I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
By now, everyone’s posted and later rolled their eyes at the phrase “New Year, New Me,” but one resolution I’ve been trying to stick to is taking better care of my skin. Which not only means keeping my face hydrated and protected but also sticking to a regualr masking schedule. But as many masks as I have in my menagerie, I only use them when my face looks especially hurt, like after the dust settles on a bad breakout. I know, I know, I should know better, especially as a acne sufferer.
Many of the masks I have on hand take a while to work (we’re talking 20 minutes sometimes); some not only need a good rinse but also a couple of cotton pads soaked in micellar water to make your skin clean sometimes, and others formulated with harsh chemical exfoliants tend to make my skin feel tight and sensitized. So it’s easy to get a little lazy about that part of your skincare routine.
I kept my ear to the ground in case anyone found a solution they loved, and I found it when Refinery29’s Mi-Anne Chan recommended Herbivore Botanicals’ Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask in a Beauty With Mi video. In the clip, she described how the mask was comparable to the cellular peel featured in the Ultimate White Caviar Illuminating Facial (priced at $1250!!) that you can get at the La Prairie Spa at The Ritz Carlton in New York. And at $48, the mask seemed like a total bargain, and so on the Amazon wishlist it went.
It wasn’t in my hands until Christmas Day when I unwrapped the tiny blue box — this after my dad made me believe he was just getting me a phone case that I also had on my wish list. Absolutely ecstatic with my gift, I immediately slathered it on my face to find that it felt light and cooling to the touch minus any menthol, and there was no stinging or burning — there was barely a tingle! All that is thanks to the Blue Tansy oil, which delivers the product’s signature hue and acts as anti-inflammorty buffer for the blend of fruit acids (papaya and pineapple — yum! ?), white willow bark, and aloe leaf meant to gently sloughing off the dead skin and unclog pores. Not to mention the oceanic scent it had offered an almost tropical locale, especially with the snow outside.
After leaving it on for a little over 10 minutes, a gentle wipe with a warm washcloth was all it took to get every last drop. My skin felt soft, looked brighter, and my skin felt clean — no extra rinse cycle with a cotton pad necessary. I’ll admit I had a tiny twinge of pink on my cheeks, but I didn’t mind since it disappeared quickly and left not irrtation behind. Looks like I’ll be spending my #SkincareSundays slathering this one to greet the week with a glow!
Available at Sephora, $48
No sting here!