Skin Gets Lit With New Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask
For years, I’ve heard women with blemish-prone skin praise turmeric for its uncanny ability to eliminate breakouts, heal acne scars, and reduce the sebaceous glands’ oil secretion, thereby leading to clearer, non-greasy skin and less visible pores. But, as someone with dry skin, I wasn’t sure if turmeric held any benefits that would serve to my advantage. As it turns out, the perennial plant, which belongs to the ginger family, can benefit all skin types: in addition to its antiseptic and sebum-balancing properties, turmeric is loaded with antioxidants that revitalize the skin, giving fatigued and sallow-looking complexions a youthful and energizing boost in radiance.
Continuing to expand its facial mask offerings, Kiehl’s recently unveiled the Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque ($32 at Kiehls.com), which aims to give fatigued skin a luminous makeover, restoring a healthy and rosy glow to tired and sad-looking countenances largely through the use of turmeric extract. In addition to this orange spice, the masque contains crushed cranberry seeds which gently exfoliate the skin and which constitute an environmentally friendly alternative to the microbeads that practically became the norm in skin-polishing face washes and masks (which have now been banned due to their harmful effects on our oceans, rivers, and lakes). Given its commitment to the environment and to relying primarily on natural ingredients, Kiehl’s never — to my knowledge, anyway — used microbeads in its products, but it’s important to note that those looking for eco-friendly alternatives that provide mechanical exfoliation (not to be confused with the chemical exfoliation process triggered by AHAs) should investigate options like cranberry seeds. Within the context of this mask, the cranberry seeds come into play primarily during the rinse-off process, when you splash water onto your face and cleanse, using circular motions, continuing to rinse the substance off as you gently scrub your complexion.
The cranberry seeds, then, are more of a final “hoorah,” but the formula also contains cranberry powder which, in turn, helps to invigorate the skin. After all, before açai berries became part of the mainstream beauty lexicon, we were touting the skincare benefits of those lovely berries we grow right here in the United States and which we so often associate with Thanksgiving dinners. Thanks to their high antioxidant content, cranberries are known to help ward off wrinkles and premature aging signs, reduce redness, and safeguard the skin from UV rays and harmful pollutants. They also have a great concentration of vitamin C, which, in turn, boosts collagen production.
Other ingredients in this masque include: kaolin, otherwise known as “China clay,” which draws out dirt and toxins; jojoba seed oil, an excellent moisturizer that doesn’t clog pores; peppermint leaf extract, which has a cooling effect on the skin and which is known to both energize and help manage oil production; camellia oil, which moisturizes and protects the skin thanks to its concentration of oleic acid and vitamins A, B, D, and E; eucalyptus leaf oil, which has long been used to treat skin infections, wounds, insect bites, and acne flare-ups due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties; willow herb (otherwise known as fireweed), which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic; and glycerin, a commonly used humectant.
Now, many of these ingredients are typically used in anti-acne formulations (peppermint leaf oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, willow herb oil, etc.), so I anticipated that the masque might be a bit too harsh on my skin, leaving my already dry skin even more parched. Fortunately, this wasn’t at all the case! Somehow, these ingredients manage to soothe any inflammation without drying skin out — in fact, my face didn’t even feel tight after my 10 minutes of masque-wearing had elapsed. Clay-based masks can sometimes leave my skin feeling tight right when it’s time to rinse them off, but this one still felt comfortable on my skin up to the moment I washed my face. Once I did rinse the mask off, I instantly noticed my skin felt smoother, that the actual texture of my skin was significantly improved, and I loved that it seemed to zap some life into my complexion, making it look more illuminated and perky.
As for the not-so-bright spots, well, there are a couple of drawbacks. First, the mask is a light yellow shade that’s not exactly appealing but, then again, most face masques are a hideous Swamp Monster green, so it’s hardly shocking. You just have to plan your R&R time so that no mail men or delivery people can arrive while you’re wearing your masque. Second, the seeds in the masque are really difficult to rinse off. At first, as you wash your face post-treatment, you’ll be relieved by the gentle exfoliation they provide but, then, as you continue to splash your face time and time again, you might become frustrated to find that you consistently spot some stray seeds lingering on your otherwise clean face. My advice: keep some micellar water handy should you need to apply some to a cotton pad in order to finish the job!
Aside from these tiny inconveniences, this masque is an absolute delight and a great way to give your skin a quick pick-me-up.
