My visit to upscale skincare brand Shangpree’s spa in Seoul is easily in the top three of my all-time fave beauty experiences. (Read about it here.) I was blown away by both the facial I had and the products they used, and since then, have I tried some of their at-home products. While it’s true that you can’t properly replicate the spa experience at home (can I have one of their heavenly face massages every day, please?!), let’s investigate if their super expensive modeling mask will get me similar results. Is the Shangpree Gold Modeling Mask worth it?!
What it is
First, for the love of all that’s holy, don’t ever go and google ‘rubber mask’. Let’s use the term modeling mask as Shangpree themselves call this. Modeling masks are designed as a short-term application (about 30mins). Usually, you add some kind of liquid to a powder, it gels up and you apply the goopy stuff to your face and let it dry. When it’s dry, you peel it off.
Now, in texture this couldn’t be further away from a regular peel-off mask. Your brows and lashes aren’t in immediate danger of being ripped out, for once. Also, modeling masks usually dry down to a very soft, rubbery material and are intensely moisturising.
What’s so special about modelling masks?
Different to sheetmasks (and overnight masks, too, but ymmv), a modeling mask is meant to be applied literally all over your face, including your eyelids and lips. There’ll be no millimetre of your skin left bare, so all that moisturising goodness can penetrate.
The rubber mask forms a non-reverse-osmosis occlusive barrier that causes a one-way forcing of the active ingredient into the skin, as the goop congeals into a single, rubbery sheet conformed to the contours of your face.
Byrdie
… Meaning, the modeling mask is really good in moisture retention.
How do they do that?!
Each modeling mask is made by combining a powder and a gel (cheaper masks just give you a pot of powder and you’ll have to add simple H2O). The gel includes an ingredient called Algin/Alginate that’ll harden into a rubber-like texture when combined with the powder that includes Calcium Sulfate. (In those cheapie versions, the Algin comes as a powder and the addiction of water makes it gel-like.) You’ll read on various sellers’ sites that cheapie modeling masks will ultimately dry out your skin because of their high amount of simple water, which is, in my humble opinion, bogus. If we have a look at Shangpree’s ingredient list, what’s the first ingredient of the gel-part of the mask? Water. Surprise.
Nevertheless, in the gel there’re of course all kinds of nice ingredients that makes it superior to simple water.
What Shangpree’s Gold Modeling Mask is supposed to do
There’re four different modeling masks in Shangpree’s line-up: Gold for hydration & revitalization, Silver for brightening & radiance, Black to purify & detox, and Green to soothe & calm. I only tried the Gold one.
“Luxurious Spa Treatment for more translucent skin with a luminous glow! Infused with Gold, youth-activating & nourishing Gold gel and Active Collagen Powder work together to relax your skin and revitalize your complexion with out trademark Esthetician Formula.
The moist and firm modeling mask cools the skin and keeps the skin cool with ample moisture.
The creamy mask nourishes the skin with vitality, improving the skin elasticity healthily.
Gold, Arginate, Portulaca Oleracea, and Aloe moisturize, soothe, and vitalize the sensitive skin.”
Shangpree
Ingredients
There’re TONS of different plant extracts in both gel and powder. I’ll highlight key ingredients. (Look here for full list.)
Gel
Not surprisingly, the bulk of the gel is made out of water and thickeners, and also some ingredients to give it its golden colour.
Anti-oxidant: Centella Asiatica
Skin-brightening: Licorice root extract
Soothing: Green tea extract, ginger root extract, aloe, propolis
Hm: Gold and fragrance. Obviously, nobody needs fragrance in a facemask. Nevertheless, I can’t detect a strong smell or irritation after use. Paula’s Choice’s Beautypedia says a bit condescendingly, “Colloidal gold also is used in the world of medicine, where there is a minor amount of research that it might have benefit because of assumed skin-soothing properties. (…) There is no published research proving that gold, normal or colloidal in size, has any anti-aging benefits.“
Collagen: If you’re using collagen infused skincare, be aware that collagen has huge molecules that aren’t able to penetrate your skin to the layer where collagen is. It is, though, a great humectant and moisturiser (Incidecoder).
Powder
Anti-oxidants: Ginseng, ginkgo
Anti-inflammatory: Chamomile
Soothing: Allantoin
How to use it
Here’s where the fun starts. Use a bowl (mine was plastic) and put the gel into it. Then mix the powder carefully but quickly into that. Apply the mix on your face.
Beware No.1: Because we have two ingredient mixes that react when in contact to each other, I really wouldn’t go the frugal route and try to only use half of each mix and store the rest for later.
Beware No.2: You’ll curse the mixture for being so runny AND setting quickly. I’d say that you have about three minutes until you run into problems with the whole thing solidifying.
Also, although then it starts to turn to soft rubber, it’s still runny. I found it working for me best when I was just lying down and relaxing with it on my face. Don’t be afraid to liberally spreading it everywhere on your face (make sure you can still breathe easily) as it’ll remove easily. I found little golden shreds in my baby hairs after I used it, though – but I wasn’t really fussed.
First impression
For me, it’s one of the most relaxing face masks ever, because it makes me lie still and relax at the same time. It also feels wonderfully calming: Especially great in summer when you’re hot. ‘Hot’ skin is a thing in Korean skincare: it means your skin is very sensitive and prone to redness. Thus, the Shangpree site (or Olive Young, as they’ve got a translation) shows how after application of the mask skin is cooled down (and also much more hydrated).
Shangpree Gold Modeling Mask worth it?
Shangpree says that their modeling masks result in ‘firmer and hydrated-looking skin’. While I can’t really sign off on the ‘firm’, I can say that my skin looks indeed very hydrated, calm and smooth. I absolutely love the effect.
I realised, though, that the smooth, glowy appearance MAY come from the very fine gold shimmer that remains on the skin after mask removal. When I measured my skin’s hydration/oil levels before applying the mask, they were rather good: 35,0 for hydration/ 23,4 for oil on my forehead, 40,4 (hydration)/27,2 (oil) on my cheek and 45,6 (hydration)/30,5 (oil) on my chin.
I measured again (more on my skin analyser and how to measure here) about half an hour after mask removal and my regular skincare routine (my usual essence/moisturiser, but no sunscreen yet): Forehead – 52,4 (hydration), 16,7 (oil); cheek – 41,8 (hydration), 28,0 (oil); chin 44,3 (hydration), 29,6 (oil).
When I was conducting my little one mask per day experiment (here), I was rather disappointed in the hydration properties of the Shangpree Gold Premium Modeling Mask. What I didn’t factor into my review then was the look of my skin. And that’s the big plus of Shangpree’s mask: I’ve unparalled success with it when it comes to even appearance, glow and smoothness. (Which are, arguably, hard to measure.)
Where to buy
Look for deals at Jolse/YesStyle/Wishtrend etc., but be wary of very good seeming offers both on Amazon and Ebay. I’m always afraid of buying fakes. That being said, Lookfantastic carries Shangpree, as well as Flaconi and Hagel-Store in Germany.
Also, there’re packages of ONE or FIVE applications – be sure to read the description properly! Jolse (at the time of writing this post) is just running a special offer where you can buy a package of five for around $40, which is amazing. Usually, the price for a pack of five applications is between $50 and $100.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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