It has already been almost a year since Guerlain launched their new Orchidée Impériale Brightening The Imperial Radiance Mask, and I should mention that I have been thoroughly enjoying those lovely sheet masks.
Scent
There is a typical Orchidée Impériale White The Age-Defying & Brightening Serum scent to the mask, which isn't surprising as Orchidée Impériale Brightening The Imperial Radiance Mask is an extension of their serum after all.
Orchidée Impériale Fragrance: a floral scent with hints of orchid that blend with notes of rose, white musk and precious cedar wood (Source)
It's still quite high in phenoxyethanol and fragrance, so the mask isn't something that I would suggest to those with sensitive skin despite how well it has been working on my skin. Having said that, the artificial scent isn't very overpowering as there's only a slight hue, which hasn't caused any issues to my sensitive nose and skin unlike some of the essential oil derived treatments on the market.
Benefits
All the illuminating power of Orchid Noble Light ™ technology concentrated in the first Orchidée Imperiale cream-infused sheet mask by Guerlain.
Inspired by the professional expertise of Guerlain Institute, the Imperial Radiance Mask is an innovative sheet mask that infuses the skin with powerful brightening and age-defying active ingredients. It visibly erases dark spots and sources of shadows – caused by age, the environment and lifestyle – and regenerates the skin’s youthful radiance. The expert fabric with its impermeable, laminated lining delivers ten times more cream than the classic application method*.
The skin is immediately nourished, smoothed and plumped. Infused with light, it glows with extraordinary youthful radiance. The results measured by dermatologists improve with each application of the mask: after a course of 4 masks, the number of dark spots diminishes by 24%** and the appearance of wrinkles by 40%**.
- quantity of cream applied with the standard method = 1.5g
** Clinical test, results measured by a dermatologist, 33 women, after 4 masks (1 mask per week)Effectiveness
Extraordinary results from the first application and throughout the treatment
(Measured by a DERMATOLOGIST*: after 1 mask / 4 masks)
- Appearance of wrinkles -25%/ -40%
- Number of dark spots -3% / -24%
- Tired appearance -24%/ -45%
- Visibility of pores -21% / -43%
- Evenness +14% / +34%
- Radiance +27% / +45%
- Luminosity +38% / +47%
- Clinical test, 33 women, 1 mask per week
Consistency / Application
You will love Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Brightening The Imperial Radiance Mask if you have been avoiding using sheet masks simply because of the mess that it brings including stickiness and the serum drooping all over etc.
It has upper and lower parts for the best fit, but the entire application is very easy and neat. It stays on skin well, so you can even do some dish washing while waiting.
It has a creamy consistency, so you will just need to massage in a little after taking the mask off. It leaves such a beautiful just-got-out-of-spa glow to skin that I personally find to be a great S.O.S treatment either before an important event or after any stressful event.
Full Ingredients
AQUA (WATER) • TRIETHYLHEXANOIN • ISOTRIDECYL ISONONANOATE • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE • GLYCERIN • CETEARYL ALCOHOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES • JOJOBA ESTERS • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • GLYCERYL STEARATE • POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE • DECYLOXAZOLIDINONE • POLYGLYCERIN-3 • STEARETH-21 • DIGLYCERIN • PHENOXYETHANOL • CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE • DIMETHICONE • PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) • POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE • CETYL PALMITATE • AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT • COCOGLYCERIDES • CARBOMER • CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) • TETRASODIUM EDTA • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • SODIUM HYALURONATE • XANTHAN GUM • TROMETHAMINE • SORBITOL • AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/BEHENETH-25 METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • ADENOSINE • LINALOOL • ALGIN • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE • POLYVINYL ALCOHOL • CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) • BHT • GERANIOL • CENTELLA ASIATICA LEAF EXTRACT • SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT • GASTRODIA ELATA ROOT EXTRACT • TROPAEOLUM MAJUS EXTRACT • CITRONELLOL • CELLULOSE GUM • LIMONENE • CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT • T-BUTYL ALCOHOL • DIAMOND POWDER • PHALAENOPSIS AMABILIS EXTRACT • CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES) • TOCOPHEROL • ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN • HEXAPEPTIDE-2 • DENDROBIUM NOBILE EXTRACT • TOCOPHEROL
Technology / Innovation
The Orchid, a rare and precious raw ingredient, is the very essence of the exceptional complete care range Orchidée Impériale. A genuine longevity prodigy, the Orchid is the most developed species in the plant kingdom. Convinced of its exceptional potential, Guerlain set up its first research centre ever to be devoted to an ingredient: the Orchidarium®.
