(This post is sponsored by Vitamasques, meaning I received financial compensation. They were professional and respectful of my testing & honesty policies, and I felt very comfortable working with them. For more information about sponsored posts, drop me a message or check out my Disclaimers page.)
Straight up I’m gonna tell ya, I was skeptical about a British sheet mask brand. Would they get it right? Would the material be good? Quality essence? And how are the prices? I had a lot of questions. With a combination of my love for sheet masks, my resumed residence here in England, and a keen interest to see the influence of Korean beauty in the UK, I decided to give Vitamasques a try! Vitamasques was started as a way to bring Korean skincare innovation to the local market here in the UK, and this is what I found when I tested their masks.
Side Note: Why do I sheet mask?
Some people love it, some hate it. I’m a sheet mask lover, and that’s for a couple of reasons.
My skin responds really well to frequent sheet masking. I try to do at least 3 a week for ultimate hydration of my dehydration-prone face. I really do see a difference when I wake up the morning after masking, although of course not all masks are made equally. And everyone’s skin is different!
I also use my skincare routines as part of my self-care. It’s me-time, and it’s time to unwind. I sleep terribly, and I need some space before I try to get to sleep to relax. Sheetmasking plays an important part of this!
Onto Vitamasques…
The following masks landed in my lap from Vitamasques for testing:
I received two of each of the masks, and have now used them all. The packaging of all of the masks is elegant, but I particularly love the gold collection mask packaging. All Vitamasques masks are paraben-free and cruelty-free. Here’s a run down of those that stood out for me…
The Hydrator- Marine Gold Mask
My ultimate favourite mask from their line up, the Marine Gold Mask. This is supposed to plump skin.
Firstly, THE MATERIAL. It very much reminds me of Taiwanese sheet materials I’ve tried- super thin, very soft, and overall just a fantastic fit. This is the best material I’ve come across in a minute, and it makes a huge difference to what I’m willing to pay for a mask.
The essence is quite simply just so hydrating, and there’s a lot of it. I think this mask would be great for anyone looking for a hydration boost, but particularly those with oily/combo skin who prefer a lighter sheet mask. My skin felt ultra plumped and prepped, but I wasn’t left with much stickiness. In terms of scent, there is a slight fresh scent, but it dissipates extremely quickly.
I don’t fuss too much about ingredients in sheet masks, as I’m not using the same one consistently, but I do prefer a zero alcohol option, as this is. This mask also includes Centella Asiatica extract, which always soothes and calms my skin, so I was pleased to see it.
Overall, a total winner! I loved this mask- both the experience of wearing it, and the results. Gorgeous hydration, and softened, plumped skin. Yes please!
The Soother- Aloe Vera Hydro Jelly Sheet Mask
Usually I avoid aloe masks. They don’t excite me, and I find they’re usually super cheap in both price and experience. I couldn’t have been more wrong about this one.
There’s a huge amount of rich aloe gel, and you apply the mask in two steps. Heads up, the essence smells very strongly of aloe-cucumber. If you know me, I’m a scent loving gal, but if you’re not, do consider that.
First, apply the excess gel. It feels luxurious and ultra moisturizing.
Second, take out the mask (again, perfect thin material as you can see) and apply.
The first time I chose to use this was after an unusually warm day here in England, and my skin had actually caught the sun (I was wearing SPF 50 PA ++++, reapplying it, and I still had some pink on my face. Hmph). It felt SO GOOD. It was extremely soothing and took the heat right out of my skin. The cooling sensation was fabulous, and lasted ages. There was so much gel I was able to use it on my body too. My mum shared some of the essence the second time I used it, and she commented on how luxe the gel felt, and how moisturized her face felt afterwards. We both loved this one.
Like I said, it really did surprise me, and I couldn’t recommend this enough for you guys and gals who also have heat, redness, and the odd accidental sunburn.
The Pretty One- Diamond Gold Mask
Although this mask didn’t stand out when I flicked through the selection I was sent, it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable choice, made better by the flecks of gold in the material itself. Yes, perhaps a little gimmicky, but quite literally added some sparkle to the experience, and would make a lovely gift. The purpose of the Diamond Gold Mask is brightening.
The scent is…very hard to describe. Almost like sunscreen-like? I didn’t love nor hate it, and it didn’t discourage me as it wasn’t overwhelming. Again the material is gorgeous, a great fit, and there’s an abundance of essence. It seems that the Gold collection masks, with their thin clear essence, are aimed at deep hydration, rather than heavy moisturizing. This suits my normal skin well, and I think makes the masks more versatile for morning or evening use.
I really noticed the cooling effect of the Diamond Gold Mask. My skin was definitely cooled, soothed, and had more clarity after use. With the subtle but definite brightening effect, this turned out to be a great choice.
Overall Thoughts
As you can probably tell, I was completely surprised by how much I liked these masks! I think it was the material that really sold them for me, because it’s such an important aspect of sheet-masking IMHO. The mask needs to feel comfortable, fit well, be adjustable for different face shapes, and cling closely to your skin for maximum absorption of the essence. All of the masks I received from Vitamasques achieved that, and makes them quality products in my eyes.
The results, particularly from those I’ve mentioned above, speak for themselves. My skin really enjoyed the masks and benefitted from the cooling, soothing, and hydration effects. In the mornings, after using any one of them, my skin was plumper and more supple, and each mask was very enjoyable to use.
Prices & Availability
The prices seem to be in line with British prices I’ve seen (for reference, I bought a sheetmask from Britain’s cheapest highstreet store for £3 with the worst material I’ve ever tried). The Gold collection masks and the Aloe Vera Mask are £5.99 each, whilst the Hydro mask is £7.99 (the latter being just a little too steep for my usual sheetmask budget, but not bad for a once in a while treat).
On their EU site they seem to have a variety of bundles, which are good value for money. Being able to have these items shipped from within the UK is a big attraction for me- no worries about shipping and import costs, and it’s free if you spend over £15. They also have a North American site for you lovelies across the pond!
Personally, I like to have some high quality masks for special occasions and to pamper myself. These Vitamasques fit into that category for me, and I’d definitely purchase a select few for my collection (I’m looking at you Marine Gold & Aloe Vera).
What’s your thoughts about these masks?! Are you interested? Let me know in the comments please!
