Is a hydrogel mask the future of skincare?

In the vein of Matrix’s Morpheus meme offering you a choice of two paths, life alternatives, and caricaturing hidden truths underlying reality: “What if we told you that a hydrogel mask is superior to a regular sheet mask?” It is tough to improve upon a classic in a way that ends up being a win-win for all sides, but a hydrogel mask seems to have made the cut regarding usefulness, results, sheer practicality, and an eco-friendly note. We all agree that the best face mask for your skin type is the one that does what it says it will do and that multitasks, something translucent hydrogel face masks excel in by efficiently combining with red light therapy.

What is a hydrogel mask?

Hydrogel mask is a unique, cooling gel-based sheet mask material that delivers a burst of hydration, nourishment, and relaxation. Unlike traditional cotton or fiber sheet masks, the water-rich material clings closely to your face for a sort of second-skin experience, helping active ingredients absorb more effectively. It will also stay moist and comfortable for longer than a regular facial mask. We love them for their refreshing feel and ability to deliver intense moisture faster and more effectively, leaving your skin plump and glowing after use.

Skincare trends come and go, and we like to think of them as a collective exploration of the new or a revival of the old in a new way. Every now and then, a trend showcases a genuine improvement, such as a gel mask that has improved upon some shortcomings of regular facial masks.

Benefits of hydrogel masks

Storytime is all fine and dandy, but you’ve come here for the money shot, aka the benefits of a hydrogel mask that can elevate your at-home skincare routine. So here are some of the hard hitters.

Deep Hydration

We emphasize this every chance we get. If you focus on one single thing and want a very basic skincare routine, let it be hydration. Growing old is essentially dehydration and rusting from the inside (the latter point is why we need antioxidants). A juicy hydrogel mask delivers lasting moisture for plump, dewy skin more readily and profoundly than a sheet mask.

Soothing & Cooling

Irritation and inflammation seem to regularly surface in urban environments due to multiple factors, such as dry indoor air and pollution, and problems with skin sensitivity are growing. A hydrogel sheet mask reduces redness and calms irritation by delivering soothing ingredients and by its very texture and material, which will be pleasantly cool on the face. For even better soothing effects, put your gel mask in a fridge for a while.

Puffiness Reduction

When we feel tired, depleted, and unhealthy, we also feel a bit swollen and puffy, and this can be clearly seen in the facial skin as well, resulting from water or lymph accumulation. A gel mask for the face helps deflate tired, swollen skin. Masks that depuff will usually have anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting properties, such as caffeine, aloe, cucumber extract, green tea, or arnica.

Enhanced Absorption

A hydrogel mask water-based gel surface acts as an occlusive, trapping moisture and actives near your skin and not letting them evaporate into the air. Additionally, hydrogel masks conform entirely to every millimeter of the face and fit most faces perfectly, facilitating better absorption. The cooling effect also calms the skin down so it can get into a rest and digest mode and absorb the actives more readily.

Instant Plumping Effect

Combining deep moisture infusion, skin-smoothing ingredients, and immediate intense hydration results in visibly plumper and more rejuvenated skin with a fresh, glowing look. An abundance of moisture and nutrients instantly plumps out fine lines and wrinkles and makes them less visible, and the rejuvenating effect is most noticeable right after you use the mask.

How do hydrogel masks work?

Hydrogel is made from a gel-like material that adheres closely to your skin, creating a thin, second-skin layer that covers your face and limits airflow. This helps stop the mask from drying out and locks moisture into the skin. As the mask warms up with your body heat, the hydrogel softens and slowly releases the serum, allowing it to sink into deeper skin layers.

This second-skin effect is precisely what makes hydrogel masks stand out from traditional sheet masks. The material is designed to hold a high concentration of water and active ingredients, which are gradually released, capitulating to body temperature. The result is a treatment that delivers moisture and boosts the effectiveness of key ingredients from the gel mask, like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, or peptides, which we can often find in the best masks.

How to Use a Hydrogel Face Mask

• Cleanse Your Face: Even in the most basic skincare routine for the laziest, there is only one mandatory step - facial cleansing. You can choose just a basic wash to remove makeup, dirt, and oil or go for a double-cleansing routine with an oil-based cleanser first, followed by a water-based one. Once done, pat your skin dry.
   

  Optional step: If you’d like to do a seriously intense treatment, you can use your toner, serum, and moisturizer before you put on the hydrogel mask to lock in all the ingredients.

   

• Open the Mask: Carefully tear off the top of the mask sachet. Hold the sachet upright, as the pack may have extra mask essence, and you don’t want to drip it all over. Take the hydrogel mask out of its packaging. Some are more fragile than others, so unfold them gently. Some masks come in two parts (top and bottom) for more straightforward application, and we’d advise you to look for these hydrogel masks because 2-piece masks will also provide a better fit to your unique face by slightly angling the pieces.

   

• Apply the Mask: Place the mask onto your face as shown in the directions on the packaging, aligning it with your eyes, nose, and mouth. Smooth it out gently with your hands so it hugs your skin perfectly. You should feel like a pleasant, cooling seal has formed.

