A few of my readers have asked me what they should do after using a sheet mask. They also wanted to find out how they can maximize the effectiveness of their sheet mask so that they can get the most out of it.
It’s actually very simple: after using a sheet mask, rub the remaining serum (aka essence) onto your face. By doing so, you are giving more time for you skin to absorb the serum. You don’t need to wash your face at this point. Leave serum on for another 15 to 20 minutes then rinse it off with warm water. I recommend doing this at night so that you can lock in the moisture with a night cream after washing your face.
There isn’t a set time as to how long you should leave the serum on. It’s all up to personal preference, how much time you have and how well your skin absorbs the serum.
If you prefer, you can also soak a new spare cotton mask in the serum before applying it to your face. I find that this method works well for even coverage. Don’t re-use your sheet masks! The reason that you would want to use another cotton mask instead of leaving the first one on after 20 minutes is because the first one has absorbed your oils (and possibly bacteria) that was on your face. You wouldn’t want that to come in contact with your skin again.
The method I have provided above worked well for me and I hope that it will work well for you too.
So what about other masks like clay masks, mud masks, eye masks and magnetic masks? I’ve tried all these and here is what I would after using each of these masks:
After Using a Clay Mask or Mud Mask
Clay masks are made to “suck” and draw out impurities like dirt, oil and grime from the skin. Aftering using a clay mask, simply wash it off with warm water. I wouldn’t recommend just wiping it off with a towel or cloth because you wouldn’t want the clay to stick to your skin and clog your pores.
Use a facial cleanser to ensure that all the clay is removed (don’t rush, spend time with this) and then apply a facial moisturizer to lock in the moisture.
Aftering Using an Eye Mask
Like sheet masks, eye masks contains a lot of serum and this can be applied around the eye area. After your eye mask is removed, rub the excess serum on your face for an extra 20 to 30 minutes, wash it off and apply your favorite moisturizer.
After Using a Magnetic Mask
Although you can technically remove all the magnetic masks with a magnet, I find that it’s best to wash your face afterwards as well. This ensures that you have removed all magnetic content from you face. Always remember to apply your favorite moisturizer afterwards to lock in the moisture.
As magnetic masks are pretty new, many people don’t know how to use it. Check out this youtube video from Youtuber Tina Yong to learn how to use magnetic masks.
Important Note: Most korean sheet masks will instruct you to leave the serum and mask on for about 20 minutes. Although you can leave the serum on for longer, leaving it on for TOO long can cause reverse osmosis and make your skin more prone to breakouts. This is something to be aware when using these masks.