In January 2024, after the Maison Margiela SS24 Couture show, my For You Page (like everyone else’s) was filled with close-ups of the model’s iconic glass make-up. Mere hours after the show, the YouTube and TikTok tutorial recreations began rolling in, with people peeling off and cracking their creations for their own viral moment. I watched in awe. I imagined a shiny, hardened version of my own face. Still, I never thought I’d get my moment under the porcelain Pat McGrath sun – until I heard that the legendary make-up artist was releasing Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask (available exclusively at Pat McGrath Labs from January 30). 

The peel-off mask arrives almost exactly a year after the runway moment, taking McGrath’s meticulous, multi-layered backstage process and condensing it into a single formula infused with glycerin, rose flower water and allantoin. The idea is that anyone can now create their own take on the haute couture beauty look at home – something McGrath says was inspired by each at-home tutorial. “Those viral recreations were everything, I watched every single one,” she says. “I really wanted to create something that honoured their enthusiasm while making that radiant, glass-skin moment accessible to everyone – not just for the runway or social media but for anyone who wants to feel luminous in their everyday life.” 

PREPPING FOR THE MASK

Before I could lather my face in the new product, Pat McGrath Labs make-up artist Kisha Augustine told me that the best results from the new Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask come after dermaplaning to remove tiny baby hairs. She said this isn’t imperative but does give a smoother result, and I trusted I was in good hands. After a few minutes of something I had only previously witnessed in TikTok videos, my now hairless skin was ready for a full face of Pat McGrath Labs make-up. Since my eyebrows were already bleached, Augustine glued them down so she could paint the mask directly over them (something not advised without the glue first). I chose the Maison Margiela-esque works: pencil-thin eyebrows, high blush and heart-shaped doll lipstick (because, when in Rome, right?). 

APPLYING THE MASK

When applying the mask, McGrath recommends that you “take your time, enjoy the process and think of it as a moment of self-care”. The product itself is fairly easy to get the hang of (especially considering she used multiple products and machines for the Margiela moment): you use a make-up brush to apply thin, even layers across your face in stages. “Start with a single, thin layer to get a feel for the texture and drying time,” says McGrath. “Make sure to let each layer dry completely before applying the next – this ensures the finish is smooth and even.” While applying the layers, it’s best to keep your brush damp with water and then dip it back into the product. 

Augustine added four layers over my face, checking if the mask was touch-dry each time. With the consistency of water, the clear formula felt soothing when applied. Once fully dried, the mask built a lacquer-like film, and my face felt snatched (or, at least, just locked into one expression). But, as with everything Pat McGrath, the Glass 001 Artistry Mask is designed to be experimented with. You can apply it on bare skin or over make-up, add as many layers as you like and even use it to add a plastic shine to certain high points of your face (like your cheekbones) if you don’t want the all-over porcelain look. 

MY VOW OF SILENCE

One thing that becomes abundantly clear after even the first layer of McGrath’s new mask is that you can’t talk, laugh or emote with a full face of glass skin. I thought this would be difficult for my usually chatty self until I caught a glimpse of my new porcelain face in the mirror. Augustine told me I could use water to smooth out any glass skin cracks, but I didn’t need to: I loved the look so much that I was determined to keep it pristine for as long as possible. So, my afternoon of silence began. I used my notes app as my main communication device, put my hands into a “T” shape when heading to the toilet and held my fingers in the shape of a heart to thank Augustine and McGrath. 

Out on the streets of New York, people turned their heads at my newly reflective face (one man even wound down his car window). I grabbed an iced tea that I couldn’t physically drink yet and hummed “thank you” inside my mouth to the confused server at the deli. I felt shiny, sexy, silent and – most of all – alive. According to McGrath, wearing the Glass 001 Artistry Mask anywhere you want is entirely the point. “I love the idea of people taking their glass skin glow anywhere – whether it’s to the grocery store, shopping or even just lounging at home,” she says. “I want people to find joy in radiance, no matter where they are.”

MY POST-PORCELAIN LIFE

My afternoon of shiny rest and relaxation ended abruptly – I had a late meeting, and, unfortunately, the mask had to come off so that I could speak. While reluctantly removing it (I’m not above setting up my phone for my own cracking and peeling video), I was surprised at how great the make-up underneath still looked. “When you peel, do it slowly to reveal that luminous, glass-skin finish,” says McGrath. “The mask mimics the high-gloss, glass-like finish seen on the runway, but with the added benefit of hydration and skin-nourishing ingredients.” 

My skin truly did look radiant post-mask, but the residue from the entire experience lingered far longer. I enjoyed the quietness of my silent afternoon and, as someone who follows more or less the same make-up routine every day, the opportunity to transform myself into a character I’ve only seen on the runway. Most importantly, I had a good time. As McGrath puts it: “The whole point of this product, and truly beauty in general, is about owning the moment and having fun”.

Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask will be available exclusively at Pat McGrath Labs starting January 30.