I’ve tried my fair share of gold face masks: During my 30-day mask challenge on Instagram—a different mask every day for a month—the gold masks I tried were some of my favorite for the instant brightening effect it gave my then-lackluster skin. Hence my excitement to try Clé de Peau Beauté’s new Precious Gold Vitality Mask ($295), which according to Jason Leong, a national training executive for the brand, does a lot more than brighten.
When developing the product, Clé de Peau researchers conducted a study “where people came in each day of the week—Monday through Friday—to have their skin, and perceptions of their skin, analyzed,” says Leong. “Our results determined that stress accumulates throughout the week, and Thursday is the day when it becomes most present on the skin—signs of aging on the skin were at their peak on Thursday. By Friday, levels of stress and fatigue drop because your brain starts to relax knowing that the weekend is ahead. The mask is designed to intercept this process of stress on the skin.”
It accomplishes that with a stacked ingredient deck that includes oxidation-inhibiting resveratrol and gardenia extract, a cell-energizing amino-acid derivative called PCA, adaptogenic ginseng extract, hydrating wild rose extract, and of course 24-karat gold. “The 99.99-percent pure 24-karat gold is enveloped in a pearl veil to distribute it effectively across skin,” says Leong. “It’s not in the formula for looks; it actually acts as an antioxidant for the skin.”
To create a weekly ritual that supports the science, Leong recommends applying the mask every three days when stress is accumulating—ideally, Thursday morning and Monday morning—in order to help stop it. “We often think of masks as products we should use at night, but I actually like using this is the mornings when I wake up feeling dull or stressed, and you only leave it on for five minutes,” he says. “When I rinse it off, it’s like wow, my skin looks really amazing, and then I still see more results the next day—it’s really a 24-hour experience.”
The mask also comes with the Clé de Peau’s first-ever skin-care brush, which was designed specifically for this product. “The right amount of mask to use is about half the brush,” says Leong. “Apply one dot to your forehead, the right side of your nose into the cheek, and on the chin. The beveled edge of the brush really hugs the face. I can’t describe it any better than a 24-karat gold embrace—it’s a really comforting experience.”
