Hydrating Mask

NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask
7/9/13

I know many women don't wear masks, and I'm hoping this easy and super hydrating mask will encourage even one woman to give it a try. I personally love masks, and experience many positive results after use - not to mention that I find them to be very relaxing and a nice way to wind down after a hectic day. I've tried enough to distinguish the good from the bad, so any mask I blog about is something I've used repeatedly. I use masks that brighten, refine pores, exfoliate, lift/firm, soothe/calm and hydrate. That's a lot to sort through! I'm happily working my way through them all and sharing my experiences. 

Now that I've finished my ode to why I love masks, I'm excited to talk about one of my new favorites. NARS has always been known for their fabulous makeup, but they recently reformulated their skincare line and relaunched it last year. Practice makes perfect, and I immediately fell in love with this intensive hydrating mask that smoothes and softens the skin while natural botanicals enhance collagen production. Youthful glow? Yes please! It's also Synthetic Fragrance-Free, Paraben-Free, Alcohol-Free and Gluten-Free. This is good stuff, my friends. Great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

(click photo to enlarge)

The mask super simple to use and remove. For a quick burst of hydration and a dewy refreshed glow in a hurry, cleanse skin and massage a generous amount on face and neck, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 5-10 minutes. The texture is incredibly soft, smooth and soothing. Then simply tissue off remaining product (your skin will drink up most of the mask) and follow with a toner. You won't need moisturizer after this ultra hydrating treatment. My favorite way to use the mask is to massage a super generous amount on my face and neck about an hour before bedtime, and allow the mask to work its magic while I sleep. If you follow my blog regularly, you already know how strongly I feel about using the right products at night when the body is in healing mode. This product is gentle and effective, leaving your skin radiant, silky smooth and hydrated come morning. What a nice way to start the day! 

My verdict? By far the best hydrating mask I've tried, bar none. The radiance and youthful glow are welcome bonuses. I highly recommend using it overnight to reap the most benefits. But starting slowly with a 10 minute trial run will win you over as well. A must-have.

I order my NARS products directly from my NARS and beauty guru in LA via phone and email. He's the skincare god who taught me the overnight method. They offer free shipping and generous samples to boot. Here's his contact info:

Michael Duquette | Award Winning, NARS-Certified Resident Artist

Nordstrom at The Grove 

323.900.1417

Michael.Duquette@nordstrom.com

NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask is $39 for a 2.6 oz. bottle. 

Or order from Nordstrom online, but you won't get extra, fun NARS samples.