LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack Review: Four Flavours of Hanbang

I like sheet masks a lot, and I use them a lot, but I don't review them often as my blog would be nothing but sheet mask reviews if I did.  I'll sometimes review them on my Instagram, or I'll put them in a Best of post, or pick my top masks for a season's routine.

I'm making an exception for the LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack sheet mask set, of which I have types but one, as they're worth reviewing and people have expressed a lot of interest in hearing about them.  I'm sure this is due to 1. them being very, very Hanbang (한방, traditional Korean herbal medicine) and 2. being in ultra cute packaging that looks like different styles of Hanbok, a type of traditional Korean garment.  Normally cute packaging results in really disappointing masks, but these were a pleasant surprise.

I've also already used almost all of them, as you can see in this image below, so it's high time I review them before they're all gone.

Yes, I did save these empties for this post. You'd think that I didn't like the blue or green ones as I have 3 left of each, but actually I'm hoarding them because precioussss.

I purchased these in my Korean buying service haul from the terminally adorable Boyah Shop, which you can read about here: Boyah Shop Korean Buying Service Review + Haul of Hanbang & Sheet Masks, and at this time they're not available (affordably!) anywhere other than Korean sites, but if that changes, I will definitely update the review.  These were about $0.86 each before shipping, and I'm quite pleased with them.

Even the boxes are fancy, with pretty gold detailing on the edges:

Image from: Boyah Shop Korean Buying Service Review + Haul of Hanbang & Sheet Masks

Still, when it comes to sheet masks, it's what's inside the package that counts, so let's get to it!

In this post:

• Chaga Mushroom Sheet Mask - Wrinkle Care Type Review
• Shang Whang Mushroom Sheet Mask - Sensitive Type Review
• Silk Worm Sheet Mask - Whitening Type Review
• Wild Ginseng Sheet Mask - Cleansing Type Review

Each mini-review contains product details, comments on fit, scent, essence, ingredients, and other details, including which ones I will (and won't) be repurchasing.

Chaga Mushroom Sheet Mask - Wrinkle Care

Love the floral detail in the bottom right of the 'skirt'!

Full product name: LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack Chaga Mushroom (Wrinkle care type)

Purpose: A sheet mask is a sheet mask; it provides a slow-release of essence that sinks into your skin over a long period of time, usually 15 min to an hour.

So much English text, amazing.

The blurb on the Chaga Mushroom type on the company's listing on this website says:

Chaga Mushroom mask pack (Wrinkle care type)

Inonotus obliquus (Mushroom) Extract which is go[o]d for antacid & [Adenosine] which is good for wrinkle-care take care of your skin fresh and vital.

Efficacy of fermented Chaga mushroom:

An abundance of SOD enzymes eliminates the lipoperoxide in skin cells to purify blood and prevent vessel diseases to improve skin renewal.

This scan of the back is a giant resolution, if you want to open it in a new tab to read all the text.


Scent: Pretty intense, especially compared to the others.  It's a floral fragrance with a bit of earthiness; doesn't really smell like anything I'd associate with 'mushroom' but I'm hardly one to be huffing the fungus section of my supermarket.  The perfume-y scent lingers, and it's a bit sharp.

Essence:  Essence is nice, not so thick it's like a gel but not drippy enough to migrate down my neck, the mask is very saturated and there's enough left over in the pouch for me to either pre-game with the essence as suggested by fellow Snailcaster and #TeamDoubleFistingMasks teammate Fiddy Snails, or for me to use the next day.

Fit:  Almost as an Evercos, it has an ultra-soft, ultra-clingy mystery material that is thicker than silk masks but has similar perks. It's not quite as soft or stretchy as an Evercos, but for a 'cute packaging' mask, this is fab.  It's also a bit small for my giant moon-face, so be warned.  Has a faint tea-stain colour, likely from the extracts.

Ingredients:  Printed right on the back of the packaging, along with English instructions on how to use it, and a tip to cool them in the summer and heat them in the winter.

Thank you, scanner, for saving me from the painful squinting-and-typing-and-cursing ingredients capturing method.

Rating:  4/5, because while this is not as good as an Evercos, it's way better than most 'cute packaging' masks so it's a good skincaretainment option.  I'm docking a full point for the small size + the strong fragrance.  However, I am judging these masks by the price I bought them for, which was less than $1 USD each before shipping costs.  Even with shipping costs, these were less than $2.  If I had to buy them for $3+, I might feel very differently about them.

