Teen Vogue Editors Give 7 Face Masks a Test-Run Before Their Holiday Travels
Does your skin have a bad case of the winter blues? If you're planning on doing any traveling this holiday season, we hate to break it to you but there's a good chance it's about to get even worse. Yes, that could mean tight skin, flakes, and even dry patches galore, because long road trips and flights are known to zap the hydration out of your skin. Needless to say, no one wants that.
No need to go canceling your trips, though. Moisturizers aside, there's a quick fix that can replenish hydration for even the desperately dry amongst your travels: Korean-inspired sheet masks. Scary as they might look, the paper sheets breathe life into dehydrated skin, infusing it with much-needed moisture and leaving it silky smooth. Six of our editors put the new trend to the test before catching their planes, trains, and automobiles, and we're sharing their results with you. Click through the slides above to see which masks you should consider tossing into your carry-on, stat.
1/8Oh hello, hydration!
Product Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Jart+2/8The Editor: Elaine Welteroth, beauty & health director
The Product: Dr. Jart+ Water Replenishment Cotton Sheet Mask
"’Mask Night’ has become a ritual at my apartment. Anyone I can lure over for dinner gets a wet mask slapped on them. I do charcoal ones and all-natural ones and scary-looking red ones—I basically moonlight as a facialist. But face-mask sheets are some of my faves. And no, not just because they make me humorously reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter (although that’s at least half the fun). This is the one I reach for when my skin is dry and itchy or red and irritated from overstimulation. It’s an absolute must-have for traveling. Before embarking on my 24-hour journey to Kigali, Rwanda for Christmas, I let this baby work its super-hydrating, soothing, cooling action on my skin. Now I’m thinking of bringing a couple for the road in case I can find some new friends on the plane who will let me play facialist."
Product Photo: Courtesy of Clé de Peau3/8The Editor: Emily Gaynor, assistant beauty editor
The Product: Clé de Peau Beauté Illuminating Concentrate
"All of the Clé de Peau Beauté skincare products that I have tried are luxurious and feel amazing, so I was really excited to give this one a go. The 3-step process is different from most sheet-mask regimens that I’ve done (I observe "Mask Night" on Sundays). First, I applied the soothing lotion all over my face, then smoothed on the light ’essence.’ Next, I pressed on the sheet mask and let it sit for about 10 minutes. After I peeled off the mask and rubbed in the remaining treatment, my skin looked seriously glowy and refreshed. The lotion, essence, and mask worked together to even my skin tone and give an overall luminous effect. It just doesn’t get more glamorous than a night in with Clé de Peau."
Product Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana4/8The Editor: Drew Elovitz, social media manager
The Product: Dolce & Gabbana Aurelaux Mask
"Dry skin is the worst. I moisturize religiously to avoid it, but with all of the traveling I’ve been doing lately, my standard routine just isn’t enough. Enter this hydrating mask. All I can say is wow! From the moment I put it on I knew my face would be saved. The moisturizing agent was instantaneously powerful and felt sort of like the skin-prep part of a facial. Sweet!"
Product Photo: Courtesy of Shiseido5/8The Editor: Lyndsay Green, online beauty editor
The Product: Shiseido White Lucent Power Brightening Mask
"I’m a huge fan of digging up international beauty secrets, so I couldn’t wait to test the face-mask sheets. Korean women have been using them for years! I followed the instructions carefully, making sure the cloth covered every inch of my face from my hairline to my jawline, letting my pores soak up each and every last hydrating ingredient. And when I removed the cloth, I inspected my skin to measure its glow and can I just say—this stuff is miraculous! Between the dry heat in my apartment and the cold weather, my skin has been particularly parched lately but in an instant it became dewy and supple. Days later, I’ve even noticed a particular brightness and reduction of those pesky dark spots I’ve been trying to rid my skin of for years. I won’t be jet-setting anywhere for the holiday, but my road trip to Detroit for New Year’s Eve will wear on my skin between the manufactured heat in the car, and the fact that I’ll be depriving myself of water for the 10-hour drive to avoid rest room stops in every city. I’ve listed enough excuses to bring the masks along for the ride, right?"
Product Photo: Courtesy of Sephora6/8The Editor: Maia Schoenfelder, social media associate
The Product: Sephora Collection Honey Fiber Mask
"I woke up with crazy dry skin, and was more than ready to try out this honey mask. I was instructed to leave it on for 15 minutes and massage the leftover product into my skin. It took about 20 minutes for the product to _really _sink into my pores, but even two days later my skin felt luxuriously smooth. This was a total win for me!"
Product Photo: Courtesy of Garnier7/8The Editor: Maxwell Losgar, assistant to the managing editor
The Product: Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask
"This mask is super-easy to use and virtually mess-free. I’ve never been a fan of the mask process: Wash face, apply mask, remove mask, wash face again. With these Garnier masks, you simply wash your face, apply, and then rub any of the remaining product into your skin. The hydrating serum left me feeling refreshed and gave my skin a glow. Most masks I’ve tried are made too small for men to use (I often have a hard time lining up the eye holes with the nose and mouth), so I especially loved the stretch-to-fit technology. But the best part, hands down, is the price. At only $16.99 for six masks, these are a great alternative to regular visits to a facialist!"
Product Photo: Courtesy of Masque Bar8/8The Editor: Tina Ferraro, beauty assistant
The Product: Masque Bar Brightening Sheet Mask
"It’s pretty much impossible for me to go a day without using a highlighter in the winter. My complexion always looks so dull this time of year—no matter how much moisturizer I slather on in the morning (and at night!)—so I was really eager to try a sheet mask that promised to brighten my skin. And did it ever! Thirty minutes and one episode of Girls later, my skin looked a bit more even and a lot more radiant. I’ll definitely be taking one of these on the road with me for the holidays!"
