24K gold face masks: does gold do anything?
Mostly, it looks good. Gold flakes make a mask sparkle and feel like an occasion, but we couldn't find good evidence that gold leaf on your skin changes it. Any glow afterwards comes from the rest of the mask. Some people are allergic to gold, so patch testing still matters.
What's claimed
Gold skincare is sold on a range of promises: glow, firmer skin, less inflammation, an anti-ageing effect. We looked for good human studies showing that gold on skin improves how it looks, and we didn't find any we'd rely on. That doesn't prove it does nothing, but it's a long way from the claims.
What 24K means
It describes the purity of gold, with 24 karat being the purest. It's a claim about the metal rather than about what it does on your skin.
So what's doing the work?
In a gold mask, usually everything else. The feel you get comes from the cool jelly, the hydrating ingredients and the time lying still. That's still worth having before a night out. It just isn't the gold doing it.
If it's the occasion you're after, any jelly mask gives you fifteen cool minutes lying still before a big event. Ours don't contain gold. For a dewy look before a night out, Hyaluronic Acid is the one we'd reach for.
Who should be careful
Gold isn't as inert on skin as you might expect. DermNet describes contact allergy to gold, a delayed reaction that's usually linked with jewellery, piercings or dental work. It's diagnosed most often in women. The face and eyelids are commonly affected, and DermNet says gold allergy should be considered in cases of eyelid or face dermatitis.
So if gold jewellery has ever given you a rash, or a doctor has told you you're allergic to gold, skip gold masks. If you're not sure, patch test on your inner arm and watch for a couple of days, because this type of allergy can be slow to show up. How to patch test covers that.
What else is in a gold mask
A gold mask is usually a jelly, cream or sheet mask with gold added, so the rest of the label matters more than the gold. Look for retinol, exfoliating acids and scented plant oils, which call for more care. It's worth reading the whole list for any gold mask you're considering, because the label beats the name every time. Here's how.
Practical notes
- Flakes come away with the peel. A stray fleck is easy to rinse off.
- Used masks go in the bin, not the drain, and that includes gold ones.
- Keep flecks away from your eyes as you peel, and rinse well afterwards.
Questions
Does gold help anti-ageing?
We couldn't find good human evidence that gold on the skin changes how it ages. What protects skin over time is mainly sun protection.
Is real gold safe on the face?
Most people don't have a problem with it, but gold contact allergy exists and often shows up on the face and eyelids. If gold jewellery gives you a rash, skip gold masks.
Why do gold masks look so glowy?
Mostly it's the flakes and the colour of the mask itself. Any glow afterwards comes from the hydrating base and from skin that has been covered and kept moist for a while.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your skin, see your GP or a skin specialist.
Sources
- Contact allergy to gold, DermNet