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| What: Gram Double Chemi BanBan Mask Price & Where: 82 PHP at Althea Ph |
About the Mask
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| what the back packaging looks like |
Lemme just say I dig the packaging. The mask design is clean and minimal but the bright color scheme grabs your attention. The instructions on the back is all written in Korean. Thankfully, it has helpful illustrations to guide you along the way.
BanBan means half-and-half, and it's specially created for people with combination type skin. The upper half is for removing sebum and tightening pores in the T-zone while the lower half provides moisture and firming for the U-zone (chin and cheeks).
T-Zone Pore Out Mask Ingredients:
Purified Water, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Pore Tightening), Ethanol (Sebum control & Pore Tightening), Butylene Glycol (Hydration), Xylitol (Skin Soothing, Moisturization), Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate (Skin Smoothing), Laminaria Japonica Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sea Water (Pore Tightening), Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract (*Patent Ingredient* Pore Tightening, Sebum Control), Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol (Hydration), Gluconolactone, Mandelic Acid (Dead Skin Cell Exfoliation), Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil (Natural Fragrance), PVP (Sebum Absorption), Chlorphenesin (Stabiliser), 1,2-Hexanediol (Stabilizer), Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract (Natural Preservative)
Purified Water, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Pore Tightening), Ethanol (Sebum control & Pore Tightening), Butylene Glycol (Hydration), Xylitol (Skin Soothing, Moisturization), Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate (Skin Smoothing), Laminaria Japonica Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sea Water (Pore Tightening), Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract (*Patent Ingredient* Pore Tightening, Sebum Control), Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol (Hydration), Gluconolactone, Mandelic Acid (Dead Skin Cell Exfoliation), Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil (Natural Fragrance), PVP (Sebum Absorption), Chlorphenesin (Stabiliser), 1,2-Hexanediol (Stabilizer), Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract (Natural Preservative)
U-Zone Moisture Wrapping Mask Ingredients:
Purified Water, Dipropylene Glycol (Hydration), Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Diglycerin (Moisture layer), Cetyl Ethylhexanoate (Skin smoothing), Honey Extract (Ultimate moisture), Royal Jelly Extract (Firming effect), Propolis Extract (Enhanced sustainability), Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract (*Patented Ingredient*), Shea Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc / Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Hydration), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin (Hydration & Retainment), Allantoin (Reinforce skin barrier), Tocopherol, Arginine (Firming effect), Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Ascorbyl Palmitate (pH Balance), Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol (Stabilizer), Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract (Natural preservative), Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract (Natural Yellow Fragrance)
Purified Water, Dipropylene Glycol (Hydration), Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Diglycerin (Moisture layer), Cetyl Ethylhexanoate (Skin smoothing), Honey Extract (Ultimate moisture), Royal Jelly Extract (Firming effect), Propolis Extract (Enhanced sustainability), Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract (*Patented Ingredient*), Shea Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc / Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Hydration), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin (Hydration & Retainment), Allantoin (Reinforce skin barrier), Tocopherol, Arginine (Firming effect), Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Ascorbyl Palmitate (pH Balance), Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol (Stabilizer), Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract (Natural preservative), Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract (Natural Yellow Fragrance)
^ Information taken from Althea's product page. Props to Gram & Althea for including the functions of most of the ingredients. Don't use if you are sensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients.
Trying Out The Mask
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| the U-zone essence |
I first opened the U-zone moisturizing mask. It has 17g of ampoule inside, enough to drench the mask plus it has lots of extra left. It's not enough for a compressed sheet mask so I applied it back to the sheet. The scent is interesting - I won't say it's fragrant but it smells very earthy, kinda like freshly cut plant stems. It's probably because of all the plant extracts inside.
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| the T-zone essence |
The T-zone mask contains 7ml of ampoule. Again, it's more than enough to drench the mask and there's lots of extra inside. The smell is amazing - it smells very strongly of citrus and it's appealing to me. I think it's the combination of Litsea Cubeba (apparently smells lemon-like) and Mandarin Orange creating the lovely aroma. I can still smell it while on my face but it doesn't bother me.
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| Mino-Hodong pose while trying the mask. Comment below if you know what I'm talking about haha |
Fit & material:
The U-mask is a traditional cotton fiber mask and it is a very pale yellow color. It clings nicely and fits me well but the mouth hole is too small for me while the philtrum area is a bit long (it's almost up my nostrils!). As you can see, there are lots of creases around the mouth. There are three short slits on the lower part (below the chin and near the ears) but it's not enough to adjust it perfectly.
The T-mask is very thin and has a green sheet mask backing. I almost didn't realize it was there at first! I had trouble separating it from the backing, but once free, it almost perfectly conformed to the shape of my forehead and nose. I say almost because the nose part is too long for me. Whenever I inhale, it blocks my breathing.
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| The green sheet backing. You can see a glimpse of the actual mask at the edges. |
According to Gram, the T-mask is an "air dry sheet" and it's made of very thin fibers finely woven together. You're supposed to let the T-mask dry completely. After that, you tear it off like a nose strip.
Wore it while laying down doing nothing. #BestPartofUsingAMask
After 20 minutes, the U-mask has already started falling off. I removed it and patted the extra in. The finish is dewy and feels a little bit tacky. Now, about the results. The U-mask is very hydrating like it claimed. My cheeks were so plump from hydration that my pores look almost non-existent! Love it!
The T-zone mask is a different story. It's basically a nose strip for the whole forehead and nose area, right? At the time, I haven't read that info yet. The material honestly felt like wax paper to me so I mixed some moisturizing essence with it. Around the 20-minute mark, it started tightening instead of falling off like the U-mask. At this point, I read the product description to see if I'm doing something wrong.
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| I adjusted the eyebrow part since I don't wanna rip my eyebrows. |
I learned I have to let it dry completely. I waited and waited, but the T-zone won't dry since I mixed it with some moisturizing essence earlier. After an hour, the mask was still not completely dry. After another 30 minutes, I finally got impatient and took it off. It didn't remove any impurities plus it's very sticky and left bits of the mask behind. I used the still damp U-mask to wipe off the tacky adhesive leftovers. I'm sad it didn't work but I'm not mad since I used it the wrong way.
Research is key. Read before buying. 😂
Verdict
I like the banban concept and the fact that it addresses issues of both the T-zone and the U-zone. There is a learning curve when using this so read instructions first! I can't say much about the T-mask but I love the results of the moisturizing mask. Overall, I'll repurchase and try this again. It's a fun two-part mask that is very affordable and won't hurt your budget even if you mess it up like me, haha. 😊
Already have this mask? How's your experience? Do you know similar masks? Share deets below!
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The item featured is bought with my own money. This review is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.
