How A Rubber Face Mask Turned Me From Skeptic To Straight-Up Believer

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When I emptied out an entire bag full of face masks on my bed to test for our beauty awards, my first thought was, Which one of you serum-soaked sheet masks, charcoal sticks, or holographic glitter thingies is going to eff up my face?

I have dry, acne-prone skin, and I follow a strict regimen to keep it all in check. So naturally, I was more than a little apprehensive to put dozens of different masks, all with their own dozens of ingredients, on my face — and Dr. Jart+'s Shake & Shot Rubber Mask earned the biggest side-eye.

The face mask actually launched late last year, and I gave it a hard pass then for a few reasons. For starters, the baby face on the cap reminded me of the Ghostface mask from Scream, which haunted me throughout my childhood. Secondly, this isn’t a mask you just slap on, rinse, and go: It comes with two different components that you need to shake together, let dry, then peel off, which simply felt all too extra for me. But in the name of research, I was forced to ditch my reservations and give the Shake & Shot mask — in the Firming formula, which promises to improve elasticity and firmness — a fair shot.

I popped the cap off, followed instructions, and got to shaking. When I gave Step 1 and 2 a vigorous whisk in the cup, it formed a grayish mixture that resembled Elmer's Glue. I covered my entire face with a thick layer of the mixture using the included spatula, and the mask took on a Flubber-like texture and cooling sensation that I wasn't mad at. I let it sit for 20 minutes, and the formula settled into a cold, bouncy structure that made the removal process surprisingly easy.

When I peeled it off, the rubbery mask took my dead, dull skin — and my skepticism — with it. My mind was blown when I saw how incredible my face looked. My pores looked instantly tighter, thanks to the collagen-boosting retinol, but not in a parched, dehydrated way; instead, the stretchy texture made my skin feel nourished and plump. And the brightness was noticeable: Even my boyfriend asked what I "did to my face."

When I woke up the next morning, my skin still looked like it had been blessed by a million skin-care angels — and for the first time in a while, I was truly blown away by a single product's results. What was once the last thing I'd put on my face suddenly became the only thing I wanted to slather on. So, lesson learned: Never judge a face mask by its terrifying baby-face packaging.