Hydrating I ask? (And I'm being diplomatic) (Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask)

Member Name: lillamarta

Product:	Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask
Date:	30/10/08 (251 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Handy bottle

Disadvantages: Hydrating effect is very short term

Skin type: Not specified

~ Introduction ~

Back in August while browsing in beauty discounter I noticed a range of masks from Elisabeth Arden. One of these masks was called Hydrating Mask. My face always in a bit of a need of some TLC and at £6 discounted price I snapped one up right there.

~ What it says it does ~

There aren't any particular claims written on the tube itself other than the usual instructions. However, I've found these below
on sites where this mask is being sold, again at a discounted price and having the following product description:

* (...) luxurious, intensively moisturizing mask for dry skin enriched with botanicals.
* (...) leaves skin hydrated, soothed, feeling rejuvenated

On another site:

* (...) particularly useful in the winter time when skin is most parched and in need of deep hydration
- An intensive hydrating treatment mask. Regular use maintains suppleness of complexion and will result in a younger, firmer looking skin

~ Apperance and application ~

The mask comes in a pale pink tub that stands upright on its large, disc-shaped lid. I really like the distinguished screw lids from Elisabeth Arden which are mounted on a metallic ring thus leaving a gap between the lid and the tube itself providing excellent grip.

The mask is also pale pink and strangely has a strong soapy smell together with a green hint of aloa vera and talcum powder. An interesting combination I haven't come across before and I'm not too keen on it to be honest. The soapiness is offputting for a 'hydrating' mask, to start with.

The texture of the mask is soft and wet but solid enough to keep it together. A light squeeze on the tube is all you need to squeeze the mask through the slightly oversized pinhole.

I apply a generous layer on my skin, eventually going over once again as some of the mask sinks in. After a few moments the mask doesn't feel wet anymore, it sets in slightly. After the time instructed (5 - 10 minutes) the mask is almost dry and still has fairly strong soapy smell.

~ What it really does ~

* Deep hydration 3 / 5

Removing the mask is a lot harden than e.g the Warming Mineral Mask from The Body Shop I reviewed recently. On contact with water, the mask appears to be actually sticking a bit so a good rinse with warm water is necessary.

The feeling I have afterwards on my face is that it's smooth and slightly plumped. Some lines appear less pronounced (laughter lines around lips and frown line between brows) though to my disappointment the smoothing effect only lasted a few hours.

After each use, I noticed a short term hydrating effect, though this was just as short lived as the smoothing one lasting only for a couple of hours. I've been regularly using this mask once a week but I haven't seen any improvement or effect I could attribute to this hydrating mask.

~ Conclusion ~

I have normal skin which of course lacks some moisture due to external aggressions and aging. I do not have parched skin at the moment (I do in the winter sometimes) so I would not recommend it as a treatment as it is simply not hydrating enough to address dehydrated / parched skin conditions.

Seemingly this mask does contain lots of nice and hydrating extracts but there's something soapy in it as well that must have a drying effect overall. Not recommended.

~ Price / Availability ~

I bought it for £6 / 100ml at beauty discounter Beauty Base in Ealing Broadway, London though their stock is changing every week so it will have sold out long ago. I've seen it online at £6.95 from www.cheapSmells.co.uk

Thanks for reading.

©powered by lillybee also posted on Ciao

Summary: A mask with a very short term hydrating effect.