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Hydrogel masks have been gaining popularity lately, but not many people know what makes them special. I will briefly explain the difference, it’s really not complicated at all. The main thing you need to remember is that sheet masks currently come in three types: paper, cotton and hydrogel.
Paper masks are the cheapest kind, they are also the most popular and can be found in all drugstores and dollar stores around $1-$3 per pack. They provide the lowest level of absorption of active ingredients, and their main feature is making sure the mask stays moist on the skin for at least 10-15 minutes.
Cotton and bio fiber masks adhere to the skin a lot better than paper ones, and they also stay moist longer; we’re talking about 15-20 minutes. Five minutes difference might not sound like much, but it’s actually a lot when it comes to masks.
And lastly, hydrogel and biocellulose masks are made out of almost medical grade material that is used for treating burn victims. They offer the highest level of absorption and create a layer between the skin and the environment, ensuring that nothings gets in or out. These kinds of masks can stay nicely moist for up to 40 minutes.
UPDATE: This post has been updated to reflect my current faves as of Fall 2016. Enjoy!
UNDER $10:
The cheapest hydrogel masks I found so far came from Korean drugstore brands like banila co. and Ciracle. Now, $4-6 per application might sound like a lot, but this is usually as low as it gets when you buy from authorized retailers, because it’s currently the most effective sheet mask type you can get. Here are some of my favorites.
Ciracle Snail Hydrogel Mask – Made with snail slime filtrate, this mask deeply nourishes dry and stressed skin.
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Full Hydrogel Mask – Infused with Hyaluronic Acid, this mask is perfect for boosting hydration.
boscia Tsubaki Oil Deep Hydration Hydrogel Mask – Very nice softening hydrogel mask with camellia oil that works for all skin types.
Caolion Freshly Hydro Sheet Mask – A wonderfully refreshing mask with botanical extracts that is perfect for all skin types. It hydrates, revitalizes, and refreshes your complexion.
banila co. Miss Flower & Mr. Honey Hydro-gel Mask Sheet – Considered by many Kbeauty bloggers as a Holy Grail of hydrogel masks, this one is definitely worth trying! It calms redness and irritation like no other, and deeply hydrates the skin.
Whamisa Organic Flowers & Aloe Vera Fermented Hydrogel Facial Mask – I just discovered this mask last year and it’s definitely one of the best I tried to date. Fermented cosmetics are very popular in Korea, because they’re famous for giving the skin that youthful glow from within.
OVER $10:
While the cheaper hydrogel masks are perfectly good, I love a good splurge once in a while! Luxury brands, exclusive formulas, rare ingredients, real gold etc are all bundled together in this one category where sky is the limit. Here are the ones I tried and loved:
Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask is probably my most favorite mask ever created. It is also unfairly expensive and I can only justify using it for special occasions, but boy is it worth it. My skin looks like I just had a facial, a massage, and several professional treatments applied, all for the cost of one mask. Technically it’s made of coconut pulp, but leaving it out of this list felt so wrong, considering how good it is.
AmorePacific Moisture Bound Intensive Serum Masque – A stellar mask from a stellar brand! The sheet looks like a cloth mask from the outside, but it has a gel side that attaches to your face like second skin. I think this mask made the biggest difference to the appearance of my fine lines, so I would definitely recommend it as a luxurious anti-aging treatment.
Erno Laszlo Sensitive Hydrogel Mask – This is another one of my favorites, and a total must have for sensitive and irritated skin. A few months ago my skin was covered in painful rashes and dry patches from a chemical peel done wrong, and this was the only mask I used to make my face feel comfortable again.
Dr. Jart+ Dermask Spot Jet Laugh Line Lift – This is a weird-looking mask that is designed to specifically address laugh lines, and I think it does a great job doing just that. After only one application my laugh lines looked a lot smaller. Even if the effect is temporary I think for a special occasion it’s totally worth it.
Have you tried hydrogel masks before? What are some of your favorites?
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Totally getting the Super Aqua from Missha as they’re running 40% off now!
http://www.inhautepursuit.com
Nice, I hope you like it! It’s not as fancy as Tatcha, but the effect is well worth it 🙂 I couldn’t resist the sale either and bought a bunch of masks, too. Always wanted to try their peeling foot mask and paraffin foot and hand treatments, so this is the perfect opportunity.
I tried the hyaluronic acid face mask from My Beauty Diary and really liked it! They have a bunch of different varieties and there are a few others by them on my wishlist. I’ve never even heard of hydrogel masks until this post, so I’ll be on the lookout!