Cool It Now! — Reduce Skin Inflammation with the Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask
You know that cooling sensation you feel as you slather on an aloe-based formula on sunburnt skin? How it provides the type of relief that makes you, almost reflexively, exhale and utter a relaxed “Ahhh”? Well, that feeling is recreated and even magnified when you apply the new Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask ($34 at Boscia.com and Sephora.com) onto your complexion. The difference: when you apply an after-sun cream or gel, that soothing sensation only lasts a couple of minutes, but when you smooth the Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask onto your face, the relief lasts for the full 25 minutes the mask remains on your face — and even lingers for a few minutes after you peel it off and rinse off any lingering residue.
After the success of the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask ($34 at Boscia.com and Sephora.com), which unclogs pores, kills acne-causing bacteria, and exfoliates skin while brightening the complexion and boosting radiance, the brand has introduced this new skin-calming peel-off mask. In keeping with the Cool Blue Calming Mask’s theme of tranquility and relaxation, this formula is a semi-opaque aqua blue color and its consistency is creamy but gel-like, viscous without being overly thick or tacky. After you apply a thick, even layer to your face, you simply have to wait 25 minutes until the formula dries and peel of the product, starting at the outer corners of the face. Any remaining residue can simply be rinsed off.
I’m personally a sucker for a great peel-off mask — especially since the removal process doesn’t involve splashing copious amounts of water on my face and having to wipe the bathroom sink over and over to clean up the resulting mess. Plus, there’s something exciting about peeling off the mask — as if it were a big reveal, as if a present were being unwrapped (the present, of course, being healthier-looking skin). And the Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask was as delightful as they come.
As the name of the mask implies, this product will come in particularly handy when skin is dehydrated or fatigued, when you’re having a breakout or suffering through a light rash of some sort, when skin is a bit sore after prolonged sun exposure, and when skin is a bit red or inflamed. Though it’s designed for all skin types, it should be particularly popular with consumers who have sensitive skin since the formula is so soothing and gentle.
The central ingredient in the Cool Blue Calming Mask’s formula is sea whip, a marine-harvested, sea algae extract purported to have more anti-inflammatory properties than hydrocortisone, perhaps the most common ingredient in anti-itch creams meant to treat eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, and minor topical allergies. Other ingredients include aloe vera, an ultra mild botanical that soothes and cools skin while also promoting collagen synthesis, helping skin retain its firmness; frescolat, the peppermint-derived ingredient responsible for the mask’s long-lasting cooling sensation; Matrixyl 3000, a mix of two synthetic peptides that work synergistically to regulate cellular activity, boosting collagen and elastin production for a visible anti-wrinkle effect; willowherb, which calms skin inflammation and reduces redness while fighting bacteria, making it a favored ingredient in rosacea treatments; and jojoba leaf extract, which helps the skin retain moisture while protecting it from free radical damage thanks to its high concentration of ferulic acid, a compound that absorbs UV rays and prevents oxidation.
Not only does the mask feel heavenly while on the skin, it leaves your complexion looking significantly healthier, reducing pesky redness and restoring a healthy glow while improving the skin’s texture.
This may just be my blue heaven!
