Catchy title, isn’t it? It’s true though, because even as an avid supporter of Korean skin care, their most famous products – single use sheet masks – sometimes contain ingredients that tend to irritate my skin. Nothing worse than a “soothing” mask that stings your face, right? I’m not saying all Korean masks are like that [you know me better than that, I’m actually a huge fan], but I certainly used a fair share of bad ones throughout the years.
That’s where Biorepublic comes in. Their products were inspired by Korean skin care but formulated with American tastes and values, formulated without parabens, sulfates, pthalates, or triclosan and 100% cruelty-free.
The first thing you notice about a sheet mask if the sheet itself. There are many types out there: cotton, pulp, hydro gel, paper, coconut biocellulose – just to name a few. Biorepublic masks are made with eco-friendly biodegradable fiber, that’s very flexible and snugly fits on your face, without sliding off or creating awkward air bubbles [paper sheets, I’m looking at you].
The next thing about a sheet mask you must check is the amount of serum/liquid it’s swimming in. The best ones are drenched in liquid, but don’t drip when applied to the skin. Biorepublic masks have a moderate amount of clear liquid inside, enough that it doesn’t completely dry out by the time you take it off. By the way, the recommended wear time is 15-20 minutes, which is pretty standard for non-gel masks.
Korean women use sheet masks every day. Unlike in the US, where these are still somewhat a novelty, in Korea and all across Asia sheet masks are an essential step in every girl’s beauty routine. Due to their popularity, the prices are also very competitive – you can stock up on decent quality simple masks for as low as $0.30 each. Of course, it’ll be a while before we get to see those prices, first we have to make sheet masks popular in our neck of the woods 🙂 Capitalism! But I digress…
Biorepublic offers four types of masks for different skin concerns:
- Pomegranate Crush – illuminating
- Green Tea Detox – purifying
- Aloe Rescue – revitalizing
- Cucumber Breeze – soothing
After trying all of them, I think my personal favorite is the cucumber one, as it did feel pleasantly refreshing and moisturizing. My skin just loves cucumber – if I could use pure cucumber juice as a toner, I totally would [not that anything is stopping me, but it’s just not financially sustainable].
WHERE TO BUY: $4.99 for 1 mask. Available at Biorepublic, Birchbox.
Have you tried Korean sheet masks before? Do you have any favorites? let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features products received for editorial consideration and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
