During the summer months, the Korean fashion and beauty content creator Hanbyul came out with a COSRX collaboration. And of course, I had to try it out!
As mentioned the Hydrogel Very Simple Pack is a collaboration with the Korean IT-girl Hanbyul. A product with hydrogel masks that offer instant relief to overheated and inflamed skin. While having the similarities to sheet masks, the hydrogel rounds are soaked in an essence containing Centella Asiatica, my favorite skin ingredient, super moisturizing ceramide, and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
It wasn’t exactly easy finding sufficient information about this product online. When it comes to the marketing of this product, I didn’t see them at all on their ‘international’ site. However, it is launched on their Korean site and from the looks of it, the product is quite popular! I actually came across it while scrolling on Instagram, and I had to get my hands on it. So I started going mad on eBay looking for a legit seller, and after a few hours, done and on their way. These masks actually got a pretty good result in the RX awards, actually the 2018 winner of the beauty review hosted by unpa. So, I ended up translating most of the info on the site so that I actually could figure out the hype!
But let’s move on!
Claiming to be an ‘instant’ skin care product, meant to be used whenever and where ever needed it can be looked like as an addition to the toner or the sheet mask. It is aiming to be quick moisture before work, makeup, a date (for those who are lucky enough) or on a flight. It’s ‘pack’ with Ceramides and Cica aims to work towards soothing and moisturizing properties while saving the skin when it has been exposed to ‘hot air’ in cases like working out or blow drying your hair. I don’t think that the concept is that you should work out with these on, but more that you should apply them straight after a work out to soothe your skin. We all know that our sweat might be salty and dry out our skin afterward so this might do me some good. As I tend to work out three to four days a week, I often look like a red tomato afterward with skin that feels slightly drier.
So, the product itself, it’s a see-through, moisturizing hydrogel sheet that almost looks too good to be visible. Size-wise it has the size of 7 centimeters in diameter, so they aren’t super big, but not super small either. To be honest, its a perfect fit for a cheek, making it even easier to use on-the-go! The fact that it has the same shape as their other pads, do make it easy to use. COSRX are suggesting that this could be the end of a complex skin care routine, also it could change the whole nighttime routine by only using a ‘pack’ and then go to bed. When it comes to me and my skincare routine, I’m a lazy girl. So I do like products that can cut the time for me on those late nights when I don’t want to put in the effort.
When it comes to the packaging and first impressions, the first thing that caught my eye while scrolling online was the silver, holographic elements on the packaging. The product comes in the same size tub as other COSRX pads. Instead of being white, it’s turquoise with a white lid. There are some cute details on the lid, some sort of pattern made out of lines that are shiny. The packaging is easy to open, and my first impression was that the product has a soft, subtle scent, quite fresh and pleasant. Thus, this does mean that the product contains some fragrances that some users might react on. It’s not pure perfume, but essential oils. So if you do tend to react, check out the ingredient list before buying the product (they are also listed at the end of this post).
The patches, masks or ‘packs’ don’t fall off when using them. The first time I used them I was kinda stressed about if they would stay on or not. They didn’t fall off while eating, drinking or just basic stuff one do when not doing that much. This does make them a good choice for a quick pick me up. I tried them on before doing my skincare routine and applying my makeup in the morning the other day and it did do me good! I felt like they really moisturized my skin in a short amount of time while prepping it for the next steps. They’re quite easy to use, just take out the number of masks you would like to use with the supplied tweezer, place them onto the desired areas and remove them after 10 – 30 minutes. Just remember to pat in the extra essence!
A trick could be to cut the pad in two and use it as an under eye mask. I did do this once, but it didn’t feel as comfortable as regular hydrogel masks for the delicate under eye area. It comes with 60 pieces in a package, that makes 200grams of product. This is the first hydrogel product that I have come across that isn’t purposely for the eye area. I’ve seen 2-in-1 options for cheeks and eyes, but I’ve never tried them. On second thought, I do have hydrogel lip masks from MediHeal! But they aren’t for the ‘whole face’ like these ones. Focusing on the amount again, if you use 3 pieces each time, one on each cheek, and one you cut in half so that you can place it on your forehead and chin. This goes down to 20 uses in one package? Depending on how one uses them and how many used. Pricewise it is in the same range as a sheet mask if you use 3 of them each time, so you could just go in and use sheet masks instead.
The mask does cool down quite well when they are used. I tried to see if I could fit on the whole mask on my forehead, and it does go okay, but I’d rather cut in in two pieces and spread it horizontally /or just one for the forehead and one for the chin rather than having a circle in the middle, close to my hairline. I can honestly state that this is more of a cheek product when it comes to its usage areas and my needs. It is a bit hard to figure out how much essence there it is in the package, it’s not easy to see so one might think that it’s almost empty. As mentioned it comes with a practical tweezer in plastic. If it was up to me, I would make it with better quality, thus more similar to what Neogen provide with their similar products. Some Neogen pads come with a tray and a tiny hole for storing the tweezer in it. This does make it so much more practical and hygienic rather than just having it laying around.
When it comes to its effects and what it does for the skin I do notice that my skin is quite moisturized after use. It also stays cool and soothing, but I do notice that my whole face hasn’t been treated. So that’s a bummer. Honestly, I do feel like this is a ‘taste and comfort’ product. Yes, I love pads with essence and treatments. But I don’t think that I would repurchase this. I’d rather just buy regular sheet masks. I might purchase a similar product recently released from 3CE. But we’ll get back to that when I’m back from Korea. If COSRX would use this essence and formula as a sheet mask, similar to the ones from Dr. Jart they might be onto something.
I actually tried on the masks while blowdrying my hair, and they didn’t fall off! To be honest, they didn’t exactly turn the time it takes to dry my hair into a magical hour, but what I did notice was the fact that my face didn’t turn red and dry, so that’s a good thing. They didn’t move, fall or itch when in contact with heat, and afterward I couldn’t stop touching my face. To be honest, I do think that these pads are growing on me.
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Calcium Chloride, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Np
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