SECRET KEY STARTING TREATMENT
ESSENTIAL MASK REVIEW
The face mask to rule them all.
AMY DANG on OCTOBER 27, 2019
Ah face masks. The quintessential Korean beauty product.
There’s no denying the power of a good face mask. Put one of these bad boys on and your skin will instantly feel anew. That’s exactly how I felt after trying Secret Key’s Starting Treatment Essential Mask. Promising “bright and transparent skin”, the face mask more than delivers. Although, to be fair, I am not quite sure what they mean by “transparent” skin. The brightening part though, was definitely achieved.
To be honest, face masks all kind of feel the same to me—slightly slimy, wet, but very moisturizing. Secret Key, though, somehow found a way to impress me. Here’s why.
THE MASK
The key to Secret Key’s face mask lies in its main ingredient: Galactomyces (full list of ingredients below). A byproduct of fermented sake, this yeast ingredient is known to improve elasticity, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation spots and of course, moisturize and brighten the skin. The mask itself contains 40,000 ppm of galactomyces extract, and is thus filled with nourishing goodness.
In terms of size, the face mask is pretty large, and for my small face, that meant an awkward fit. Nonetheless, I made it work. It’s a minor inconvenience, and one that didn’t really affect my overall experience. Thankfully, the sheet’s adherence was good. Despite oozing in essence, it never once slipped while I wore it.
THE FEELING
The slime factor on this mask is off the charts. And I mean this in a good way. The sheet mask is literally soaked with essence. All that magical, oozy goodness just ready to be absorbed in your skin. As soon as I put the mask on, my skin felt so refreshed. The cooling effect (pro tip: put the masks in your fridge!) was such a welcome feeling. Honestly, I could have left this mask on for much longer, that’s how good it felt.
Once removed, my skin felt soft and hydrated—as any face mask should do. But what really got me was just how much my skin had changed in such a short time. After lightly patting the remainder of the essence on my skin, I immediately noticed how much brighter it had become. My pores had decreased in size and the usual redness around my nose was considerably reduced. It’s magic I tell you. And the best part is, the next day when I woke up, my skin still felt incredibly moisturized and fresh. It looked and felt like that of a pre-teen. You know…before puberty hits and your face is acne-ridden. Sigh. Just for a moment, it felt nice to bask in the glory of spotless, youthful skin once again.
I’m being dramatic, I know. But you get my point. If the short-term effects of the face mask are this amazing, I can’t imagine what continuous use of this product would do in the long-term. Skin as supple as a baby’s?! One can dream…
Note: The mask is so well soaked, that even after the suggested 15 to 20 minute duration, it still felt wet. There’s enough excess essence in the packaging itself for you to even save it for later or apply on other parts of your body (like your neck). Don’t let that essence go to waste!
INGREDIENTS
Water, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Betaine, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Aspergillus Ferment, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol
Overall, Secret Key’s Starting Treatment Essential Mask was a hit. I might even consider getting the actual essence! If you’re in the market for a new moisturizing mask, I definitely recommend it.
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