The peel-off mask is back, and more effective than ever

Equal parts entertainment and skincare, peel masks have done the rounds on and off for decades, filling the beauty cabinets of those who love a cheap thrill (or a not-so-cheap thrill, if recent iterations are anything to go by). But this latest round of ASMR-worthy masks brings something unique to the table: real results.

Packed with actives, from collagen to hyaluronic acid, peptides to A.H.A.’s, these satisfying masks leave skin feeling soft and supple, looking even and radiant, and shrinking pores and tightening skin in a way sheet masks could never. Clogging TikTok feeds and ostensibly unclogging pores, these bizarre-looking, satisfying-feeling beauty tools are applied to the face and left to sit — and set — for an allocated time period (usually 15 minutes), before being carefully peeled off à la Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, revealing a more radiant and replenished visage beneath.

Call it the endless allure of nostalgia, the undeniable sway of TikTok, or simply the promise of anything that actually improves the appearance of lacklustre skin, but it’s clear that sheet masks are back in a big way, and here to stay. Shop our picks below.