Made with lactic acid, one of the gentler exfoliating options out there, this brightens skin in a hurry. Hylasome -- an ingredient five times more moisturizing than hyaluronic acid -- adds a heavy hit of hydration, and we're big fans of how refreshing the gel formula feels going on. Massage onto dry skin, and leave on for one to two minutes before rinsing it off.
Professional oxygen facials are lauded for their immediate radiance enhancing effects, and this at-home option mimics those quick results. Encapsulated oxygen bubbles deliver oxygen and act like magnets to draw more of it to the skin, boosting skin cell metabolism and making your complexion appear brighter, plumper, smoother, you name it. All you have to do is leave on for three to five minutes.
Exfoliating can sometimes leave your skin a little red or irritated, which is the last thing you want when you're trying to squeeze in a sloughing session before a big night out or important event. This five-minute formula contains both chemical exfoliants (enzymes, salicylic acid) and physical exfoliants (diatomaceous earth), but also has added rice bran extract and caffeine to soothe skin and minimize the likelihood of any irritation.
As a rule, sheet masks work fairly quickly -- covering the skin improves the penetration of the ingredients -- but this option goes above and beyond, getting the job done in just five minutes. Credit a combination of moisturizing ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and yeast amino acids to minimize transepidermal water loss (i.e. how much water escapes from your skin). We also found the fit nice and snug and the eye, nose and mouth holes to be the perfect size -- which isn't always the case with other sheet masks.
Here's a cool concept: Rather than using acids to dissolve dead skin cells, this peel contains polymers that break down calcium bonds, the "glue" that holds the dead cells together. The upshot? It's safe for even the most sensitive skin types. Not to mention that you only have to leave it on for 10 seconds (yes, seconds), before rubbing it off and rinsing. And as you rub it off, the dead skin balls up into little particles -- a little gross, a lot satisfying -- so that you can actually see it working.
