While I don't consider myself on the cutting edge of beauty technology, I am a sucker for trendy treatments and new "miracle" ingredients. Thus, when I saw a Korean mask face popping up on my feeds that looked unlike any product I'd ever seen, I had to try it. Hanacure's Multi-Action Treament Mask [1] has been affectionately dubbed "The Grandma Mask" — for good reason. The company promises that, "Within 30 minutes, all major skin concerns are combated revealing a noticeably improved complexion, time after time."
But how? The two-part mask's innovative formula relies heavily on plant extracts (think lotus leaf, green tea, honeysuckle, and peony root) to stimulate blood flow to your face, before attaching to the impurities in your skin and lifting them out of your pores.
Science aside, it's the most bizarre beauty treatment I've ever tried. Here's everything you need to know before you check it out yourself!
The Starter Kit
The All-in-One Facial Starter Kit [2] ($29) comes with a small packet of "Gelling Solution," a thimble's-worth of "Lifting Serum," and a brush with which to apply the product. Rather than applying the ingredients separately, you need to pour the serum into the gel, then shake it vigorously for 20 seconds. Voilà! You now have a "Purifying Compound" that transforms into "CO2 OctoLift" when it hits the air.
Before the Product
I have astoundingly normal 29-year-old skin. I get oily on my T-zone midway through the day, but I tend to use products made for normal-to-combination skin. And, yes, that's a Turbie-Twist [3].
The Magic Serum
The minijar of serum is small enough, but the serum only fills the container halfway. I was already sceptical.
After the Application
Once I mixed the serum and gel, the solution didn't look like enough to cover my face — but it actually turned out to be a lot. Once I started applying it, it covered my face and neck fully. I thought it would start tingling, but it felt completely fine. I went and sat in front of a fan, which Hanacure suggested for a more "intense" experience.
15 Minutes Later
I started to feel the pulling about five minutes in. I had been warned by a representative from Hanacure that the mask works best if you don't crack it, so I tried my best not to move my face . . . but I don't think I could have even if I wanted to. My skin felt like it was sucking into itself. My lips were puckering outward involuntarily. Closing my eyes all the way hurt.
30 Minutes Later
A half hour after applying the mask, I was fully baked. The formula had oxidized, browning when the application was its thinnest: around my eyes, nose, and under my chin. My eyelids had folded in on themselves, and my face was stuck in a permanent forlorn expression. My face had transformed into an unnatural oval shape.
I looked like a slice of dried apple.
Close-Up of My Skin
I had the thickest application on my cheeks, which is why that part hadn't fully dried yet. Along with the botanical ingredients, the Hanacure mask contains peptides like Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22 and 23, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, and Copper Tripeptide-1. These function to brighten your complexion by stabilizing the melanin in your skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and promote the regeneration of stem cells.
Do I look brighter, wrinkle-free, and loaded with natural collagen?
After Rinsing
Hanacure isn't a peel-off mask; you need to rinse your skin with warm water for it to come off. The once-taut formula disintegrated into moist, white flakes that I was frankly worried would clog up my sink. I had been warned by the rep that the mask tends to make pale skin red afterward, so I wasn't alarmed to see that my sensitive (and yes, very pale) skin was slightly angry.
While it looked red, my skin was actually squeaky-clean. The texture of my face was soft and smooth, and my night cream soaked into my pores in record time.
1 Hour Later
An hour after rinsing, I felt fresh and impurity-free! My skin looked much better in the morning, after having more time to calm down. I splashed my face with water, and couldn't believe how smooth it still felt.
The mask definitely isn't for everyone (and I'm glad I was the only one home when I tried it), but it was a supremely refreshing experience. The directions warn not to use the mask more than twice per week, and I think I may make it into a monthly routine.
In a world where everything claim to be the "next big breakthrough," I think Hanacure might actually be it.
Bonus: Texts From My Mom
Sorry, Mom. The world had to know.