Clarins Cryo-Flash Mask Review 2023—With Before-and-After Photos
Cryotherapy is all the rage, so on the advice of a supermodel who had heard me complain about my dull-looking skin and seemingly constant tired state, I filled a large bowl of ice and proceeded to dunk my face into it three times for 10 seconds each. “It will change your life and make you feel more awake,” she said. And so, as the rule follower I am—especially when it comes to something so seemingly harmless—I complied. The result? I was miserable.
Sure, the icy-cold plunge bath woke me up, but it was also downright painful as I counted to 10, all in the name of de-puffing my face or getting the glow and even skin tone of the Paris filter on Instagram. And, in the name of transparency, it also didn't work. At least not like I had hoped for the reasons just mentioned. If anything, I've had similar—and less painful—results gliding a singular ice cube on my face for 60 seconds.
Normally I'm not one for a mask of any kind (I find them messy), but I've always made an exception for Clarins's V-Facial Instant Depuffing Face Mask, especially for those days I'm on TV or have a big event. I have what you'd call chipmunk cheeks, so when I'm not smiling, my cheekbones are pretty much nonexistent. While no mask is going to give me a chiseled jawline, this one is as close to giving me a more sculpted look as any.
That's why I was more than interested in trying Clarins's newest product, the Cryo-Flash Mask, which is billed as a 10-minute icy-cold mask powered by exclusive Cryo-Starter Technology. For those of us who have no idea what that means, it's a blend of the molecule MGA, which is a cooling menthol derivative and organic evening primrose extractor. It is supposed to reduce the skin's temperature by seven degrees, which is two times colder than traditional cryotherapy facial treatment tools. Clarins says the mask—which took three years of research and development—offers in-office-like results for a visible lift, while boosting skin's radiance and minimizing the look of pores. Needless to say, I was all in.
Clarins Cryo-Flash Instant Lift Effect & Glow Boosting Face Mask
The directions recommend applying a “thick” layer all over your face (which should be freshly washed and dry), all while avoiding the eye area. Although the pictures on the Clarins website show a model with a creamy layer everywhere but the eye area, I decided not to put it on my forehead or my nose. (At $80 a jar, there's no reason my nose or my forehead—which has always been covered by bangs—needs a cryo-lift. No, this is all about lifting my cheeks and tightening those facial muscles.)
The jar comes with a small plastic spatula that allows the cream to glide on the face and right below the neck with ease. The cream feels cool to the touch, with a slight mint scent. I'm supposed to keep the mask on for only 10 minutes before rinsing, but it's so comfortable and soothing that I want to keep it on much longer. (When I ask a Clarins marketing exec whether I'll get better results by extending the suggested 10-minute application time, I'm told no. “You can leave it on longer, but 10 minutes is all you need to see the effects.”)
