Korean Sheet Masks Will Save Your Face From Winter

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Welcome to Esther Tested, where surfer and Racked SF associate editor Esther Hahn shares her best tips for fitness and beauty in the Bay.

Another dry winter means yet another month of parched skin in need of rejuvenation. Sheet masks are best for times like these because the cloth acts as a barrier to keep nutrients soaking into the skin rather than evaporating into the dry air. At the beginning of last winter, I mentioned a few of my favorite sheet mask options. Although I still reach for these when my budget allows, I've since moved onto South Korean brand Tonymoly's masks for my twice weekly routine.

At $3 a mask (and cheaper at the Korean supermarket in Daly City), there's an all-natural solution for every skin problem—seaweed for purifying, aloe for moisturizing, and pomegranate for elasticity. The sheets are easy to handle; just leave it on for about 30 minutes, then discard. There's no need to rinse after application, especially because the ingredients will continue to soak into the skin even after the treatment.

Apparently Katie Holmes insists on sleeping in masks every night —she swears by the SK-II Treatment Mask and Dr. Hauschka Firming and Rejuvenating masks— but I'm not there quite yet. Still, I can really see a difference in my skin texture when using these sheet masks twice a week. The only downside is that they don't treat the eye area, requiring extra effort to scrounge up cucumbers for a separate treatment. That said, it is nice that the eye openings allow for multitasking.

Start your own biweekly sheet mask regimen with a quick visit to Urban Outfitters, where you'll find a selection at the registers). Or, if you're feeling adventurous, brave the beauty counter at Kukje Supermarket—the masks are in a self-serve setup, but you have to pay for them in the beauty department— not at the front registers. Start with a few options, but I'll be surprised if you won't want to collect them all after seeing (and feeling) the results.

· Tonymoly [Urban Outfitters]
· Esther Tested [Racked SF]