I’m a beauty editor, and I think these trending face masks are a huge waste of your time

I’ve worked as a beauty journalist for 15 years, and in that time I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go.

The longer I’ve been in the job, the easier I’ve found it to spot the passing fads versus the game-changers that really deserve a place in your skincare routine. Skincare fridges? Ugly! Pointless! The 12-step skincare routine? Not for me, thank you. Red light therapy? I’m a superfan. Hot cloth cleansing? I still do it every night.

My job, essentially, is trend spotting sprinkled with a healthy dose of scepticism - and I’m afraid that you’re going to have to listen to me be sceptical for the next 500 words.

Why I think these trending sheet masks are a pointless fad

When I saw my first TikTok video about Korean collagen sheet masks, I was fascinated. Women were using them on long flights to combat the moisture-sapping side effects of being in the air for hours. It was addictive viewing - a white gel mask, over the course of eight to ten hours, turned translucent, revealing fresh, plump skin just in time for passport control.

I understood the potential - I step off a short two-hour flight feeling as parched as a camel, but as more and more videos popped up, and more and more brands launched them, my intrigue turned into scepticism.

Surely there are more efficient ways to keep your skin quenched? An application of your facial moisturiser or a spritz of the best face mists offer a cooling, refreshing hit of hydration, and it takes just seconds to get to work.

I’m also wondering if keeping your face smothered for that long might actually suffocate your skin and clog pores, especially when you’re sitting in recycled, dry air for hours and hours. Surely at a certain point, your skin reaches peak hydration and can go no further? Wouldn’t you rather spend the first few hours of your holiday drinking an overpriced prosecco, or watching a ‘90s rom com, or napping?

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not an anti-masker. I really enjoy using the best face masks. But they’re definitely not essential, and won’t treat your skin as effectively as a facial at home or in a clinic. The idea of spending hours wearing a mask feels excessive. Some of them even have to be worn overnight. I can think of nothing worse than being cocooned in a sticky gel mask, lying perfectly still like a vampire to stop it sliding down my chin.

3 sheet masks I think are actually worth your time

My scepticism turned into full-blown cynicism when I used one of these collagen masks. I couldn’t believe how long it was all going to take. The one I used was billed as one of the most efficient, needing only (!) an hour and a half.

I don’t know what was challenged more - my impatience or my mild claustrophobia. 20 minutes in, I was confused. After 45 minutes, I was itching to peel it off. After an hour, I was aggy. The second my timer went off, I yanked it off and noticed…barely anything!

Yes, my skin looked nice - the glass skin effect had definitely kicked in. Fine, it looked healthy and dewy - but I’ve had similar results from using my normal skincare routine. Dare I say, a £4.99 sheet mask achieved much more in 15 minutes.

If you’ve used and enjoyed using these dawdling masks and like their effects, by all means, carry on using them. Don’t let my impatience put you off. If you’ve been eyeing them up from the sidelines though, or feel peer pressure to look like Freddy Kreuger on your next easyJet flight, let me set you free - don’t bother.