Getting My Kbeauty Fix at Ricky’s

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NYC is basically my East Coast kbeauty mecca! Last time I visited Koreatown there, I spent over an hour in a tiny mask shop just chatting with the cashiers about the latest and greatest imports from Korea. As awesome as it is, sometimes it’s all about convenience, like that late night sheet mask run, because you plan on pulling an all-nighter and have to still look presentable the next morning. Yeah, nope, ktown is not happening there.

With over a dozen locations around Manhattan, there’s a good chance you can find Ricky’s within a few blocks from your hotel or apartment, so why not get your kbeauty fix there? Ricky’s stocks a wide variety of skincare from some of the well-known brands, like Holika Holika, Kocostar, and Tony Moly. Yep, they’re the ones with cute banana-shaped hand creams, bunny facial mist, panda primers, and cherry lip balms.

Overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Here are some of my personal picks.

Holika Holika Smoothie Peeling Cream in Golden Kiwi is basically a super gentle exfoliating cream that combines the benefits of a nourishing balm, a clay mask, and a scrub. Its creamy, whipped texture feels ultra comfortable, even after the product dries on the skin. This exfoliant has mild earthy citrusy fragrance that is noticeable, but not overwhelming.

Smoothie Peeling Cream should be used just like a clay mask:

1. Apply to cleansed skin.
2. Allow to dry.
3. Wash off with tepid water.

The directions state you can also rub off the mask instead of washing. Do not follow them! I personally tried both methods, and I think rinsing it off with water gives the same effect without having to go through that messy and uncomfortable process of rubbing dried clay from your face.

Holika Holika Prime Youth Black Sea Cucumber Mask Sheet is easily one of the best and most effective sheet masks I’ve tried. The sheet itself is made with black-colored hydrogel and consists of two pieces: the jaw/mouth piece and the forehead/cheek piece. The sheets are pre-soaked in special black sea cucumber essence that provides brightening and skin-smoothing benefits. This is an oil-type mask so it will work best for those with dry, normal, and combination/dehydrated skin.

Unlike other similar masks, the sheets in this one are not totally drenched so they slide off your face as soon as they’re applied. Instead, each half contains just enough essence to quench the skin thoroughly, and I could see the results after the first use. To get the full range of benefits, make sure to store your mask in the fridge and pull it out when ready to use. This will add soothing and depuffing properties to an already amazing cocktail of nourishing ingredients that will make your skin glow from within!

Lastly, I can’t recommend Kocostar Dry Hands Rescue enough. It’s basically a manicure treatment in a bag! This awesome sheet mask for hands works wonders for dry and dehydrated skin, and you need it if you want to make hangnails and dry cuticles disappear in just 20 minutes. It works like magic even in the most hopeless of cases, so if dry cracked hands are among your beauty concerns, give this mask a try for sure. Or, you know, you can always grab a few of these as little gifts for your besties. It’s a pretty neutral gift [and inexpensive!], and certainly something every guy/girl of any age can enjoy 🙂

All of these products are available at Ricky’s online, and at select Ricky’s locations. For maximum convenience, you could always order online and pick up your goodies in-store, sometimes as soon as the same day. You can find more information about the service here.

Do you shop at Ricky’s? Are you a fan of Korean beauty products? Have you tried any of the brands above? Let me know in the comments below!

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