Unboxing Beauty

A couple of months ago, I purchased Skinfood’s Thermal Water Cotton Facial Sheet masks without really knowing what they really were ~ they just sounded cool.    In the past few weeks, I have rounded out my Skinfood Water Collection with their Glacier and Deep Sea Water Hydo-Gel masks and I am going to review all three of them here.

 

First, can I mention how I love the packaging?  I love water and the mask package shows 3 beautiful watery scenes ~ from the earth toned heated volcanic waters in Thermal,  icy and deep blue Arctic region in Glacier and the beautiful teal and green tropical aquatic life in Deep Sea.   I know this is a simple thing, but the aesthetics appeal to me greatly.

 Looks like it would be a set on the TV series “Lost”

 

Thermal Water Story:  Since ancient times people bathed in water from hot springs to relieve fatigue and softens skin.  A cotton sheet mask that hydrates and softens skin with thermal water in a rich, moisturizing serum. 

The first mask I purchased is the Thermal Water (Hydrating · Softening) mask sheet and this is my only cotton one.  I actually prefer cotton sheet masks.    This mask is over-sized, for sure, and it is a thick cotton mask.   It has a faint scent, but nothing unpleasant.  This mask is drenched with the Thermal Water essence and I actually was able to keep this mask on for 40 minutes, even though the instructions stated 10-15 minutes and it still was not dry when I removed it!  

My face was very hydrated, soft and moisturized…and sticky with essence.  I had to pat in the essence and wait an additional 30 minutes before it was fully absorbed.   I didn’t do my research when I purchased this mask so I did a little bit of it afterwards.  The Skinfood Thermal Water mask is best suited for dry skin.   I have oily skin and so it this was a real moisture water bomb for me.   Not that I didn’t like it ~ I did.   However, I plan to save these masks for those days when my face is really parched ~ maybe after shoveling snow for hours, or when I am out in the sun all day long in the summer and my face needs that extra moisture.  I can recommend that if you have dry skin, you should try these out.  Again, I have the cotton masks, not the hydro-gel versions.  You can find these on eBay with an average price of about $2.00 ~ $4.00 apiece.

 

I find it hard to believe that this mask only has four ingredients.   I think they just are displaying the key ingredients here..

Ingredients: Hot Spring (spa) Water (250mg),  methylparaben , phenoxyethanol, triethanolamine

Back of mask package

 Iceberg and deep blue waters….

 

Glacier water story: Pure glacier water is naturally alkali and enriched with oxygen, potassium, calcium, magnesium and other beneficial minerals.  A glacier water-infused cooling hydrogel mask keeps moisture into skin as it gradually melts over time.

Glacier Water (Toning · Soothing) hydro-gel mask.   I purchased these next masks at the Memeshop and I didn’t pay attention that they were gel masks, otherwise, I may not have bought them there.  As I stated, I like one piece masks and most hydro-gel are two pieces.     I actually did my homework before I tried this mask on!!   The Glacier Water is for oily skin and sensitive skin, so this one should be perfect for me.

This actually had weaves in the material of the gel and was not that heavy with essence, in my opinion.   I was able to put the 2-piece mask on without issues and it fit nicely on my face ~ I have to say, Skinfood does make masks that actually fit my face with its high cheekbones and wide nose!   However, it does leave the outer sides of my face a bit exposed, which isn’t an issue with this mask, as I am not oily in that region.    This mask had no scent at all.  The usage states to keep the mask on your face for 20-30 minutes, which I did leave on for 30 minutes.  This is a very  refreshing, cooling without being watery or sticky, no greasy feeling, which is due to the sodium hyaluronate ~ an effective emollient.    This mask didn’t have as much essence compared to the Thermal mask, probably because it is a hydrogel mask and not a cotton one; also it is marketed as “lightweight moisture”.    My skin was moisturized without being shiny ~ almost matte.  I am quite pleased with this mask and think it is best suited for when my face feels really oily or in the summertime, as it is a very cooling mask.  I do not recommend this mask for those with dry skin, as I think it would not be that moisturizing for that skin type.   I purchased these at the USA Memeshop for $2.50 and you can also find them on eBay as well.

