SHEET MASK | TSAIO Girls on Period Masks in Joyce and Jenny (Yes, You Read That Right...)

This was definitely one of the stranger flatlays I have ever created as I found myself rummaging through all of my feminine hygiene products hoping that I could create something aesthically pleasing. For some reason, most period products are brightly coloured and/or very pink. Maybe this is to combat the fact that most of us don't look forward to our periods (at least I don't). I think the only time I did was when I was a 12 year old girl waiting to get her period like the other "more developed" girls in my class. I happened to get mine on Christmas Eve on the way to church so I will NEVER forget when I got mine! Since then, I dread that time of the month mainly because of the cramps, headaches and general fogginess. I usually get a headache for 3 days and cramps for about the same amount of time. I am very much still a pad girl, so I alter my work wardrobe so I'm more comfortable and the pad doesn't show. I have tried tampons, but I just never got on with them even though everyone tells me that my life will improve 1000% if I do hence this flatlay of no tampons and all pads and pantyliners. Amongst all of this period paraphernalia, who would have thought there were sheet masks that don't even bother hiding the fact that these are for those with "an off colour" complexion while having your period?

Purchased by me

I picked up the TSAIO Girls on Period Masks from Beauteque when they had a sale as the packaging obviously caught my attention and they were only $2.50 each so I figured why not? These masks are from a Taiwanese company called TSAIO, one I have never heard of, and still cannot find really any information about. Having your period definitely wreaks havoc on your body especially your skin though I have always been VERY fortunate to not have breakouts even around my period. While these masks claim that essentially your skin shows dullness during your menstrual cycle, I really don't think that is true for everyone.

What makes both of these masks very interesting is that the first ingredient is a natural polysaccharide called galactoarabinan that comes from Larch trees that supposedly aids in hydration, reducing fine lines and even enhances SPF and AHA performance (INCI Decoder, January 2022). This is an ingredient I have never seen before in skincare so this definitely caught my eye! The Joyce Mask is all about oil control and revitalizing dull skin so it contains ingredients like willow bark extract (BHA), niacinamide, chamomile flower extract and epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract which a plant-derived soothing antioxidant. 

Mask Summary (Joyce):

Price: $2.50 USD

Skin concerns: Oil control and dull skin

Scent: None really

Essence Type: Very watery

Duration: 20 minutes

Thickness: Medium

Mask Fit: Lots of wrinkles that I could not smooth out and the mask material itself felt a bit stiff and non-absorbent. 

Tackiness: Light

Hydration: Good! I did not feel the need to apply moisturizer and my skin felt fairly refreshed.
Other notes: So many slits that didn't seem to help much with fit. 

The Jenny Mask had very similar ingredients with the main exception being a higher concentration of the PHA gluconolactone which is a gentle chemical exfoliant as this mask promises the removal of dead skin cells on top of oil control and revitalizing skin. 

Mask Summary (Jenny):

Price: $2.50 USD

Skin concerns: Pale, dull skin that "needs to be more pink". Love the translation on these.

Scent: Floral, medicinal

Essence Type: Very watery

Duration: 20 minutes

Thickness: Medium

Mask Fit: Lots of wrinkles that I could not smooth out and the mask material itself felt a bit stiff and non-absorbent. 

Tackiness: None

Hydration: It's currently -9 degrees which is unheard of in Vancouver so it is VERY dry. I needed to add moisturizer and used Phytosurgence Verdant Forcefield.

Other notes: So many slits that didn't seem to help much with fit. 

Final verdict: While the concept and packaging of these masks was highly amusing, I did not like the fit of the masks themselves. My skin did feel fairly refreshed after using them, but I don't think I'll be reaching for them when in the middle of a menstrual cycle as there are plenty of sheet masks that have a more pleasant fit and are also slightly more hydrating. The price was pretty darn good though and they were a fun purchase just to read the weird reasoning behind why Joyce and Jenny were on the front of the package!

I don't think you can find these masks anymore, but I hope you found this review just as amusing as it was for me to write!