As one of our iconic brands, as featured in our incredible 10 Year Anniversary ICONS box, STARSKIN is the face mask authority you should be welcoming into your skincare routine. When we were first introduced to the brand, it was quite literally love at first mask. Bringing the best of K-beauty and Hollywood to the UK, STARSKIN reveals the secrets behind the treatment of dermatologists, aestheticians, and makeup artists-to-the-stars and introduces them to us via many of their innovative formulations. We’ve all wondered what the secret is behind the skin of Hollywood’s most elite, so we were honoured to catch up with STARSKIN co-founder Nicole Arnoldussen, who reveals all you need to know about luxe masking.
Q
What was the concept behind creating STARSKIN?
A
STARSKIN® was born from a passion to make glowing celebrity complexions achievable – without a team of skincare experts at your disposal. My goal has been to leverage my 20+ years’ experience in beauty retail to create a premium Korean skincare brand, specialising in next generation products made with only the finest ingredients.
Q
Sheet masks, and particularly in the K-Beauty market, have gathered momentum over the past year, when did you first spot there was a gap in the market?
A
In our travels, Paul and I spent years studying beauty trends. We were particularly fascinated by the Korean skincare regimen and the advancements in skincare innovations. Sheet masks gained popularity in beauty-forward Korea more than a decade ago – they are used a couple of times a week and are much-loved for being effective, convenient and easy-to use. We thought, “hey, we need this. In fact, the rest of the world needs this.” We launched STARSKIN® three years ago in order to bring K-beauty’s most coveted import to the Western skincare market. Not only has it reached cult-beauty status, but we have also firmly established ourselves as the sheet mask authority.
Q
How do your masks differ to others on the market?
A
Not all sheet masks are created equal. While the serum the sheet mask is drenched in is important, so is the delivery system. Our sheet masks are specially developed to adhere closely to the skin. Not only does this mean they won’t slip off (which means more effective transfer of ingredients) but this allows the mask to “force-feed” our generous amounts of serum (up to 30ml in our Bio-cellulose masks!) deeper into the skin, before it has a chance to evaporate. At the same time, the increased skin contact restores a brighter and more radiant complexion.
Q
What mask would you recommend from your range for…
A
Dry Skin: Need an instant hit of hydration? Red Carpet Ready is your go-to sheet face mask. Not only is it rich in natural ingredients, but the non-water based serum combines Brown Algae and our very own Meteobrite® complex to reveal smooth and intensely hydrated skin. The best part? It only takes 20 minutes, so you can pop one on while drinking your morning coffee or before a big night out.
Oily/combination/acne prone skin: If your skin is oily and prone to breakouts, a skincare regime using the right products can work wonders to balance, purify, soothe, refine and control your skin.
AHAs – Regular exfoliation is key! Having said this, it’s also important to choose the right exfoliators that will not aggravate acne-prone skin. Glowstar™ Foaming Peeling Puff is a patented peeling and exfoliating puff that removes pore-clogging dead skin cells. A blend of natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and Carrot and Broccoli extracts create a rich lather that effectively and safely slough away dead skin, purify the skin, boost radiance and improve overall tone and texture.
Vitamin C – One of the best skincare superfoods, Vitamin C is also one of the best ingredients to fight acne and blitz blemishes, calm and soothe irritated skin, and improve the appearance of acne scars. It helps to rejuvenate the skin by encouraging collagen and elastin production to promote skin repair and renewal. Our JuiceLab® Power C+ Booster Masks are embedded with pure 75% Vitamin C crystals that have been flash freeze-dried to maintain its original strength until ready for use. Plus, this is 5X more concentrated than most Vitamin C products on the market!
Coconut – Coconut is a key ingredient in our Bio-Cellulose face masks – which has a cooling and skin-soothing texture. Coconut also has potent anti-inflammatory and calming properties. Behind The Scenes™ has a non-water based serum that combines Gentian Root and our Meteobrite® complex to reveal balanced and soothed skin.
Sensitive Skin: For people with highly sensitive skin, I always recommend to first do a patch test because all-natural ingredients can also cause an allergic reaction. I’m proud to say that all STARSKIN products are non-comedogenic and do not contain harsh chemical preservatives – they are also free from parabens, silicone, mineral oils, sulphates and synthetic dyes, so they are gentle and suitable for most skin types.
Q
When is the prime time to use a face mask?
A
If you thought face masks should be reserved for evenings, think again. Yes, you can pop one on before bed and let the serum work its magic overnight, but masking in the morning has its own share of benefits too – it can help give your skin a much-needed early boost of hydration, and even prep your complexion for make-up. Basically, it all comes down to the ingredients – if you’re going for an exfoliating or restoring mask, then try it in the evening.
Q
What’s an interesting fact about STARSKIN that many customers may not know?
A
STARSKIN® is a brand that is well-loved by celebrities – even Ronaldo has joined the #starskinsquad! Our products have won 24 prestigious beauty awards (we’re only just getting started) and we are currently available in over 2000 stores in 39 countries.
Q
What’s your best-selling product?
A
Our all-time top-seller is our Red Carpet Ready Bio-Cellulose Face Mask from our core range. Having said this, our newest launches such as Micro-Filler and 100% Camellia range are definitely at the cutting edge of beauty innovation and gaining traction.
Q
What percentage of your products are natural and cruelty free?
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We are happy to share STARSKIN® is a PETA certified brand and that our products are not tested on animals (we also do not partake in third-party animal testing). We take pride in ensuring that all our beauty products are formulated using only high-quality skincare ingredients and the finest botanical extracts so that customers know that they are getting the best for their skin.
Q
What is STARSKIN’s ultimate mission?
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Our mission is to make the best-in-class skincare products (as natural and high-quality as possible, with a long no-list) accessible to everyone from the comfort of their own home in order to reveal the secret behind the flawless, award winning complexions of the stars. This year is proving to be very exciting for us as we continue to be at the forefront of the global sheet mask market and introduce even more high-performance, on-trend skincare innovations to the world.
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