 

Ingredients: water, glycerin, chondrus crispus (carrageenan), algin, agar, allantoin, butylene glycol, betaine, sodium hyaluronate, sorbitol, panthenol, arginine, water (glacier water), betula platyphylla japonica (Japanese white birch)  juice, mentha rotundifolia (apple mint) leaf extract, sodium acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance, disodium EDTA, caprylhydroxamic acid, ethylhexlyglycerin, phenoxyethanol, potassium hydroxide  cosDNA.com analysis

 

Come with me, my love, to the Sea…

 

Deep Sea water story: Pure deep sea water is naturally cool and enriched with a myriad of minerals.  A deep sea water-infused cooling hydrogel mask helps purify and brighten skin as it gradually melts over time.

The last mask I tried is the Deep Sea Water (Brightening) hydrogel mask ~ this design on the package is my favorite!   I love the tropical waters and sea life.  This is a brightening mask and I am a bit obsessed with brightening products right now.  It is suitable for all skin types who wish to even and brighten their skin tone.   The fit of this mask is the same as the Glacier Water, a two piece hydrogel.  Now, I had mentioned that the fit doesn’t quite cover my outer regions of my face, and whereas that wasn’t an issue with the Glacier Mask, it is an issue with the Deep Sea Mask.  My sun damage is in that area ~ from those days where my cheeks were exposed to the sun and I have sun spots there.   That is the area I want to even out my skin tone.   There is no scent to the essence and I felt that this mask had more essence than the Glacier Water.  This is also a cooling mask, which I think is due to the hydrogel.

I do not feel that these hydrogel masks have the proper amount of essence that I am looking for in a mask.  My face was refreshed and looked more vibrant.  Does the mask “melt” into my skin?  I don’t think it did, but I did leave it on for 30 minutes ~ recommendation is 20 – 30 minutes ~ and when I removed the mask, it wasn’t as jelly like as it was when I put it on…So, I do think my skin did absorb quite a bit of the essence.   My skin is not sticky or tacky, no greasy feel afterwards.

I purchased these at the USA Memeshop for $2.50 and you can also find them on eBay as well.

 

 

Ingredients: water, glycerin, chondrus crispus (carrageenan), algin, agar, allantoin, butylene glycol, betaine, sodium hyaluronate, sorbitol, panthenol, arginine, sea water, algae extract, nymphaea coerulea (blue water lily/blue lotus) flower extract,  sodium acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance, disodium EDTA, caprylhydroxamic acid, ethylhexlyglycerin, phenoxyethanol, potassium hydroxide  cosDNA.com analysis

 

 

Lesson learned ~ I still do not care for hydrogel masks, even though these Skinfood hydrogels were much more “obedient” and didn’t slide around my face that much.    I have now purchased the cotton sheet masks in Glacier Water and Deep Sea Water on eBay, as I really want to compare the cotton ones next.   They should be similar to the hydrogel versions, but I am hoping that they have more essence and the mask fit will be similar to the Thermal one, for better coverage.  I will review them on my blog once I get them.  I want to try all three out because Skinfood makes a toner in the Thermal-Glacier-Deep Sea Water series.   I wish to pick the appropriate one, which will either be Glacier or Deep Sea and I need to really compare them in the cotton mask version to get a good feel of the essence. 

In summary

• Thermal Water:  A water-moisture bomb.  If you have dry skin or just need to hydrate your skin quickly, this is the mask for you.
• Glacier Water:  A cooling, refreshing mask for oily and sensitive skin types.  It will hydrate your skin without feeling sticky or greasy.
• Deep Sea Water:  A brightening mask for all skin types who want to brighten and even out their skin tone.

Have you tried any of Skinfood’s Water series of masks?  Which ones and did you like them?  Please let me know in the comments 🙂