This product was gifted for the purpose of trial and review by BEAUTY/crew. The trial was for just a one-off use.
I was invited by BEAUTY/crew to participate in the trial team for Neutrogena Hydro Boost 100% Hydrogel Mask. I was looking forward to this trial because hyaluronic acid is my favourite skincare ingredient. As seen from the packaging below, this mask sells itself on containing this fabulous ingredient.
About Neutrogena Hydro Boost 100% Hydrogel Mask
Although the mask boasts itself as containing hyaluronic acid, it is only the 13th ingredient in the list (6th from the bottom). Other potentially beneficial ingredients include Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract (snow mushroom extract, 14th in the list, known to have water-binding properties), Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil (sacha inchi oil, 15th in the list, a known antioxidant), and Tocopherol (vitamin E / antioxidant, last in the list).
Overall I am not impressed by the line up. On the flip side, there is no alcohol (ethanol / alcohol denat.), which can dehydrate skin if the product is not carefully formulated.
My experience
Application
First impression - it looks complicated. I took the mask out of the packet and my first thought was "why are there so many pieces". The mask itself is split into two pieces (top and bottom), and then each piece is sandwiched in two pieces of plastic - one white and one clear, both have partially come off by the time I took them out of the packet. It took me some time to get the orientation right.
The mask has two sides - a smooth side and a rough side. The instruction says "peel the white backing film from the mask and put this side of the hydrogel mask onto face". It is slightly confusing but I think we are meant to use the smooth side. The top half is the perfect size for me but the bottom half is too small. I don't consider myself having a big face but the mask is not wide enough to cover my jaw line and there is a significant gap between my cheek and my ears. Despite that, the two-piece design contoured my face really well. The mask sits on my face perfectly and there is no air bubble. It doesn't slide off.
The serum that the mask soaked in is quite thin. It is not viscous or slimy like most other masks I have used.
Results
After 25 minutes, I peeled off the mask. It was difficult to describe how I felt because I didn't really feel anything. The instruction says "massage remaining product into face and neck" but there wasn't any remaining product.
After another 15 minutes or so my skin started to feel tight, which was unusual. I had to reach for my hyaluronic acid serum to give my skin some serious moisture. This was very disappointing, given that I usually do not feel the need to apply any other products after using a sheet mask.
Overall rating 1/5
Full ingredients list
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Chloride, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Sucrose Cocoate, Cl 42090 (Blue 1), Tocopherol
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup and Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.