#honestreview

Review: Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Mask Snail Smoothing & Firming

| Mermaid Magic

Day 5 of the 12 part series covering the 0.2mm Therapy Air line.

Best for: Dry and Acne-prone Skin

Data repeated from previous reviews will be in Italics.  This is the first mask in the series I’ve encountered that doesn’t contain drying alcohols.

The 0.2 mm refers to the mask thickness. The mask fit is hands down the best thing about this mask, but the thinness might explain the feelings of dryness once the time is up. Or maybe it’s the alcohol.

I have to admit even though there are more irritating ingredients it’s just more comfortable on the face than my other recommended budget sheet mask line Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Mask Sheet.

Across most of the line alcohol is going to be high on the ingredients list and the mask fit is going to be the same. I tend to have a longer forehead for most masks but this one fits me well, the eye holes are a little closer together than most masks.

First Impressions:

0.2snail

This mask has a thin, milky serum that absorbs very quickly and leaves the skin feeling moisturized when it’s dry. The mask has a light herbal scent common to the other masks. This is my favorite mask so far.

Like with others in the series, the mask starts off moist and then the cooling sensation sets in (probably from the eucalyptus).

Ingredients:
water, dipropylene glycol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, methyl propanediol, sorbitan stearate, butylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, snail secretion filtrate (2,500 PPM), sorbitan sesquiolate, arginine, acrylate/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, hydroxyethylcellulose, sucrose cocoate, coptis japonica root extract, ginger root extract, camella snensis leaf extract, licorice root extract, adenosine, dehydroacetic acid, dipottasium glycyrrhzate, disodium EDTa, boswella serrata gum, sodium hyaluronate, hydrogenated lechitin, phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, eucalyptus oil, ceramide NP, centella asiatica extract, citrus noblis (Mandarin) orange oil, lavender oil, pnus pallustirs oil, junperus mexcana oil, lemon fruit extract

Smoothening and Firming

What? CosDNA, caprylic/capric triglyceride isn’t a fragrance. Paula’s Choice sums it up very well “Caprylic/capric triglyceride can also function as a thickener, but its chief job is to moisturize and replenish skin.”

But on to the main ingredient, snail! Snail is a cult favorite Korean skincare ingredient that’s commonly recommended for acne-prone skin. A quick search found more studies about the texture and fine line-reduction benefits of snail which is in line with the mask’s flavor text.

Gotta have it now? Cosmetic-love is running a promotion: get the 15-mask set for $8.06 excluding shipping* after an extra 5% off with promocode NEWSETSHOP05. Or get a combo pack for ~$1.00 each on Amazon* usually masksheets.com has good prices but for some reason they carry individual masks in this line above MSRP.

Sources

Liu, Lucy. “Snails and Skin Care-An Uncovered Combination.” JAMA Dermatology, American Medical Association, 1 July 2017, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2642949?redirect.

Fabi, S G, et al. “The Effects of Filtrate of the Secretion of the Cryptomphalus Aspersa on Photoaged Skin.” Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2013, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23652894.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links denoted by *.

Review: Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Mask Pearl Bright Complexion

| Mermaid Magic

Day 4 of the 12 part series covering the 0.2mm Therapy Air line.

Best for: Dry Skin

Data repeated from previous reviews will be in Italics. I’ve been using minimal other skincare while doing these reviews to see if the high alcohol content actually made a difference to my face. Mornings are foam cleanse, moisturizer, sunscreen and evenings are double cleanse, 0.2mm Therapy Air and moisturizer. I just passed out last night with evening skincare at all so maybe that contributed to it but… I thought I was pilling on my nose yesterday but this morning it was noticeable that it was peeling instead (probably from dryness). I think my skin is slowly approaching dehydration again but I’ll continue to ruin my face for science. It also makes me wonder if the humectants in the strawberry mask just weren’t enough to offset the alcohol.

The 0.2 mm refers to the mask thickness. The mask fit is hands down the best thing about this mask, but the thinness might explain the feelings of dryness once the time is up. Or maybe it’s the alcohol.

I have to admit even though there are more irritating ingredients it’s just more comfortable on the face than my other recommended budget sheet mask line Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Mask Sheet.

Across most of the line alcohol is going to be high on the ingredients list and the mask fit is going to be the same. I tend to have a longer forehead for most masks but this one fits me well, the eye holes are a little closer together than most masks.

First Impressions:

0.2therapyairpearl

This mask has a runny, clear watery serum that absorbs very quickly and not tacky. It seemed to be thinner than the strawberry serum. The mask smells like alcohol mild herbal notes.

Like with others in the series, the mask starts off moist and then the cooling sensation sets in (probably from the eucalyptus). This mask has a very similar ingredients list to the strawberry mask.

