[Review] Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask By Ishizawa Laboratories

By Elin Chow - Monday, October 12, 2020

Photo By: Elin Chow

This post contains an affiliate link that will help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to make a purchase through it.  

I have fallen in love with the Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask by Ishizawa Lab recently. Ranked number one as the best facial sheet mask award by @Cosme in 2019, the Keana Rice Mask is one of the top selling sheet mask in Japan. 

About The Product

Infused with 100% Japanese rice serum that is made from a combination of Fermented Rice Liquid (which is Sake), Rice Bran Extract, Rice Bran oil and Rice Ceramide, the mask is formulated to minimize the appearance large pores while nourishing the skin.  

Sake -  Moisturize the skin 
Rice Bran Extract - Improve the appearance and texture of the skin
Rice Bran oil - Improve skin elasticity 
Rice Ceramides - Improve and restore skin's natural barrier 

Ingredients

WATER, GLYCERIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL, STYRENE/VP COPOLYMER, RICE FERMENT FILTRATE (SAKE), ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN OIL, HYDROLYZED RICE BRAN EXTRACT, GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, POLYSORBATE 80, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN

Please note that this mask is not alcohol and paraben free, which might cause allergic reactions to those who have certain skin issues. 


The Keana Rice Mask is recommended for dry skin with visibly enlarged pores. So I was really worried that this mask might not be suitable for me since I have oily/combination skin. Usually skin care products that are too nourishing or hydrating would break my skin out.  But surprisingly, it is perfectly suitable for people with oily/combination skin too. 

The mask is formulated with Rice Ceramides, which will help to restore skin's natural barrier and retain moisture in the skin. This will stop the skin from over producing sebum and keep the face clear. 

Packaging

The Keana Rice Mask comes in a pack of 10, all folded into a resealable zip lock bag with plenty of creamy white essence. I love the multipack packaging because it is more environmentally friendly than individual packaging. Just make sure you seal the bag back tight after using to avoid the masks from drying out.


The mask is thick but surprisingly, a little fragile. It tear easily even though I was not exerting much force, so I have to be really gentle when putting on the mask. The material feels very similar to cotton paper and the quality is actually quite good. 

If you have tried Japanese multipack sheet masks before, you will probably notice that some of the masks have a cheap quality. You will usually find some of the masks dry because there are just too many masks and not enough essence provided. However, the quality of the Keana Rice Mask is surprisingly good. 

The masks are not dry and each piece is fully soaked with a generous amount of essence. But it does not drip excessively and adhere to my face perfectly. The mask clings well to the skin, which means no slipping or sliding off when I was standing or walking around. This is really great because I believe no one would love a sheet mask that drips, slips or slides around the face.

Smell

The mask does not contain any fragrance, so it smell rather strongly of sake and rice. It was not too overpowering or off putting, but some people might not like the smell very much. To be honest, the smell surprised me a bit when I first the bag. It smells funny but I do not hate it at all. 

Results

The mask delivers immediate results. My skin feels so amazingly smooth, soft and bouncy after every application! I could not stop myself from touching my skin because it felt so baby smooth and soft.

The mask is effective in reducing redness, leaving me with a brighter and glowing skin. My pores have also become slightly less visible while my skin becomes less oily. Despite its nourishing formula, I am glad that it does not break me out or makes my skin oiler. On the other hand, I feel that it has helped to reduce sebum production, which makes it suitable for people with oily skin. 

Application

The mask is meant for daily use, so a pack of it will last slightly over a week. Although it might sounds excessive, these masks are perfectly formulated to be used every day. You can adjust the use frequency according to the condition of your skin. It is recommended that you use the mask immediately after washing your face. You may also use it after conditioning your skin with a water based moisturizing lotion. 

It is suggested that you apply the mask for only 5 minutes, which is really surprising. Most of the sheet masks that I have used so far would usually recommend me to wear it for at least 10-15 minutes. I believe this is also why the Keana Rice Mask is designed to be used every day. 

However, I left it on my face for about 10-15 minutes because the mask was still moist, so I feel that it was a waste to peel it off and throw it away after applying for only 5 minutes. Even after 15 minutes, the mask was still very damp with essence. But I knew that I have to remove it because wearing a sheet mask for too long is not good for the skin. 

After removing the mask, I would gently pat the remaining essence into my skin until it was fully absorbed. The product also recommend to massage the remaining essence on the neck area and hands to avoid any wastage. 

It is recommended not wash your face after using the mask. But I would still wash my face water after removing the mask. The mask leaves an uncomfortable sticky feeling on my face after use. It feels as if I was touching freshly made rice cakes on my face. The sticky afterfeel is probably the only thing I hate about this product. 

Accessibility and Price

But unfortunately, the Keana Rice Mask is not readily available in Malaysia yet. You might have to buy it online. I received a pack of this mask from Kokoro Japan Online Store a few weeks ago. The store is currently selling a pack of this mask at 1,264 Yen, which is around RM 50. Therefore, it is around RM 5 per piece. 

The price is a little expensive. You can actually get this at a cheaper price from Lazada or Shopee. But since international travels are not allowed now, the only way you can get this mask is to shop online.  

Expiry

It is recommended that you use the mask within a year after opening the pack. Even so, please note that the quality of the masks may change depending on storage conditions. Make sure you store the mask in cool and dark places, away from direct sunlight and hot and humid environment. You might want to store the masks in the fridge if you live in a hot and humid country. Please do not use the mask if there are unusual smell even before expiration date. 

Will I Repurchase?

Yes, definitely! I have used half of the pack (5 pieces) so far and I have plan to get a second pack. I would recommend the Keana Rice Mask to anyone who need a quick 5 minutes skin fix. 

Be sure to follow me on my FacebookTwitter or Instagram to get the latest updates on my blog! Also, do not forget to share my blog posts with your family and friends if you find them helpful. In the meantime, you might also want to check out my Skincare  page for the list of skincare products I have tried. 

  • Share:

You Might Also Like

4 comments

  1. Hi! Just stumbled upon your blogpost when I was searching for review on this brand :)

    because apparently it's available in Msia already so just wanna share w you!

    https://tokyoninki.com/collections/ishizawa-lab

    ReplyDelete
  2. hi! i just saw ur review and i wanted to say that i really appreciate u being in depth and writing about this mask review, and considering the humidity and everything (i live in sg so we are around the same environment) usually i see a lot of reviews of products that are good but when i purchase it myself it ends up breaking me out due to the humidity and environment so i rly rly appreciate this, i hope u keep this blog running as i rly enjoyed the review and i wish u all the best!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, i am glad that you enjoy reading my review. Sometimes, its not the product that is not good. It is just that our skins react to it differently. Some products break me out too even though many people said that they are great. I guess you have to really try them out just to know whether they will work well for your skin

      Delete