The best sheet masks in India that are worth the ₹ ₹ ₹
Forget butterflies, we’re turning into glow worms
History is filled with moments when a cultural shift takes place. Nothing is the same again. They become iconic for their profound impact on society, sending conversations reverberating across the globe. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of Star Wars (1977), the time Britney Spears and Madonna kissed on stage at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and when we universally agreed that K-beauty products were far superior to anything we had tried. With slick formulations and double-digit routines, K-beauty refocused consumers on skincare as a self-care practice. And once sheet masks entered our lives, and there was no going back.
Put on any of the myriad sheet masks in the market, and you are instantly transported to a spa for 10 to 20 minutes. The best sheet masks are doused with potent ingredients, serving as a skincare step that’s luxurious while it treats. On the days we’re too tired to run through a whole skincare routine, a mask can cut those steps down, packing the benefits of a toner, serum and essence into one.
But having tried your fair share, searching for the best sheet masks that give you that elusive glow-up and an excuse to take a mandatory Instagram selfie, you realise that not all are created equal. In a market flooded with options, it’s easy to end up with a drawer full of disappointments and empty promises, like the next Game of Thrones book.
If you’re not picky and like to use them as a feel-good pick-me-up at the end of a rough day – remember to pat that goodness into your skin and neck and lock it in with a moisturiser. But for those looking for the best sheet masks with something extra (while keeping single-use plastic to a minimum), it might be better to pick ones with ingredients that will serve a purpose, making them truly worth the money spent.
The best sheet masks for targeted skin concerns
Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask, ₹200
You’re trying every new skincare product that hits the market without fully checking the ingredients list. Before you know it, you’ve mixed exfoliating acids, complicated your routine and damaged your skin barrier. We’re guilty of this, too.
It’s hard to control the itch when a shiny new potion hits the apps. We get it. When you feel your face burning because of a compromised skin barrier, this sheet mask by Klairs is what you want to slap onto your face. Packed with five types of ceramides, moisturising and healing aloe vera, panthenol, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica, your skin will get its much-needed RnR.
Innisfree Peeling Moment for Skin, ₹250
A lot of skincare FOMO comes with having sensitive skin or a skin condition like rosacea and psoriasis. You have to approach every trendy new product with a scoopful of caution. You always have to go the gentler route, and sometimes, that means waiting longer to meet your skincare goals.
When it comes to chemical exfoliation, gentler isn’t bad, especially when using PHA (polyhydroxy acids).
This Innisfree sheet mask can serve as your weekly exfoliation step. PHA stands out for its mild nature compared to AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) like glycolic and lactic acid, and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) like salicylic acid, making it a superb choice for individuals with sensitive skin. It gently removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, revealing brighter, smoother skin underneath. It can also help to improve the skin’s texture by refining the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores.
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid Fresh Mix Serum Hydrating Sheet Mask, ₹199
It’s true what they say: a large part of skin health comes down to hydration. We’re not talking about drinking lemon water first thing in the morning. Keep up with your required daily intake of H20, but we’re talking about the moisture boost we give our skin, namely, hyaluronic acid (HA).
HA is a skincare MVP that can retain moisture and, as a result, hydrate our skin. If fine lines bother you, then this mask can temporarily diminish their appearance. As your hydrated skin plumps up, the appearance of fine lines goes down.
This is one of the best sheet masks for dehydrated skin and makes you feel like a cosmetic chemist at home. It comes as two separate entities – the mask and serum. Fold the package as directed and let the mask soak up the serum’s goodness before you put it on.
PIXI GLOW Glycolic Boost Sheet Mask, ₹1,070 (pack of 3)
Nothing exfoliates the skin quite like glycolic acid. But with great power comes great responsibility (in our hands), and for those who are uncertain or too lazy to keep up with the whole shebang of an exfoliating skincare regimen, make this sheet mask your Sunday routine, sit back and relax. The glycolic acid exfoliates the dead skin cells sitting atop our skin to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath.
To balance out the exfoliating acid, PIXI added extracts of red ginseng, aloe lead, cucumber and witch hazel to soothe and hydrate the skin. Most importantly, don’t forget your sunscreen (Check out our list of fuss-free Indian pharmacy sunscreens that get the job done).
LoveChild Masaba Like Coffee For Your Skin Sheet Mask, ₹175
There’s nothing like caffeine in the morning to wake you up, get your blood pumping and induce some borderline anxiety.
It’s great for your skin, too. If you’re looking for a sheet mask to add to your morning routine, this is the one. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor, temporarily tightening the skin by constricting blood vessels, reducing that morning puffiness. It also has great antioxidant properties, which combat free radical damage and protect the skin.
Etude House 0.2 Air Mask Tea Tree, ₹100
Etude House made a name for itself in the skincare world with its Soon Jung line designed for sensitive skin. This sheet mask contains tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia extract) with natural anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has the potential to combat acne breakouts and manage excess oil production while calming redness as well.
It’s a good choice for people with acne-prone skin to alleviate the redness and itchiness that often comes along with breakouts. Tea tree extract can be a bit drying, though, and the sheet mask contains alcohol, so if you’re someone with very dry skin, give this one a miss.
MyGlamm PoPxo Sundowner Soothing Chamomile Sheet Mask, ₹99
There are days when, no matter what you do or how many products you layer and sunscreen you reapply, you come home looking like an angry tomato. This sheet mask can be your saviour with soothing chamomile extract.
Chamomile isn’t just soothing for the soul in tea form; it has calming and anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin. Pair that with calendula, and you have a winner.
The added bonus of hyaluronic acid brings back all the water you may have lost through the day, hydrating and plumping up your skin with little effort, while rice water and niacinamide brighten and combat skin redness.
Quench Mama Cica Mud Dipping Sheet Mask, ₹149
You’ve heard of clay masks, and you’ve heard of mud masks. In our search for the best sheet masks in India, we found this genius hybrid by Quench that brings together the best of both worlds.
Kaolin clay is oil-absorbing and pore refining, cica has soothing abilities, lotus root extract brings antioxidant power while Korean ginseng works as anti-ageing. All the star pupils are happily seated in the front row.
Quench’s creative names for their products will also make you giggle.
Biologique Recherche Masque Collagene Caviar, ₹5,200 (available at The Bombay Skin Clinic)
Biologique Recherche is a household name in the world of luxury skincare, and they have efficacious products to back it up.
There’s a reason that their P50 toner has had a devoted cult-like following for over four decades. The company took their expertise and French finesse and packed it into a sheet mask infused with caviar extract, hyaluronic acid and collagen. Caviar isn’t just fancy food but also rich in antioxidants and peptides, which can help protect our skin from collagen deterioration. The hyaluronic acid hydrates, while collagen helps maintain the skin’s elasticity and health. If you have the budget for it, then make this your pick of the list.
A note of caution: If you have reactive and/or sensitive skin, we recommend speaking to your healthcare provider or a skin specialist before trying new products and ingredients.
