Radiance Revealing Masks

2 min read

Face masks are one of those things that I have odd memories of. Always portrayed in movies as white or green chalky things, and always on women’s faces at completely inappropriate times in almost every sitcom written. Just applied a facemask? That must be the doorbell and it must be the man I love at the door – you know the script!

I can remember being taught how to apply a kaolin based chalky mask with my special brush as a beauty school student in the late 1980s. Then having to painstakingly remove it with wet towels. I know some masks today are still clay-based, and when you go to a salon, masks are left on for longer. But the reality of the face masks available today is very different.

They’re quick, convenient, easy to apply, even easier to remove, and come in all types for all skin concerns. This week I’ve been trialling two, from British brands –  S5, and Emma Hardie.

S5’s Vitality Mask (£45, s5skincare.com) launched earlier this year. The brand are interesting – they use organic ingredients from the sea, the rainforest, and many more natural wonders. This mask is a skin perfecting mask, promising to refine, illuminate and firm the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, UV spots and skin imperfections. It is packed full of marine enzymes, rainforest bioactives, and marine bioactives. You apply a thick layer, leave it for 3-5 minutes, then rinse clean with warm water.

Emma hardie and S5 face masks

It feels smooth, no stickiness at all, no tightening, no drying, and it smells sort of almondy. It’s such a short time for a mask to be on, but my skin felt and looked beautiful afterwards. I really do love this product, it’s like an instant miracle worker when your skin feels dull and tired and in need of a pick-me-up. The marine enzymes are exfoliating in those 3-5 minutes, the rainforest bioactives are improving your skin’s texture, and the marine bioactives are increasing your cellular energy – boosting your collagen.

Emma Hardie is a facial specialist from Oxford, and I have been a fan of her products for a good few years. She’s also a very funny, fun, lady! Her Age Support Instant Radiance Mask (£36, emmahardie.com, spacenk.com) hydrates, give the appearance of tighter, more refreshed skin and helps fight the signs of ageing. It contains a potent blend of botanical ingredients – Ppper Fruit extract to lift and firm, soothe and tone, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil to clam and stabilise, Edelweiss stem cells for intense moisturisation and rejuvenation, and Persea Fruit Extract and Hyaluronic Acid for long-lasting hydration.

It smells amazing – full of lavender, vanilla and chamomile, with a hint of rose. You leave this one on for a minimum of ten minutes, and then rinse with warm water and/or a cleansing cloth. I applied a thick layer, as instructed, and I did feel this one tightening on my skin a bit whilst it was one. When I removed it, my skin felt lovely and soft. You can use this from 1-3 times a week depending on hydration levels. I’d probably use it a few times, as my skin is quite dry.