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If there’s ever been a time to mask up, now is that time. You can try everything from the tried-and-true (for example, sheet masks or clay), to the downright weird (hello, rubber masks). With the anti-aging skincare market valued at $62 billion dollars, and $6.8 billion being masks alone, says FACT.MR, we’re talking hundreds —if not thousands—to choose from.
In this case, I decided to put some of the more pricey products to the test, and see if they’re worthy of your hard-earned cash. Some of these mimic treatments at the spa and aesthetician’s office, so they could actually be saving you money if you look at it that way.
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The first one I tried will really give you sticker shock. Read on to see if if it’s something you should be investing in.
Organic to Green’s Jade Crystal Gem Mask
With its $466 price tag, I was curious as to whether the mask could deliver major results. I am already a huge fan of jade rollers as an anti-inflammatory and a great way to work product into skin. And being a crystal girl, I was intrigued with the stone’s ancient meanings, like bringing luck and prosperity to its user.
The mask itself is hand-made, with more than 350 premium grade jade stones, hence the hefty price tag. It claims to “help cool, calm, and soothe skin from puffiness and inflammation all while it pushes the serum product into the skin.”
The brand boasts that actress Sarah Michelle Gellar is a fan.
As you can see from the picture on the left, I started out with clean, bare skin, per the instructions (don’t mind the rosy cheeks, I suffer from a mild case of Rosacea).
If you can get past the somewhat frightening appearance of the mask while it’s on, as well as the fact that you have to lay down for 20 minutes — somewhat of a luxury in my life — it’s not too bad of a process.
I applied the included cucumber hyaluronic serum, and then placed the mask over my face. What’s nice is there’s no gooey substances to scrub off after the fact, like other masks. It felt a tad heavy, but overall cooling (you can also put in the fridge if you want to up the anti-inflammatory factor).
While I don’t see much of an immediate difference or “wow” results in my “after” photo on the right, I did notice it left some indents in my skin from the stones, which went away a short time later.
I like that, overall, it was a relaxing process, and I do believe it will help those essential actives absorb better into my skin. Do I believe the mask is worth its car lease-like price? That’s up for debate.
If you’re inclined to try one on for size, you can find it at Organictogreen.com. There are dupes available for a fraction of the price at places like Walmart and Amazon, although the quality is likely not as good.
MDO Facial Cryo Lift Tools
A friend was telling me that a co-worker looked so young, she was absolutely shocked to learn the woman was actually in her 70s! And her secret? Cryotherapy facials, which utilize liquid nitrogen to brighten skin, tighten pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Cryo obviously implies cold. But, unlike the #coldgirl makeup trend, which utilizes various makeup techniques to give skin a ski-bunny like flushed appearance, it does that naturally. Reported fans of cryotherapy include Jessica Alba and Jennifer Aniston.
This tool set, developed by celebrity cosmetic doctor Simon Ourian, M.D. (clients include The Kardashians, The Jenners, Megan Fox, Lady GaGa, and Olivia Culpo) was originally designed to calm and de-puff post-surgical procedure, and speed up recovery time. Dr. Ourian decided to bring it to the masses, for $75.
For this set, you pop two glass bulbs in the freezer overnight. There is a round side for most areas of the face, and a flat side for under eyes.
Instructions are included — although I had to consult my 13-year-old #BeautyTok fiend daughter to ask how exactly I was supposed to use them.
I likened it a more advanced version of the old trick of putting spoons in the freezer and then applying them under eyes for an instant de-puff (a trick I used many times before TV appearances). But with the cryo lift tools, you rub in a circular motion on the face as pictured below, similar to a lymphatic massage, which is supposed to push fluids away from areas like the jowls and under the eyes.
Since they’re frozen overnight, the handles are also freezing so it’s slightly uncomfortable while you’re using them.
That said, you only need to do about 5-10 passes, which takes about 15 minutes in total. It does feel good while you’re doing it, and I can see how this would be a major soother after a round of injectables.
I did notice afterwards that I was slightly less puffier under my eyes, and my face flushed as the icy cold bulbs brought blood to the surface.
Overall, I’d use these again. There’s also a similar version at Walmart for $12.
Luma LED Skin Therapy Mask
From cold to warm —my friend and fellow HelloGiggles writer Karim Orange, who is also a professional makeup artist, told me I just HAD.TO.HAVE an infrared light face mask. Soon after, I went for a facial with Sonya at The Skin Lady, and she used one on me.
Two professionals I trust? Must be something good. So, I opted for this one by LUMA because the price, at under $100, was relatively affordable, and it offers different light colors, as opposed to just red like some others. A facial that utilizes one could cost you anywhere from $100-$300, per treatment. So, this seemed like a good deal.
You can put it on red for collagen production, blue for inflammation, and purple for lymphatic drainage. Green is said to reduce hyperpigmentation and yellow light reduces melanin production. Cyan reduces skin tension while white gives you all at once.
The mask uses 150 medical-grade LED diodes that produce seven specifically tuned wavelengths of light energy, according to its manufacturer, which are said to rejuvenate skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, boost collagen and improve overall skin profile.
Other benefits touted include oil control, skin tightening and pore reduction. And yet again, no icky, gooey substances to apply and scrub off. It’s LED light, so there’s no UV exposure whatsoever.
The mask itself has to be attached to a power source while using, and can be somewhat cumbersome. You definitely need to lie down while using it. You choose the amount of time you wear it for, but typically it’s anywhere from ten to twenty minutes a day, around three days a week.
For my first pass, I opted for red, for 15 minutes.
I have to say, my skin immediately felt tighter after using the mask (photo on the right). Not only that, I did notice a slight improvement in my skin tone after just the one use. I will definitely try and use this more regularly, and try the various light settings to see if I notice any difference with those!
If you want to try it out for yourself, you can find it on Amazon for $89.
