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Masktini is a skincare brand that’s taking the beauty world by storm with its innovative and luxurious face masks. At the heart of Masktini is a commitment to revolutionizing self-care routines with products that are as effective as they are indulgent. Ahead, we caught up with Olga Parno, founder of Masktini to uncover the inspiration, science, and passion driving their mission.
Your transition from a successful Wall Street executive to a skincare entrepreneur is truly inspiring. What was the pivotal moment that drove you to create Masktini, and how did your background influence your approach to skincare?
In my investment banking days, I worked with L’Oreal and had the opportunity to hear about the business first-hand from the top management executives. This piqued my interest in the business side of beauty and skincare, an industry I had been passionate about my entire life, and because I was experiencing skin sensitivities myself, I knew the unique problem I wanted to solve. I spent a lot of time and effort researching the market by attending worldwide expos and making connections in manufacturing, sourcing materials, formulating and packaging, all of which have been instrumental to my success, especially in the early days of Masktini.
Rather than one pivotal moment leading to me creating Masktini, it was a slower process and a series of frustrations stemming from the lack of options on the market for skincare that felt good and did good too. It took me ten years to finally launch the business in 2019. I didn’t anticipate how much research and development went into the whole process, from finding and forming the right team to navigating more practical issues like registering trademarks and raising investment. So much work goes into the early stages of launching a brand, before there’s even anything physical for anyone to see, but it’s truly worth it. Let’s call that the skincare equivalent of doing my due diligence, something I’m no stranger to!
How did your personal experiences with skin issues shape the formulation and philosophy behind Masktini’s products?
I started seriously thinking about and conceptualizing Masktini in 2009. I wanted to create a skincare brand that had a core range of multi-tasking products filled with great actives, that not only did good but smelt good and felt good too, creating a true multi-sensory experience. As mentioned earlier, I’ve always experienced skin sensitivities and products designed for my skin type are often clinical, practical and whilst effective, aren’t particularly enjoyable to use and certainly don’t evoke a sense of ritual.
Skincare is my way of taking care of myself, and I wanted to enjoy the experience, not follow a rigid routine filled with countless products, all promising me different but equally groundbreaking results. I’m a busy woman and I don’t have time to use fifteen different products in the morning, so I was determined to create a few, high-performing and multi-tasking products that addressed all my skin concerns, especially as my skin went through changes. Skincare can be effective, simple and enjoyable and I don’t believe you should have to compromise on any of these elements and every step of my journey, from ingredients to formulations, has been based on this philosophy.
Masktini emphasizes using a few high-quality products rather than complicated multi-step routines. Can you tell us more about the key ingredients in your products and why they are so effective yet gentle on the skin?
Our formulations use a wider range of actives at lower concentrations, which allows us to pack more into our products whilst still being safe for sensitive skin. This also means we’re able to address a wider range of skin concerns with fewer products. We’re not the brand that claims to transform your skin overnight and we never will be, but we prioritize using high-quality ingredients consistently to achieve long-lasting results. Here are a few of our favorites:
Tahitian Black Pearl Powder: Found in our best-selling Gone Girl Tahitian Detox Mask, Tahitian Black Pearl Powder is a powerful natural moisturizer with antioxidant boosters and proteins that supports skin firmness and protects against premature aging. In addition to strengthening the skin and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, this powerhouse ingredient also heightens the skin’s own ability to retain water, leading to plumper and more moisturized skin over time. Thanks to its moisturizing properties, Gone Girl can deliver a deep and effective cleanse without drying out or stripping the skin.
BV-OSC: This stabilized Vitamin C ester is the glow-getter in our Metal Head Gold Brightening Mask and Whoa! Lit Brightening Booster. It delivers Vitamin C into cells 50 times more effectively than the industry standard, ascorbic acid. Vitamin C can so often lead to irritation and increased sensitivity, especially at high concentrations, but the stabilized nature of this ester allows us to deliver higher-quality and more effective Vitamin C, leading to increased radiance, DNA protection and a more even skin tone.
Lime Pearl™: A natural form of AHAs, Lime Pearl is a more gentle, yet equally effective alternative to stronger or harsher exfoliating acids. Found in our Whoa! Bye Exfoliating Booster and Night Ranger Overnight Renewal Mask, Lime Pearl™ helps to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, more even-toned complexion underneath, with minimal irritation.
Your signature scent is designed to evoke a spa-like sensation, adding an element of self-care to skincare routines. How did you develop this unique scent, and why do you believe it’s important for skincare to be an indulgent experience?
We believe that the key to creating a truly tranquil experience at home is to evoke all the senses – including the sense of smell! Our signature scent is a triple-citrus blend with vanilla undertones, to create a warming yet fresh aroma that transports you straight to the spa. However, when considering adding a scent to our products, we wanted to make sure that it was still safe for sensitive skin so instead of using artificial fragrance or perfume, we use a very low concentration of essential oil essence. An indulgent scent really does add an extra dimension and level of enjoyment to skincare products, especially clinical-grade skincare which is often not that enjoyable to use, but it has to be safe for everyone!
As someone who prioritizes self-care, what advice would you give to others struggling with skin issues and looking to build their own effective and enjoyable skincare rituals?
The biggest piece of advice I could give to anyone is to cut out the noise. I think that, especially with the rise of social media, the skincare industry has become increasingly trend-driven, with a new viral product every other day. And whilst this can be a great way to discover new brands and products, it can also often do more harm than good. Skincare is an incredibly personal journey, what works for one won’t necessarily work for others, and constantly swapping out products, especially those with harsh actives, won’t do anyone any good. I’d say the best approach is to take some time to truly understand your skin and its concerns and start small. Don’t jump straight in with harsh actives and be consistent with your ritual – it’ll do you a world of good!
