I love sheet masks. When I first started to experiment with Korean skincare, I would buy lots of different masks without giving them much thought. But now I’m more experienced and much more selective. I picked DearPacker Black Ginseng Gold Hydrogel mask for the best, most “legit” reason of all - the packaging (I’m giggling as I write this). Of course, the ingredients are very promising (more on that below), and hydrogel masks are usually my favorite type of sheet masks, but just LOOK at the gorgeous packaging on this mask! The little foil accents reflect the light but it’s very hard to capture in a picture. I couldn’t say no. The mask is available on eBay and Amazon.
Active ingredients:
Panax ginseng root extract (100ppm) - a traditional anti-aging ingredient that stimulates collagen production and cellular renewal. It can also help with pigmentation.
Houttuynia Cordata - an anti-inflammatory herb that can help with breakouts.
Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract - an antioxidant that fights free radicals.
Lactobacillus ferment - fermented ingredients can penetrate skin deeper than non-fermented ones due to their smaller particle size. Lactobacillus ferment has a moisturizing effect.
Adenosine - a yeast derived anti-aging, soothing and restoring agent suitable for all skin types. It is capable of increasing the levels of collagen and elastin, making the skin appear smoother and younger. It is especially effective in the eye area (crow’s feet) and can also reduce swelling/puffiness.
Based on the ingredients, this mask is for those “in between” life stages - people who want to treat or prevent the signs of aging while also healing any irritation and breakouts. That sounds perfect for me. I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry-to-normal everything else. Occasional breakouts and redness happen.
The hydrogel material provides a fantastic fit (at least for my face shape). The mask is made of two halves, so you can position it precisely to your liking. I’m a little confused about the chin cutout, but ok - maybe it’s a design feature I’m simply not sophisticated enough to understand. As the hydrogel warms through skin contact, it adheres better and better and releases all of the goodness of the essence. I always think of hydrogel masks as patches for the whole face.
How to use:
Cleanse the face and use toner
Apply the mask
Relax for 10-20 minutes
Remove and pat in the remaining essence
My impressions:
I absolutely love hydrogel masks - this one is no exception. The material feels so sleek and luxurious, slightly cooling on the skin (I keep all of my sheet masks in the fridge). As it naturally warms from body heat during use, it molds perfectly to the skin. I also like the two piece masks as they offer a more customizable fit. This mask stays put - so if you wish, you could probably get some chores done during use, but I choose to be lazy and do nothing.
The interesting thing about this particular mask is its lack of scent. All of the ginseng products I have tried so far have had a strong herbal smell. I’m not sure if that’s what actual ginseng smells like or if it’s just the commercial interpretation of ginseng fragrance, but it’s typically very potent. This mask, however, only has a very faint aroma or something pleasant, and I can hardly detect it. It likely comes from the blend of oils like bergamot, lime, and sandalwood in the ingredients.
My skin absorbs the essence wonderfully. There’s no sticky feeling, just glowing, hydrated skin. The two fine lines I have on my forehead look visibly smoother right away. This is definitely a high quality product that I would purchase again. You can read my other sheet mask reviews here.
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DearPacker Black Ginseng Gold Hydrogel Mask ingredients: water, glycerin, butylene glycol, niacinamide, ceratonia siliqua gum, chondrus crispus (carrageenan) extract, 1,2-hexandiol, panax ginseng root extract (100ppm), scutellaria baicalensis root extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, artemisia princeps leaf extract, houttuynia cordata extract, caprylyl glycol, citrus junos fruit extract, lactobacillus ferment, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, phenoxyethanol, CI 77499, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, allantoin, pinus densiflora leaf extract, betula alba juice, honey extract, tricholoma matsutake extract, ethylhexylglyxerin, adenosine, disodium EDTA, synthetic flourphlogopie, titanium dioxide, CI 77491, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil, santalum album (sandalwood) oil, juniperus virginiana (cedarwood) oil, coriandrum sativum (coriander) fruit oil, rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, abies sibirica (Siberian fir) oil, gold (1ppm), potassium hydroxide