As a sheet-mask devotee, I rarely reach for a mask that requires rinsing off. Sheet masks are just easier: Put them on, take them off, throw them out, pat your skin, and you’re done. But there is one not insignificant issue with sheet masks, which is that they tend to make any makeup applied afterward pill. As a result, I’ve recently been on the lookout for a wash-off mask that’s brightening but not exfoliating, clarifying but not drying, and of course, something that would make my skin look dewy and pretty. Biologique Recherche’s Masque Vivant is a staple, but it’s so expensive I tend to reserve it for really bad skin days. Tata Harper’s clarifying mask is amazing, but it has exfoliating properties, so I can’t use it too often otherwise my skin will start to dry out.
I’d heard about the all-natural brand Cocokind and its Chlorophyll Mask from seemingly everyone on the internet: YouTubers, beauty writers, and Amazon reviewers alike rave about the instant brightening and soothing effects this mask has on their skin. When I was going through a phase where my skin was breaking out a ton, I read a Byrdie article about chlorophyll’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. But I never gave it a try at the time. It wasn’t until I recently stumbled across a video of Cocokind’s CEO Priscilla Tsai, literally adding the mask to water and drinking it (in an effort to prove how natural the ingredients really are), that I decided I had to give this thing a try.
It had been a mistake not to try it. With this mask, I finally saw the power of chlorophyll in action: On top of giving me generally bright and clean skin, I also noticed that the mask calmed and reduced the size of an angry, red spot that had made itself at home on my forehead.
The mask comes in powder form, accompanied by a mini-spatula. The instructions say to put one spatula full of the powder into the palm of your hand, add a little water, and mix the combination with your finger until it forms a paste. The reviews online say that the worst part of this mask is the intense, earthy smell, but I honestly don’t mind it (anything compared to the stench of my beloved Masque Vivant is a delight). The paste doesn’t feel too tight on your skin — a problem I encounter with many wash-off masks (I won’t soon forget my experience with the Hanacure). Apply liberally, wait 10 to 15 minutes, and wash it off.
Afterward, if your experience is anything like mine, your skin will feel smoother and look brighter. Put simply, this mask seems to make my skin really, really happy. And the way my makeup goes on afterward is dreamy: Foundation glides onto my skin and sets perfectly.
Says Rio of this Charlotte Tilbury dry mask: “Truth be told, I’m not really sure I understand how the product itself works because it kind of feels like you’re putting an oddly fitted cloth over your face. But when I took this mask off the first time, I became a believer — my skin looked super bright, radiant, and clear.”
“This is really fun to use,” says Rio, “because it comes with two packets and a wooden spoon that you use to mix the contents of the packets with in a bowl.” Plus, “it tones, moisturizes, and replenishes the skin.”
Rio has tried just about every snail product on the market, and this one, she says, “is by far the best. The brand that makes these masks is actually a dermatological company, which makes sense because the results are fairly incredible — they consistently help with retexturing, elasticity, and breakouts. If your skin is looking a little meh, throw this on and I can almost guarantee that you’ll see what I’m talking about. This is how much I love this mask: If I don’t have at least one of them in my cabinet at all time, I actually get anxiety.”
Editor’s Note: While these particular face masks are currently unavailable, we highly recommend these SKEDERM snail mucin masks.
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