A new fad in Guangzhou sees youngsters age by decades in a matter of weeks, with the help of a specially-designed silica gel face mask,the Southern Metropolitan Daily reported.

The process, whereby a silica gel mask is designed to age a youthful face, takes around one month and requires some beauty measures, medical materials and a skillful beautician. The cost normally ranges from 800 to 13,000 yuan (S$150 to S$224) although some more elaborate, high-quality masks are worth around 30,000 to 60,000 each.

There are ten steps to follow:

Step 1: Choosing a suitable skin-color

Step 2: Coating the face with medical-use Vaseline cream

Step 3: Covering the face with a transparent membrane to protect it from the plaster

Step 4: Smearing 5cm-thick medical-use plaster onto face

Step 5: Removing the plaster model

Step 6: Copying and shaping another model based on the plaster one

Step 7: Sandblasting and electro-facing technique to modify mould

Step 8: Injecting silica gel onto the mould

Step 9: Coloring the silica gel mold and implanting eyelashes and eyebrows

Step 10: Adjusting and wearing the mask --cosmetic glue helps ensure a smooth fit