Images/Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
In the past few years, Korea has been dubbed as a skin care powerhouse (#KBeauty), introducing new practices and techniques to keep skin looking—and feeling—its best. And though the country has introduced hundreds products, namely masks, that have left us wide-eyed, it’s the modeling (or “rubber mask”) that’s left us more fascinated than ever since its recent stateside introduction.
As you may know, Korean skin care has a strong focus on moisture—it’s believed (and proven) to make us look years younger by plumping the skin—so it’s no surprise that the country had a signature mask up its sleeve that focuses on just that. Enter: the modeling mask—a gel-to-solid mask that looks and feels like rubber and is designed to seriously hydrate skin in mere minutes. These offerings provide intense hydration you won’t find with other masks because the rubber is perfectly contoured to your specific face shape and creates an occlusive barrier that, essentially, forces the ingredients into your skin (read: a one-way street) for maximum moisture in minutes. While you could previously only find them in Korean spas or aestheticians’ offices, these “rubber masks” have officially made their way onto the shelves of your favorite beauty stores and we couldn’t be more excited. Our favorite so far? Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Hydrating Modeling Mask ($46 for four treatments), now available at Sephora.
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A unique experience to say the least, this mask is a refreshing change of pace for those of us who have the whole face mask thing down pat (or so we thought). The first step of this high-tech treatment is to mix the Hyaluronic Cushion Gel (it sports algin, which contains the highest concentration of guluronic acid through medical-grade Norwegian algae, as well as sodium hyaluronate) with the Activating Powder (featuring must-have magnesium and pearl powder for luminosity) in the provided bowl before applying the formula all over your face with the reusable spatula (trust me, you won’t be able to do this with your fingers). And while it might sound simple, the formula is very unique in texture, making spreading it around a little bit of a challenge. The key is to distribute it around your face in a super thick layer (there’s enough to go around!) using upward strokes—the thicker the layer, the easier (and more satisfying) it will be to peel off.
The mask itself will “set” in around five minutes (giving you plenty of time to take an obligatory selfie) and you’ll feel it transforming from a liquid to a solid rubber relatively quickly. Leave it on for up to 15 minutes for maximum hydration (it feels cold on skin so you’ll want to keep it on for longer!) before peeling it off and wiping away any excess that may have lingered—no need to rinse! Once it’s peeled off, your skin will resemble a runway model’s and you’ll feel like the poster child for dewy skin. Follow up with your go-to moisturizer or serum and voila! The best skin of your life. Seriously, try it—you won’t regret it. Promise.