The mission of this International Research Center on the Orchid and skin longevity is to discover, understand, study and explore the potential of orchids and their biological and cosmetic properties to benefit its research on skin longevity. Guerlain Research runs three interrelated and complementary centres:
The Experimental Garden — Geneva (Switzerland)
A greenhouse where a collection of Guerlain orchids is housed in order to study and identify the most remarkable species.
The Basic Research Laboratory — Strasbourg (France)
The first basic research unit dedicated to the study of orchids and the identification and analysis of longevity molecules.
The Exploratory Nature Reserve — TianZi (Yunnan, China)
A nature reserve - a pillar of biodiversity and conservation - where wild orchids are protected and reintroduced into their natural environment.
The Orchidarium revealed the extraordinary powers of a duo of orchids, including Gastrodia elata, an orchid essential to traditional Chinese medicine.
Orchidée Impériale Brightening treatments include a third precious orchid – Dendrobium nobile. To preserve this rare species, the Orchidarium employs a meticulous specialist cell-culture technique to extract the initial cell of the orchid. This initial or native cell is undifferentiated, remaining pure and unaltered. A first in cosmetics.
Guerlain Research now adds precious diamond powder to the new Orchidée Impériale Cream formula. This rare raw material is able to capture light energy and diffuse it in all directions thanks to the ""faceted"" nature of diamond. The result is an instant sophisticated radiance.
Full ingredients
AQUA (WATER) • TRIETHYLHEXANOIN • ISOTRIDECYL ISONONANOATE • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE • GLYCERIN • CETEARYL ALCOHOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES • JOJOBA ESTERS • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • GLYCERYL STEARATE • POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE • DECYLOXAZOLIDINONE • POLYGLYCERIN-3 • STEARETH-21 • ORCHID EXTRACT • DIGLYCERIN • PHENOXYETHANOL • CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE • DIMETHICONE • PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) • POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE • CETYL PALMITATE • AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT • COCOGLYCERIDES • CARBOMER • CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) • TETRASODIUM EDTA • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • SODIUM HYALURONATE • XANTHAN GUM • TROMETHAMINE • SORBITOL • AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/BEHENETH-25 METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • ADENOSINE • LINALOOL • ALGIN • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE • POLYVINYL ALCOHOL • CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) • BHT • GERANIOL • CENTELLA ASIATICA LEAF EXTRACT • SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT • TROPAEOLUM MAJUS EXTRACT • CITRONELLOL • CELLULOSE GUM • LIMONENE • CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT • T-BUTYL ALCOHOL • DIAMOND POWDER • CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES) • TOCOPHEROL • ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN • HEXAPEPTIDE-2
Verdict
Skin feels noticeably smoother, firmer and supple upon wake-up, and I really love its firming benefits that I've been getting from using those sheet masks although it isn't mentioned on the package. At least to me, Orchidée Impériale Brightening Radiance Mask has been an all-in-one saviour for my skin especially on those nights when I feel very exhausted and lazy that I tend to very much simplify my skincare routine. I would just cleanse, spray some mist on my face, then pop the mask on. You don't really need any further moisturiser unless you have extra dry skin.
It has a beautiful oil-infused finish that you don't really need any further steps afterwards. I have some dehydration in my skin around this time of the year, but I haven't had any issues in regards to that. Rather, I've noticed that my skin feels more balanced even a day after that I didn't need to even put hydrating serum on my face.
Skin looks much more clear and well-rested, which can be quite comparable to some of the detox treatments on the market. It doesn't mean that it prevents or get rid of any acne or pimples though. And I personally wouldn't recommend those sheet masks to anyone with active/oily skin condition due to its emollient finish.
Having said that, I haven't got any breakouts from using those sheet masks during my cycle when my skin tends to be more sensitive. Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Brightening The Imperial Radiance Mask seems to generate skin very fast as some of my fresh red marks from popping pimples (oopsie:3) were healed and soothed overnight even with just one application. It also prevents discolouration and any unwanted sunspots effectively, including fresh pimple marks and after extensive sun-exposure. It hasn't been that effective on my existing freckles and sun spots that I've got over the past years, but it still works brilliant as a preventative measure considering the fact that the mask is still a topical over-the-counter product.
Nevertheless, Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Brightening The Imperial Radiance Mask has become my favourite for in-flight intensive treatment as the application process isn't messy yet the mask still keeps my skin supple and better balanced despite the dry cabin air.
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Mask (VS Chanel Sublimage Masque/ Hormonal aging/ Menopause)
- Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask
- La Mer Treatment Masks (The Lifting and Firming/ The Brilliance Brightening/ The Hydrating Facial/ The Intensive Revitalizing Mask)
- World's Most Expensive Skincare/ My 10+Years with Best Luxury Beauty (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Sisley VS Chanel VS Guerlain)
- Luxury Skincare Guide-Part 1 (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Swiss Perfection VS Sisley VS Guerlain)
