Winter has been INTENSE in New England this year. Giant snowstorms are apparently the new weekly thing, and the temperatures have been sustaining themselves at what feels like sub-artic levels. My poor skin feels like it's constantly taking a beating, between stuck indoors with stale, super dry air, alternating with being exposed to frostbite inducing winds every time I need to venture out of the house. Fortunately my bestie gifted me an amazing set of masks from Michael Todd Beauty for Christmas, which I've been using on the regular to keep dry, irritated, and generally cranky skin at bay.
I'm not going to lie, I was seriously stoked when I unwrapped these masks. I'd been wanting to expand my collection of natural products for a while, and Michael Todd Beauty's were at the top of my to-try list. Not only do they formulate their products without any added water, mineral oils, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances, but they're also committed to being cruelty-free, organic, and made in the USA. Their mission is something I can totally get behind, and their products all sound kind of amazing.
The original Mask Madness set I was gifted looks like its no longer in production, however you can now get your hands on a new-and-improved Mini Mask Madness Discovery Collection ($39) that has even more fun things to try! Don't worry, though. You can still purchase the three masks I'm reviewing in full-sized versions from the Michael Todd website.
The Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask ($34) is by far the most intense of the three masks I've got. When they say it's not recommended for sensitive skin, I would definitely heed this warning. The combination of Glycolic acid and natural pumpkin enzymes are brilliant chemical exfoliators that will help to dissolve away dead skin and other impurities, however, they will also cause a bit of a tingly-burning sensation when first applied. There's a multitude of other plant extracts, aloe, and other nutrient rich ingredients in the formula that will nourish your freshly exfoliated skin, and in the end it will leave your face feeling incredibly soft and looking radiant. I will also note, as a pumpkin lover, that if you're expecting to feel like you're spreading sweet pumpkin pie filling on your face, you will be disappointed. I know it's weird, but using this feels a bit like putting baby food on your face. It's straight up fresh pumpkin, no artificial or added fragrances to be found.
The Milk and Honey Mask ($34), on the other hand, is perfect for those seeking something extra gentle. Milk, which contains Lactic Acid, gently exfoliates, while honey provides soothing moisture. It smells lovely, and feels really soft and creamy on the skin, making it the perfect pampering treat for days where my skin feels like it needs some extra TLC.
Last, but certainly not least is the Charcoal Detoxifying Facial Mask ($34). Charcoal does an excellent job of detoxifying the skin, but I usually find a lot of cleansers and masks that contain it tend to be extremely drying and often strip the skin of its natural moisture. Fortunately this is not the case with this mask, which balances out the purifying properties of the charcoal with ingredients like aloe, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid, which has been super hyped up in the beauty world lately as doing a fabulous job of maintaining the skin's moisture barrier, and resulting in a plumped, glowy complexion.
If you don't already include a mask in your weekly skincare regimen, I would highly recommend you consider making the addition! Not only does it feel nice to take a little extra time for pampering, but they also add a much needed boost to your normal cleansing/moisturizing ritual. I've currently got my eye on the Kaolin Clay Mask, which I think would be perfect for helping me de-gunk my pores and preventing breakouts. Are any of the Michael Todd Beauty masks calling to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Have you tried anything from Michael Todd Beauty? What products do you recommend?
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