Jan 4

Jan 4 PRODUCT REVIEW: FRESH BLACK TEA INSTANT PERFECTING MASK – BEST MOISTURIZING MASK FOR DRY SKIN, BEST ANTIOXIDANT MASK

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FRESH | BLACK TEA INSTANT PERFECTING MASK

If you didn’t catch my IGTV for #selfcaresunday this past weekend, be sure to catch it on my IG page and see me put this awesome antioxidant mask into action!

I’ve been feeling a bit of Fresh #fomo for a while now, particularly when it comes to the beauty brand’s range of black tea infused skincare.

Fresh Beauty’s mask collection is legendary and it’s kinda funny to me that I hadn’t gotten around to trying any of the brand’s popular natural facial masks.

They’re the perfect treat, of course, for Selfcare Sunday and I’m happy to say that I kicked off 2021 fresh — both literally and figuratively!

The brand has several popular masks, many of which I would consider among the best face masks for dry skin. Among them is the iconic Fresh Rose Face Mask. I’m saving that one for an upcoming #selfcaresunday. I started with the mask that has intrigued me the most: the Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask.

To start, the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask is perfect for the winter cold. It’s super thick and nourishing, the ideal treat for pampering dry, dehydrated skin in the cold. I love how the brand’s copywriter describes it as “a hydrating mask famous for its cloud-like whipped texture that leaves skin super-smooth and dewy.”

Hilarious and rather accurate, if somewhat fantastic. That’s the beauty of beauty messaging!

The Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask is quite simply one of the best antioxidant facial masks I’ve come across — with its rich blend of antioxidant botanical extracts and oils. including: Black Tea Leaf Extract, Grape Seed Oil, Litchi Seed Extract and Blackberry Leaf Extract.

But the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask is also a superb moisture mask for dry, dehydrated skin! In addition to numerous non-fragrant plant oils like Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, there’s humectant Sodium Hyaluronate — the salt form of Hyaluronic Acid that’s more compatible with the skin.

It has a superbly whipped, creamy texture (perhaps it is “cloud-like” after all!) that feels so nourishing and luxurious on the skin. Seriously, perfect for #selfcaresunday!

I slathered it on thick with my masking brush and actually left it on for far longer than the brand advises. I think they said 5-10 minutes. There’s no reason you can’t leave it on for longer than that as I did. There’s a small amount of fragrance in the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask that I wish wasn’t there. After all, what’s wrong with a tea mask that smells like, ahem, fresh tea?!

It does have a mild minty sensation on the skin and I was initially at a loss to identify its actual source. But, as I said during filming, I suspect it’s derived from the Menthoxypropanediol — at ingredient number 26, meaning it’s likely at less than a half percent concentration.

Regrettably, Menthoxypropanediol is a derivative of menthol, which can be skin-sensitizing. According to the experts of the Paula’s Choice Research Team, Menthoxypropanediol is among the skincare ingredients rated as “Poor”.

Menthoxypropanediol is defined as a “synthetic derivative of menthol. Carries the same potential for sensitivity as menthol. Menthoxypropanediol is most often used in lip-plumping products.”

If your skin is highly sensitive to fragrance and fragrant plant oils in skincare, I wouldn’t recommend this one. But, mine generally is and I saw great results despite it. My skin was plump and healthy looking. Even after leaving it on for about 30 minutes, I saw no redness or irritation.

Notably, there are two skin-nourishing fermented actives in the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, including Rice Ferment Filtrate (derived from Sake) and Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask for $38 here.

BUY FRESH BLACK TEA INSTANT PERFECTING MASK