PRODUCT REVIEW: KPS ESSENTIALS ANTIOXIDANT CACAO MASQUE – BEST ANTIOXIDANT MASK, BEST CLAY MASK FOR DRY SKIN
KPS ESSENTIALS | ANTIOXIDANT CACAO MASQUE
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, KPS Essentials Flight of Masks – Best Face Masks for Dry Skin, Best Face Masks for Oily Skin. You can catch the full piece here.
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The holidays are literally days away now. Thanksgiving is in just over two weeks. Christmas and New Year’s are in sight, too. Of course, with the pandemic still burning hot in the US, there won’t be much communing. I’m still trying to decide if I’ll even go anywhere for Christmas this year. It doesn’t feel right yet.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about gifts. And you know I love to give skincare for every occasion!
I’ve now shopped the Sephora Beauty Insider sale three times. If you didn’t catch my article two weeks ago on Cool Sephora Beauty Insider Grabs, you can read it here. In addition to new skincare treats for myself, I picked up a few things for loved ones.
The holidays are the perfect time to discover new skincare products. I love all the gift sets, in particular. And I’m excited to share one of my early holiday discoveries from one of my favorite clinical skincare brands, KPS Essentials.
The KPS Essentials Flight of Masques “Private Jet” is an extraordinary collection of masking delights for every imaginable texture preference and skin concern! There are five natural, organic mask treatments — for all the exfoliating, purifying, brightening, hydrating and skin health-boosting you need most during the holidays. Don’t want all five? There are two slimmed down versions with fewer masks and, of course, you can grab just one, too!
Let’s take a look at one of my faves from the KPS Essentials mask collection…
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KPS Essentials | Antioxidant Cacao Masque
I certainly saved the best for last! The KPS Essentials Antioxidant Cacao Masque is the most decadent and pampering of the entire Flight of Masques “Private Jet” collection. But you kinda know it’s gonna be when you unpack the set. Its deep dark chocolatey texture radiates through the jar. It’s like gazing at a display of fine chocolates through a glass display case along the Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris.
This rich clay mask is a nourishing blend of chocolate and spices, both sweet and savory, that light up your senses — and your complexion.
To start, there’s Cacao Powder, which is, of course, the source of its deep, dark chocolate appearance.
Remove the lid on the 100% organic Antioxidant Cacao Masque and you’re overcome with the sweet smell of cocoa. It’s like stepping into a chocolate factory. If Willy Wonka had skincare, this would be his best-selling face product!
Cacao itself is a rich source of minerals and antioxidants that nourish and protect the skin — including magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc. Minerals are the unsung heroes of skincare as they’re bio-compatible and have an extraordinary effect on skin hydration by dispersing water more evenly throughout the skin’s layers.
According to KPS, “magnesium-rich cacao helps slow skin cell decline and assist in collagen production to increase elasticity and luminosity. Cacao effectively stimulates and triggers circulation which assists in nutrient delivery, and supports the skin’s natural healing ability.”
The Cacao Powder is but one of a complex of four antioxidant botanicals, including cinnamon and a pair of potent anti-inflammatory extracts, ginger root and turmeric.
What is turmeric?
According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, turmeric is among the best natural ingredients for the skin.
Turmeric is a spice made from the dried, ground root of the Curcuma longa plant. It contains curcumin, a lipophilic, polyphenolic antioxidant pigment that gives turmeric its golden-yellow color.
In addition to being a food seasoning, turmeric has numerous health benefits whether consumed orally vis foods and supplements or applied topically. Ongoing research has shown turmeric and the curcumin it contains play a safe and compelling role in promoting healthier, normalized skin.
On skin, in vivo research has shown that turmeric and its derivatives interrupt signaling in surface cells that trigger signs of irritation. Turmeric helps calm skin and may even play a role in reducing the look of acne-related redness by modulating pathways to restore a healthier, more even appearance.
Research has conclusively shown that turmeric is a potent antioxidant, largely due to its curcumin content (although turmeric also contains other antioxidants). Applying turmeric to skin can help offset signs of environmental damage and, to some extent, thwart the skin-damaging effects from UVB light.
As with many antioxidants, turmeric requires protection from air and light, as routine exposure causes it to break down and limits its availability to skin. Beyond being an antioxidant, some research has shown the curcumin portion of turmeric boosts skin’s hyaluronic acid content, meaning turmeric can also be considered hydrating.
I love a good turmeric treatment and, without that pungent turmeric aroma, the Antioxidant Cacao Masque is among the best turmeric masks I’ve tried.
European green clay helps to draw impurities out of the skin for a superb detoxifying effect, perfect for the holidays.
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 10% off all KPS Essentials skincare. Purchase the KPS Essentials Antioxidant Cacao Masque for $45 (reg. $50) here.
The Ingredient List of the KPS Essentials Pumpkin Enzyme Masque:
Pumpkin Fruit Purée (Cucurbita Pepo), Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Citric Acid, Meadowfoam Seed Oil (Limnanthes Alba), Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Organic Sugar Cane Extract (Saccharum Officinarum), Organic Bilberry Fruit Extract (Vaccinium Myrtillus), Organic Sugar Maple Extract (Acer Saccharinum), Organic Orange Peel Extract (Citrus Sinensis), Organic Lemon Peel Extract (Citrus Limon), Organic Cranberry Fruit Extract (Vaccinium Macrocarpon), Organic Neem Seed Oil (Melia Azadirachta), Organic Rosemary Leaf Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis), Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Cinnamon Bark Powder (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum), Ginger Root Powder (Zingiber Officinale), Allspice Powder (Pimenta Officinalis), Nutmeg Powder (Myristica Fragrans), Organic Alcohol.
