Among the many beauty adventures I’ve had in the last year, K-beauty stands out as the most unique. There’s been experiments with ampoules, essences, cushion compacts and fermented sea kelp masks, to name a few. I’m completely open to the unknown when it comes to Korean beauty. The trends are always years ahead of us yet grounded in ritual and tradition not just a fad. I asked the globetrotting ladies of Glow Recipe – the U.S. hub of Korean skincare, remember Christine and Sarah?! – to dish on what we need to know about in 2016.
Rubber Masking. Apparently, rubber masks have been a celebrity facial staple in Korea for many years. They’re made of a blend of alginate, diatomaceous earth (powder that is essentially the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms!), calcium sulfates and various vitamin/ mineral powders. You sort of mix it all up together with a little water, which the first three ingredients react to for a rubber-like mixture. Spread it on your face and be fascinated. The ‘rubber’ creates an evaporation free barrier, meaning your skin is able to absorb more of the mask. It’s also super satisfying to remove because you can lift away in nearly one piece.
Splash Masks. For those of us who don’t have lots of time to mask and relax, there’s the Splash Mask. It’s an uber concentrated liquid that works in 15 seconds, giving you the same benefit as wearing a sheet mask for 20 minutes. You literally splash it on your face and then pat in before quickly rinsing away. Christine and Sara recommend using it in the shower to take advantage of the steam after you rinse it off.
Aqua Peels. Korean dermatologists have been doing this for some time but now there are at-home products. The focus on extra hydration is what makes this so different than what you’d normally consider to be a peel (dry and peeling skin). “Aqua” refers to the deep hydration provided by five different types of botanical extracts and 85% deep sea water. “Peeling” is the gentle exfoliation delivered by lactic and glycolic acids. You also can use them on just a portion of your face for a custom treatment.
What do you guys think? I am so down for a 15 second splash mask!