’ve not come across them before, a sheet mask is a thin layer of cotton, hydrogel or bio-cellulose that covers your whole face (with holes for the eyes, nose and mouth). The mask is soaked in a serum containing hydrating and/or active ingredients. You wear the mask for around 30 minutes to allow all those amazing ingredients to be absorbed by the skin and take effect. I like to keep mine in the fridge as you get a cryotherapy-style cooling, firming effect too. I also like to mist my skin first with one of my favourite mists (Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist or Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist) to help the mask ingredients absorb more effectively.
The Best Sheet Masks, Listed
- Bioeffect Imprinting Hydrogel Mask
- Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Mask
- Decree SOS Revitalising Sheet Mask
- Seoulista Beauty Gold Glow Instant Facial
- Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C and Lactic Biocellulose Brightening Treatment Mask
- 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask
- Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask
- MZ Skin Hydra-Lift Golden Facial Treatment Mask
- Evidens de Beauté The 7 Minutes Moisture Lift Mask
- Rodial Bee Venom Hydrogel Facial Mask
- L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Replumping Tissue Mask
- Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Hydra-Glow Sheet Mask
- Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Mask
- Guerlain Abeille Royale Honey Cataplasm Mask
- Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Mask
The 15 Best Sheet Masks, Tried and Tested by a Beauty Editor
1. Bioeffect Imprinting Hydrogel Mask
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This mask is seriously hydrating thanks to its hyaluronic acid and glycerin, but it really comes into its own when layered over Bioeffect's EGF Serum. This seriously scientific ingredient—EGF—is the jewel in Bioeffect's crown and stands for Epidermal Growth Factor. Basically, it’s a protein that stimulates cell turnover and boosts the production of collagen and elastin— those building blocks in our skin that keep it smooth, firm and tight. On its own, the mask will leave your skin looking wonderfully plump and healthy immediately, but when used with the EGF serum, it will help your skin in the longer term too.
Pros: This mask is incredibly cooling and extremely hydrating.
Cons: It comes in two parts; lower and upper face, and can slip easily. So, this isn’t a wear-when-you're-hoovering kind of mask. It’s a lie-down-still-and-do-some-deep-breathing kind of mask.
Customer Review: "I would highly recommend this product. It is extremely hydrating and leaves your skin looking healthier overall. Great for sensitive skin too."
2. Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Mask
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In terms of its hydrating powers, this affordable sheet mask rivals any of the more expensive ones. It’s saturated with a whole bottle of serum, and you can wear it for nearly an hour before it dries out. It has hydrating hyaluronic acid, and vitamin- and mineral-rich pomegranate extract, and it leaves your skin looking seriously plump and hydrated.
Pros: It’s biodegradable and you can compost it at home to help the environment. Plus, it costs less than the price of a coffee, and you can’t argue with that.
Cons: It’s a simple, no-frills mask that only has hydrating benefits. But it does that very well.
Customer Review: "Can’t really go wrong with this sheet mask, I usually use it once a week and it makes my skin feel plump and hydrated after."
3. Decree SOS Revitalising Sheet Mask
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This is a bio-cellulose mask, which is the best material to aid skin penetration, and it fits like a second skin. It was designed to be used after aesthetic treatments like chemical peels, because of its skin nourishing and soothing benefits. It hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, soothes and calms it with Centella Asiatica and panthenol, and leaves you with a healthy glow. If your skin needs some TLC, this is the one.
Pros: Created by dermatologist Dr AJ Sturnham, this is an incredibly safe choice for those with sensitive skin.
Cons: It’s a pricey one, so probably not something you can add to your routine regularly.
Customer Review: "This is by far the best mask I’ve used. Hydration and comfort for days…. no bad reaction in my skin, easy to apply and non-slip once it’s in place. I’m using [it] once or twice a week alongside my usual skincare. Would definitely recommend!"
4. Seoulista Beauty Gold Glow Instant Facial
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This cooling coconut bio-cellulose mask clings to the skin well and is extremely effective at hydrating, lifting, firming and de-puffing the skin. The "second-skin transfer system" drives the ingredients deep into the skin, so if you have an important event and want to look red carpet-ready in just 20 minutes, this is the one. It also contains dry-skin saviour evening primrose oil to maintain skin hydration and boost skin elasticity and firmness. There’s also anti-inflammatory Bulgarian rose extract, which soothes and calms the skin, and adenosine to reduce the appearance of fine lines and boost elasticity.
Pros: Clinical-grade skincare at an accessible price. Plus, you get results that are equivalent to a facial.
Cons: There really aren't any. Get this one in your basket!
Customer Review: "I put this on when I was in the bath. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous my skin felt afterwards. There was so much product in it! The following day my makeup was flawless! Highly recommend, especially for an event but even just to feel good about yourself any day!"
5. Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C and Lactic Bio-Cellulose Brightening Treatment Mask
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Developed by renowned dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross, this mask is extremely effective. It's designed to brighten dull skin, help uneven skin tone by reducing pigmentation and refine skin texture through gentle exfoliation. It does this with its hero ingredients: vitamin C, lactic acid and niacinamide. Close-fitting bio-cellulose gets those powerful, concentrated ingredients deep into the skin to really improve the look of your complexion.
