PRODUCTS I LOVE : THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE MASKS!
One of my favorite things to do is a Sunday mask! In fact I nearly always post up to my IGTV on #selfcaresunday! It’s serious CarmTime.
When I was growing up, I cherished those rare self-care moments. I grew up in a very loud, emotional Italian-American home. Someone was always screaming about something. If we weren’t all screaming at each other, we were screaming at the TV.
The only time I ever had to myself was during my high school years. I had all early classes and would get home at around 2:30 — before anyone else was home. I’d make myself lunch — usually a tuna sandwich with a side of potato chips — and sit down in front of the TV. I had about 90 minutes of peace before my brother got home from school and my parents soon after.
In those 90 minutes, I watched my favorite soap opera, General Hospital, and then Julia Child’s cooking show on public television called, The French Chef. Julia Child taught me to appreciate the art of cooking and I, pardon the pun, ate it all up! In fact, it wasn’t my Italian-American parents or grandparents who taught me how to prepare garlic; it was Julia. She would mince it then toss some salt on it. Salt breaks down ingredients and draws out their flavor.
“I don’t think about whether people will remember me or not. I’ve been an okay person. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve taught people a thing or two. That’s what’s important.”
– Julia Child
How awesome is this card from my friend Amy? 😻
Little did I know, those cherished moments would carry into my adult life. Every Sunday, I mask and cook. Sometimes twice. My Sunday masking gives me a chance to try something new each week. Most often, I’ll do a cleansing mask; but I sometimes reach for a detox mask or even a deeply moisturizing mask. That’s an essential pro-skin health treat in the cold winter months. Sleeping masks are a big fave of mine, too. They’re occlusive, meaning they hold moisture, hydration and actives in the skin rather than allowing them to evaporate.
So I thought the holidays were the perfect time to share some of my favorite masks from the year — and a few new ones!
The Multi-tasking Mask: Pure Heals Centella 65 Green Tea Pack
Pure Heals is one of my best kept secrets. I first discovered the indie K-Beauty brand about two years ago, right around the time I launched Skincarma, and have enjoyed just about everything I’ve tried.
One of my favorite products is the Pore Clear Black Charcoal Eye Patch. They’re these velvety black under-eye patches with high levels of brightening Niacinamide and humectant Glycerin — and they’re just plain dope!
Guess what! The Pure Heals Centella 65 Green Tea Pack is kinda dope, too. The first ingredient is, of course, Centella Asiatica Extract at 65%. You can see little flakes of centella leaves in the formula which makes it really fun and a pleasure to use.
The high content of centella makes it a super soothing treatment, too. If you’re into skincare, and especially Korean skincare, you know that Centella Asiatica is a K-Beauty hallmark and a superb botanical extract with potent soothing benefits. But “cica,” as it’s known, has benefits that go beyond just soothing, including as a source for moisturizing the skin and as a potent antioxidant.
My skincare muse Paula Begun rates it among the best actives for skin health. Paula says of centella,
“Centella asiatica is an antioxidant-rich extract that may be listed on labels as asiatic acid, hydrocotyl, or gotu kola. It is a source of amino acids and has soothing properties. Concentrations of 5% show notable improvement in skin’s moisture content.”
Just 5% of Centella Asiatica can make a difference in overall skin health. Imagine what 65% can do! The Pure Heals’ Centella 65 Green Tea Pack is a veritable multi-tasking mask that does a whole lot more than even its high level of cica delivers. Up next in the INCI are both oil-absorbing Kaolin and humectant Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water along with Camellia Sinensis Leaf, aka green tea — a powerful antioxidant that’s also common in Asian skincare formulas.
Come to think of it, maybe it’s green tea flakes in there.
No matter, it’s a terrific formula, and no mere traditional clay mask. It cleanses, purifies, moisturizes, soothes and infuses skin with potent antioxidant extracts to prevent from environmental damage. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that. Even more remarkable is the fact that my favorite multi-tasking mask costs only about $20! You can grab yours on Amazon here.
Want to learn more about the magical botanical extract, Centella Asiatica?
There’s an excellent article on the benefits of Centella Asiatica, or Cica, called Centella Asiatica for Skin here.
The Sleeping Mask: Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack
Next up is this wonderful sleeping mask I’m crushing on from clean, natural Korean skincare brand Purito. It’s no secret that I’m really into this brand. Call me a #puritofanboy! Some of my favorite product discoveries of the year are from Purito, including the From Green Cleansing Oil and the brand’s blockbuster Fermented Complex 94 Boosting Essence. As I said when I reviewed their toning essence in my blog article on my Complete Clean Skincare Routine…
I wish I could gift it to every person on Earth who cares about their skin!
