On Trend: 6 Luxury K-Beauty Sheet Masks

It’s not often while scrolling through my insta feed that I don’t see a funny sheet mask selfie (or two!). Sheet masks are part of the Korean beauty or ‘k-beauty’ phase that has been sweeping the western world. Many American brands have taken to research Korean beauty brands to try and reformulate ‘k-beauty’ style products for the western market. Recently we featured Drew Barrymore as our inspirational woman of the month! She conducted research trips to Korea for her cosmetics brand ‘Flower’ to figure out just what it is that gives Koreans such amazing skin as they age. Drew also is a huge mask junkie and credits them with helping her age gracefully without the use of botox or fillers.

Since sheet masks are trending and have no sign of leaving us we thought we would do a round up of the hottest naturally formulated sheet masks on the market. Some of these masks are not Korean brands but are formulated in a similar way to Korean brands. Always do your research and make sure that ingredients are safe for your skin before you put them on your face! Many Korean products contain niacinamide or vitamin B3 which results in skin brightening/lightening – from my quick research it appears to be safe but it might affect sensitive skin so always patch test products before using. As I was researching Korean skin care I also found several products that contained snail secretion (I really hate to imagine how this might be obtained from all of those poor snails!). If you are vegan always double check for any animal based ingredients!

How do sheet masks work?

Sheet masks are definitely a luxury treat purchase for your skin! If you can afford it use them once a week or before any special event to ensure super hydrated, glowy skin! When you use moisturising skin care and serums on our skin they naturally evaporate. Most sheet masks are formulated with a sheet of cotton that fits your face and then has a bunch of super nourishing skin care ingredients added; like vitamins, minerals and amino acids. When you put it on your face it allows all of that goodness to go deep into your skin and give it a super hydrating boost! Sheet masks are perfect for repairing your skin when they have been exposed to a lot of elements that could cause free radical damage like air pollution, wind, dust, cigarette smoke, or air conditioning!

Sheet masks are particularly useful for travel because many come individually packaged and don’t require any other skin care to be used with them and unlike other masks that require you to wash them off – sheet masks can be used without the use of water! You can simply pop them on to freshly cleaned skin and then after around twenty minutes pull off the mask and your skin should feel nicely moisturised and good to go! Sheet masks are a staple for long haul flights that can really dry out your skin and wreak havoc. Simply clean your face with your favourite travel sized micellar water and then pop one on!

Sheet mask tips!

    1. Make sure you don’t leave them on too long – after about 20 minutes the mask can have the opposite effect and start to draw moisture out of your skin and back into the sheet mask. As soon as they start to feel dry take them off!
    2. Everyone is going to have a different face shape so each mask might not fit your face perfectly! Start from the forehead down and try to pat it flat as you go.
    3. No need to rinse your face after using! Leave the sheet mask residue on your skin to act as a moisturiser. You also won’t need to apply any extra moisturiser or skin care. If you are heading out you can simply add your usual makeup on top!
    4. Look out for sheet masks made from sustainably grown cotton and that have recyclable/biodegradable packaging – a big ask I know! When you are done with your mask pop it in the garden/compost bin – natural cotton will break down in the soil!


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1.THE SAEM NATURAL TEA TREE MASK:
@thesameus
This natural tea tree mask is from the Korean skincare brand ‘the SAEM’. They claim to be natural/eco brand so you would hope that all of the ingredients in this mask would be fairly natural! If you check out their Instagram all of their other packaging looks quite eco-friendly with glass and bamboo lids which get’s a tick from us. If you have any problems with oily skin and break outs tea tree is a powerful natural ingredient that can help to naturally disinfect and remove bacteria from the surface of your skin. It can, however, be quite harsh on sensitive skin so perhaps do a patch test before use if you are concerned. (Amazon)

2. ORIGINS PLANTSCRIPTION MASK:
@origins
Origins is a skincare brand that uses natural ingredients (organic where possible) and is also cruelty-free and mostly vegan (apart from some beeswax in their lipsticks!). This ‘youth-renewing’ mask is enriched with Tamanu oil which mainly originates from the nuts of the tamanu tree in Vanuatu. Tamanu works by naturally stimulating new skin cell growth and helps to completely rejuvenate dry, damaged and prematurely aged skin. The plantscription mask also contains anogeissus bark extract to nourish the skin and smooth out any fine lines. It is also scented with pink rose, mandarin orange and star anise – sounds amazing! (Amazon)

3. AMAZONIAN ACAI ANTI-POLLUTION MASK:
@leadersusa
This mask is from the brand 7 wonders. They also have a wide range of other beauty masks derived from natural ingredients. This mask is made from bio-cellulose and is infused with coconut gel and acai berry from the Amazon rainforest. Acai is a powerful antioxidant which can help to repair and reduce the effects of pollution and free radical damage to the skin. The mask also contains vitamins B, C and E which help with skin rejuvenation. The 7 wonders mask range is also free from nasties like mineral oil, ethanol, parabens, and artificial pigments. They are also free from any cruelty (of course!). (Amazon)

4. 100% PURE GINSENG COLLAGEN MASK:
@100percentpure
This is an anti-ageing mask from the brand 100% pure. It is formulated with ginseng root which helps to boost collagen production. It is also a fantastic source of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Ginseng helps to revitalise, tone and brighten our skin naturally – helping us to age more positively! This is a hydrogel mask and the gel component is made from 95% organic aloe vera and 5% plant cellulose. As your skin absorbs the gel the mask will get thinner. Because this mask is an hydrogel design you can probably leave it on longer than the recommended 20mins and still get great results! They also have a green tea mask in the same hydrogel design. (Amazon) (NZ based? Click here for a caffeine mask from 100% pure).

5. ORGAID ORGANIC MASK:
@orgaid
This is our pick of the bunch because not only is this mask 100% certified organic it also appears to be biodegradable (or at least partially so!). The packaging is also incredibly beautiful! The special serum formulation is developed by Dr Baek and contains organic botanicals, vitamin B3, aloe vera, witch hazel and hyaluronic acid. All ingredients work together to smooth, hydrate and soothe the skin while also fighting premature ageing. No animal testing and no nasties! Only a few proven, natural ingredients makes this sheet mask a winner in our books. This brand also carries a vitamin C and Greek yoghurt version. (Amazon) (NZ based? Click here to purchase).

6. KARUNA HYDRATING MASK:

@karunaskin
This mask does contain a few questionable ingredients so if you have sensitive skin you might want to skip this one! However, the mask does also contain some great natural ingredients like aloe, chamomile, Chinese liquorice and hyaluronic acid. It is also an award-winning brand and well-rated product. The serum enriched mask helps to restore moisture by up to 40% to dry, damaged and dull skin helping to brighten, hydrate and restore that all-important acid mantle! We also chose to highlight this brand because the sheet component of the mask is made from biodegradable wood pulp cloth. For a refreshing mask, pop it in the fridge before applying and for a relaxing mask pop it in warm water before applying – however, leave it sealed in the packet until application! This brand also has a wide range of other masks. (Amazon) (NZ based? Click here for more mask options from Karuna).

After doing this research I plan to work on a portable DIY sheet mask recipe to reduce waste – watch out for it! ♥

Links:

Fun watch! Aimee Song from Song Of Style does a sheet mask a day!

Interesting read about the environmental impact of using too many sheet masks.

NZ K-Beauty Sites (always check ingredients and cruelty-free status!):
Korean Kiwi Beauty
Lilac And Berries
Hikoco
MIK

(Photo: Larm Rmah)

*Last page update: 21/05/18*

Tags: amazon
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