Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask: The Drugstore Sheet Mask I Keep Going Back To
I’m a rice girl, both in my diet and skincare.
Those who frequent Japanese drugstores would find the Keana brand by Ishizawa Lab highly recognisable with its cute packaging. Keana translates to “pores” in Japanese, and the brand offers cleansing products for both genders, including a multipack sheet mask under the Blue series specifically designed for men. I first picked up the Nadeshiko Rice Mask in Japan when it topped @cosme's charts in 2019, and since then, I have only strayed from it when it went out of stock (which happens more often than you may think)!
Nadeshiko Rice Mask
Made in Japan from 100% domestically-produced rice, the mask serum is formulated to minimise the appearance of large pores while hydrating the skin. However, as with Japanese sheet masks, the product is not alcohol and paraben-free. Key ingredients include:
Fermented rice liquid (i.e. sake) – moisturises skin
Rice bran oil – contains vitamin E to plump skin by improving skin elasticity
Rice ceramides – condition skin by restoring its natural barrier to retain moisture and preventing overproduction of sebum
Rice bran extract – improves skin appearance and texture
The Nadeshiko Rice series features a comprehensive skincare regimen, including cleansing products, a toner, and a cream that I’ve tried over the years. But honestly, considering the realm of Japanese beauty products, nothing has been as memorable as the sheet mask.
Sure, multipack masks have been a popular trend among Japanese drugstore brands for some time now. I love that they are a more eco-friendly option for frequent users and that they don’t come with the disposable film that I dislike – it constantly drips all over the place and adds more trash to deal with. The rice mask comes in two sizes: a resealable bag of 10, available at most drugstores, and a special box of 28, available exclusively at LOG-ON and city’super in Hong Kong (the latter size is my favourite as it goes a long way).
Nevertheless, most multipack sheet masks I’ve tried feel somewhat cheap. Either the mask texture feels like rough paper, or there’sn’t enough serum, which makes the masks dry out more quickly. With the Nadeshiko Rice Mask, the sheet is on the thicker side, with a texture that resembles cotton paper – comfortable to touch but also a tad fragile, so it pays to be gentle and avoid ripping the mask. It holds a fair amount of light, milky serum, and there is certainly plenty of it to go around, so your mask stays moist down to the very last sheet, as long as you reseal it properly after use.
As the mask doesn’t contain fragrance, there’s no overpowering or artificial smell, which some other brands have and really put me off. It fits nicely on my face, and I only have to fold down tiny bits on my forehead and the tip of my nose. This mask is one of my favourites because it just feels great.
Given how affordable the Nadeshiko Rice Mask is, it’s at least worth trying the 10-pack. And while I don’t use it every day, I keep it on rotation with several other products; it’s my favourite follow-up product after a cleansing mask. Because of how moist the mask is, I reserve it for nighttime routines rather than as a quick pick-me-up before makeup. I can leave the serum on if I’m feeling lazy; otherwise, I rinse or gently pat off the excess liquid with a cotton pad.
Thankfully, it has never caused any breakouts to my sensitive combination skin. And while I wouldn’t say it’s done wonders for my visible pores, given how long I’ve been using it, I know I can always count on it to make my skin visibly softer, in a dewy way that has a stickiness to it but isn’t tacky.
Bonus tip: Leave it in the refrigerator for a refreshing boost. I love how it calms my skin and reduces any redness that has flared up.
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