#89 Papa Recipe Sheet Masks
One of my early k-beauty sheet masks that I've repurchased
This post is written before I went to Korea and had the first hand experience of sheet masks galore.
I know sheet masks are not the most eco-sustainable skincare products so don’t shout at me if you are not into sheet masks. I agree that sheet masks are just paper soaked with serums and I wasn’t a regular sheet mask person until very recently. The weather became so hot that just the heat and humidity alone aggravate my already sensitised skin. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t have sensitive (skin type one is born with) skin, but I am simply in a perpetual retinalisation phase, i.e., adapting to a Vitamin A / Retinoid as I dip in an out this gold-standard skin cheerleader ingredient.
I have been using some form of Vitamin A on my face since a very long time and I somehow cannot arrive at daily use of slightly strong off-the-shelf retinoids. My skin wasn’t peeling or particularly dry, instead it was the massive dehydration (face feels tight and squeaky) and the redness around my nose and chin, particularly after cleansing. So, a chilled sheet mask in a fridge for a couple of minutes layer after a toner / spritz has been my go-to skincare step before sealing the essences with a retinoid moisturiser as I’ve written here in my recent skincare routine. I’ve tried constant, multiple layers of hydration serums and they simply don’t tackle dehydration as effectively as a sheet mask. The intense hydration through the temporary occlusive coverage on the skin delivers the serums into the skin more intensively and effectively.
I’ve came across Papa Recipe sheet masks years ago when my skincare buddy bought me a box from Hong Kong. It was the original (yellow packaging) that I’ve tried and I remember I like the instant plumping, soothing and thirst-quenching effect on my face. When K-beauty were still in its infancy in the local market, the price was prohibitively expensive. For these lot, I bought them from the official store, and shipped directly from Korea at only half price. I cannot deny such bargain so I got myself a good selection of variety of choices.
The different colours means different effects – all 4 of these options contains propolis and royal jelly extract.
Bombee Honey Sheet Mask (yellow) – the most ‘basic’ among the quad, mainly for hydration. The mask is made up of a very thin paper that fit all face sizes brilliantly. It is also extremely adhesive that I can walk around doing chores with the mask.
Bombee Pepta Ampoule Honey Mask Pack (blue) – a step up from the yellow pack. Contains. Hydsol-H6. Copper Tripeptide-1, the sheet mask has the same material as the yellow ones.
Bombee Rose Gold Honey Mask Pack (pink) - a step up from the yellow pack, contains 24k gold, which I am not a huge believer in what it could do for the skin. Contains rosewater extract and Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, hence the very faint honey and rose scent. It’s also a tad oily, not a fan.
Bombee Red Ginseng Honey Oil Mask (red) – contains red ginseng extract and Camellia flower oil. Instead of just water-based serum, the sheet is drenched with oil essences. The sheet mask is different from the other 3 and has the worse fit ever. This is definitely a no repurchase.
These two are fairly basic – with shorter incl. list and promises less. I somehow cannot find them on their official site.
Bombee Soothing Panthenol Mask Pack (light yellow) – I really enjoy using this. I do felt my skin was instantly soothed after a chilled sheet mask in the fridge on days my skin needs a break.
Bombee Moisuturizing Hyaluronic Acid Mask Pack (light blue) – that’s nothing fancy about this product, does the job. Given the plenty of options within the brand, I’ll just get one of the yellow or blue ones if I am repurchasing.
Let’s manage expectations, do they miracle-ly fix all skin problems with once or twice use per week? No, but they are brilliant in tackling dehydration, which is exactly what I need.
I did bought quite a bit of sheet masks from Korea. That will come in a separate post if you are keen to know more. Drop me a comment or a message!