Whether it’s a face-lifting workout, a buzzy new makeup brand or a £10 hair treatment, I’ve always got an ear to the ground and an eye on social media to figure out what’s trending in the world of beauty. And I have to say that there isn’t much that I wouldn’t try once in the name of deciphering whether a new beauty trend is genuinely worth the hype. So when I saw an increasing amount of mint green and pastel blue face masks starting to dominate my Instagram feed I knew that I had some investigating to do. The face mask in question? Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Mask (ÂŁ10).
When it comes to launching a product that’s guaranteed to create a buzz on TikTok, Dr. Jart+ is undoubtedly leading the charge in 2021. The brand’s cult colour-correcting treatment went viral on the social platform earlier this year and they’ve clearly captured the imagination of Gen Z. And despite their products sometimes seeming a little gimmicky at first glance, I’ve always been really impressed with everything that I’ve tried from the brand. So, when I learned that their new rubber masks had racked up an impressive 3.6 million organic views of the brand’s #CoolDownWithCryo hashtag, I really couldn’t wait to see if their innovative spin on the classic sheet mask would live up to the hype.
First up, before I get into my review, what on earth is cryo rubber anyway? Short for cryotherapy, cryo basically just means cold therapy and is a pretty common technique used by aestheticians and beauty therapists where certain areas of your skin or body are exposed to ultra-low temperatures to reduce blood flow to that area—this can help to bring down swelling, inflammation and irritation. In the case of the Dr. Jart+ face masks, the aim is to soothe redness, calm stressed skin and replenish your complexion’s moisture levels for hydrated, calm and even skin post-mask. There are two Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber masks to choose from—a moisturising one with hyaluronic acid and a soothing one with allantoin. A facialist told me last week that my skin is dehydrated so I plumped for the moisturising version, plus  a little insider at Dr. Jart+ told me that the mask is best kept in the fridge for extra-cooling benefits which I did.Â
Okay, so let’s deal with the elephant in the room: This mask looks hilarious. It’s bright, it’s glossy, and it’s absolutely begging for you to take a selfie wearing it. (And of course I was all too happy to oblige.) I can totally see why this mask is trending right now, but does it actually deliver on its skincare promises? The first step involved applying the little sachet of serum, aka the ampoule, all over my skin. The moisturising version which I used contains hyaluronic acid to rehydrate parched skin and niacinamide to ease redness. I then applied the mask on top—which is made from cooling clay and algae, despite feeling like rubber—to help the ingredients underneath absorb. I loved that the rubber mask comes in two parts which made it really easy to apply and it definitely stayed in place a lot better than other sheet masks that I’ve tried. I then left it on for 30-40 minutes as advised while I got on with some work. Simple.
I’ll be totally honest—this isn’t the most groundbreaking face mask that I’ve ever used in terms of results, but then again it isn’t promising to be. It is delightfully cooling to wear and felt incredibly refreshing, so I think that that this will be a real treat to use on hot evenings if the British summertime ever decides to arrive. In terms of hydration, my skin definitely felt soft and supple once I removed the mask and my complexion definitely looked bright and fresh. I think that if you do suffer from redness or sensitivity then these would be genuinely good face mask options to have in your skincare arsenal, but I personally tend to reach for face masks that have more active ingredients and resurfacing or decongesting benefits. However, for a calming, soothing, skincare experience then the Dr. Jart+ Rubber Masks really do no wrong.Â
Try this if your skin’s looking blotchy, red or feeling stressed-out.
I’m a big fan of Patchology’s sheet masks and these ones deliver a hydrating dose of hyaluronic acid in just 5 minutes.
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Perfect for sensitive skin, this soothing sheet masks utilises reishi mushroom and sea buckthorn to reduce redness and protect the skin barrier.
This used to be my go-to hangover sheet mask and now it’s what I reach for when my baby has had my up all night. Times might have changed but the fact remains that nothing reduces puffiness like this luxurious sheet mask.
The entire Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin range is adored by beauty editors for its moisturising abilities. This sheet mask is so hydrating and is brilliant at restoring balance when you’ve been testing too many beauty products and your skin has a freak out.
I think that Garnier do the best budget sheet masks on the market and this one leaves my skin looking calmer and more even in town even if I’m in the midst of a big breakout. Up next: TikTok has spoken, and these iconic hair trends are taking over.