Alas, I can’t afford to. But I can continue to point you in the direction of really good skin care — and try to steer you away from the not so good skin care.
Purito’s Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack is good stuff! The kind of good stuff you want to slather on your skin before bed and let it work its magic.
This sleeping mask is loaded with goodness, including the aforementioned Centella Asiatica Extract — the second ingredient after water — as well as Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, and the tried-and-true humectant Glycerin.
Also at a high level is Hydrogenated Lecithin — one of Dame Paula’s “best” skin actives. Hydrogenated Lecithin is the “hydrogenated form of the skin-restoring ingredient lecithin. It may be derived from animals or plants (egg yolk is a source) or manufactured synthetically.”
In addition to the Korean classic Centella Asiatica, there are four other molecular forms of the soothing plant extract, including Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid.
For a clean, natural mask, the Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack will put real beauty in your sleep. It’s available on the brand’s website for just $19 here.
**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF “A FEW OF MY FAVORITE MASKS!” NOW PLAYING ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**
Pixi’s Vitamin-C Caviar Balm is really unique.
The WTF Mask: Pixi Vitamin-C Caviar Balm
One of the more unique masks in the line-up is also the most surprising — the Pixi Vitamin-C Caviar Balm. I haven’t been a big fan of Pixi skin care but this one is an interesting, albeit imperfect formula. I just plain like it! As I’ve said before, sometimes skin care is emotional.
First, the name is so, so good — one of those I wish I’d come up with as a copywriter myself. With Vitamin C Caviar Balm, it’s certainly clear that Pixi opted to push Vitamin C as the star ingredient; but while Caviar Balm contains no actual caviar extract, it has a whole lot more going for it than just complexion brightening Vitamin C. Marketing is an interesting thing.
Take Clinique’s own potent Vitamin C option — the Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10%. Sure it’s one of my top Vitamin C picks of the year, but it’s far more than simply a well-formulated Vitamin C serum.
Aside from the wonderful fact that it’s freshly activated to assure potency, there are numerous other pro-skin health actives in the Clinique formula. Clinique fortified Fresh Pressed with several non-fragrant plant oils to nourish and soothe skin, as well as plumping peptides and potent anioxidants. There’s even humectant Sodium Hyaluronate — the salt form of Hyaluronic Acid that’s actually most compatible with the skin. None of that is to be found in the brand’s description of the product: “Unique de-aging booster harnesses the full power of pure, fresh Vitamin C at our highest concentration to brighten, even and retexturize skin.”
I know for a fact that Fresh Pressed was positioned in the early development stages to be something more than a mere Vitamin C serum. But marketers think their consumers are, well, feeble minded. There’s a marketing term that’s often bandied about in meetings, “KISS” — that is, Keep it Simple, Stupid.
So Clinique honed the product messaging to drive home the point that Fresh Pressed is a potent, always fresh, ultra-brightening Vitamin C serum — and that’s all you need to know.
Want to learn more about Vitamin C?
Click here to read the many ways that Vitamin C promotes skin health.
I don’t know what the thinking was in Pixi’s marketing department, but Vitamin-C Caviar Balm has a whole lot more going for it, too. Yes, it contains Ascorbic Acid — the purest form of Vitamin C. But by my estimate, it’s only at maybe 2-3% of the formula, and isn’t even among Caviar Balm’s top ten ingredients.
However, there’s a lot of indisputable pro-skin health goodness like Glycerin, Shea Butter, Lactic Acid and Ferulic Acid — a potent antioxidant that helps keep Vitamin C, a vulnerable antioxidant, stable. There are even two fermented actives in the form of Oryza Sativa (Rice) Callus Culture Extract and Bifida Ferment Lysate. Skin and skincare formulas love ferments!
So you see, this thick, rich caviar-less balm can be really good for the skin.
But not all skins!
It contains a small amount of three popular citrus oils that gives it a banal citrusy smell that we all apparently love. (Remember, KISS!) But while citrus oils remind us of the goodness of Vitamin C, they are also sensitizing, particular for sensitive skins.
Its faults aside, I quite like applying a small amount of Caviar Balm as the last step in my PM routine, using it as a sleeping mask. It’s also a nice brightening and nourishing boost to skin when I get home from work in the late afternoon and clear my skin of the day’s grime, pollution and sunscreen.