Where to get it: I purchased mine for $4.30 for a box of 5 masks in my haul from Boyah Shop's buying service, RoseRoseShop Box of 5 for 5,800 KRW ($5.31 USD) but shipping will be high.  There are some retailers charging $25-30 for a box of 5 or $6 each, and that's just ridiculous, so I won't be linking them here.

Repurchase:  Not this specific type due to the fragrance, but if I was putting together a 'Hanbang me harder' care package box (like these ones here) I would definitely throw in all of the flavours.

Shang Whang Mushroom Sheet Mask - Sensitive

I did not attempt to translate the text on the skirt. If anyone happens to know what it is, let me know?

Full product name: LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack Shang Whang Mushrooms (Sensitive type)

Purpose:  See above 'a sheet mask is a sheet mask' comment.

See notes on viewing readable size

The description of the Shang Whang Mushroom type on the company's listing on this website says:

Shangwhang Mushrooms Mask pack sensitive type

Phellinus Linteus Extract will calm down your sensitive skin and maintain your skin clear. It also lessen skin irritants that leads sensitive skin to healthy & shiny.

Efficacy of fermented sanghwang mushrooms

Anticarcinogenic substance extracted from sanghwang mushrooms are fused with herbal ingredients to create skin pack. It will have cell activation, Skin's antioxidant, skin renewal, moisturization reinforcement, melanin suppression, and other effects. Not to mention its effects to improve skin troubles or sensitive skin.

This scan of the back is a giant resolution, if you want to open it in a new tab to read all the text.

Scent: Bright, herbal fragrance with a bit of citrus and florals, very different scent.  I like it a lot, and I notice it has no 'tea stain' colour like the Chaga did.  The scent fades quickly, isn't heavy, and it's pleasant.

Essence:  Same kind of essence, it's fluid enough to feel refreshing and hydrating without being drippy.  They are all generously saturated and last a long time.

Fit:  Similar fit although it seems slightly firmer than the Chaga, still very thin and cling/fits well.  Like all the masks from this set, it runs a bit small.

Ingredients:  Printed right on the back of the packaging, along with English instructions on how to use it, and a tip to cool them in the summer and heat them in the winter.

Interesting, they all have niacinamide, but you can't trust the order of Korean ingredients lists as indicators of relative concentration.  See this post on fanserviced-b for more info.

Rating:  4.5/5, because it's almost as nice as an Evercos despite being in a cute package, it has a nice scent, a nice fit, and I only marked it down the 0.5 point due to the small size.  If you have a very small face and struggle with flaps of mask hanging off as a rule, you'd probably like these a lot.

Where to get it: I purchased mine in my haul from Boyah Shop's buying service, RoseRoseShop Box of 5 for 5,800 KRW ($5.31 USD) but shipping will be high.  There are some retailers charging $25-30 for a box of 5 or $6 each, and that's just ridiculous, so I won't be linking them here.

Repurchase:  Absolutely, this is one of my top two from this set.

Silk Worm Sheet Mask - Whitening

All the hanboks in this series are so pretty; I love the sleeve cuffs on this one.

Full product name: LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack Silk Worm (Whitening care type)

Purpose:  It's a sheet mask in a cute package.  I like sheet masks a lot, I use them a lot, but I'm under no delusions about the long-term effects of their ingredients, so please keep that in mind when you're reading the, uh, florid and enthusiastic claims from the product description.

LOL @ the % of 'silk worm extract'

The description of the Silk Worm type on the company's listing on this website says:

Mulberry silkworm mask pack (Whitening type)

Mulberry silkworm extract & [Niacinamide] makes your skin whiten & Clean. This product will let your face bright & white.

Efficacy of fermented silkworm (baekgangjam)

Baekganjam is dried silkworm which has died after being infected by Beauveria bassiana. It contains protein, minerals, and oils, and has been used traditionally as a folk remedy to treat boils or festers. Its protein moisturizing structure similar to skin's membranes, it moisturizes and whites by lightening freckles, and also suppress aging. It is especially effective in whitening scars from acne or skin that has turned dark.

This scan of the back is a giant resolution, if you want to open it in a new tab to read all the text.

Scent: This scent is really familiar, and I'm struggling to place it.  I think it reminds me of the Mizon Starfish Mask (which I dragged hard in an Instagram review) which had a nice scent (one of the few redeeming features) but I could be totally wrong as it's been over a year since I last smelled it.

