If you're a beauty lover, you know that masks = life. But at the same time, they can be a little disappointing. Clay and mud masks can be drying. Sheet masks only ever do so much.
But now, there's a new face mask in town… and it's going to change the way you take care of your skin forever.
These are Dr.Jart+ Rubber Lover Masks — the future of skincare.
Not only are the Dr.Jart+ packages really cute, they have awesome benefits — the rubber mask prevents evaporation of all the good-for-you active ingredients, and they're WAY easier to use than a mix-and-apply moulding mask.
($12 each, Sephora)
Each package contains an ampoule serum and a two-piece "rubber" face mask, specifically designed to combat a particular skin concern.
Unlike a sheet mask, where the complexion-improving skincare is already in the material, these rubber masks require two steps to apply.
First, you pop the ampoule. The serum has a REALLY weird texture — somewhere between a liquid and a gel, it feels like memory foam for your face.
This unusual texture was the same in every mask — I found that it applied best if you rub it between your hands until it's smooth, then apply to skin.
Next, you rub the serum into your face and neck with clean hands.
Really glob it on there.
Finally, slide on the two-part mask — CAREFULLY.
The masks themselves come in clear plastic packaging inside the foil-lined pouch. Because they're made of a rubbery-gel material, they're slightly damp — and you have to be OMG SO CAREFUL, because they're really prone to tearing around the eye and mouth holes. Leave the mask on for 10 – 40 minutes, then remove to see your glowing skin!
So to see which of these ~futuristic~ rubber masks was the best, I tried them all... and ranked them by excellence.
While ALL of these Rubber Lover masks were awesome — I vastly prefer them to sheet masks — only one can be the Queen of Masks.
Let's count them down.
4. Firm Lover Rubber Mask.
This mask contains "Berry Complex (strawberry extract, raspberry extract, blueberry extract): Antioxidant that supports natural elasticity and brightens the appearance of skin." OK, I'm into fruit and elasticity. ($12, Sephora)
While I liked the pastel pink color, this mask had a really strong smell that I wasn't as into as I could have been.
I didn't smell berries; I think I smelled medicinal rosemary. It was STRONG.
And even though I was gentle, the mask tore — and I also had an unusually hard time getting it to fit.
I love that these masks come in two pieces; you can really position them for the best fit. That said, the pink mask was awkward — the eye holes seemed too small, the nose was really long (too long for even my long schnozz), and the forehead was really wide. While my skin did feel firm and bouncy after using it, the fit and smell means pinky here is at the back of the ranking.
3. Bright Lover Rubber Mask.
This mask contains "Vitamin Complex (grapefruit extract, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, folic acid): antioxidant that improves the appearance of even skintone." Who doesn't want to fuck with grapefruit, amirite? ($12, Sephora)
From start to finish, this pale yellow mask was ZESTY.
This mask smells POWERFULLY of grapefruit. If you hate citrus, be on your guard — this is intense.
That was the best thing about this mask. While all of the ampoules had that gelatinous texture, the Bright Lover's texture was a little thinner — which might be why the rubber mask kept sliding down my face. Annoying.
I can't say my skin looked dramatically brighter after using this, but I did smell like a damn sunny morning and my face was well-hydrated. Fine, but not my favorite.
2. Hydration Lover Rubber Mask.
My face has been SUPER dry this winter, so a mask containing "Phyto Keratin Complex (corn protein, wheat protein, soy protein, hyaluronic acid): Improves moisture retention, supports natural collagen synthesis and elasticity" is right up my alley. ($12, Sephora)
This blue mask was amazing — with a fun surprise.
In my notes, I have that this mask "smells like fancy oranges!" by which I think I meant bergamot — it was definitely the most pleasing of the rubber masks to my nose.
And DAMN, did this pack a hydrating punch! I used this mask for the first time after a day of filming — meaning I'd done my makeup, and scrubbed it off, six or seven times in a five hour period. It really did hydrate my skin and make it look (and feel) a lot better. If you get peely or dry, you need this mask.
But even though it was good, it still wasn't my favorite. No; that honor belongs to…
1. Clear Skin Lover Rubber Mask.
MY ACTUAL BABY. This mask is designed to help clear stressed skin, and after SXSW, that's exactly what I was dealing with. It contains "Pore Clear Complex (green tea extract, grape seed extract, persimmon extract): Antioxidant that purifies skin to visibly reduce the appearance of pores."
From the description alone, I wasn't expecting much. Oh, I was wrong. ($12, Sephora)
Were you expecting this mask to be white, like the packaging? SURPRISE, IT'S STAR TREK ALIEN GRAY.
Not only did this mask properly fit my face, smell like a witch's kitchen (kind of a herb-y medicinal smell), and make me look like a space-age cyborg queen, it actually helped calm down my face. I was working an amazing stress-induced zit on my chin; the day after I used this mask for the first time, it was practically gone. Not only that, but it left all of my face feeling really firm and plump.
I'm. In. Love.
And any mask that allows me to freak out my loved ones is good.
I tried this for the first time at home and creeped out both my boyfriend and my dog. When shooting this story, I wore it around the office and terrified my colleagues like ye olde bridge troll.
Because if you aren't scaring people while you're getting pretty, what are you even doing with your life?
As an added bonus, after a solid week of using these masks every day, my skin looked RADIANT.
Truly, I suffer to bring you guys these beauty reports.
Which of these Dr.Jart+ Rubber Lover masks do you most want to try?
I would re-buy every single one of these before I ever pick up a traditional paper sheet mask, but gray and blue are my true loves for life. Let me know YOIR rubber mask preferences in the comments, or on Eyeliner Addict!
