H beauty Spotlight: Sheet Masks Are Set to Be Key in Your Routine This Year

Words by Maya Prever

Slipping into pyjamas, lighting a candle and binge-reading in a sheet mask still feels romantic – but masking has moved beyond the early 2000s ritual. In 2026, it’s set to become one of our favourite steps, thanks to the boom of K-beauty innovations and the habit stacking trend (a method of building new habits by linking them to existing routines.) “Sheet masks will shift from pampering to precision as performance, wearability and sustainability become non-negotiable,” says Temi-Lola Mahir at WGSN.

With our beauty needs ever-evolving, now is the time to seek out the top-performing sheet masks that truly work for your skin – and lifestyle.

Sheet masks are pre-soaked or dry treatment sheets designed to deliver targeted skincare in a short window of time. They work by holding active ingredients close to the skin, allowing them to absorb efficiently. “The core benefit to the skin comes from the liquid product that the mask is doused in, which is much like applying a serum or essence,” says Katie Onyejekwe, esthetician and skincare educator. “But the sheet mask itself does offer some benefit too, as it creates an occlusive barrier, helping to temporarily reduce evaporation of the product from the skin.” An effective, supportive skin tool to incorporate into your routine, working while you tick off your to-do list.

Facialist and skincare expert, Michaella Bolder, recommends adding a sheet mask to your cabin bag too, “Using a sheet mask while flying is a fantastic way to reduce transepidermal water loss. I always make sure my skin is clean, then apply a hydrating serum and then lock it in with a sheet mask.” Consider this your official permission slip the next time you feel mildly self‑conscious about masking at 30,000 feet.

A strong skin barrier means happier skin. When the outermost layer of the skin is compromised, you can be left with dryness, irritation and sensitivity – which can be caused by many lifestyle factors including extreme temperatures, frequent travel and stress. “Our masks are designed with ingredients that instantly target signs of environmental stressors in the skin and help make the skin more resilient to them,” says the team at Patchology. Their Barrier Boosting Sheet Mask is infused with the super-hydrator ectoin, plus probiotics that work to keep the skin’s microbiome balanced.

Another top-shelf favourite is the Charlotte Tilbury Dry Sheet Mask. Its shea butter, mango butter and avocado oil blend nourishes and hydrates the skin while the biomimetic fabric gives its dry, mess-free texture that can be re-used for up to three times. Biomimetic skincare incorporates ingredients naturally found in the skin, making your body more likely to successfully accept the products’ formula.

An additional benefit of barrier-supporting sheet masks is the cooling effect some have on the skin. Christine Hall, aesthetics doctor and GP, explains: “Sheet masks play an important role in post-heat, travel and stress recovery by helping the skin return to its physiological baseline and are a key step in a number of treatments that we carry out in our aesthetic clinic.” Moreover, cooling masks can even “drop the temperature of the skin by a number of degrees.” Bioeffect’s Imprinting Hydrogel Sheet Mask does exactly that. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin work to smooth and plump the skin, while the mask supports the absorption and efficacy of Bioeffect growth-factor serums by creating the optimal hydrated micro-environment for imprinting growth factors into the skin.

As longevity culture is rising in beauty, the demand for preventative products (particularly to use alongside tweakments) is higher than ever, bringing methods such as ‘collagen banking’ to the landscape (as well as the majority of our For You pages), with #CollagenMask views having a 471% increase on TikTok year-on-year in 2025, according to WGSN.

Collagen banking focuses on stimulating and preserving your body's natural collagen production, to build a ‘reserve’ for the future and helps elongate the appearance of youthful skin. A key ingredient, known as centella asiatica, is a botanical extract that stimulates the collagen production within our own skin and is one of the heroes in 111Skin’s Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Face Mask. “In just 20 minutes you will see immediate results, from the high situation of superior and targeted ingredients” says founder, Dr Yannis Alexandrides, making this hydrogel sheet mask our go-to for a pre-event lift and glow.

Another collagen-boosting hero ingredient is copper peptides. “Copper peptides are increasingly recognised for their role in supporting production and skin repair,” explains Dr Jinah Yoo, consultant dermatologist. “Naturally present in the body, these bioactive compounds help activate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. They also support enzymes that strengthen and stabilize the skin’s structural framework.” With copper peptides included in Augustinus Bader’s The Hydrogel Face Mask, this sheet mask works effectively to reduce the appearance of fine lines, calms redness, and increases hydration and luminosity in the skin.

For mask devotees whose obsession extends to the LED-variety, FAQ has your needs well cared for. The Glass Skin Collagen Face Mask not only has soothing and repairing factors from edelweiss stem cell extract, and multi-peptide complex to help to firm the skin. Its transparent, thin texture allows for LED light wavelengths to penetrate while you wear it – creating a harmonious treatment that amplifies light therapy benefits and enhances ingredient absorption.

An under-eye mask can go a long way for puffiness, dark-circles and fine lines – especially cracking a cold one from the fridge. With the skin under our eyes being more delicate, they require different ingredients, textures and formulas for treating, including different sheet masks. “I'm a big fan of face masks,” says celebrity facialist, Shane Cooper. “They’re perfect for pre-event prep as they deliver hydration and can help with that instant glow that looks great on a red carpet.”

For pre-event prep, certain eye masks are crafted to bring more instant results, as well as prepare the skin for a smoother make-up application. Coated in hyaluronic acid and glycerin, Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Skin Secrets Immediate Eye Revival Patches have a non-slip, non-drip formula that helps to brighten and hydrate the under-eye area in ten minutes, primed and ready for your base make-up.

With dry skin at a high this time of year, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks would make a smart inclusion to any UK skincare routine. Formulated with the brand’s star ingredient padina pavonica – an algae originating from the South Mediterranean Coasts – these eye masks nourish and hydrate the skin, while providing a skin-tightening effect.

If you’re looking to target fine lines, opt for Shiseido’s Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Express Eye Mask. Retinol helps to revitalise and smooth the skin and is paired with the brand’s ReNeura Technology++ – a plethora of extracts that improve skin receptivity to awaken and maintain the effectiveness of your treatment over time, so this eye mask isn’t just for instant results.