Keep Cool Soothe Intensive Calming Mask

The Keep Cool Soothe Intensive Calming Mask claims to relax and soothe troubled skin.
 

 

The essence of this mask contains a good amount of Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), a superstar ingredient that acts as a restorative agent, helps to brighten skin by inhibiting melanin production and is also an effective treatment against hyperpigmentation. Niacinamide can improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines and dullness plus strengthen the skin surface. Also acting as a soothing and skin-restoring agent, Adenosine has proven anti-wrinkle benefits due to its ability to energize the skin’s surface, helping it to look smoother and younger.

Vitamin B5, Panthenol is able to reach into the lower layers for deep cell absorption and hence effective moisturisation. Ceramide NP displays water retention capability, helping to strengthen the moisture barrier by replenishing natural lipids lost due to environmental factors. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid, used to boost moisture content. Also improving moisture, humectants draw water into the skin, including a good dose of Betaine.

Due to strong anti-inflammatory properties, Honeysuckle is included to impart soothing effects, boost antioxidant protection and improve uneven skin tone and dullness. Forsythia and Skullcap Extracts display similar effects.

Amethyst Extract can help to obtain firmer connective tissue, improved tone and to make the skin more resistant to environmental damage. Assisting to give skin a youthful glow, Pearl Extract is rich in nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. These help to restore skin balance, promote regeneration of cells and heal blemishes and acne. Jade Powder is an effective exfoliant. It masks imperfections, providing a natural looking sheer finish.
 

Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Dipropyleneglycol, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amethyst Extract, Pearl Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis (Skullcap) Root Extract, Nephrite (Jade) Powder, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodiumacryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethiconecrosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance
 

Consisting of 30 ingredients, the CosDNA and EWG assessments return a moderate hazard rating primarily due to the presence of fragrance.
 

 

Masks are sold individually and in a ten pack. The latter comes in a standard box.
 

Each mask comes in a typical pouch with aluminium lining and rip opening. The sheet itself is protected by a film for easy removal and placement on the face. Each mask comes with 25g of essence.
 

 

Apply after cleansing and toning. Remove one side of the mask wrap and adjust the unwrapped side around your eyes, nose and lips for fit. Peel off after 10-20 minutes and pat remaining essence into skin to absorb.
 

 

There is a very subtle scent associated with this mask.
 

The 10 pack of masks costs USD$40.00.
 

Keep Cool is widely available online for Australian consumers. You can buy their products from a great range of stockists such as Style Korean and Yes Style.
 

This mask has a shelf life of 3 years.
 

 

The 10 pack of masks is presented in a cute box with peel off lid. Individual masks come in a typical pouch with a rip off top to expose the sheet and essence. The sheet is protected by a plastic film that covers the lower part of the mask, sufficient to keep it from folding over itself too much and making it difficult to unravel. It worked easily every time and I used 8 masks before compiling this review.
 

 
The sheet is quite thin and packed in 25 grams of essence, so there is plenty left in the pouch to cover your entire body, which is basically what I do each time with the excess. It adheres well to the face, particularly the top half but I found the fit a little odd around my mouth and chin. As soon as the essence starts to dry, the fit starts to collapse. The mouth opening enlarges such that the strip above the lip drops to below the mouth and the sheet around the jaw starts lifting. Once you get to this stage, there really is no salvaging the fit. In the meantime, the top half seems unaffected. There is plenty of essence after removal so I am a bit confused as to why it lifts so much around the mouth and jawline after only minutes of wear time.
 

 
I tend to wear sheet masks for an extended period of time. If they’re still wet, I’m happy to prolong application. I wore this one for around 30 minutes. The inconsistent fit didn’t allow me longer wear time without frustration. The actual essence felt cooling and comfortable on the skin at all times. Although there is added fragrance as the last ingredient in the INCI, I could only detect the slightest scent so there was no irritation on this front for me personally.

Upon removal, my skin feels and looks better, more hydrated and fresher. I think the fresh equates to a slight brightening effect or evening of tone which may be attributed to the fairly high amount of Niacinamide. Single uses a few times a week for only four weeks won’t reverse ageing so there was no sign of anti-ageing benefits that some of the ingredients are said to impart. However, the added hydration would certainly plump out the skin and perhaps give a short term appearance of reduced lines.
 

 

The Keep Cool Soothe Intensive Calming Mask is a lovely mask that provides the benefits of cooling, hydration and a less patchy complexion. It seemed to have a few fit issues for me, but apart from that, I really enjoyed incorporating it into my routine. This would be particularly suitable for those suffering redness, inflammation or irritation, provided you aren’t sensitive to fragrance of any of the botanical inclusions.
 

 

Pros	Cons
Hygienic packaging with protective film	Only available online for Australians
Hydration boost	Sheet drops during wear time
Lots of essence which is cooling and soothing	Added fragrance
Brightens tone

 

Style Korean website
Niacinamide Paula’s Choice Skincare Dictionary
Niacinamide Benefits for Skin Jared Paventi
What are the Best Products with Niacinamide? Nicki Zevola Benvenuti
Panthenol Truth In Aging
Centella asiatica: The miracle ingredient your skin needs Oh Lolly
Skincare Ingredient Spotlight: Centella Asiatica Lab Muffin
Honeysuckle Flower Extract Paula’s Choice Skincare Ingredient Dictionary
Skullcap Extract in Skin Care Craig Kraffert
Amethyst Powder RAU Cosmetics
Pearl extracts – radiate from within Nivea Website
Jade Nephrite Powder Special Chem website

 

---

Please read in context with my disclaimer.
 
This product was provided to me free of charge by Style Korean for review. This post only includes my honest opinion and experience of this product and is in no way influenced by Keep Cool, Style Korean, product suppliers, representatives or any other third party.
 

---