Dr. Morita Hyaluronic Acid Essence Mask

Good news, sheet mask addicts! Asia's #1 best-selling sheet mask brand, Dr. Morita, is now in the Philippines. I was lucky enough to be invited to the official launch last week where we learned all about the brand and why it's been so popular for years.

Prior to the launch, I was already a semi-regular Dr. Morita user. The first one I ever tried was their Intense Hydrating Serum Facial Mask. I really liked how it gave my skin a super boost of hydration and made it so soft and supple, even after just one use. Today, though, I'll be reviewing the mask we were given at the launch and one of their top sellers: the Hyaluronic Acid Essence Mask (Php74.00/per sheet).

Dr. Morita says...

The Dr. Morita Hyaluronic Acid Essence Mask includes large, medium, and small Ceramide molecules and complex moisturizing ingredients that keeps skin moist, smooths fine lines, and resists skin aging.

AIW Skin Care 101: Hyaluronic acid is an important ingredient, especially for dry skin. It prevents premature aging because as we all know, the key to keeping skin looking young is moisture and hyaluronic acid is a humectant, a moisture-binding ingredient. Ceramides, on the other hand, are lipids (oils). They also help to retain moisture and strengthen the skin's barrier.

dodo Japan Sheet Masks

There was a time when I didn't understand the downright obsession some people had with sheet masks. I would scoff or roll my eyes as they would rave about the mask haul they just amassed, or show off (with pride) their entire collection comprised of dozens of them. I simply didn't get it. That is, of course, until I realized that aside from just being a nice treat for one's face, they could actually be super beneficial to virtually anyone's skin care routine - no matter how simple or multi-layered it is. In time, I became hooked myself! Oh sweet irony.

Thankfully, Japanese women are just as crazy over sheet masks so I had tons of options to choose from while I was in Tokyo. Some of the ones I wanted to try were from a lesser-known brand called dodo Japan.

I'll admit, the wild and cute packaging instantly caught my eye and I knew I had to try them. I mean, wouldn't you? There were a lot of other equally cute designs, but since I wasn't familiar with the brand yet, I decided to do a safe and small haul. Each design meant a different type of mask too.

I can't give much info on the brand except that Googling "dodo Japan" led me to this website which is the home page for the Japanese distributor of the popular Palgantong powder, as well as a bunch of other foreign brands such as Dr. Organic. I only saw these masks in one store in Shinjuku (the one inside the Studio Alta building), so they're either not widely distributed or no longer are.