Pros: Great for oily skin as niacinamide absorbs excess oils, amongst its many other actions.
Cons: The really incredible brightening and pigmentation-reducing benefits come when you use a short course of this mask (three to five) rather than just one, and it’s not the cheapest.
Customer Review: "I am a big fan of Dennis Gross products! This face mask is not an exception! The skin looks brighter and softer! I like to use at night and the following day, the skin looks good! Highly recommended."
6. 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask
This award-winning mask is adored by celebrities across the globe. I usually find that masks that come in two parts tend to slip around the face, but this cooling hydrogel one stays put well. Cleverly, each part contains different ingredients to meet the specific needs of the upper and lower face. This mask does what it says on the tin very well and leaves you looking snatched like you’ve spent hours getting stuck in with a gua sha.
The "diamond" in its name comes from the diamond particles that help the mask’s collagen and elastin-boosting peptides travel deep into the skin. These special goji glycopeptides also have an immediate tightening and sculpting effect, whilst botanical extract Centella Asiatica plumps out fine lines and wrinkles and supports collagen synthesis. Niacinamide refines skin texture, brightens and acts as an anti-inflammatory. With both immediate and long-term effects, this mask is a little powerhouse.
Pros: It will give you cheekbones you never knew you had.
Cons: It’s a pricey option. If you want to try it out before you buy a whole box, you can purchase a single mask on the 111Skin site.
Customer Review: "This will wake you up as well as lift and firm.... one of the best things I've ever used for a quick fix.... I leave it on whilst I blowdry my hair too."
7. Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask
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This dry sheet mask is literal magic, as it’s, well, dry. It’s not soaked in any serum. It comes in two sections and they both stay in place by hooking behind the ears. I first tried this mask back in 2015 and I hated it. However, nearly a decade later, my prematurely menopausal skin loves it. The cotton-like fabric is infused with a complex of botanical extracts, peptides, vitamins and oils. It… deep breath… boosts glow, hydrates, moisturises, plumps, firms, clarifies, refines texture and nourishes the skin. Charlotte Tilbury is always leading with product innovations, and this is no exception.
Pros: It’s actually very affordable, as each mask can be used three times.
Cons: It’s a weird concept to get used to, but you will.
Customer Review: "If you're looking for a mask for a special occasion then you need this! Super hydrating and leaves you with the most amazing glow. Great value for money as it can be used three times, and really practical to wear whilst you're getting ready (no drips!). The mask hooks over your ears so it sits comfortably and you massage your face to activate the magic ingredients. It leaves you feeling fabulous (and is great even on sensitive skin)."
8. MZ Skin Hydra-Lift Golden Facial Treatment Mask
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This mask was created by top aesthetics doctor, Dr Maryam Zamani. It feels cooling and soothing to use and contains a host of beneficial ingredients. Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps, aloe leaf extract reduces inflammation and redness, niacinamide refines skin texture and brightens, and vitamin C reduces hyperpigmentation and boosts collagen production.
Pros: This mask is great before a special event as it really transforms the look of the skin to leave it plumper, calmer and more radiant.
Cons: At £25 each, this is one of the more expensive sheet masks.
Customer Review: "This mask left my skin looking plump, dewy and healthy. I really like masks that are in two parts as they just don’t fit my face otherwise. My skin looked like I had a facial and fine lines were diminished temporarily. I have sensitive skin and didn’t have any adverse reaction to this mask. Would repurchase."
9. Evidens de Beauté The 7 Minutes Moisture Lift Mask
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This face and neck mask is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive. It deeply hydrates and plumps the skin and gives a hit of moisturising nourishment, whilst also increasing skin radiance and lifting, too. It works in just seven minutes, but if you leave it on for 20, you’ll get the best results and look as energised and revitalised as if you'd had a full eight hours of sleep.
Pros: If your skin looks tired and dull or feels dry and dehydrated, this will transform it instantly, as if by magic.
Cons: You’re going to need to have a lie down—it’s £38 per mask if you buy a box of four, or £50 each as a single purchase. It's not the neatest-fitting mask either.
Customer Review: "Evidens The 7 Minutes Moisture Lift Mask is absolutely stunning. The packaging is as deluxe as the actual product itself. The mask feels beautiful [and] the scent is really refreshing. My skin feels and looks fantastic."
10. Rodial Bee Venom Hydrogel Facial Mask
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This snazzy gold hydrogel mask is designed to plump and firm the skin, both instantly and longer term with continued use. It has collagen to help improve skin elasticity and firmness, vitamin C to brighten and stimulate collagen production, Irish moss extract to reduce visible signs of ageing, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and aloe vera to soothe. The star of the show is the brand’s bee venom melittin peptide, which comes from the European honey bee and boosts collagen and elastin in the skin.
Pros: It’s very firming, so great before a special event.
Cons: Could potentially irritate very sensitive skin as the bee venom produces an inflammatory response to plump the skin by increasing collagen levels.
