Seriously, this IS happening
There is no way to look cute wearing a Beauty Elements Facial Treatment Mask. I really did try to make these pics appear less scary by throwing a chubby tabby cat into the mix (usually works like a charm), but in this case even Tabs couldn’t help.
Er, not sure what’s going on here
Take home lesson: before you pop on one of these pre-moistened cotton masks, usher your crush/hubby/kids outside, since the only option is to look completely frightening.
These treatment masks, which cost $8-15 each, are made by an Oahu-based spa and skincare line called Beauty Elements. You can find them at select stores across Hawaii (I snagged mine at Blue Hawaii Lifestyle in the Ala Moana mall), and I’d bet that at least one of them would ship to the mainland if you called around.
Each one comes soaked with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, silk proteins and seaweed, and they’re supposed to help with a number of skin issues (fine lines, firmness etc.). I picked up two: Hydra (for the dry skin part) and Time Reverse (for the getting old part).
When I took out Hydra this morning, the very first thing I noticed was how cold and slimy the mask felt. I kept thinking of gooey snail slime, which, to quote my eloquent fourth grade self, was “totally grody to the max.”
After I got the mask on, I felt a slight stinging sensation in sensitive areas around the corners of my nose and mouth (I’m guessing it was from the hyaluronic acid), but it went away after about five minutes. After that, the mask felt soothing, crisp and refreshing. I was sitting at my computer at the time, but I think a hot bath would’ve taken the experience to the next level.
When my watch said that 20 minutes had passed, I peeled it off. The fine lines were still there (shoot!), but my face feel slightly tighter, which I guess is the “firming” part. My skin didn’t feel all that hydrated, though. Bummer.
Beauty Elements recommends throwing out the mask after wearing it once, but I’m guessing one could easily eek out a second use. When I pulled it off there was still a LOT of the slimy serum left on it, so storing it in an airtight bag should keep it moist for at least few more days.
The company also suggests using one of their masks at least once a week, although I dunno… The experience was interesting and kinda neat, but I didn’t notice enough of a life-changing difference to commit.
Plus, there’s the whole holy-crap-I-look-like-Michael-Myers thing. Maybe I’ll take it out next Halloween and wear it around the neighborhood to scare trick-or-treaters…
PRICE: $8-15
AVAILABILITY: At select stores in Hawaii
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
whle reading this the Halloween theme music kept playing in my head. lol
Haha, now I hear it too!
Whoa, Tabs is so huge! 🙂
Yeah! I didn’t realize how big he was until that picture. Still adorable, though.
Tabs likes to think of himself as “husky” or “pleasantly plump.”
I think it’s the angle! He’s really not that big, LOL!
These masks look cool though. I get the stinging feeling around the edges of my nose when I use Clinique Moisture Surge. I have no idea why.
The only anti-aging product I have heard people rave about is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. It seems it does work. I’ve been meaning to try the eye version for my crows feet and under eye wrinkles but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
It’s good to have you back Karen. I hope you had a nice, warm, fun time in Hawaii. I have to admit I was a wee bit jealous when I saw your pics as it’s been -12 C here 🙂
Hi Fieran,
I think those areas are just extra sensitive with some people. Mine get really touchy when I’m using skincare stuff like BHAs or benzoyl peroxide.
Hmm, I’m gonna have to look into that Advanced Night Repair. If you get around to try the eye version let me know if it works!
Oh, and if it’s any consolation it’s overcast and cold in the Bay Area right now.
Ahhh Bay Area. SF is the only vacation spot I miss so badly after the vacation ended. I feel like I left a part of me in Nordstrom/Peet’s Coffee/Honey Honey/MAC@Union Street/La Boulange… sigh. I so have to make another trip
Darn, I was hoping it was warmer there so I could live vicariously through you 🙂
I wish it was nice outside! It’s gonna be cold and yucky pretty much until April.
So you like Peet’s, huh? I’m not a big fan — it’s too strong for me! I’m a coffee wimp, LOL!
Actually I have a friend who moved from Norway to Palo Alto for work and he is a big fan of Peet’s so I was introduced to their Chai Latte which was delicious. I also got a tin of their Snow Leopard green tea. It’s really nice and subtle. I didn’t manage to try their coffee actually.
That Snow Leopard green tea sounds intriguing. There’s a Peet’s in my town so I’ll have to make a note to pick some up. 😀
Norway to Palo Alto is a really long way to move for work!
Lol I saw a similar kind of mask at sephora; they freak me out!
Haha, they are quite freaky! I dunno, maybe try it once? I bet it would be kinda nice in the summer if you were sitting in an air conditioned room!
Lol. Tabs! You two are funny, in a good way. =)
Thanks, Angela. 🙂
How’s your Friday going? Doing anything fun this weekend?
OMG, Tabs is a dense little muffin, isn’t he?
LOL… I think it’s because of the way he’s sitting in the pic. When he’s stretched out he’s not as rotund.
Hehe Tabs looks as if he could be the big brother to my cat Dizzy who’s just turned 1. They look so alike!
