A lovely summery skincare that I’ve been using. These are the kind of sheet masks that you can use daily to give your skin a proper boost without breaking the bank. They come in a large resealable bag rather than individually packaged, and there’s less serum to go around — but they do the job just fine. They’re like the low-cost airlines of sheet masks.
I’m generally not a fan of these large multi-packs mainly because I’ve never been able to use them up before they start to dry out. 25+ sheets aren’t a lot when you’re supposed to use one daily, but realistically, I start to lose interest after a week or so. I also don’t like the idea that I have to commit myself to the same mask everyday for almost a whole month once I open the pack just so the rest won’t go the waste. And here’s where this comes in. JAPAN GALS Pure 5 Essence Mask (Medicated Whitening) comes in two 10-sheet packs! Split the huge pack into two — such a simple solution that it’s mind-boggling why other companies aren’t doing the same.
I first tried this a few months ago and it instantly became one of my favourite sheet masks when I have red, irritated spots. I’ve been using one pack each month, 10 consecutive days beginning from the start of my monthly cycle when the skin is the most tender, sensitive, and dry due to changes in hormone levels. It has a very soothing and calming effect, though it doesn’t have the same dramatic brightening impact of the Clear Turn White Mask (Vitamin C) — perhaps a good thing when the skin is already irritated and more sensitive than normal. I was also very pleasantly surprised to find that the serum in this is actually really lightweight — non-greasy, non-sticky, and fast-absorbing.
The mask contains a blend of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Placental Protein, aloe vera, and green tea to soothe and hydrate. There’s also Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a very stable vitamin C derivative that is a lot gentler on the skin. So there’s a proper dose of effective yet gentle key ingredients in there and not just some wishy-washy herbal blend that looks more like a salad for the face.
I still prefer individually packaged sheet masks — they’re more sanitary, the cotton sheet itself is better quality, and you get a lot more serum — but that’s like flying on a budget airline then complain about lack of fully reclining seat and complimentary amenity kit. For just a few pennies per use, I’d say these are really very good indeed!
You can find Japan Gals’ Pure 5 Essence Mask (Medicated Whitening) in drugstores across Japan — it’s ¥1,000 for a box of two 10-sheet-packs (330ml of serum in total).
