The resumption of normal activities is gradually getting us back to the grind and for most of us, this just means more hours at work, so much so that we probably would not be able to carve out much ‘me time’ – time to indulge ourselves with some self-care and for our skin to take a breather. Moreover, with the restrictions in place due to the pandemic, securing a preferred time slot at the aesthetics clinic right now might also pose an issue for the busy professionals, so why not take the pampering home? All you need is 20 minutes every other day with this newcomer in the local beauty scene 😉

ILLUMIA Therapeutics, a new medical aesthetics spa and also the brainchild of local socialite-turned-entrepreneur Kim Lim, has recently introduced a skincare line under its umbrella with Baby Drops Mask, a spankin’ new luxurious sheet mask. Judging from its name, it is clear what you would achieve from using it – skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom. But of course, with a jaw-dropping retail price of S$139 per box, there is far more than it can offer.

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (S$139)

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (I didn’t bother zooming into the details as you won’t be able to see them (the downside of iridescent packaging…), so click here if you wish to take a look at the ingredient list!)

Made in South Korea, the Baby Drops Mask contains coconut oil, stem cell cultures (an emerging technology where plant stem cells are grown under controlled conditions in the laboratory and hence they can be quite expensive), camellia sinensis callus culture extract (i.e. green tea) and portulaca oleracea extracts for their outstanding anti-ageing properties. In other words, this mask, which comes in an iridescent box of five, is capable of improving skin elasticity and strengthening skin cells to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while leaving the skin moisturised and baby soft.

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

Choosing to be her own guinea pig, Kim Lim had tested over 169 different face masks (bless her face!) before deciding on this formulation, hence Baby Drops Mask was certainly not created on a whim (so better guarantee of results?). It is also dermatologist-tested and found to be suitable for all skin types which is great news for problematic skin sufferers like myself!

The backing paper attached to the mask

The sheet mask screams opulence from the very first touch because of its thick and fairly weighty biocellulose material that, unlike other face masks, isn’t inordinately inundated with essence (but still thoroughly soaked!) that you end up with a drippy mess. Its drip-free quality could also be attributed to the syrupy consistency of the essence which kept to the mask (every single ounce of it) throughout the wear time – despite the fact that I was seated upright.

via ILLUMIASKIN

Cleansed and exfoliated, before masking

In addition, fragrance is listed last on the ingredients so you don’t have to worry about the mask being heavily perfumed. In fact, all my nose could detect was a faint fruity smell which reminded me of amoxicillin, or the pink childhood liquid medicine that most of us are familiar with 😂 I would have brushed it off as the natural scent of the biocellulose material (I’m not a mask expert, you see…) if I had not read the ingredient list!

To prevent it from sticking on itself when folded up in the packet, it has a layer of backing paper over it which can be peeled off progressively as you align the holes to the eyes, nose and mouth. But due to the thickness of the sheet material, the mask tends to bunch up along my jaw with air bubbles forming on the lower half. My trusty APRILSKIN angled spatula didn’t do much to flatten it, so I wasn’t sure if the mask had adhered properly to my face 😅

Peel off half of the backing paper before placing the mask onto the face (be sure to cleanse and exfoliate first!)

Now, remove the other half of the backing paper!

Use a spatula (or a mask applicator) to flatten out the mask. You can find cheaper alternatives on marketplaces like Shopee going for as low as $1!

The mask doesn’t seem to flatten out entirely on my face, unfortunately.. 😦

Bunched up sides..

Once the mask has been laid over the face, leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes before removing. Then, gently pat the essence into the face for maximum absorption. The remaining essence in the packet can also be applied all over the neck, décolletage and arms so you don’t waste a single drop of this extravagant product. Truth be told, this is my least favourite step of masking because the essence usually leaves an uncomfortable, tacky finish on my skin that makes me want to wash it off but to my utter amazement, this does not at all 😱 For this reason, I have absolutely no qualms about slathering my whole body with it. That is, if there is even any left!

Time to remove the mask!

[Pardon my unruly brows, hehe!] As you can see, apart from what’s left below my eyes (which got absorbed soon after), the mask didn’t leave my face drenched with essence! 😍

Side-by-side comparison: Before VS After! The texture of my face is visibly smoother after use.

What’s left in the packet.. not a lot of essence 😦

Applied the remaining essence on my arms and neck!

The final step is to follow up with serum (if applicable, a dose a lot smaller than your usual) and moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated. Should you be heading out after masking, do remember to slap on some sunblock too!

Post-masking: applied my serum and moisturiser! The shine here comes from the moisturiser. My neck looks practically normal even though I had applied some of the mask essence 🙂

My verdict on Baby Drops Mask? I love it. Apart from the superior ingredients that went into these packets, what drew me into this mask is the fact that it is drip-free, mess-free and tack-free, providing me with a masking experience never felt before. That said, a repeat purchase is highly unlikely for me because this is way out of my league (sister here is a lowly wage slave 😩). But if you’re into upscale beauty products, the Baby Drops Mask is definitely something you should consider adding to your skincare routine!

What are your thoughts on these Baby Drops Masks? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask is now available on Illumia’s e-store, SHOPEE, and Illumia Therapeutics at Wheelock Place. For more information on IllumiaSkin, follow them on FACEBOOK or visit their official WEBSITE.

PRODUCTs WERE SUPPLIED BY ILLUMIASKIN FOR MY EDITORIAL CONSIDERATION. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for bite-sized beauty updates!