I always wonder what the point of these masks were? If you don’t have to wash it off why not just put the serum in a jar and use it like a regular moisturizer?
Maybe Tabs and Dizzy are long-lost tabby cousins! 🙂
I think the masks are more for the experience… it was pretty darn relaxing when I had it on, I must say.
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your site before (even though I LOVE it!) but just had to today! It looks like Tabs was trying to save you from the ‘evil’ mask! Ahhh I <3 cats. Give him a big cuddle from me!
Hi Nazia,
LOL, will do! Right now he’s chillin’ in his cat tower, but when he wakes up I’ll give him a big squeeze just for you. 🙂
Do you have a cat, too?
I tried a similar mask from a little Japanese skin care store when I visited New York a few years ago. I don’t remember if I misread the directions or it was an old batch but when I took it off it was a little dry so none too pleasing when I was pulling off little hairs with it. Then I had this partial mold of my face made out of the dried cotton that was even freakier. Since then I’ve been wary of getting these kinds of pre-made facial masks. Also, seeing Tabs make me want another big-head kitty.
You should get a big-headed kitty!
Oh yeah, Tabs is also proud of his big booty, too!
i use an asian facial mask — and its very, very scary! the furkids dont even want to get close to me when i have one on!
they work though — like a charm! esp now that im using retinol. it just gives me that extra kick of moisture and rejuvenation that my skin needs!
I think Tabs was desperate at the time, LOL! He still hasn’t realized that we are back for good.
lol!
that sounds exactly like Napoleon. he blows hot and cold!
Awww tabs missed his mommy!
I’m getting a colleague from work to get me some of these kind of masks from Skin Food in the Philippines when she goes back to visit her family. Every time I do a mask I always warn James before I come in the room. He got scared once when I walked into the front room with a black mud mask on and just started talking. He nearly jumped out of his skin! lol
Aw, Tabs is adorable! I got a Boscia black mask sample from Sephora and that was definitely weird looking. I have heard good things about the Queen Helene mint julep mask, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Haha! Karen!
You and Tabs always make my day!!!!
XOXOXOXOX!
That is just too funny. Very Michael Myers! I also got a chuckle out of “well, it looked like snail slime, and it stung, but I hung in there anyway”. You are such a trouper for our benefit. 🙂
It’s probably a blessing in disguise that it didn’t give you great results. Can you image doing one of those masks every week? The 20 minute wait time would be a killer for me. All the while, looking like a movie killer to boot!
Oh, I love sheet masks! It sounds like the one you tried wasn’t spectacular, but this kind of mask is actually really common in Asia and I’ve tried quite a few I love. My favorites are from Silk Whitia, the My Beauty Diary Platinum series and some in their regular series and FaceQ. (And they’re WAYYY cheaper than the one you tried too… I usually get a box of 10 of the MBD Platinum ones for $15 when they’re on sale at Sasa.com.) The reason for the sheet mask is because it allows you to put on a liquid/gel type mask and keep it on your face for longer than you normally would if you just smeared it on without the sheet. While some of the liquid is gel-like and thick, there are other masks where the serum (or “essence” as it’s commonly called) is basically a thin liquid. The sheet also holds more moisture to your skin and keeps it from drying on your skin too fast. You can actually buy dry sheet masks and soak them with your favorite serum or toner too.
I really enjoy sheet masks because like you mentioned, they feel really really relaxing. Additionally, while I’ve tried some mediocre ones, the ones I mentioned above do really really make a difference in my skin. Due to the nature of these masks, you could probably guess they’re best for super-moisturizing, antioxidant/brightening and gentle exfoliating/peeling formulas. I think most of the masks that I’ve used claim to do a little of all of them. I’ve definitely noticed the ones I use are good for all three. I think you’re supposed to keep on most for only 10-20 minutes, but I routinely keep mine on for 30-1hr. I’ve also noticed that sometimes they can also really help for bringing cystic pimples to the surface so you can extract them though I’m not 100% sure why. Last year, when I was breaking out ridiculously with hormonal cystic acne due to stress, using a sheet mask for 1hr every night (while I was still working on homework and applications, etc) made a huuuuuuge difference in my skin, by some combination of stress-reduction and moisturizing/exfoliating benefits.
Silk Whitia masks are my personal favorite. They’re the most expensive of the ones I mentioned but they do really work. I particularly like the blue one and the Strawberry mask. If I ever have flaky skin, 1/2 an hour with them takes care of the problem entirely. The My Beauty Diary platinum series are probably my next favorite. From their regular line I really like Q10, Intensive Rice Peptides, Apricot and Apple Polyphenol, and I like all of the FaceQ ones. When shopping for sheet masks, I’d suggest looking for ones with little or no alcohol content in them (that’s where most of the stinging comes from… hyalauronic acid actually should not sting despite the fact it’s named an “acid”), and even though collagen doesn’t penetrate the skin topically, I think it’s actually pretty beneficial in sheet mask formulas because it helps draw a lot of salts and moisture to the surface of your skin.
Hope that helps demistify them a bit. =)