Test Driving Celebrities' Favorite Sheet Face Masks
Two editors go face-to-face to find the best sheet mask on the planet.
Sheet masks are a thing right now, with everyone from January Jones to Karlie Kloss not only trying the treatments, but also posting Insta evidence of it. To see what all the fuss was about, senior news editor Sally Holmes and fashion editor Danielle Prescod went head-to-head (or face-to-face) to see which sheet masks are the best—and most selfie-worthy.
Our Beauty Routines
So first, some background about our daily face rituals:
Sally: My beauty routine is very "low-maintenance." I use a Clarisonic with that Neutrogena face wash you used when you were in seventh grade in the mornings and face wipes at night. If I wash my face. I'm a beauty editor's nightmare. I only really wear concealer and eyeliner during the day, but I'm so lazy, I rarely take it off at night. My pillows look like a Lauren Conrad art project.
Danielle: I have a pretty involved beauty routine. I do masks all the time! My favorite masks are from Eyeko, for my puffy and tired eyes which I do two to three times per week, Koh Gen Do, which is for the whole face and I do that once a week or Dr. Jart and I also use that once a week. Beyond that, daily and nightly, I moisturize and use topical Finacea and Tazorac for acne. I also wear makeup, a full on Kardashian-worthy face, pretty much every day.
3 Lab Perfect Mask
3 Lab Perfect Mask, $140; 3lab.com
Sally: This was more wet than producty. It didn't really fit my face because it was too tall at the top, but I also had to move it up higher to reach my under eyes (a key spot!). Possibly gave me a zit! 3/10
Danielle: This mask was okay. I wasn't wowed by it, but I didn't hate it either. But is there anything worse than being mediocre? No! I think I have to use it again to be sure, but I sort of felt nothing, like when a guy that looks meh compliments you. It feels okay, but not as good as it could. 5/10
Cle de Peau Intensive Brightening Mask
Cle de Peau Intensive Brightening Mask, $30-120; cledepeaubeaute.com
Sally: So much moisture! Because it was two parts, it wasn't a very mobile mask. But it did fit my face well. But I didn't like the eye coverage! Yes it was probably good to include my eyelids in the de-puff process, but covering your eyes and lying still for 10 minutes is hard. I was bored, like a child. There was SO much product that it wouldn't really all rub into my face—when I got into bed later I was worried about the fate of my pillow and tried to sleep on my back. When I woke up in the morning my face felt a bit greasy. 8/10
Danielle: I was into this mask! This is my favorite one. First, it smells divine. Second, it is so moisturizing. Third, it has two parts, how convenient is that? Placement of a mask is always super awkward so it is nice that they broke it up for you. I think Sally felt that maybe there was too much moisture but as the seasons change, my skin, especially around my mouth and chin, is always peeling so I need a little extra around this time of year. 10/10
Amore Pacific Luminous Effect Brightening Masque
Amore Pacific Luminous Effect Brightening Masque, $120; us.amorepacific.com
Sally: The packaging was very confusing...so many layers I wasn't sure which one was the mask! Okay, sure, I was feeling like a pro at this point so I didn't read the full directions past the point where it said how long to keep it on...which would have made it a lot less confusing. But still! I liked the moisture level of this—not too thick and not dripping wet. You could do things with this one...Like drive a car, Jenna Dewan-Tatum-style...or, you know, check snapchat. 7/10
Danielle: This mask was messy. Mask juice everywhere, which was also unfortunate for me because the heat has been turned off in my apartment and I am very cold all the time, so I am sleeping in a cashmere sweatsuit with a cashmere sweater on top. It dripped mask juice all over both! Ugh, the dry cleaning drama! But I think I liked it in the morning. 7/10
Decleor Intensive Brightening Sheet Masks
Decleor Intensive Brightening Sheet Masks, $52; decleorusa.com
Sally: More eye covers! I've gotten the hang of it more now, so I'm into the fact that we're going full face here. However, this one didn't stick to my face as well, so I felt like I was missing out on some of the product goodness. 6/10
Danielle: I like this mask because it had eye flaps, which I am not really sure what they are for but I certainly liked to use them though they did provide a certain challenge to taking the selfie. I wish this mask fit better on the sides of my face. You can see where is popping up near my ears and chin. I want maximum face coverage at all times so that I know it is working. 7/10
Sephora Paper Mask Discovery Set
Sephora Paper Mask Discovery Set, $24; sephora.com
Sally: I'm into this one because it's the most affordable of the bunch, but it didn't feel quite as luxurious, nor was there as much moisture as some of the others—there was hardly any product left on my face when I removed it. But it did hydrate my skin, and I'd say it's a great pick for a quicky, perhaps even mid-day pick-me-up. 5/10
Danielle: This mask was a bit dry comparatively. I was like 'Where is the serum?' I could have used more from Sephora. But in the morning, when I woke up, I actually think it had the best results because I felt really bright and dewy. But that also could be because this was mask 7 of 8 and I had been doing these repeatedly for a week. 7/10
Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Brightening Mask (Winner!)
Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Brightening Mask, $130; us.sulwhasoo.com
Sally: This one is creepy! It's a gel, not a paper mask, so it feels different on you face...and kind of looks like a face condom...but it feels good! It's very cooling and refreshing with the right amount of product, though it slips down a lot more than the others...I felt like I had to duck-face it to keep it from slipping onto my lips and below my mouth. 10/10
Danielle: This mask was my favorite! It was like jelly on your face, which I liked better than it being like paper. It was great because I was like very into the luxury of it all. Then I looked it up and it turns out it is quite luxurious. This is the one I want to use forever and ever. 10/10
Wei Dragon Blood Eye Lifting Pads
Wei Dragon Blood Eye Lifting Pads, $60; weibeautycom.
Sally: This eye-only mask instantly de-puffed my under-eyes, and felt very cool on my skin (temperature-wise, though I also felt like Zorro, which is cool too). The directions said I should rub in any excess product, but actually my skin was almost completely dry...does that mean I'm SUPER dehydrated? 6/10
Danielle: This mask was not for me. As a face mask professional, I needed so much more. I didn't even feel a tingle. I am very sensitive to the desire to rid myself from the bags under my eyes as I think they make me look old. This did not feel like it was doing the trick even though the title suggests that it contains dragon blood. I did, however, really love the fact that it made me look like a superhero. 4/10
Wei Gingko Leaf Repairing Face Treatment Pads
Wei Gingko Leaf Repairing Face Treatment Pads, $68; weibeauty.com
Sally: Well, this one kind of...burns. I like a good tingle-burn situation when it comes to face wash or lip balm because that makes me think it's working. This isn't an unpleasant burn, but I'm definitely aware it's there. It kicks off with the same level tingle I got from some of the others at minute 15. But it smells nice. 5/10
Danielle: First I was disappointed in this mask because I thought it was blue and I am a fashion editor so I am very swayed by packaging. It is not actually blue. The applicator paper is blue but the mask is white, just like all the others. Then I was disappointed because this mask was way too small for my face! What is up with these small eye and lip holes? I had to squeeze into it like a tight pair of jeans and then when I was done, I of course, tasted the whole mask because the space for my lips wasn't big enough so it just sort of rested on top. I don't think I have a face size that is that above average so if you do, this is not the mask for you. 4/10
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