LIFESTYLE | Grant E One's - A Face Mask with Japanese Technology Like No Other!

I guess we are getting to that point in the pandemic where face masks are now something to feature on a beauty blog! Not only are face masks necessary, but they are now a fashion statement and an item of clothing that affects our makeup and skincare routines. I hope wearing a mask is getting easier for everyone as I know I am glad that I don't feel as mentally and physically uncomfortable with wearing one anymore. Colourful prints help and I am sure I am not the only one who is slowly amassing a collection of reusable face masks in all sort of prints and styles! One of my latest additions is from a new-to-Canada Japanese brand called Grant E One's which uses a proprietary blend of fibres to create a mask that is not only comfortable and cool, but also produces negative ions! 

 PR gifted

I was introduced to this mask through my favourite local spa - Rejuvenating Body Spa. I have been going here every month for a pedicure, massage or facial for the past six years! All of the estheticians have a background in Japanese skin and body practices, but aren't afraid to incorporate technology into their services. I really love the environment and the women who work here and I honestly don't know what I would do without this place!

Without even discussing the negative ion portion, right away you will notice how lightweight the fabric is. The fabric is a blend of three fibres: Kodenshi fibres (absorbs body temperature so that it keeps you cool in warmer months and insulates you in colder months), AP fibres (currently patented and is a fibre infused with tourmaline to generate negative ions) and Technofine which keeps skin dry with its quick-dry properties.

The pattern you see on the mask isn't just for decoration, though it does look quite pretty. This print is actually a "cooling print technology" that has previously been used in the Japanese military for their summer innerwear as it changed the unpleasant "dampness" from heat and sweat into literally a cool feeling! Right away, I felt the cooling effect when I wore the mask and what's even better is that the MORE moisture there is, the cooler you feel! This is because the actual temperature of the fibre is lowered due to its endothermic properties as it absorbs moisture from the skin.

I researched the positive aspects of negative ions in skincare and while I have seen and used some skincare with tourmaline (Aveda skincare), it looks like the only general consensus I could find was that negative ions have antimicrobial and deodorizing properties which may help with breakouts, but the only papers I could find were with bacteria found in hospitals or intensive care units. 

In terms of physical features of the mask, it is also reversible, but I always like wearing the printed side out because it's more interesting! It also has super comfy ear loops because the fabric is so lightweight so I can easily wear this mask for long periods of time without getting sore ears. I noticed my ears were getting sore with some of the surgical masks I was wearing for work so I now FULLY appreciate having soft ear loops!

The fabric is also super smooth so for those of you who are suffering from physical agitation from the surgical masks, a mask like this will feel like a baby's bottom! I have to wear surgical masks at work and at the end of the day, I feel like my skin is chaffed and dry so I keep face mists on hand to rehydrate and minimize skin irritation.

I also don't get indents from this mask which I have from others that are too tight on the skin. I was wearing a fabric mask to get my Driver's License photo in June and when it was time to remove the mask for my photo, I had deep LINES on my cheeks! Thankfully they airbrushed them out! I didn't know they could do that, but they can!

There is a right-side up to this mask which I didn't notice until I realized that having the mask with the little "V"  pointing down made the mask stay in place better. The large seam in the middle also means that there is NO touching of the lips as it naturally "beaks" out. You can also machine wash this mask, but I have been handwashing all of my masks as I don't want them to lose their shape in the wash. My guess is that this fabric will also last longer with handwashing.

While it is generally pretty easy to breathe while wearing the mask, I noticed that if I started breathing more heavily, like when I was walking uphill back to my apartment with bags of groceries, that the fabric would start "breathing with me" and sticking to my nostrils because it is so lightweight. Occasionally I need to readjust while talking or walking quickly, but I think that tends to be the case with most fabric masks unless you have the masks with adjustable nose pinchers. I think face shape is also important to consider when it comes to fit so while this mask might move on me it might not move as easily on someone else.

Final verdict: I have been using this mask for almost a month now and it is one of two I keep in my purse (the other is the beaky fruit one my friend Aimee made) because it is so soft and comfortable. I didn't think that cooling effect would really be a big deal until you realize how HOT and muggy it gets in there! With this fabric, it literally always stays cool so your skin doesn't feel disgusting and in need of a massive cleanse!

While this mask retails for $39 CDN, I don't think it's that expensive. The Jayne from back in March may have thought so, but the "6 months into the COVID pandemic" Jayne sees masks as part of my daily attire and my skin better be comfortable when I am out and about! This is definitely one of the most innovative fabrics I have tried and if you could see the pages of data and information I have in front of me from the brand, there is so much more science we could talk about, but even with just how the Cooling Print Technology works, I think this is a mask that a lot of you would enjoy!

To learn more about Grant E One's, head on over to their website www.granteones.ca and to pick up a mask, they are available exclusively at www.rejuvenatingbody.com! Note that Grant E One's main speciality is shapewear so there is also some really nice stuff made with the same fibres as the face masks!