Great moisturizing, but a bit of a hit-or-miss exfoliating experience - how a popular face mask works on combination sensitive skin (30 years old)

I'd heard great things about Darling masks, and I'd already tried one and reviewed it. But I was still curious to try out some of their other sheet masks. Today, I'm excited to share my thoughts on the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask.

Where to buy and how much?I picked up my mask at the Gold Apple in Dubai. I don't remember the exact price, but it was around $4 in USD.

Packaging.The packaging is pretty standard - a small, minimalist 'packet' that's become a signature look for this brand. But don't let that fool you - it's actually really informative. There's a ton of info on the packet, and it's all laid out in a clear, easy-to-read format. The packet itself has a mirrored surface, which makes it look a bit less impressive in photos than it does in real life.

Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask packagingOn the back of the packet, you'll find all the details about the product. There's also a sticker with some info - although, in my case, it was in English only.

The packet opens easily - just pull on one of the tabs, and you're good to go. I think one of the big advantages of these masks is that they're so easy to open. No sharp objects needed, and you can use it anywhere, anytime.

Overall, the packaging is pretty standard, but it's definitely convenient for travel. It's not super compact, but it's not too big either.

About the product.Weight: 20g

Manufacturer: Korea

I've already mentioned in my review of another mask from this brand that their line of fabric treatments is quite extensive and includes various types of masks. When it comes to the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask, this treatment is aimed at achieving a glowing effect quickly, which can be very relevant at times. The brand itself compares the speed of the effect to a 'wave of a magic wand', which sounds very promising.

From the manufacturer:

Within a few minutes, as if by a wave of a magic wand, it will bring your skin back to life and restore its healthy, radiant appearance. Plus, it will provide intense moisturizing and strengthen the skin's barrier.

Essence.I think the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask inside the 'package' is quite generously saturated with essence, although it's hard to tell at first, considering the material the mask is made of – but I'll get to that later. Despite the abundance of essence, it doesn't leak or drip onto the skin during the unwrapping process, which is a plus.

Looking inside the 'package' immediately after opening, you'll see the following:

Aroma.The aroma of the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask I liked – it's pleasant, soft, and cosmetic. I recognized it because I've encountered it before in other cosmetic products. I liked that it's quite subtle, doesn't irritate, and doesn't overpower. It's noticeable for a while when the mask is on your skin, but after that, I don't notice any lingering notes.

Composition.The composition of the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask is listed both on the back of the 'package' and on the manufacturer's website, for example. I've attached both versions below for your convenience, in case you want to dive deeper into the analysis.

Composition of the essence of the Magic Glow Revitalizing MaskComposition:Water, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), PEG-12 Carnauba, PEG-8 Beeswax, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Paraffin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, PVP, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Mica (CI 77019), Pentylene Glycol, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylglucamine, C11-15 Pareth-7, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Nitrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate.

I didn't analyze the list of ingredients in the composition of this treatment because I'm not an expert in this area, but I did pay attention to the key ingredients highlighted by the manufacturer, such as niacinamide, for example. There are also other components that you can read about below.

From the manufacturer:

The Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask contains fermented bio-ingredients to revive, niacinamide to brighten, ceramide NP to replenish, and silver vine to improve skin translucency.

MASK MATERIAL.When I unboxed the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask, it was compact and folded up. After unfolding it, it looked like this:

Even from the photo, you can see that the material is quite dense. The manufacturer claims that it's made from 100% eco-friendly cotton, which should be a plus – it's supposed to feel super comfortable on your skin.

From the manufacturer:

The mask is made from 100% eco-friendly natural cellulose cotton and provides an ultra-soft touch of yeast fermentation actives to energize and revive your glow.

The 100% eco-friendly natural cellulose cotton delivers an ultra-soft touch of yeast fermentation actives to energize and revive your glow.

Despite its density, the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask unfolds quickly and smoothly without any tears or clinging. The material itself raised some concerns for me even before I applied it – on one hand, it feels nice, but its density didn't seem like the best choice from the manufacturer.

Applicator and product transfer to skin.I previously reviewed the super-thin Tall Drink mask from this brand, and I was blown away by the material. This time, I got a completely different product. While the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask feels nice, it's not exactly what I'd call super soft. Given its density, it applies to your skin in a somewhat unusual way.

Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask on skinAs you can see from the photo, the so dense mask doesn't quite hug your skin and leaves a lot of fabric residue. But that wasn't my biggest disappointment – it was the fact that the material barely stuck to my skin around the mouth and chin:

Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask on skin around the mouth and chinI get that this can be a tricky area, and some masks don't adhere well here. But this particular product didn't even try to stay put – as soon as I tried to press the fabric into place, it would start to sag. Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask on skinThe material was so heavy that the fabric in the lower part of my face kept slipping off – I had to lie on my side, which wasn't super helpful, but at least I felt like this dense, heavy mask would stay on my face.Even in areas like my forehead, where most fabric masks tend to stick tightly, Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask managed to start slipping off from the edges.

Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask on skinBut, on the plus side, the material of the mask covered my eyebrows, which suggests that this part of my face got its fair share of moisturizing.To be honest, I didn't like how the fabric lay on my skin and how it behaved during use. Yeah, the fabric might be made of cotton, like the brand claims, but what's the point if using the product becomes so uncomfortable?

Right after applying Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask, if I ignore the issues with the material, everything feels pretty comfortable – there's a slight chill that passes as the fabric warms up from my skin, and a soft feeling of moisturization.

The process of putting on Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask wasn't exactly comfortable, considering the material's quirks, but I do have to say that despite the fabric being pretty well saturated with the essence, it didn't cause any issues, namely: it didn't drip down my face, and it didn't stain my clothes.

Effect after use.The brand recommends leaving the product on for 15 minutes, which I usually follow, but I mostly rely on how my skin looks and feels during use. So, based on that, I adjusted the duration to suit my skin's needs. With Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask, I left it on for the recommended 15 minutes, and that was the perfect amount of time for an express treatment.

From the brand:

HOW TO USE IT?

Open and place the mask on the clean face. Forget about it for 15 min. Remove and gently pat until essence is absorbed. Your face is revitalized and glowing. Ideal for all skin types.

Right after use, Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask left my skin looking like this:

Skin after Magic Glow Revitalizing MaskCheck out that bright, hydrated finish and the extra texture that's shining on my skin.More photos for reference:

My skin after using the Magic Glow Revitalizing MaskThere's still a lot of essence left on my skin – this time I decided not to wait for it to absorb, which would've taken a lot of time, considering the amount of skincare products I use on my skin. So, I just patted my face with a damp cloth to remove the excess texture.About the effect, in my opinion, my skin after using this mask got the promised glow, which is still visible even after I removed the excess essence:

My skin after using the Magic Glow Revitalizing MaskMy skin felt super comfortable and hydrated. It's clear that it got its share of TLC – the effect is definitely there, so I'd say this is a great way to quickly 'wake up' your skin and refresh your overall look.From the manufacturer:

ACTION

Instant radiance and nourishing

About the tackiness, yeah, it's there – until the essence fully absorbs, the sticky finish is quite noticeable. As it absorbs, it starts to fade, but it doesn't completely go away. I felt this tackiness the whole time until I applied my foundation. It took me around 2-2.5 hours from finishing the mask to applying my foundation. So, if you're not a fan of sticky finishes, this might not be the best option for you. The Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask plays nice with makeup, so you can use it before applying your makeup.

No nasty reactions (burning, allergies, or any redness) occurred while using the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask – I didn't notice anything like that on my skin.

What skin type is this product for?The manufacturer says it's universal and works with all skin types.

From the manufacturer:

All skin types

My skin is 30, combination, and sensitive. Occasionally, it can get a bit dry, but that's rare – when I used the mask, my skin was in its normal state. For my skin type, the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask worked for me.

Overall impressionIf I had to highlight the positive impressions I got after using the Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask, I'd say these are the ones:

One thing that really stood out to me was the moisturizing effect – my skin felt amazing, it was soft, hydrated, and had a healthy glow, just like the manufacturer promised.

Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask packaging

As for what I didn't like:

The material of the mask – yeah, the manufacturer touts it as eco-friendly and soft, but in reality, it's super dense and heavy, making the experience not so enjoyable. The mask keeps slipping off my skin in some areas, feeling heavy and uncomfortable, so I didn't get any pleasure out of the treatment.The verdict.Honestly, despite Magic Glow Revitalizing Mask delivering on its promises – hydrating my skin, brightening it up – I'm not tempted to repurchase. I didn't like how the material behaved on my skin, and how I had to constantly adjust it, feeling like I was wrestling with it. Even the light stickiness after use doesn't bother me as much as the texture itself.

Given that there are better options in this line that are way more comfortable to use, I'll be focusing on those instead. Sure, the effect is there for an express treatment, but it's just not worth the hassle. I'm only recommending it for its effectiveness, but I have to give it a lower rating.