Are Collagen Wrapping Masks Worth the Hype?

Adding a face mask to your routine has its share of benefits. A quick glow-up before a big event? Sure. An indulgent addition to your nightly skin-care routine? Absolutely. There’s nothing quite like transforming your typical regimen into a spa-like experience. Collagen wrapping masks check all of the boxes and then some. Saturated with collagen complexes and other skin-loving ingredients, they deliver results you can see and feel in real time. As if that wasn’t enough, many are designed for overnight wear, meaning you can actually wake up with glass skin.

How do collagen wrapping masks work?

Collagen wrapping masks come in two forms. Some are a gel and applied similarly to a face cream or mud mask. Others come in the form of a sheet and fit snuggly onto the skin. Regardless of the form, Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD says that the masks are infused with hydrating and soluble ingredients, like collagen or peptides, allowing them to boost hydration. There’s a common idea that the masks increase your skin’s collagen. However, Dr. Papantoniou says that isn’t the case. While they don’t rebuild your own collagen, she says they can improve the condition of the skin’s surface. “Think of them as a skin-care add-on to treat your skin to a concentrated dose of hydration and comfort,” she says.

So, what exactly is the wrapping element? Like the mask itself, the term can have two meanings. First, it can be a tightening technique that creates the effect of sealing your skin behind the mask. “The mask creates a barrier that locks in moisture and holds ingredients directly against the skin,” says Dr. Papantoniou. In that vein, they’re able to deliver dramatic results overnight. “By enhancing hydration levels, collagen wrapping masks instantly boost smoothness and suppleness,” she says. But it can also be less literal and refer to locking the ingredients in without tightening on the skin.