Again, the Pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm is an interesting formula and the perfect WTF mask! It’s also reasonably priced at just $24 on Pixi’s website.
The Eye Mask: Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask
Sticking with the marketing thing, there’s something so ridiculously adorable about the Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask that I just have to bring it up first. I know it’s shallow and I sound ridiculous, but humor me. This little pot of deliciousness is too cute for words.
Now that that’s over, let me get at why I love this mask…
The Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask is an encapsulated extravaganza — with a time release of Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Niacinamide that works gently in your eye area while you’re at rest — and presumably asleep.
Throughout the night, the formula is nourishing and soothing delicate eye-area skin, preventing both dryness and dehydration. This winter, it will be a real savior for my own delicate eye area. As the temps plunge, my skin is completely traumatized and riddled with fine dehydration lines. To add insult to injury, the artificial heat pumping into the apartment only makes matters worse.
Glow Recipe’s Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask is infused with Glycerin, Avocado Oil, Avocado Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Curcumin, and even Shea Butter.
There’s so much pro-skin health goodness in here, it may be all your eye area needs for the long slog of winter.
But there’s more!
There’s also a smattering of Coffeeberry Extract — derived from the seed of the coffee plant — to revitalize skin, neutralize free radicals and perhaps help treat dark circles, one of the most vexing issues specific to the eye area. For my top recommendation for treating dark circles, check out my previous blog article here.
The Avocado Melt Retinol Eye formula is actually not as rich as I’ve made it out to be. It’s super spreadable and a little bit goes a long way. That’s good news considering it’s on the pricier side at $42 for a half ounce (15mL).
That said, you do get your money’s worth — and you get to wake up looking refreshed and well-rested, too!
The Messy Mask: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Look, sometimes masking can be messy. You know the drill: you get mask in your hair, you get it stuck in your eyebrows, some of it ends up on the floor — which is always the case with that ridiculous Dr. Jart’s Shake & Shot rubber mask. More of it ends up on the bathroom floor than on your face!
The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is next-level messy. But unlike Shake & Shot, it’s got legit benefits for skin. Honestly, I think it should be renamed Salicylic Acid 2% Messy Masque!
Like eating tacos, it’s worth the mess.
The Ordinary says that the Salicylic Acid 2% Masque “is formulated to target lackluster tone and textural irregularities. The formula, infused with charcoal and clays, aims to enhance the appearance of smoothness and clarity, leaving the skin feeling refreshed.”
In other words, it helps clear skin. You know what else is clear? That the chemist who made it wrote that. And that’s one of the things I love about Deciem — they revere the chemists so much that they give them the lead. (Is there even a Marketing department to spin things at Deciem?)
The chemist, clearly high on antioxidant caffeine, goes on:
“The structure of salicylic acid facilitates its lipophilicity and miscibility with the lipids located on the surface of the skin. It is a suitable ingredient for targeting the removal of dead skin cells on the surface of oily and blemish-prone skin, with the purpose of revealing more radiant skin beneath.”
Nary a word about the mess. It’s all good though. This Salicylic Acid mask is a relatively simple, yet effective formula for all skin types, but particularly acne-prone skins that can most benefit from the power of Salicylic Acid.
The first four ingredients that lead off the INCI are water, Kaolin, Squalane and Glycerin. That 2% Salicylic Acid comes in somewhere around sixth in the list which means it contains less than two percent charcoal powder. I have no idea what level of charcoal powder is effective for skin — but I trust that the chemist who made it knows.
What I do know is that charcoal powder, even at 2%, is enough to create grayish beads of water that splatter all over the bathroom sink, walls, floor and god-only-knows where else.
I love this little messy mask on selfcare Sunday almost as much as I love taco Tuesday.
**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF “A FEW OF MY FAVORITE MASKS!” NOW PLAYING ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**
The Mask Hack: Graydon Putty Super Smoothing Face Cream
The last of the six facial masks I wanted to highlight is not actually a mask at all.
Or is it?
Graydon’s “Putty” Super Smoothing Face Cream is intended to protect, nourish and soothe dry to very dry skin. But it’s so rich in natural butters, oils and extracts that it doubles perfectly well as a moisturizing face mask. So while I dubbed it “The Mask Hack” — it really is the best “moisturizing mask” of the six.
I’ve just begun to get to know the brand in the last couple of weeks, so it may be new to you too.
So…Meet Graydon, plant-powered skin care!