Essence:  The same lovely essence as the others.

Fit:  This mask, surprisingly, is firmer and less pliant than the others, and I'm making a wild guess that maybe the 'silk worm' element is not an extract (which would be a bit gross?) but actual silk fibres from said silk worm that has been blended into the mask sheet?

Ingredients:  Printed right on the back of the packaging, along with English instructions on how to use it, and a tip to cool them in the summer and heat them in the winter.

This mask does contain niacinamide, but you can't trust the order of Korean ingredients lists as indicators of relative concentration.  See this post on fanserviced-b for more info.

Rating:  4/5, because while the scent is pretty and the essence is nice, I didn't like the firmer style of mask.  Mind you, that's compared to the others in the set; by regular mask standards it's great.

Where to get it: I purchased mine in my haul from Boyah Shop's buying service, RoseRoseShop Box of 5 for 5,800 KRW ($5.31 USD) but shipping will be high.  There are some retailers charging $25-30 for a box of 5 or $6 each, and that's just ridiculous, so I won't be linking them here.

Repurchase:  No, but like the Chaga, it would definitely go in a care package of pretty Hanbang things.


Wild Ginseng Sheet Mask - Cleansing

The styling of this one is probably my least favourite design, but my most favourite mask

Full product name: LS Cosmetic Oriental Herbal Skincare Premium Mask Pack Wild Ginseng (Cleansing type)

Purpose: When you want to be Hanbang'd but in a good way that doesn't evoke compost heaps and dead grandmothers.   There may actually be some scientific backing to the claims that ginseng is good for the skin, although again I always have reasonable and realistic expectations of my sheet masks, which is to hydrate my skin.

Mmmm, ginseng.

The description of the Ginseng type on the company's listing on this website says:

Wild ginseng mask pack cleansing type

Panax Ginseng Root extract lessen the production of sebum. That makes your skin not be greasy & remove the face waste.

Efficacy of fermented wild ginseng

Strong energy and antioxidant effects of wild ginseng will provide wrinkle diminishing and lifting, reinforcement of skin immunity, and increase in blood circulation effects for better complexion and clarifies skin.

This scan of the back is a giant resolution, if you want to open it in a new tab to read all the text.



Scent: Mmmm, so much ginseng.  If you don't like the scent of ginseng or you aren't down for smelling like an earthy root for hours after, skip this mask.  Personally, I love it and this is my favourite mask of the bunch.  I'm still recovering from Hanbanging too hard, but that hasn't stopped me from loving the scent of this mask.

Essence:  The same sort of fluid but not drippy, nicely saturated goodness that all of these have.

Fit:  Nice and soft, clingy, just not quite as soft, clingy, or stretchy like an Evercos.  Still great, though, especially for a pretty packaging-type mask

Ingredients:  Printed right on the back of the packaging, along with English instructions on how to use it, and a tip to cool them in the summer and heat them in the winter.

Errr, 0.1% Ginseng, eh?  Ah well, I just expect my sheet masks to hydrate my skin and be soothing, so I'm not even mad.

Rating:  4.75/5, with a tiny loss of points for the smallness of these masks, but unnnf dat ginseng.

Where to get it: I purchased mine in my haul from Boyah Shop's buying service, RoseRoseShop Box of 5 for 5,800 KRW ($5.31 USD) but shipping will be high.  There are some retailers charging $25-30 for a box of 5 or $6 each, and that's just ridiculous, so I won't be linking them here.

Repurchase:  Most definitely; this is my fave mask of the group.

When I try the 5th type, I may add it to this review if it really wows me, but taking blog photos is one of least favourite pastimes so I may just add it as a text review, forgive me!  Life is too short to mess with set up and lighting for a single sheet mask, I'd rather just be wearing one and relaxing from my day.

Have you tried any of these masks?  Thoughts on your likes/dislikes?  Hit me up on Facebook or Twitter and let me know!

Have something you'd like to share with me in general?  Snap a pic and tag me on Instagram at @snowwhiteandtheasianpear because I'd love to see it!

All the best,

-Cat

**Disclaimer:  There are no affiliate links, or referrals, or anything else that needs to be disclosed in this post.  All products reviewed/mentioned in my blog, are 100% purchased with my own money, with a single exception of a press sample I tested & reviewed in 2015 which swore me off of them forever.  This blog contains  both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and clicking the former before you shop means that this blog may receive a small commission to assist in this blog supporting itself.  Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information./