Boxwalla remains one of my all time favorite subscription boxes. I love the bi-monthly aspect as it doesn't overwhelm me with too many products. Boxwalla is back in October with another African Botanics selection (yay). I reviewed the Le Masque Hydralift Intense in May HERE. I took this opportunity to really test this mask over the last month in all kinds of ways I did not before.
As an overview this product is that it's a serum textured mask. It's like a serum met a gel mask. It's meant to moisturize, lift, firm and replenish the skin. It has a way it pulls taught on the skin once it starts to set. This firming action comes from the micro film created on the skin. You can use this as a wash off mask or as a sleeping mask. I tend to like it as a sleeping mask because of the top notch ingredients and I don't want to wash it off.
My main issue I talked about with this mask is the pilling. It comes from that firming action and tightening film created on the skin. Even with that issue it still manages to firm, hydrate and lift my skin in a really nice way. So I tried this as a day mask/cream, mixed it with oils and tried more ways to layer it again. I found mixing this with an oil really helped the pilling issue. I also found when I used a smaller amount of product I got no pilling. When the ratio is half and half (oil to mask) as suggested by Lavanya I got no pilling. Now just because it pills doesn't mean it doesn't work. It works great, it's just a matter of aesthetics is all.
If you want an instant plumping and hydrating mask this is one to look at. It also makes a nice day mask if you're sitting at home not wearing makeup which is a new use for me. I definitely suggest misting first then applying. Mixing with a couple drops of oil definitely helped with it's application for me. How you ultimately layer this or whether or not you add a top layer after is completely up to you and your skin. Using this in a smaller size application (think serum sized not mask size) yielded the best results for me. No matter which way I use it, this manages to firm and lift my skin as I have come to expect in a way only African Botanics can deliver. There is no other time you will get to test this $180 mask or $49.95. You can subscribe HERE.