The Canadian-based natural skincare brand offers a complete range of clean, vegan “small-batch” products formulated without toxins and irritants — no fillers, petrochemicals, toxic chemicals, artificial fragrances or synthetic dyes.
Each of Graydon’s formulas contains high performing, clinically-proven superfood actives that feed skin what it craves — good pro-skin health stuff! The brand’s Berry Rich probiotic face and eye cream was the first product I tried and it blew me away. Berry Rich is literally one of the most richly luxurious moisturizers I’ve come across. It’s loaded with superfoods, botanical extracts and nourishing non-fragrant plant oils — nary an essential oil in sight. Ahem, Kiehl’s and others, listen up!
And the brand’s visually electric Fullmoon serum gets an A in my book. The star ingredient is Blue Tansy — the famous ingredient at the heart of Herbivore’s Lapis oil and Blue Tansy Fruit Enzyme Resurfacing Clarity Mask. The blueish herb is known to help soothe redness and calm irritated, inflamed skin.
And calming irritation is something Graydon does very well. All-natural and water-free, Putty is packed with a proprietary blend of healing actives that helps reduce redness and skin irritation — including more serious skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and dermatitis. Last winter, I experienced eczema for the first time in my life. While I’m not looking forward to a recurrence in the coming weeks, at least I know I have an effective treatment on hand when and if it does come back.
In fact, the Putty INCI is a treasure trove of proven skin soothers. The very first ingredient is Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract aka chamomile. You may have found chamomile tea particularly soothing before bed or when you’ve got a cold, migraine or a headache. But I’ll bet you didn’t know much more than that about the common healing flower.
Over to Ms. Begoun:
“The main constituents of the [chamomile] flowers include phenolic compounds, primarily the flavonoids apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, luteolin, and their glucosides, all of which function as antioxidants.
The principal components of the oil extracted from the flowers are the terpenoids a-bisabolol and its oxides and azulenes, including chamazulene. Chamomile has moderate antioxidant activities and studies indicate it is has potent skin-soothing action, among other benefits.
In addition to a high level of chamomile (at about 60% of the formula by my estimation), there are nourishing Cocoa Seed Butter, healing Colloidal Oatmeal, and both Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil and Turmeric Root Oil.
The list of pro-skin health, soothing actives is nearly endless. By my estimation there are perhaps three dozen beneficial botanical extracts, oils, waters and butters — all of which nurture, nourish, soothe and protect the skin.
Putty is just a magnificent treatment and while it’s a well-formulated moisturizer for treating dry skin, it’s an even better facial mask on a cold winter day or a chilly night snuggling under the covers — with the heat on blast. That makes it the ideal Mask Hack.
You can grab a bottle on Graydon’s website here for just $44.
That’s it guys! Happy holidays and happy masking!
🖤 SKINCARMA
**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF “A FEW OF MY FAVORITE MASKS!” NOW PLAYING ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**
The Ingredient List of the Pure Heals Centella 65 Green Tea Pack:
Centella Asiatica Extract (65%), Kaolin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Clyceryl Stearate, Littlewonderland.nl, PEG-100 Stearate, Littlewonderland.nl, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-10, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicum Cerum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima ( Avocado) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Propolis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Lavandla Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Origanum Majorana Flower Oil,Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil.
The Ingredient List of the Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack:
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract(225,000ppm), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
The Ingredient List of the Pixi Vitamin-C Caviar Balm:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Betaine, Sorbitan Stearate, Ferulic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Callus Culture Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2- Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Mannitol, Cellulose, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Iron Oxides (CI 77492).
The Ingredient List of the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Squalane, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylresorcinol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, PEI-10, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Chloride, Fructan, Maltodextrin, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Curcumin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Arginine, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Kaolin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyisobutene, PVP, C13-15 Alkane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Flavor/Aroma*.
The Ingredient List of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque:
Aqua (Water), Kaolin, Squalane, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Silica Cetyl Silylate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Charcoal Powder, 4-t-Butylcyclohexanol, Sclerotium Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Phytic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol.
The Ingredient List of the Graydon Putty Super Smoothing Face Cream:
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract, *Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, **Phenethyl Alcohol, **Pentylene Glycol, **Propanediol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Colloidal Oatmeal, Cera Alba, Zinc Oxide, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Orbignya Phalerata Seed Powder, ***Mel, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Triethyl Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Leaf/Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
*Vegetable wax, **100% Natural based preservative, ***Manuka Honey
Orpheus always takes his morning vitamins!
