By Reusable Silicone Sheet Masks — Do They Actually Work?
A comically large glass of red wine, a steamy bubble bath, and a cooling face mask are all it takes to make a perfect night in my book. In fact, I keep my fridge perpetually stocked with sheet masks just for this purpose. There’s just one (very big) issue: this sheet mask habit of mine isn’t exactly eco-friendly, thanks to all of those single-use materials. That’s why I was more than intrigued when several brands debuted reusable sheet masks in 2020. Nurse Jamie, Sephora Collection, Avant Guard, and Honest Beauty have all created silicone versions of the masks we know and love — but these treatments don’t contain serum of any kind. They’re designed to be worn on top of skin-care products of your choosing, then washed, stored away, and re-used infinitely, therefore cutting down on waste from cotton, plastic, hydrogel, and other materials.
At the risk of sounding like Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help but wonder: What difference can a reusable mask make in my skin-care routine if it’s not infused with some sort of brightening or hydrating concoction? I want to make more sustainable choices, but will I have to sacrifice my favorite self-care activity in order to do so? To find out, I started using Honest Beauty’s Reusable Magic Mask and wound up reconsidering single-use beauty products altogether.
After doing my full night-time skin-care routine, complete with serum, moisturizer, and sometimes face oil, I simply wear the reusable mask anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes, just as its instructions advise. It has loops on either side to hook around the ears, so it never slides around or falls off, even when I’m up and walking around. When I’m done, I simply take it off, wash it in the sink with warm water and soap, pat it dry with a towel, then place it back in its provided storage bag until next time. Alba says she uses the mask once per week, but I use it twice per week.
What benefit does this serve beyond the benefit of the skin-care routine itself? According to the people who created the Magic Mask, a combination of things — the first one being sustainability, which is what initially drove brand founder Jessica Alba to create it.
