Monday, July 2, 2012

Själ Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask- Review

It should come as no surprise that I am absolutely and completely invested in high quality skincare, and while I have my favorites- I remain very open to trying out new products. I am a huge fan of treatment masks, and always remain on the lookout for fantastic masks to treat a variety of concerns. For me personally, I tend to gravitate toward masks that have exfoliating properties, and those that lift impurities and unclog pores. However, I like to try masks that address a variety of concerns in order to help you sift through the vast number of products on the market.

själ pearl enzyme exfoliating mask is "a gentle gemstone enzymatic exfoliating mask" that "performs dual-fuctions as both an exoliator and enzymatic mask. contains two pearl extracts - one to brighten and even skin tone, the other to gently exfoliate and polish the skin. enzymes and multi-fruit acids for a gentle, yet deep exfoliation. gemstones help promote vibrational balance, clarity and luminosity." It contains "rushed pearls gently exfoliate the skin while working in conjunction with micropearl extract for luminosity and clarity. mushroom, pomegranate, bromelain, papaya & pumpkin enzymes coupled with multi-fruit extract for deep exfoliation." (source: själ)
My experience with själ pearl enzyme exfoliating mask: As a fan of both scrub masks and enzyme peel masks- I have to say that this combination of the two strikes me as both pragmatic and delightful. I apply a conservative amount (about a dime-sized dallop-- far less than in this photograph) to a freshly cleansed face while it is still warm and just a touch damp. I then gently manually rub my skin in circular motions until I have scrubbed my entire face (the particles do not dissolve- so you don't want to be rough!). It is at this point that I let it sit untouched (whereby it dries down quite quickly) for about 15-20 minutes and let the enzymes work their magic. Afterward I wet my fingertips and reinvigorate the scrubbing particles one last time before rinsing my face clean. The end result is an extraordinarily soft, smooth, radiant and clean face with clean unclogged pores. There is really nothing that I don't love about the way that this product performs. That said, I am not sure that precious and semiprecious gemstone powders and crushed pearls are necessary components for an effective exfoliator. I'm not sure that there is necessarily a sound scientific basis for using exorbitantly expensive jewels in a mask, but it certainly does drive up the price per ounce. Therefore, the only real downside that I can see to the själ pearl enzyme exfoliating mask is the hefty price tag- at $165.00 for a 2 oz. jar it is effectively too expensive for most people. I have several deluxe samples that have lasted for quite a while, but as much as I love this mask I can't quite wrap my head around the price tag.

Have you tried it? If so, what did you think of it?
Ingredients: Water, Conchiorin (Pearl) Powder, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Galactoarabinan, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatun (Pomegranate) Fruit Ferment Extract, HDI Copolymer And Bromelain, Sapphire Powder, Diamond Powder, Citrine Powder, Amethyst Powder, Tourmaline Powder, Ruby Powder, Carbomer Papain, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilbery) Fruit/leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Smithsonite Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract (Algae Extract), Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Extract, Mannitol, Cellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Protease, Subtillisin, Propylene Glycol, Royal Jelly Extract, Quartz (Silica), Amber Powder, Mica, Titanium Dixoide, Conchiorin (Pearl) Powder, Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil.

It is paraben free.

Overall assessment: This is a seriously fantastic product, and I really do love it, but it is prohibitively expensive for most budgets. That said, my skin looks extraordinary every time that I use this gorgeous luxury mask! Given the sheer quality of this mask I find myself very interested in trying out more of the line!

$165.00 2 oz. available from själ, Barneys New York, Zuneta, Dermstore
Stock image from Barneys. Video from Zuneta.

10 comments:

  1. great review! Sounds like a good exfoliating mask, but $165? wow! That is just way too much :S

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    1. Thanks, Miss L! I know, I nearly fell over when I found out how much it costs! I wish that I didn't like it so much because I can't justify the price!

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  2. Sounds amazing!! Oof, that price does probably make it an impossibility for me. Have you tried the Amore Pacific Enzyme Peel as an alternative? Only 60 bucks (ha, only sixty!) but very effective and gentle.

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    1. I really liked it a great deal, but I agree-- the price is over-the-top for me as well! I haven't tried Amore Pacific Enzyme Peel yet, but I am aware of it and have wondered about it. I will have to try to get a sample next time I'm at Sephora-- $60.00 for 2.5 oz. vs. $165.00 for 2 oz. almost sounds like a bargain- lol!! It amazes me just how easy it is to lose perspective on how expensive all of these luxury products actually are!! Thanks for the recommendation, Jane-- I will definitely give it a try!! :-)

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  3. I bought mine on Hautelook for half the price, they don't have it very often (maybe once a year). It is a great product!

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    1. Hi The Beauty Bug! Thanks for the tip-- I hadn't noticed it on Hautelook before. I will definitely grab one if they have it again at half off-- that I can live with!! I totally agree with you- it really is a fantastic mask!

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  4. Replies
    1. Hi Kimberly, I know- it really is. I wish it were a lot less because I would love to have a full jar (and all of my deluxe samples are about to run out! :(

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  5. Holy moly. I'll have to consider this one after I've won the lottery. lol

    It sounds and looks a little bit like REN Glycolactic which I see that you've also reviewed! I don't have an exfoliating mask right now and am sitting on the fence about repurchasing the REN. What kind of skin do you have? Mine's oily and acne-prone which means exfoliation is key to keeping clear skin.

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    1. I know, crazy price!! I really like REN products a lot. The Glycolactic mask is lovely, but since it doesn't dry down and doesn't have exfoliating beads- you might want to try REN Micro Polish Cleanser instead- it has lovely little exfoliating particles and cleans thoroughly. I think that it is really an excellent product. I am out and definitely want to get this again.

      http://lolassecretbeautyblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/ren-micro-polish-cleanser-review.html

      I also saw that MAC's Volcanic Ash Exfoliating cleanser has been repromoted with the new LE mineral collection. I have never tried it, but am a touch curious about it since it's fabled to be really good.

      http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/9163/1777/New-Collections/Heavenly-Creature-Skin/Skincare/Volcanic-Ash-Exfoliator/index.tmpl

      My skin is combination with a pretty active T-Zone-- I definitely get congested skin around the nose and chin, but it's more sebum than anything. I do periodically get pimples- mostly hormonal around my cycle. I definitely require deep cleaning, scrubs and peels, and I use my Clarisonic every morning.

      I would see if you can get your hands on a sample of the REN Micro Polish Cleanser to see if you like it as much as I do before having to commit to the full sized tube. I do suspect that you will like it if you liked their Glycolactic peel.

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