This used to be a day in the life of this skin care blogger, especially in the winter months, when my skin was more dry to begin with:
8:40 AM. Layer on a concentrated glycolic acid serum a company sent to try.
8:50 AM. Skin is sore. Need to rinse immediately. Slather on a moisturizer to help soothe.
5:30 PM. Skin is still sore. Put on more cream to rehydrate and restore the skin.
Next day.
7:00 AM. Wake up. Notice new pimples forming. Apply benzoyl peroxide on the spot and cry. (OK, maybe not cry, but you know.)
This cycle continued, day after day, year after year.
And then I discovered Bel Mondo Beauty Ultra Hydrating Facial Sheet Masks ($45.00 for 4, Bel Mondo.com). These masks are designed with amazing hydrators including sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, olive oil, and rice extract. In short, these work, delivering soothing and moisturizing ingredients to the skin without clogging the pores like some heavy leave-on moisturizing creams can. For more, read on.
Sodium Hyaluronate and Hyaluronic Acid
People love to use sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid. And by “people,” I mean everyone: Formulators, dermatologists, spa owners, clients, patients, you name it. The difference between sodium hyaluronate comes down to one little proton. Adding a proton makes sodium hyaluronate acidic, and hence it is then called hyaluronic acid.
Each has its own advantages. As hyaluronic acid, the compound can bind water up to 1000 times its volume (Baumann). However, sodium hyaluronate has greater stability than hyaluronic acid (Kewpie).
Another advantage? Sodium hyaluronate works at both high and low humidity. Some moisturizers called humectants can cause dryness if humidity is low, because they need to attract water either from the air or the skin. If humidity is low (not much moisture is in the air), the humectant will extract water from the deeper layers of the skin (Baumann). That is why many humectants are paired with moisture-retaining agents like dimethicone or paraffin. At any rate, sodium hyaluronate doesn’t need dimethicone or paraffin to work. It works great on its own at all levels of humidity.
Studies also affirm sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid are awesome. In fact, a 2000 study by Sakai et. al found that a decrease in these agents (and similar ones) in the skin leads to surface roughness, flaking, fine lines, and a tight, uncomfortable feeling.
In addition, though people often say these ingredients don’t have long-term anti-aging benefits, they may still be important for anti-aging prevention. According to Dr. Howard Murad, hydration of the skin allows for it operate at optimum capacity, and provides a better defense against environmental assaults.
Ceramides: May help retexture and moisturize the skin
Back in 2010, I was convinced that ceramides were going to be more popular than peptides.
The research is definitely there: Ceramides are natural hydrators found within the skin. They all have significant functions: Ceramide 1 helps strengthen skin’s appearance. Ceramide 3 helps the skin hold essential moisture. Ceramide 6 helps exfoliate and retexturize. (International Journal of Cosmetic Science)
Adding ceramides to the skin with a moisturizer (or a mask!) has also been shown to have results. In a 2002 study by dePaepe et. al, the strength of the skin — measured by its barrier repair function — was enhanced by the presence of ceramide 3, as well as a separate combination of ceramides and fatty acids.
Therefore, it can be concluded ceramides may be effective if helping to retexture, moisturize, and repair the skin. The same studies have shown that ceramides don’t prevent water loss, but that’s where rice extract comes in…
Rice Extract: Moisturizing, Protects Your Skin’s Natural Oils
Rice extract, also known as Oryza sativa extract, is an emollient, meaning that it moisturizes the skin by softening.
The secret behind rice extract is a compound called Gamma orzanol. A potent antioxidant, Gamma orzanol is a free-radical scavenger.
But the real beauty of rice extract (and Gamma orzanol) is that it may help to improve the stability of oils and fatty acids already existing within the skin (International Journal of Pharmaceutics). That means that rice extract not only softens the skin as an emollient, but it also protects your natural oils and fatty acids within the skin, leading to even more hydration.
Oryza sativa is also used in many countries as a mild cleansing oil (African Journal of Biotechnology,International Journal of Toxicology).
Personal Use and Opinions
As with the other Bel Mondo masks I have reviewed, Bel Mondo Beauty Ultra Hydrating Facial Sheet Masks are biocellulose masks, meaning that they adhere to the face better than other varieties.
To apply the mask, you need to line up the holes with your eyes, nose, and mouth. It seems tricky at first, but I’ve been using these masks twice a week for several months now, and you get the hang of it over time easily. The gel itself is clear, smooth, medium-texture, and not sticky or tacky at all. It absorbs into the skin quickly, so if you get any on your hands, it’s not a big deal at all. Once the mask is on, I press down the center, vertically along the center of my face, and then around the sides to ensure that it is adhered.
During use, the biocellulose lays on the skin quite well. It does not feel sticky or tacky or dry on the face. Instead, it feels like a cooling gel is resting on your face, rather like you’re getting a spa treatment. I typically do some reading or work on the laptop while wearing one.
After twenty minutes, the mask is removed and the clear gel rinses off. It leaves my skin soothed and hydrated — much faster and better than layering on moisturizer after moisturizer.
Bottom Line
Instead of bombarding my cold, dry, reddened, or irritated skin with moisturizers all of the time, I’ve turned to twenty minute sessions with Bel Mondo Beauty Ultra Hydrating Facial Sheet Masks. These masks are filled with amazing hydrating ingredients and leave the skin soft, smooth, and not sticky at all — without any of the fuss! Definitely a huge fan.
Product Rating: 9/9 (High or optimized concentration of ingredients: 3/3. New technology or unique formulation: 3/3. Value: 3/3. Sunscreen: N/A).
Ingredients: Purified water, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, propylene glycol, sodium alginate, Dansonyl (plant extract), ceramide gel, chlorphenesin, Skinasensyl (acetyl tetrapeptide-15, sodium citrate), rice extract, Hydromanil (moisturizing compound derived from tara seed), olive oil, hyaluronic acid, biosol, panthenol, fragrance
Enter to win a Bel Mondo Beauty Ultra-Hydrating Sheet Mask Set!
Just comment below! The winner will be contacted via email on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM EST.