I picked up some of the new 2-Step masks to try for $11.99 per box. Although there is only 8 per box (as opposed to the usual 10 per box), these masks also contain a post-mask facial gel.
The 1st step of the Europe Clarifying Pack is a Black Rose Brightening Mask. The 2nd step is a Rose Honey Refining Gel, which is contained in the balloon portion of each pack. Ingenious and super cute!
Black Rose Brightening Mask Ingredients:
- Aqua - water
- Glycerin - humectant, draws moisture from the air thus helps the skin to retain moisture
- Propylene Glycol - humectant, draws moisture from the air
- Butylene Glycol - humectant and solvent with anti-microbial action; enhances the preservative activity of parabens
- Phenoxyethanol - preservative
- Chlorphenesin - preservative
- Triethanolamine - emulsifier and pH adjuster
- Phyllostachys Edulis Shoot Water - skin conditioning
- Polysorbate 20 - surfactant
- Sodium Hyaluronate - hydrates down to the deeper layers of skin; holds up to 1000 times its weight in water
- Xanthan Gum - thickener and emulsion stabilizer
- Citric Acid - balance pH levels
- Rosa Galliaca (French Rose) Flower Extract - skin conditioning agent; astringent
- Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract - exfoliating; source of alpha hydroxy acids
- Aloe Barbadenisis Leaf Juice - hydrating, softening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory
- Centella Asiatica Extract - anti-aging (stimulates collagen production) and wound healing
- Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract - skin conditioning
- Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract - skin brightening with exfoliating, antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent properties
- Laminaria Digitata Extract - kelp; helps with skin hydration
- Hydrolyzed Rice Protein - skin conditioning; film former
- Hydrolyzed Soy Protein - skin conditioning; humectant
- Gentiana Lutea Root Extract - anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
- Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract - skin conditioning; anti-inflammatory
- Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract - skin conditioning and exfoliating (source of alpha hydroxy acids)
- Hydroxyethyl Urea - humectant
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate - stabilized vitamin C derivative
- Sodium Lactate - preservative, buffering agent, and humectant
- Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer - film former
- Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate - humectant
- Carbomer - emulsion stabilizer and controls consistency
- Polyglutamic Acid - skin conditioning agent
- Iodopropynl Butylcarbamate - preservative
- Sodium Hydroxide- buffering agent; controls pH
- Parfum
Rose Honey Refining Gel Ingredients:
- Aqua - water
- Glycerin - humectant, draws moisture from the air thus helps the skin to retain moisture
- Propylene Glycol - humectant, draws moisture from the air
- Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract - antioxidant, astringent, skin conditioning
- Niacinamide - anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, stimulates collagen and ceramide synthesis, strengthens skin barrier
- Phenoxyethanol - preservative
- Carbomer - emulsion stabilizer and controls consistency
- Triethanolamine -emulsifier and pH adjuster
- allontoin - skin conditioning, soothing
- Sodium Hyaluronate - hydrates down to the deeper layers of skin; holds up to 1000 times its weight in water
- Chlorphenesin - preservative
- Phyllostachys Edulis Shoot Water - skin conditioning
- Rosa Centifolia Flower Water - skin conditioning, mildly astringent
- Honey - anti-inflammatory, skin conditioning
- Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica - skin conditioning
I've noticed that the first several ingredients are essentially identical for all MBD masks. In addition, the 2-step masks are paraben-free, but replaced with other preservatives, such as phenoxyethanol, triethanolamine, Sodium Lactate, and Iodopropynl Butylcarbamate. Whether these ingredients are actually safer than parabens is up to debate. The botanical extracts come after the preservatives, which means they are in teeny tiny amounts, thus probably won't do much for your skin. Bummer...:(
The French rose extract, which I presume is what the mask is named after, is all the way down at no. 14 on the list....not very rosy. I guess the "clarifying" part of the name comes from some of the extracts having exfoliating and brightening properties, such as the maple, sugar cane, orange and lemon extracts. Again, keep in mind this is in MINUTE amounts and may not actually have any effect. However, the mask does contain a slew of skin conditioning ingredients, so it will definitely help with parched skin in need of moisture.
I appreciate that is mask was not overly scented - it had a faint floral scent, although I would have preferred a more tea rose scent. I used this mask in the evening on my freshly cleansed face and left it on for 2 hours (while watching Korean drama :D). There was a generous helping of serum left over in the pack, which I slathered and massaged onto my neck, decollete, and back of hands.
After removing the mask, I massaged the Rose Honey Refining Gel onto my face and neck. The gel is water-based and light so it absorbs very quickly into the skin. I found it quite soothing, thanks to niacinamide, allontoin, honey. However, like honey, it was a tad sticky. It may not be moisturizing enough for people with dry skin since it's a super light gel. There is enough of the refining gel to last 1~2 uses. My face was very well hydrated and a bit brighter the next morning. However, the brightening was temporary - well, at least for me.
