Sheet masks: Skin care’s newest beauty trend

After experimenting with a stronger form of retinol than I'm used to, I've been experiencing some on and off dry skin. In search of some relief, I turned to Toppers Salon in Marlton, NJ for some skin care TLC.

the backing to an at home sheet mask applied this morning

During my appointment, I described my skin concerns to my facialist Ada. After examining my skin, she decided to use their new Bel Mondo Ultra-Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask to treat my dry skin.  Ada explained that Bel Mondo's sheet masks are made of bio cellulose; a natural fiber that is toxin free and can hold 100 times their weight in liquid. Perfect for my dry skin.

If you haven't gotten on the sheet mask trend yet, they are facial masks usually made of paper, fabric or gel, and are infused with all types of hydrating, brightening and anti-aging ingredients.  When placed on the skin for the designated amount of time, it gives the skin an insta-facial.  The beauty of the masks is that they can be a luxury treatment in a spa as part of a facial or they can be applied at home.

"Bel Mondo's masks are one part skin therapy and one part pure indulgence," stated Judi Little, general manager at Toppers Spa/Salon. "The bio cellulose fabric will bring super moisturizing and calming components to our facials and help create a distinct spa experience that our customers are really going to enjoy."

After cleansing and exfoliating my face, Ada applied the mask and let it sit on my face for about 20 minutes. After she took it off, she worked the remaining product into my face. The results? My face was so soft and smooth I couldn't stop touching it. The dry and flaky spots on my face were no more.

Bel Mondo also offers their sheet masks for at home use to treat a variety of skin concerns from anti-aging to calming (a box of 4 retails for $45).

An easy way to pamper your skin, sheet masks are available everywhere these days at a variety of price points. But just a warning: the masks are reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter 's infamous brain eating mask and will scare small children and unsuspecting husbands.  My 2-year-old's response to my Thursday morning sheet mask?  "Scary mommy!"