Customer Review: "I was sceptical about face masks when I decided to try the Bee Venom one. I [have] already use[d] the Bee Venom moisturiser and eye cream for the last two years and have seen a huge difference [in] my skin and decided to give this mask a go. And wow! I left it on for around an hour whilst doing some work on my computer and I could not believe the result! My skin felt firmer, more toned and lifted—very similar result to a facial! It seriously works!"
11. L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Replumping Tissue Mask
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This super-affordable mask can be picked up for just a few pounds. It’s ultra-hydrating and will give you the plumpest, juiciest skin of your life. Multiple molecular-weight hyaluronic acids target different layers of the skin to deeply hydrate and keep that moisture locked in all day.
Pros: Got a last-minute date? Pop to Boots in your lunch break and grab one of these.
Cons: It’s a brilliant hydrator and plumper but doesn’t have anything else in its arsenal.
Customer Review: "I like to use face masks when I’m pampering but tend not to notice too much of a difference after using. This mask is a game changer— when I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t believe the difference it had made, my skin was glowing, no dullness or tiredness. I didn’t wear a scrap of makeup because my skin was so clear and radiant it didn’t need it. I will be repurchasing and using once a week for sure."
12. Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Hydra-Glow Sheet Mask
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Price shown is members' price.
This mask comes in a re-sealable pack of five and is a Japanese innovation for Beauty Pie. Not only is it soaked in an incredibly hydrating and deeply penetrating hyaluronic-acid serum, but it also contains a unique anti-ageing elixir. It gives your skin a serious boost of moisture, which plumps out fine lines and wrinkles and helps boost skin firmness and elasticity too. Powerful peptides support the production of collagen and elastin in the skin to do this.
Pros: Particularly good to achieve a perfect base for makeup.
Cons: Personally, I’d prefer it if the masks came in separate sealed pouches, but this is really just nitpicking.
Customer Review: "There is only one downside to this mask—it’s kind of a goopy mess to get out of the package and separate it from the other masks inside. However, it’s worth the effort because of the hydration, glow and youthful skin that appear when it is removed. I use this after my red light mask and it is amazing."
13. Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Mask
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This mask has been around for a long time and has a bit of a cult following. I totally get why. The extreme hydration and plumping come from the brand’s exclusive Pentavin hydration complex of deeply penetrating low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and rose water to hydrate and boost radiance. It also contains two other exclusive ingredients; Skinasensyl Tetrapeptide and Defensil Plus; a triple-action mineral complex that soothes redness and discomfort, oxygenates skin cells and defends against environmental and sugar-consumption stresses.
Pros: All that science and innovation for a very reasonable price.
Cons: I’m reaching here, but none.
Customer Review: "Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Gentle, hydrating, soothing and plumping. My face felt fantastic, I will be ordering more."
14. Guerlain Abeille Royale Honey Cataplasm Mask
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This luxury mask utilises the incredible powers of honey. It’s inspired by honey wound dressings, which work because of honey’s amazing ability to promote wound healing and act as an anti-inflammatory agent. It contains honey from Guerlain’s black bees, along with bee-produced royal jelly. This mask is literally designed to be a poultice for your face to relieve redness, de-puff and reduce inflammation. It also deeply hydrates the skin to plump out fine lines and wrinkles, nourishes it with vitamins and minerals and boosts radiance too.
Pros: A great mask for when you’ve been a bit too heavy-handed with those skincare acids.
Cons: One of the pricier options but it is very unique.
Customer Review: "This is the ultimate home facial treatment. The texture and feeling of my skin was like nothing I have ever felt even after a professional facial. Worth every penny and more. Highly recommend this product."
15. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Mask
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This mask is the ultimate for skin-barrier repair as it contains ceramides which strengthen this barrier and the skin’s ability to protect itself and keep moisture locked in. A good, strong skin barrier is essential for healthy skin. Sometimes, if we use too many active ingredients at too high a strength or exfoliate our skin too much, the barrier can become compromised. Enter Dr. Jart+’s Ceramidin mask to soothe the skin and help rebuild that barrier.
Pros: You can’t use too many of these—they’re full of all the good stuff.
Cons: There are none. You should be able to get these on prescription!
Customer Review: "My skin was quite dry post-partum and this mask provided some much-needed hydration. Skin was soft and plump after applying. Loved it!"
Laura Pearson is a freelance beauty editor and broadcaster that has been writing about beauty since her first published article in 2003. For over 20 years she has been putting beauty products and treatments to the test, to help readers understand what to spend their money on. In that time, she has had a column in The Scotsman, been a beauty journalist for Metro UK and Yahoo! Style, and even written the luxury beauty and style pages for the now-extinct Caledonian Sleeper train on-board magazine. With hundreds of beauty articles to her name across print and digital, she has amassed a huge bank of product and ingredient knowledge. She has appeared many times on television and radio sharing her beauty tips, such as for the BBC, and she has a strong Instagram following who love her makeup and skincare content there too.
She has a particular love for luxury beauty and can never say no to a new lip balm or lip oil. She lives in Glasgow. Scotland with her husband and tiny Chihuahua.
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