Sunday, March 24, 2013

review: aesop parsley seed cleansing masque.

 

I need to start with a disclaimer again. I am not a beauty expert. I can't tell you much about individual ingredients and the effects of said ingredients on your skin, but I can tell you what makes my skin feel nice and what has worked for me. With that being said, I should also mention that I have always had problematic skin. It's a mixture between a handful of genes, completely disregarding proper skincare while I was going through my teenage years, and mostly, laziness. I would identify my skin as oily, though it has transitioned in to more normal/combination now that I have a few things under control and dry patches from wintertime. I am acne prone, and sometimes, my skin is fairly sensitive to certain products (see: Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial).

But feast your eyes on this beaut! Aesop is an Australian brand with products for the skin, hair, and body. Their site claims that they're "committed to using both plan-based and laboratory-made ingredients of the highest quality and proven efficacy -- particularly those with the greatest anti-oxidant properties." I mean, that's all fine and dandy, but can we talk about how aesthetically pleasing this product is? I know, I know. I've had this tube for about three months now, so the cap is looking a bit busted, but other than that, the clean lines and the simple font, lending itself to something out of a swanky pharmacy, makes me drool. If you ever have a chance to go to a Aesop store, I highly recommend it. I wish I had pictures of the Boston store to share! Maybe next time when the wind isn't trying to blow me away! 


So here are the claims for the Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque ($37): "Perfectly formulated anti-oxidant clarifying masque designed for frequent deep cleansing. Suited to most skin types. This masque removes impurities and refreshes the skin." Here's a spoiler... I don't think it's worth the money.

When I first applied this mask on my skin, it tingled. And then it tingled some more. It had been awhile since I had done a clarifying mask, so I assumed I wasn't used to the initial shock to the skin. Turns out, I was completely right. I have grown to really enjoy the cooling, tingling feeling this masque gives once I applied it all over my face. Not only do I feel refreshed, but I feel like something is actually happening to my skin while it's on. Also, it smells heavenly. It has a very strong lavender scent, and it reminds me of some kind of oil they would use at a proper spa. I have a feeling the lavender does something great for my skin. After washing off the masque, my skin feels soft and any redness looks diminished. Like the claims said, I felt refreshed. 

As far as the impurities go and the masque being a "deep cleanse", I don't know. Compared to my other masks, this one doesn't feel as heavy duty as, say, Peter Thomas Roth's Therapeutic Sulfur Masque Acne Treatment Masque ($40) or Origins' Clear Improvement Active Charcol Mask to Clear Pores ($23). Those feel deep cleansing to me, and I definitely reach for those two over my Aesop masque when I feel like my skin is acting up. 

I shouldn't be so hard on the Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque, but I have to be when I am shelling out $37. While it's nice to have something plant-based and have my skin respond really well to it, it's also really nice to have those thirty-seven dollars in my pocket for other things.

So if you're looking to indulge and want to give yourself a treat, I would walk in to a local Aesop store or take a look at aesop.com, and this would possibly be my suggestion (especially since this is my only Aesop product). Not to mention, they give a generous amount of samples if you visit in-store. But if you are looking for something deep cleansing and clarifying, I would keep searching for that perfect product. 

All of this could be entirely irrelevant because I am slowly becoming a biased Origins and Kiehl's whore. That is all. 

2 comments:

  1. I haven't used a masque in ages, but I agree: you have to be harder on a product when you are shelling out that kind of cash! I'm going to try one of your other mentions though!

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    1. I think the right mask depends on what you're looking for. I grab for different products when I'm looking for different results. I would happily use this one every day or every other day if it wasn't so pricey. It's really nice and refreshing, and my skin feels so soft. I didn't really talk about how you can really see your pores once this mask dries, so you can tell where your problem areas are. It's nice, definitely! But I'd be more inclined to give it a perfect score if it were $25.

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