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If you’re interested in skincare, then I can assume you’ve tried a sheet mask at least once in your life, or have a few in the medicine cabinet that you’re saving for an at-home spa day.
Although sheet masks are commonly less than $10 and considered “affordable,” a one-time use product at this price point could always be made cheaper. In fact, in countries like Japan and Korea, sheet masks are typically $1 – $2 each! So why are the sheet masks in American so pricey in comparison?
Making Your Sheet Masks Last
If you use sheet masks several times a week, a simple hack I love to do is getting extra use out of each packet. When you pull out the mask, squeeze a bit of the excess product out and back into the packet. Not only does this stop the serum from dribbling down your neck, but there’s enough extra solution for you to use for a 2nd mask.
I love buying dry cotton sheet masks for this exact purpose! You can get them unfolded or compressed, and a pack of 100 is typically less than $10 (my favorite ones are available here on Amazon), which boils down to just 10 cents per use. All you have to do is run the dry mask under water, squeeze it out well, and then soak it in the sheet mask solution.
This little hack helps save twice your money and gets the most out of your store-bought masks. But if you’re looking to save even more money on sheet masks, here are some great options for you to make your own DIY sheet mask serums!
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#1: Use What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet
You might believe that you need some sort of specialized sheet mask serum in order to get the best effects, but the truth is that you can achieve some great results with the products already in your medicine cabinet. Leaving the wet solution on your skin for an extended period of time can help your products penetrate deeper, especially after intensive treatments like microdermabrasion, intensive exfoliation or derma rolling.
Some products you may have can work great in your sheet mask solution: serums, essences, hydrating toners, facial oils and essential oils can be mixed together for a supercharged version of your existing regimen (check out my favorite budget-friendly skincare staples here and my favorite affordable essential oils for skincare here for ideas!). However, one thing to keep in mind is to avoid any products with alcohol, such as mattifying/oil control toners.
Additionally, you can use up all the skincare samples you’ve received from past purchases or giveaways and mix them into a sheet mask cocktail!
#2: Use What’s in Your Kitchen
If you don’t want to use up your precious skincare products, you can always dig through your refrigerator or kitchen pantry and find amazing ingredients for an extremely fresh facemask. Pro tip: refrigerate your solution-soaked mask in a plastic bag or small bowl in the fridge until it’s cold, and then apply it to the skin for some instant cooling, soothing and anti-inflammatory effects.
Check out some of my favorite DIY sheet mask kitchen ingredients:
- Yogurt or Milk: contains lactic acid to hydrate, soften and lighten the skin
- Lemon Juice: Helps lighten spots and promote an even skin tone
- Tea: Black, green, chamomile and many other teas can be brewed then added into your solution for antioxidant benefits to fight signs of aging
- Aloe Vera: Fresh aloe vera from the plant or aloe gel can be added for cooling and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is a great option for post-sun exposure or sunburns!
- Ground Oatmeal: Grind oatmeal into a powder and mix with water or another watery solution (like toner) for sunburns, inflamed skin, acne, or an allergic reaction.
- Pumpkin: Fresh pumpkin puree contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which helps exfoliate and brighten skin. It’s also rich in vitamins A and C which can greatly boost collagen production for anti-aging benefits!
- Honey: Contains great antibacterial properties which can help fight acne. It’s also highly moisturizing! However, use with caution if you have allergies to pollen.
- Cucumber Juice: A great watery base for your solution. It’s hydrating and reduces puffiness and helps with irritated skin.
- Egg Whites: Egg whites absorb excess oils, which makes them great for deep cleansing treatments.
- Activated Charcoal Powder: One of the best detoxifying ingredients in your pantry. Adding activated charcoal powder can not only help with mattifying the skin, but it can also pull out bacteria, dirt and other toxins to the surface of the skin.
Let me know in the comments at the end of this post if you’ve tried any DIY medicine cabinet or kitchen sheet masks! I hope the 2-in-1 mask hack helped! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my newsletter below for more skincare tips, tricks, and budget-friendly hacks to save money.
More Affordable Beauty Tips & Tricks:
- $20 and Under Makeup Dupes: BH Cosmetics Review
- K-Pop Locks: The Ultimate Korean Hair Care Guide
- Banish Acne Scars: Product Review + My Professional Life With Acne
- 5 Benefits of Sunscreen Besides the Obvious (& 9 Budget-Friendly Sunscreens)
- How to Curl or Straighten Hair With a Flat Iron + My Favorite Flat iron Under $50
