The transforming powers of a facial mask.
There are times when the addition of a mask in your skincare regimen can be the solution when the skin needs a pick-me-up. Like all skincare, there’s much to choose from, and once again it can be a hit or miss affair when it comes to choosing.
3 point criteria.
When choosing the masks to review today, I looked for three things. 1), Moisture Protection 2), skin-boosting antioxidants and 3), Luminosity.
Here are 4 Skin Boosting Masks you might like to try for yourself. All of them have the benefits of boosting skin hydration and supporting with antioxidants. If it’s summer where you live, you’ll need as many antioxidants to prevent DNA damage caused by the sun or, if your skin is suffering through the winter chill, having a super hydrating mask in your bathroom cabinet could make all the difference.
1. MD formulations – Moisture Defence Antioxidant Treatment Mask.
This mask is impressive; it does what it says it will do—a creamy texture that is easy to apply and remove with a warm damp cloth. The glycolic acid in this mask will stimulate cell turnover to brighten the skin, liquorice extract, which can assist in reducing pigmentation and the inclusion of chamomile extracts will provide a soothing effect to the skin. Great if your skin is suffering from seasonal environmental changes like the onset of winter or too much time in the sun. I also like the addition of bisabolol, which also comes from the chamomile family and helps to condition the skin as well as enhances the penetration of antioxidant nutrients like Tocopherol (Vitamin E) into the skin. It comes in a 75ml tube and retails $43.00AUD
2. Alpha H – Instant Facial with Cypress & Barley.
Technically this product is not a mask, but with a name like Instant Facial, it’s hard to resist this one as a go-to-pick-me-up. What I love about this product is the spritz action pump which makes it so easy to use and apply. Just spritz a couple of pumps onto a cotton pad and wipe over your face, including your neck and decolletage.
Alpha H suggests for a fast result apply at night and do not follow with any other moisturiser or serum. Excellent suggestion, but in the winter months, once Instant Facial has dried on the skin, apply your night-time moisturiser as you normally would. Alpha H Instant Facial could be used on any skin type and with the addition of barley extract for soothing, cypress extract for skin refining and plankton and marine extracts for fine lines and wrinkles, it’s an excellent all-round treatment product. It comes in a 100ml pump and retails for $62.00AUD
3. Ella Bache – Eternal Instant Ultra Rich Cream-Mask
If your skin is feeling dry bordering on parched, then this mask is the one for you. Ella Bache is not a cosmeceutical brand, and to be honest, they are not trying to be. But even so, they have some great formulations, and this mask is one of them containing Matrixyl Synthe 6, is said to stimulate six major constituents of the skin’s matrix.
Which are: Collagen I, III, IV, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid and laminin 5.
So, you’re getting improvement in your lipid barrier to retain moisture and a catalyst for better collagen synthesis. Be that as it may, with the addition of almond oil to soften the skin and wheat germ oil for its impressive antioxidant capabilities, this is a great mask. It deserves a spot in your bathroom cabinet. It’s an all-over mask and excellent for around the delicate eye area. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then remove with a warm damp cloth or even better, just massage it into your skin for overnight skin boosting. It comes in a 50ml tube and retails for $75.00AUD
4. Mesoestetic – Hydra-vital Face Mask
Of the four, this was my least favourite mask as it left my skin feeling a little tight. But if you’ve got oily skin then you may like this mask, and it contains the antioxidants ascorbic acid (vitamin C) panthenol (vitamin B5) and tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E) as well as sodium hyaluronate for hydration. But for me, there’s just not enough in this mask to satisfy my personal need for moisture protection or hydration boosting. This brand comes from Spain, and they consider their formulations to be medical grade. You’ll find it in a 100ml tube and retails for $78.00AUD
See you next time,
