Face Mask

Wow, wow, wow! Like a vacation for your face.Best facial cold pack I have tried to date. It is flexible when frozen. The plastic covering is heavy duty and not likely to crack or leak (big problem with other masks). You can move the beads to any place in the mask, there are no blocked areas that will not get cold (frequent issue with other masks). When it is fully frozen, you can put it on your skin without getting frostbite. It stays cold 15-20 mins. The gel beads are superior to plain solid gel, this is why it retains flexibility when frozen. Retains the cold much longer than clay beads do (which I prefer for heat).This mask covers the entire face, even on my husband whose face is fairly large. Elastic and velcro bands that hold it on your head are generous in width and length, actually keeps it secure. Downside of the velcro is that is is VERY STRONG and can tangle in your hair if you use the open ends to adjust it in the middle behind your head. Therefore you can opt to either remove the straps and not use them, or you can make sure that you keep the sticky end of the velcro (about 3 inches long) covered by the other strap, and only adjust the mask using the end of the strap that is connected to the mask by your temple where you are less likely to snag your hair.I do not use plastic gels packs as hot packs, so I canʻt comment on how these perform for heat. Plastic gel packs are much more likely to rupture when heated, they get hot spots and can easily burn you. All plastics are fat soluble (they are made from oil/petroleum) and because of this when you heat them then lay them on your skin, plastic molecules leach out of the pack and into your skin, ultimately entering your blood stream. Since the human body did not evolve to consume plastic (we donʻt have the necessary enzymes), plastics we are exposed to in the modern world are essentially toxins and poisonous. Studies show that Americans pee out immense amounts of plastic molecules every day, and some of these compounds have been found to promote disease. A gel pack that is frozen is more inert and much less likely to leach out plastic molecules. If you want a hot pack, chose a clay bead or a grain bag style hot pack, your body will thank you.It does smell mildly of plastic when it is new. I wash it with soap and warm water after every use to remove bacteria and skin cells. This seems to have removed the plastic smell after a few washes. I would guess it smells more like plastic when heated, like I said we have not heated it so I am not sure if this is true. If plastic smell is a deal breaker for you or you need a hot pack, try a clay bead or grain bag hot pack with a fabric cover instead. The Vivi Relax-a-Back clay bead scarf is a good product, and large enough to wrap around the face (or neck). However it is not shaped like your face (I donʻt know of a clay bead face mask on Amazon -- if anyone finds one, please let me know). And remember that clay beads and grain bags do not get as cold or stay cold as long as the gels, so Iʻm recommending this option if you want a hot pack.Speaking from experience, I would say donʻt waste your money on other brands. This is the best face mask on Amazon. It deserves more than five stars.