While it’s nice and relaxing to chill with a skincare-boosting sheet mask on your face every now and then, I couldn’t help but notice that every sheet mask produces a lot of waste, especially of plastic packaging. I’ll try to explain why you should ditch sheet masks for some other, less waste producing options!
According to the trade association PlasticsEurope, world plastic production grew from some 1.5 million tons in 1950 to an estimated 275 million tons in 2010; some 4 million to 12 million tons is discarded into the oceans annually by countries with ocean coastlines. … The first oceanographic study to examine the amount of near-surface plastic debris in the world’s oceans was published in 2014. It estimated that at least 5.25 trillion individual plastic particles weighing roughly 244,000 tonnes (269,000 tons) were floating on or near the surface. (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
That’s a bit chilling, isn’t it? And it isn’t as if those particles just swim along in the ocean waters, no, they’re ingested by sea animals. They slowly come back into the food chain and ultimately, into our bodies. It’s a good starting point to cut back on using disposable plastic shopping bags and straws, but when I had a look at my stash of sheet masks, I saw a pile of plastic waste.
Every sheet mask comes in its own plastic baggie, and most have plastic ‘backing’. The material of the masks itself is often biodegradable – best if you have your own compost heap, or if your city has a special waste program for biodegradable waste.
Digression: What are your sheet masks made of?
Most are made from natural fibres like cotton or cellulose (Tencel). Microfiber (a synthetic material, mostly made from polyester, i.e. plastic) and hydrogel masks (made from a polymer) aren’t especially easily biodegradable. All, but especially biocellulose, microfiber and hydrogel masks are very hydrophilic, meaning they can hold vast amounts of water. (More of that below.)
Benefits of sheet masks
For me, the biggest benefit of sheet mask is the relaxing pampering session in itself. It’s the calming feeling of doing something for your self. Basically, it’s the ‘care’ in skincare. On top of that, you’ll get a lot of basic hydration for your face. Yes, sure, there’re oodles of sheet masks out there advertising some brightening, anti-aging, clearing, calming or whatever, but… Well.
In fact, the physical mask prevents that ingredients evaporate on your face. Instead of splashing some hydrating toner on your face, it gets drenched in liquid for 10 to 20 minutes. And we all know that dehydrated skin is bad. Its skin barrier is more vulnerable, and a compromised skin barrier might lead to redness, inflammation etc. So, hydration is good. Also, it can be very calming to pop a cool sheet mask on skin that’s hot from sports, or the hot sun.
What you can use instead
You can totally do your own DIY sheet masks! There’re a lot of brands that sell compressed masks that unfold when you drench them with your favourite toner, lotion or serum. Or you could use those nifty Asian cotton pads, drench those and put them on troubled areas.
OR you could try an overnight mask if you use masks in the evening! Most sleeping packs/overnight masks/sleeping masks can be compared to sheet masks in that they look in moisture. But instead of a few minutes, they do it for the whole night. They usually are full of hydrating ingredients, and may even pack a bigger punch when they include actives.
I love them because you can pack on hydrating toners, your favourite serum, you get the gist, UNDERNEATH – and those won’t evaporate either. Your sleeping mask will form a film over all that goodness and you’ll just rinse it off in the morning. (Sleeping masks I love: cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask – review – and Laneige Water Sleeping Mask – review.)
Oh, and please step away from those single portion masks. Also bad. Especially the one with the aluminium foil lid.
And if you want to scream at me that only death will pry your sheet masks from your hands, relax. Every single attempt to take care of the environment helps. Maybe you’re vegan, maybe you just use cruelty-free products, maybe you don’t have a car, maybe your grass is organically sourced – every little bit counts to save our planet, and life is hard enough.
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