Saving Face: The Beauty of Sheet Masking

I live in either my torn-knee skinny jeans or trusty pleather pants, every day, for the entire winter. And every night, I can’t wait to get home so I can take them off.

I’m not truly relaxed until they’re peeled away, leg by leg, until ultimately my bra is unhooked, yanked from under my shirt and thrown into mystery pile #2. While my Two Buck Chuck is “decanting,” I wash my face in the bathroom. Then I sink into my couch where, sans pants, bra or makeup (likely with Scandal streaming), there’s a 99% chance you’ll find me sheet masking.

Sheet masking is a process that soothes winter skin. Popularized in Korea, it plumps fine lines and combats painful dryness brought on by sharp winds and furnaces on full blast.

It’s also extremely simple. The first step involves choosing a sheet mask, which arrives pre-soaked in serums. There are two popular types currently on the market: one is made of microfiber, and the other is a hydrogel material (it’s 100% soluble, feels like jello and is my personal favorite because it sticks better to the skin while providing extra moisture).

What happens is that as the sheet rests on your face, you’re forcing antioxidants and vitamins to co-mingle with your skin while you do nothing more than just hang out and chill. Maybe add a glass of wine. Maybe add a glass of Netflix, too. Taking seductive sheet mask selfies to terrify your friends on Snapchat or Instagram is another popular sheet-masking activity.

It’s addicting because it actually works. Many of the skincare products out on the market evaporate before having the chance to penetrate your skin, but adding the damp sheet mask on top helps lock in all the nutrients. Once you’ve finally removed the mask, your skin should be plump, soft, bright and hydrated. You’ll look like a dang baby.

Sheet masks work for all skin types — dry, oily, combo-platter. There are even specific ones that target dark circles, breakouts, or help the pore-obsessed. It’s like a candy store for your face, if candy had the nutritional benefits of spirulina or kale.

The best part is that sheet masks are inexpensive. In fact, you can DIY with these $3 dry cotton masks soaked in your own homemade ingredients like your favorite night cream or…dairy milk. The latter will brighten and firm thanks to the milk’s lactic acid, potassium and vitamin D. Have you thanked a cow today?

Or better yet, have you tried sheet masking?

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Written by Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam. Follow her on Instagram here.