Ingredients:
water, dipropylene glycol, methylpropanediol, niacinamide, alcohol, glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, biosacchardie gum-1, butylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, pearl extract (2,500 PPM), arginine, hydroxyethylcellulose, allantoin, acrylates/C-10-30 alkyl acrylate, crossspolymer, glycyrrhza glabra (licorice) root extract, copts japonica root extract, ginger root extract, camella snenss leaf extract, dehydroacetic acid, sodium hyaluronate, disodium EDTA, dipottasium glyceyrrhzate, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, polyglyceryl-10 myristate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, boswella serata gum, hydrogenated lechitin, betaglucan, geranium maculatum oil, citrus limon fruit extract, rosmarnus officinalis leaf oil, citrus paradsi peel oil, tea tree oil, phytosteryl/octyldodecyl laroyl glutamate, ceramide NP

Complexion Brightening

Like the strawberry mask, the pearl mask contains beneficial skin ingredients Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, and Allantoin . The Niacinamide imparts brightening and anti-acne effects while the Urea and Allantoin are both additional humectants. Check out the Strawberry Air Therapy mask review for more information and references.

Not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting to find any evidence that pearl extract is beneficial to the skin. It turns out I’m only partially wrong. Pearl extract has been shown to promote collagen III, wound healing, and support the extracellular matrix, but take it with a grain of salt. Even though the study has no conflicts of interest the experiments weren’t performed on humans. It’s better than no evidence at all though.

 

Gotta have it now? Cosmetic-love is running a promotion: get the 15-mask set for $8.06 excluding shipping* after an extra 5% off with promocode NEWSETSHOP05. Or get a combo pack for ~$1.00 each on Amazon* usually masksheets.com has good prices but for some reason they carry individual masks in this line above MSRP.

Sources

Li, Yi-Chen, et al. “Pearl Extract Enhances the Migratory Ability of Fibroblasts in a Wound Healing Model.” Pharmaceutical Biology, vol. 51, no. 3, 2012, pp. 289–297., doi:10.3109/13880209.2012.721130.

Dai, Jian-Ping, et al. “Effects of Pearl Powder Extract and Its Fractions on Fibroblast Function Relevant to Wound Repair.” Taylor&Francis Online, Pharmaceutical Biology, 23 May 2008, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13880200903046211.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links denoted by *.

Review: Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Mask Strawberry Brightening and Revitalizing

| Mermaid Magic

Day 3 of the 15 part series covering the 0.2mm Air Therapy line.

Best for: Dry Skin

Data repeated from previous reviews will be in Italics. Today I realized that the 0.2 mm refers to the mask thickness. The mask fit is hands down the best thing about this mask, but the thinness might explain the feelings of dryness once the time is up. Or maybe it’s the alcohol. I have to admit even though there are more irritating ingredients it’s just more comfortable on the face than my other recommended budget sheet mask line Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Mask Sheet.

Across most of the line alcohol is going to be high on the ingredients list and the mask fit is going to be the same. I tend to have a longer forehead for most masks but this one fits me well, the eye holes are a little closer together than most masks.

First Impressions:

EtudeHouse0.2Strawberry

This mask has a runny, clear gel serum that absorbs very quickly and not tacky. My first impression of the smell was “strawberry daiquiri” IMO it would be pleasant if the scent were not very faint. There is still a lingering medicinal / eucalyptus scent.

Like with others in the series, the mask starts off moist and then the cooling sensation sets in (probably from the eucalyptus). This mask seemed to retain moisture better than the Camellia mask reviewed yesterday, I think it’s because it has more humectants.

Ingredients:
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, MethylPropanediol, Niacinamide, Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Fragara Choloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, , Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pinus Palustris Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide Np

 

Brightening and Revitalizing

The additional Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, and Allantoin sets this mask apart from the series so far. The Niacinamide imparts brightening and anti-acne effects while the Urea and Allantoin are both additional humectants.

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) has been shown to have a slew of skin benefits including anti-acne, dark spots, and anti-aging. It’s a very common ingredient in skincare because of all the benefits, but I see a lot of people in skincare groups who can’t use it at all so spot test with another niacinamide product if you suspect you may have this issue.

Urea is a humectant and apparently hydroxyethyl urea is a moisturizing ingredient commonly used in oil-free moisturizers.

Allantoin is another common skincare ingredient that is “listed in the FDA over-the-counter monograph as a safe and effective skin protectant.”

 

Gotta have it now? Get them for ~$1.60 each on Amazon* usually masksheets.com has good prices but for some reason couldn’t find that in stock there today.

Sources

Bissett, Donald L., et al. “Niacinamide: A B Vitamin That Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearance.” Dermatologic Surgery, vol. 31, 2006, pp. 860–866., doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31732.

Shalita, A R, et al. “Topical Nicotinamide Compared with Clindamycin Gel in the Treatment of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris.” International Journal of Dermatology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 1995, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7657446.

Navarrete-Solís, Josefina, et al. Dermatology Research and Practice, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2011, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3142702/.

TANG, W., and B. BHUSHAN. “Friction, Adhesion and Durability and Influence of Humidity on Adhesion and Surface Charging of Skin and Various Skin Creams Using Atomic Force Microscopy.” Journal of Microscopy, Wiley/Blackwell (10.1111), 19 Jan. 2010, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03362.x.

Thornfeldt, Carl. “Cosmeceuticals Containing Herbs: Fact, Fiction, and Future.”Dermatologic Surgery, Wiley/Blackwell (10.1111), 21 Mar. 2006, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31734.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links denoted by *.