‘I swear by this skincare travel essential that keeps skin hydrated on long flights’

Collagen sheet masks have been taking over the self care space and we couldn’t be happier

I love a holiday as much as the next person but one thing I do find myself getting grouchy about is how dehydrated my skin can get on a flight. Years ago a friend of mine let me know she never gets on a plane without a sheet mask and I think she’s onto something.

Korean sheet masks have become one of my favourite ways to pamper myself at home, they’re not the cheapest on the market but they leave enough of a mark that I don’t mind buying them. Famously they take hours to turn transparent but for those who are flying more than three hours away – that might be perfect.

Anua recently dropped three new collagen masks (£15.98 each, Amazon) that I think might be bumping Biodance out of the running for the top mask on the market. I’ve already packed two for my next trip, fully intending to use them on both my flight out and back home.

The Anua masks come in Rice Glow, Peach Brightening and Heartleaf Soothing. So far I’ve only tried Heartleaf Soothing, or the green ones, and they live up to the name.

They’re so gentle on skin and I find they have quite a cooling effect as soon as they go on too. Even though these aren’t the ones that promise a ‘glow’ to skin, I found my face was notably more radiant and soft the next day. At the minute Amazon has knocked 10% off the Anua Rice Glow masks, bringing a set of four down to £14.40 – working out at £3.60 a mask.

I’ve tried many collagen sheet masks, I loved the pink colour of Medicube’s PDRN masks (£26 for 4) but found them less hydrating than the Biodance masks that put collagen masks on the map. Rehab’s (£18 for 3) masks worked beautifully and I do love Dr Jart+’s although I’m not thrilled at the £8.50 per mask price tag.

Anua’s soothing mask might just be my favourite though. It’s safe on sensitive skin, instantly cooling without being chilly – and that’s before placing it in the fridge. I expect to walk off the plane looking better than I got on it on my next trip abroad.

It’s not just me that loves them though, over on Amazon the Anua masks have pulled in an average of 4.5 out of five from across 420 global ratings. One shopper wrote: “This is a quality crueltyfree brand and less slippery than normal sheet masks. These have a more rubbery texture. It said to keep it on until it goes transparent. I took it off and about 30 mins later my daughter walked in and said my face was glowing and very radiant. So thats a bonus.”

Another shopper said they’d be buying more, writing: “These are great: my skin feels amazing after using these collagen masks, I absolutely love them and will buy again. Can recommend!”

It is clear that the price can be off putting for some shoppers, another wrote: “It’s perfect for my skin, very good product but too pricey.”

Most shoppers seem quite happy with it, one review reads: “Love the as is products – the mask I found shrinks quite a lot from when you first put it on the face. I haven’t tried sleeping in it. My skin felt so soft and hydrated after use.”