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Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Smelly but *so* worth it: Skin1004 Zombie Pack with Activator



tl;dr - My skin hasn't been this smooth since I was on Accutane, and I have the Skin1004 Zombie Mask with Activator c/o to thank! It's a paint-on protein-filled mask that cracks as it dries. It smells bad, but the results are well worth it. 4/5



Many thanks to the #b2creativepartner program (created by @dayaaas) for sending me this Skin1004 Zombie Mask with Activator to try! This paint-on mask dries into a crackly layer on your face, and it's all the rage in Korea. I've been wanting to try it for a long time.

Note that the instructions in my package were all in Korean. It took some deep digging into the annals of my brain to read the Hangul and figure out what the heck I was supposed to do with all the stuff in the box.


Claim
"Special facial mask for sebum controlling, pore-tightening, hydrating, and rejuvenating."


How to use and what to expect
  • There are two main parts to this mask (whole eggs not included): a pale yellow egg powder in a square plastic container and a clear liquid zombie pack "activator." You mix the two together using the paintbrush that comes in the package. The mixture becomes a gooey, bubbly yellow paste. See below.
  • Using the same paintbrush, apply the mixture to your face. The paintbrush bristles are super-smooth, and the sensation is soothing.
  • Phew - this stuff stinks! It has an obvious eggy smell; seems like they tried to mask it with a fragrance and it ended up smelling even worse.
  • Set timer for 10 minutes.
  • About 8 minutes in, you'll notice the mask starts to feel very tight - it's hard to open your mouth. The smell is mostly gone by then, thanks goodness!
  • The crackliness that forms on our face by the end of the 10 minutes truly is "zombie-like" - hence the product naming. See below - on the left is what the mask looks like when you first put it on, and the right is what it looks like after 10 minutes. (warning! unfiltered photos!)
Ingredients to note
  • Egg: wrinkle-reducing properties1
  • Aloe vera extract: heals sun-damaged skin and stimulates collagen production2
  • Allantoin: moisturizes and treats irritated skin3
  • Panthenol: moisturizes and prevents water loss from skin4
  • Lavender oil: promotes collagen production5
  • Centella asiatica: helps with wound healing and scar prevention6
  • Sea buckthorn extract: controls facial sebum and has anti-acne properties7
  • Copper tripeptide: copper is a key factor in the production of collagen and elastin8
  • Birch extract: helps with sun damage9
  • Adenosine: decreases hyperpigmentation10
  • Rose of jericho extract: supposedly helps skin retain moisture, but I couldn't find any peer-reviewed, academic articles supporting this claim
Results
I tried this mask twice over a week (they recommend 3x per week), and both times, I ended up with ethereally smooth, hydrated skin (this is not a sensation I've experienced often in my life!). This is the biggest difference I've seen from a mask ever: all my nascent acne bumps disappeared, my underage bags flattened, and my skin was so hydrated, I could skip moisturizer. See the immediate unfiltered results for yourself here:

I'm definitely repurchasing the Skin1004 Zombie Mask Pack - the results are just that good! I can get over the smell and the scary "zombie-like" appearance - that smooth feeling right after washing off the mask is worth it.

I would also love to try the Hanacure All-in-one Treatment Mask, which has a similar application procedure and "zombie-like" crackliness. Plus, it sounds like Drew Barrymore is into it. Have you guys tried an egg mask? What did you guys think?



References
  1. Jensen GS, Shah B, Holtz R, Patel A, Lo DC. Reduction of facial wrinkles by hydrolyzed water soluble egg membrane peptides: suggested mechanisms include reduction of free radical stress and support of matrix production by dermal fibroblasts. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 [PubMed]
  2. Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: A short review. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53:163–66. [PubMed]
  3. Sowa I, Paduch R, Strzemski M, Zielińska S, Rydzik-Strzemska E, Sawicki J, Kocjan R, Polkowski J, Matkowski A, Latalski M, Wójciak-Kosior M. Proliferative and antioxidant activity of Symphytum officinale root extract. Nat Prod Res. 2017 May 10:1-5. [PubMed]
  4. Camargo FB, Jr, Gaspar LR, Maia Campos PM. Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations. J Cosmet Sci. 2011;62(4):361–370. [PubMed]
  5. Mori HM, Kawanami H, Kawahata H, Aoki M. Wound healing potential of lavender oil by acceleration of granulation and wound contraction through induction of TGF-β in a rat model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:144. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1128-7. [PubMed]
  6. Wollina U, Abdel-Nasar MB, Mani R. A review of the microcirculation in skin in patients with chronic venous insufficiency: the problem and the evidence available for therapeutic options. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2006;5(3):169-80.
  7. Akhtar N, Khan BA, Mahmood T, Parveen R, Qayum M, Anwar M, et al. Formulation and evaluation of antisebum secretion effects of sea buckthorn w/o emulsion. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2010;2(1):13–7. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.62698. [PubMed]
  8. Hostynek J. J., Dreher F. & Maibach H. I. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm. Res. 60, 79–86 (2011). [PubMed]
  9. Reuter J., Wölfle U., Korting H.C., Schempp C. (2010). Which plant for which skin disease? Part 2: dermatophytes, chronic venous insufficiency, photoprotection, actinic keratoses, vitiligo, hair loss, cosmetic indications. J. Ger. Soc. Dermatol. 8, 866–873 [PubMed]
  10. Kim M.Y., Lee H.E., Im M., Lee Y., Kim C.D., Lee J.H., Seo Y.J. Effect of adenosine on melanogenesis in B16 cells and zebrafish. Ann. Dermatol. 2014;26:209–213. doi: 10.5021/ad.2014.26.2.209. [PubMed]