Skin care has always been important to me. I like to keep it simple and affordable. A few years ago, masks became the big new thing. Granted masks had always been around, but they weren’t a part of anyone’s weekly ritual (at least not anyone I know). The idea of being pampered sounded amazing, but putting mystery products on my skin just seemed like a bad idea.
A couple of years ago I temporarily switched coasts (East to West) and the constant sun (wonderful as it was) and the lack of moisture in the air wreaked havoc on my skin. A friend who had already embraced the mask-trend, suggested I try a hydrating mask. She swore by the “homemade” masks sold at Lush and suggested I try the Oatifix mask. I used it and lo and behold it worked. My skin felt hydrated, it was almost as if I had hit a reset button.
Since then I’ve incorporated hydrating masks into my beauty regimen, preferring the ease of sheet masks and sleeping masks over the traditional -apply – and wash off – varieties, which require a bit more effort than I’m willing to make at the end of a long day.
Last night I tested a high-end, sleeping mask, from Dr. Brandt. The Needles No More 3-D Filler Mask is meant for all skin-types and claims to add/give back volume to the skin while improving elasticity and helping with fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike most of the masks I use, this mask is meant to applied only to the cheek area (create two inverted triangles, started at your chin and working up to your cheekbones). The most appealing thing about this mask is that it’s a sleeping mask (you apply it before going to bed and sleep in it). The least appealing thing, the price. Ninety five dollars gets you one point seven ounces of product and an application brush.
The mask had a pleasant, subtle scent, and had a lotion like consistency. It applied very easily and since my skin drank it up immediately (not unusual for my dry skin) I opted to pat in another layer of mask. Overall, it was an easy application and a pleasant experience.
The Next Morning
When I woke up the next morning, I noticed my skin felt different. It had a soft almost powdery feel (softness/smoothness) and there was a very subtle plumping (fullness) and lifting effect that I might have missed had I not been looking. As for wrinkles/fine lines, I’m not in a position (yet) to say whether this product tends to those or not, but the mask certainly didn’t cause any negative effects. I decided to do a little research and look at the reviews on Sephora.com. Many women seemed to be using the mask as part of their morning ritual, before they apply their makeup. One (having not read the instructions) felt that it was the best primer she had ever used, and another was using it as a spot treatment to plump up areas of her face that she felt needed it to achieve a more youthful look.
These women were onto something. I decided to give it a second go, this time, as a spot treatment (let’s see what we can lift and mold) under my makeup. My concerns going in had only to do with hydration, I require A LOT of moisturizer before I go in on foundation, and I worry that this product will either pill or be too drying to give me the results I desire.
The Failed Experiment
I decided to do a quick little experiment before my morning ritual (showering, moisturizing, getting-gussied up…). I decided to spot treat areas of my face on clean skin (no moisturizer/product) to see what would happen. I opted to place a thin layer of the mask in my upper cheek area (the area above where the contour line is usually placed, not the apples) I also added a thin layer in my under eye area which tends to sink in and highlight any dark circles I may have.
My cheeks already had some fullness from the night before so it’s hard to say if another layer of mask really did anything at all. I did notice one thing though – the mask created an unwanted effect in my under eye area. I noticed that when I smile big – my skin moves as one large piece (almost as if it’s been glued with a glue stick) and I have massive folds that look like advanced wrinkles and a half a dozen fine lines that aren’t so fine. This is an experiment I don’t need to ever do again.
Morning Ritual
After showering, I went ahead and applied my usual face cream. I know that this might inhibit the mask from working properly, but hydration is far more important to me than fullness/lifting, and without it my makeup looks like something that should be featured in a freak-show.
After face cream, I applied the mask to the cheek area, (and avoided the under eye area). I took care to apply one coat of mask, to keep the product from pilling up under my makeup – and applied my most hydrating foundation (Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid) with a stippling brush so as not to disturb the layers of product underneath.
My plan for masking under my makeup was successful. I was able to hydrate, mask, and put my face on, without getting dry skin, or product (mask) pilling, but my big take away was that it wasn’t worth it. I prefer the ease of using the mask the night before (or for an evening event, during the day) and having unlimited options for my beauty look.
Final Thoughts
The 3-D Volumizing Mask is a product worth keeping around, if you already have it. My deluxe sized sample is likely to get me through a situation or two, but personally I’m not ready to invest the ninety-five dollars a jar that it would take to keep me in plumpness/fullness. I do see the appeal though, and I’m certain that there will come a day when I am happy that this product exists.
Brand: Dr. Brandt
Item: Needles No More: 3-D Filler Mask
Size: 1.7 ounces
Cost: $95.00 (Sephora.com / Ulta.com)
Ingredients:
Water Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate, Phospholipids, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Silanetriol, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Peg-40 Stearate,Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Diethylhexyl Adipate,Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Betaine, Propanediol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ornithine, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycolic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactic Acid, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycolipids, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14.
-Adipofill’in™ Complex: Contains hyaluronic acid; visually revolumizes, fills, and reshapes the appearance of face contours.
-Peptides: Helping to reshape the appearance of face contours.
-Adipofill’in Encapsulated Amino Acids: Help maintain volume and minimize the look of wrinkles over time.