   

• Relax and Let It Work: Most masks have instructions to leave them on for 15 to 30 minutes. Some can be combined with LED light therapy, most often red light therapy, for a double-whammy. Read the instructions on the packaging, as there are also masks you should leave on for hours or sometimes overnight

   

• Remove the Mask: Gently peel off the spent hydrogel mask from the skin and discard, or check if your mask of choice dissolves in hot water.

   

• Massage in the Serum: We often make a habit of rinsing our face when we see some leftover residue, but don’t rinse your face. Instead, massage any leftover essence into your skin so no precious nutrient gets wasted.

  
  Optional step: If you haven’t done so before putting on the hydrogel mask, apply your regular moisturizer to lock in all the hydration.

How to use a hydrogel mask with red light therapy?

If you’re using an LED face mask and are a fan of red light therapy at home, find a translucent hydrogel mask that allows the light therapy to penetrate the mask, such as the new FAQ™ Glass Skin Collagen Hydrogel Face Mask.

Gently place your LED mask over the glass skin hydrogel mask and turn it on. Follow the recommended treatment time for your LED mask. We recommend using the FAQ™ 202 Near Infrared Light & red LED therapy face mask from the FAQ™ collection.

GET FAQ™ Glass Skin Masks

Top 5 best hydrogel face mask

Just like your future favorite hydrogel mask, the beauty market is saturated, and the choices are infinite, so let us help you cut through the noise. The best mask for you depends on your skin’s needs and skin type.

• If you’re battling tired, dry, and dull skin and looking for deep hydration, hyaluronic acid or ceramide masks are great for plumping and strengthening your skin barrier.
   
• For soothing sensitive skin that is very reactive to any mechanical manipulation or topicals, it is not used; Centella Asiatica or aloe vera can calm redness and irritation and are well tolerated by most people with sensitive skin.
   
• If you’re after anti-aging benefits, look for collagen, peptides, or niacinamide masks to smooth fine lines and brighten your complexion.

Our team’s favorites

• Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask - profoundly hydrating, pore minimizing for a healthy glow
   
• FAQ™ Glass Skin Collagen Hydrogel Face Mask - instant hydration, deep revitalization, brights, firms, and plumps skin for a glass skin effect, perfect under LED masks
   
• Loops Beauty Hydrogel Face Masks - a variety of masks that satisfy different skin needs
   
• COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Hydrogel Mask - moisture, radiance, and softening for sensitive skin
   
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask - moisturizing and smoothing effect

Hydrogel masks Frequently Asked Questions

Which side of the hydrogel mask goes on the skin?

The smooth and gel-like side, often wetter or slightly more slippery than its other-sidely sister, is the part that should touch your skin. Most have a protective film, so remember to check and remove it before using your hydrogel mask.

Can I reuse a hydrogel face mask?

Nope. Unfortunately, they are a single-use item that will not be very valuable once you soak up all of the goodies from it because the mask material is only the delivery system for the formula. Reusing the hydrogel mask can introduce bacteria and dirt to your skin, and the mask will no longer contain the clean serum or active ingredients that make it effective, so you would be risking a breakout for nothing.

Are all hydrogel masks biodegradable?

Some hydrogel masks are biodegradable, which you should strive for as they are made with natural or bio-cellulose materials that fully dissolve in hot water. 

Still, many conventional hydrogel masks contain synthetic polymers, which are not eco-friendly. So, throw an eyeball on the packaging and look for terms like “biodegradable” or “eco-friendly” if sustainability is something near and dear to your heart.

Should I wash my face after a hydrogel mask?

No, don’t wash your face after. You want the serum to stay and absorb into your skin. If you have somewhere to be and something to do, you can help massage it in to speed up the process.

Hydrogel mask vs sheet mask?

Hydrogel Masks: Made from a water-based gel, hydrogel masks feel cool and stick to the skin better, molding to the facial contours better. They can also hold more serum and help lock in moisture into the skin, preventing surface evaporation. Hydrogel masks are ideal for those who want deep hydration and intensive treatments with visible results at home. They are preferred when you want a more luxurious treatment.

Sheet Masks: These are mostly made from cotton or fiber, which makes them lightweight and often more affordable and available. They deliver hydration and nourishment but, due to the nature of the material, can dry out faster and may not adhere as closely to the skin. Sheet masks are excellent for skincare novices, young skin, quick hydration, or everyday use.
 

Conclusion

So, are hydrogel masks the future of skincare, and do they deliver on their improvement promises? It would seem that their claim to the throne is legit. Offering a more effective and luxurious alternative to traditional sheet masks, hydrogel masks deliver deep hydration and nourishment with a cooling, second-skin feel and the ability to lock moisture and actives within the skin. 

With benefits like soothing irritation, reducing puffiness, and instantly plumping skin, they offer a multi-tasking treatment that can be paired with red light therapy for even more powerful results. As to-do lists grow ever longer, we all appreciate efficacy more than ever. Though the market is full of various options, and the fact that you'd probably be better off financially with sheet masks if you've introduced masking into your daily skincare, hydrogel masks are clearly a superior choice for intense treatments. All of the above will solidify them as the future of skincare.

We hope you have gained some useful information. As always, stay curious, stay beautiful, and enjoy living in your skin.