A few months ago I reviewed Olay Luminous Niacinamide Super Serum in another blog post. It is my favourite niacinamide serum.
So, I was pretty (I mean really) excited when BeautyCrew invited me to try the new Olay Luminous Niacinamide Sheet Mask. I have a sheet mask obsession.
Claims
1 sheet of the Olay Luminous Niacinamide Mask contains 1/2 the actives in a bottle of Olay Luminous Niacinamide Super Serum. Powered by Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 that penetrates 10 layers deep, this mask brightens dull skin for plumper, more radiant skin from within.
Ingredients
For a detailed explanation of niacinamide, see my previous blog post here.
The sheet mask features the Olay Luminous Niacinamide Super Serum on its packaging. Logically my impression was that the sheet mask is soaked in the same serum that comes in the bottle (I put my bottle of serum next to the sheet mask in the picture above to show that the serum image looks identical). On closer look, they are very different.
Full ingredient list for Sheet Mask
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium Phosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, 1.2-Hexanediol, Fragrance
Full ingredient list for Serum
Water, Hexyldecanol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Tapioca Starch, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Inositol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Benzyl Alcohol, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Aminomethyl Propanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-7, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Fragrance, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, CI 77891, CI 16035
Notably, the bottled serum contains niacinamide, xylitol (which is a common hydration boosting ingredient and featured as one of the key ingredients when the serum is marketed) and panthenol (vitamin B5 and provides excellent hydration support). The sheet mask still contains niacinamide as the main ingredient but it has also contains, significantly, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative). Vitamin C is generally used to boost luminosity. I found the secret inclusion of a significant amount of vitamin C very strange - it's almost like "cheating" - but my skin generally responds well to vitamin C so I am not complaining. However, the sheet mask does not have any xylitol or panthenol that are used in the bottled serum.
My experience
Tension fit design
The fabric for the mask is super thick. So thick that I was told I could have robbed a bank. The packaging states that it is made of special elastic substrate with a "tension fit design". The idea is to "stretch both sides of the mask to fully cover faces and press gently to ensure a good fit." Great idea - but I could not get this executed - the mask was only marginally stretchable and after I did, instead of staying stretched it bounced back to its original size. The result was that the mask was too small for my face, leaving big gaps on the sides of my face (I swear I have a small face).
The cut-outs for eyes and mouth also look like they would be too small for most people.
Even though the mask material is thick, there is enough liquid in the packet to saturate the mask.
Results
The liquid essence itself "works". After masking for 15 minutes, my skin did get a hydration boost and looked more luminous immediately after. The hydration and the luminosity was not phenomenal, but it was there.
However, the residue that was left on the skin did not get fully absorbed. Instead, once it was dried it left quite a lot of white specs on my face through to the next morning. Therefore, this is certainly not one to use to prepare skin for makeup afterwards.
I was only given one mask to test, so I cannot comment on any long term results. Overall, am disappointed at this mask, especially I am a big fan of Olay's niacinamide serum in the bottle. The sheet mask lacks usability and considering that sort of price tag (RRP $11) it did not earn a recommendation from me.
The product was received as part of BeautyCREW trial team. A separate review based on has already been published on the BeautyCREW website. I have no obligation to publish this detailed follow up review. My opinion is honest.
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.