10 of the best hydrogel face masks for optimum hydration this summer

June 22, 2020

We all love a sheet mask. They’re the ultimate pampering accompaniment and they feel somehow more luxe than a face mask from a tube. Sheet masks are great at delivering a long-lasting dose of hydration as they can be left on for a good amount of time, and usually contain a bunch of skin-loving ingredients that sink in slowly.

Sheet masks usually come in two materials: traditional fabric ‘paper’ sheet masks, and the more modern take on sheet masking: hydrogel masks. Hydrogel face masks are essentially sheet masks made from a jelly-like material (often bio-cellulose), which have a pleasing feel on skin. In fact, they are often superior to their cotton counterparts as they have the added bonus of feeling really cooling and refreshing on your face. In short, if you suffer from hayfever, or get very hot during the summer months, these will be your new BFF. They can even be kept in the fridge for extra cool factor.

Perhaps the only downside of hydrogel face masks is that they can be a touch more fiddly to apply due to their ultra-flexible, slippery nature – but that’s a small price to pay, however, when you consider what you gain from wearing one.

They are typically infused with ultra-hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, meaning dry areas will be left plumped and nourished. No wonder celebs including Brooke Shields, Laura Whitmore, Rochelle Humes, Sofia Richie, Gabrielle Union and Vanessa Hudgens have all been spotted sporting them on Instagram in recent months.

Most hydrogel masks are compostable, but certain ingredients can make them non-biodegradable, so it’s important to check when purchasing if that is an important factor to you. Many brands that do hydrogel masks often sell them in multi-packs as well as singles, which can often involve less packaging making them a bit more environmentally-friendly.