GLIST’s Founder and CEO, Kary Cheng has used sheet masks since she was 12 years old. Having tried hundreds of brands over the past 20 years, Kary understands how the combination of the right serum and a high-quality sheet material can replace the need for expensive serums and skincare procedures. This journey is what inspired Kary to create GLIST.
Here, she opens up about why sheet masks are a staple in her skincare routine and why they are the number one product she relies on for hydrated, clear and glowing skin.
AN ESSENTIAL SKINCARE PRODUCT IN MY CULTURELooking after your skin in the Far East is a given and both men and women use sheet masks regularly. My skincare journey began when I was a teenager watching my mum use sheet masks two to three times a week. In Hong Kong, we visit skincare experts who we call Aunties – my Auntie is in her 70s and has been advising people about skincare for more than 40 years. She told me that if I didn’t start taking care of my skin from a young age, my skin would look twenty years older than it should by the time I hit 30. That’s when I started using sheet masks religiously and started following a morning and night-time skincare routine.
THEY FIT EFFORTLESSLY INTO MY BUSY LIFESTYLEAs a business owner, my schedule is hectic and I don’t have much free time. I know a lot of people who use more than ten products from the point of cleansing until they apply moisturiser which I personally think is time-consuming and not cost-effective. If I was comparing skincare to taking supplements I’d say if you can find one quality supplement that features all the vitamins you need, why would you take five separate ones? The fact that I can hydrate and rejuvenate my skin with a sheet mask in just 20 to 30 minutes works perfectly for me.
THEY PROTECT MY SKIN FROM HARSH LIVING CONDITIONSI had almost flawless skin until I moved to Dubai almost a decade ago and then everything changed. Exposing my skin to high levels of UV, pollution and humidity, and working in a stressful job, caused me to have terrible breakouts. I didn’t want to rely on taking medication to clear my skin because I believed there was a way to cure it naturally, so I returned to Hong Kong to visit my trusted Auntie to try and find a solution. She educated me about the effects of dehydrated skin and how sensitive our facial skin is. She taught me about how harsh weather conditions, wearing too much makeup, exposing the skin to dust and even wearing sunscreen blocks the pores which can lead to sensitive skin and acne. As I was struggling to find a skincare clinic in Dubai that I resonated with, she advised me to follow a home therapy routine and use sheet masks to keep my skin hydrated which acts as a form of protection from harsh conditions. Following this advice, I developed a daily sheet mask habit which transformed my skin and meant that I didn’t have to resort to visiting a skincare clinic.
THEY ARE A FORM OF SELF-CAREOur skin is our biggest organ so it is important that we take care of it. After I stopped being lazy with my skincare routine, I cured my acne problem with sheet masks and now use sheet masks anywhere between five to seven times a week. I prefer to use sheet masks at night so my skin can deeply absorb the serum which means that I wake up with a refreshed and hydrated glow. I also take sheet masks with me on vacation because I know how dehydrated my skin gets after sun exposure and I even wear them on flights to protect my skin from the dry air and air pressure.
THEY PROVIDE AN INSTANT HYDRATION BOOSTProblem skin, breakouts, sensitivity and fine lines and wrinkles can all be reduced instantly by hydrating our skin. This is why I have worked with a leading skincare laboratory in Taiwan to develop highly specialised skincare that targets these issues. GLIST sheet masks feature a unique half gel half fibre material, and the serums are some of the best I have ever used. Your skin won’t be left with a sticky residue and the sheet technology encourages the deep absorption of the serum for long-lasting hydration.