Masked Marvels: Slather on and smooth out
A) Remember mud baths by the water's edge during your childhood beach days? We get that same kind of thrill from deliciously icky Mud Mask from NARS ($45), available locally at Barneys New York (Copley Place, 100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.385.3300). The clarifying formula, fortified with seaweed and mud from the Dead Sea, removes excess oil from skin without sapping moisture. (It has to be better than the stuff you scooped off the shoreline at Revere Beach, right?) Active Phytoseed Complex provides a luminous post-rinse complexion.
B) Don't be fooled into thinking that masks are just for faces: we slathered the Philosophy Empowermint Body Mask ($25) all over our body for a 60-second pick-me-up with the panache of a spa treatment. We especially adore its invigorating, minty scent on woozy mornings, and how the formula cleanses, exfoliates, and purifies all at once, helping to brighten up blah skin. It's not irritating like more traditional scrubs, so we stay free of bumps and redness. Stock up at Sephora (Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.4200).
C) We love the idea that this Bliss product is sliding the blackheads and other gunk right out of our pores while it sits and soaks on our skin. The professional-strength Steep Clean ($48), on shelves at Sephora, offers all the benefits of microdermabrasion without the pricey spa visit. Just pump the yellow and blue creams from the double-nozzle top, blend them into green to activate the formula's exfoliating enzymes, and smooth the mixture on. Fifteen minutes and a few wipes of a warm washcloth later, you're glowing.
D) We give this mask points for its unconventional delivery method: the
skyn ICELAND Cool Therapy Face Mask ($55), available online at www
.skyniceland.com, is purported to soften and replenish stressed-out skin with soothing yeast and oat extracts; Vitamins A, C, and E; and something called Biospheric Complex that draws on Iceland's natural resources. (Admittedly, it's a tad over our heads.) To use it, immerse a tablet in the contents of one of the ampoules provided; then unfold and press the mask (cutouts allow for breathing) onto the face for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the desired intensity.
E) Let's be honest: our poor feet typically take more of a beating than our faces do. That's why we think they deserve a little pampering with Express Mask for Tired Feet & Legs from Apivita ($24/box of six). The cream improves circulation and reduces swelling with natural ingredients like Ruscus extract, an anti-inflammatory, and essential oils like rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood, leaving your lower half relieved and relaxed. Just massage it into your achiest parts, no rinsing necessary. Find it at C.O. Bigelow (Copley Place, 100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.236.7257). @
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