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Paper face masks are all the rage in South Korea because of all the skin benefits they provide in one simple application. No matter the brand, there are different purposes for each face mask – whether it’s tightening, skin purifying, detoxifying or so much more. I was a little skeptical at first upon hearing how “paper” could do wonders for your skin. But when I received a surprise package of TonyMoly face masks from my best friend, I was beyond excited to test them out.
I tore open the cardboard box and out slipped 11 masks in their cute, colorful packaging. Each mask is infused with a unique natural fruit, vegetable or plant, such as lemon and aloe. It is recommended that you apply the mask right after cleaning your face. With so many options to choose from, I grabbed one at random following my nightly cleansing routine.Â
Rice
The rice mask was in a pretty baby blue sleeve that I ripped open, eager to try it. The excess liquid seeped through my fingers and I quickly unfolded all the paper flaps to fit it to my face. I expected it to have a rice odor (not that rice gives off much of a scent), but the smell reminded me of fresh laundry, which made it even nicer to have on my face. I relaxed for about 30 minutes, peeled it off and patted my face with a washcloth. This mask’s purpose was to cleanse and clear my skin and it sure did – my skin felt so much softer and deeply cleansed.Â
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Seaweed
I was very curious about the seaweed mask, which claimed that it was skin purifying. I was eager to know if it smelled like actual seaweed, but it did not reek at all and the smell was similar to that of the rice mask. I applied it to my freshly washed face and got some homework done while I felt the mask’s cooling effects on my skin. After half an hour passed, I discarded it and couldn’t stop touching my face. Ever since I moved to Philadelphia, my breakouts have been out of control. But after two TonyMoly masks over the course of three days, my breakouts were slightly fading.Â
Avocado
I absolutely despise the taste of avocado and will not eat it, however, I did like this nutritional face mask that was infused with it. It smelled a bit like avocado, but I still decided to give it a go. It felt like my skin was soaking up the nutrients that were in the paper and I was so happy that I was getting the results that I hoped for. My face, as well as my mood, were extremely satisfied.Â
Makgeolli
This mask was saturated with makgeolli, which is Korean rice liquor. The purpose of this one was to purify my skin, just like the seaweed mask. I opened the packaging and gently molded it to my face. My roommate started to laugh at me, but hey, this was my way of treating my skin on a college student’s budget! After this final mask, my skin felt totally brand new. I had experienced a stressful few days and was eating too much junk food, so my breakouts had reappeared, but this mask brought my skin back to normal. I feel even healthier than I did before!
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I highly recommend these affordable Korean face masks. Instead of venturing out into Center City to seek a pricey spa treatment, TonyMoly masks will give you close to the same effects at only four dollars each. You can order them online here. Make sure to share this new beauty trick with all of your friends!