little white truths

Given that I'm obsessed with skincare and also that this mask has been doing the rounds in the beauty community for a while now, it's no surprise that I got my hands on it to see what all the fuss was about.

It came in a Peter Thomas Roth kit (unboxed here) that I bought especially for this mask, it's just that I couldn't get my hands on the mask individually at the time and the kit was on sale (plus I'd heard good things about the brand's masks overall), so I went ahead and grabbed the set.

Which reminds me that I'm yet to do my round-up post on the whole set. Oops! This is the last mask I have left to review of the five, so I'll be able to do that soon.

Peter Thomas Roth claims/product details:

• A powerful, triple-action manual, chemical and enzymatic exfoliating treatment 
• Addresses a dull, ageing and congested complexion in three ways: exfoliates with pumpkin enzyme, reveals with AHA and polishes with aluminum oxide crystals
• Helps even the appearance of skintone
• Smooths the look of fine lines and wrinkles 
• Clarifies to reveal skin that looks smoother, younger and revitalised
• Peels and polishes to create a radiant complexion
• RRP $80 AUD for 150ml, but do shop around (try eg BeautyBay; it's often on special)

Verdict

This is an excellent product but it's not for the fainthearted so it won't be for everyone.

It's a gel-like mask that's orange in colour and it has a spiced orange scent that I enjoy. A little goes a long way with this and I apply a very thin layer, then massage it with wet fingertips before leaving it on for four to seven minutes as directed.

This is one of those masks that you don't want to leave on for too long. Often with my hydrating masks, I'll leave them on for however long and not worry about them - but with this, I would definitely stick to the directions (at least until you know how your skin reacts to it).

This stings a little when you apply it. Not in an 'ouch' way, but in a 'this product is working' kind of way. That would be the AHA going to work.

Also at work are the pumpkin enzymes (which should remove dead skin cells etc from your skin's surface) and the aluminium oxide crystals. The crystals are the manual part of the exfoliating process and if you don't like scrubby matter in your skincare, then you could absolutely skip the massage step and just rely on the other goodies this product contains.

I personally prefer to include the crystals in the process so I do massage the scrubby matter across my skin when I use this. I don't like abrasive exfoliants, but the crystals are very fine and I do tread gently so I don't find them to be too harsh.

I use this product no more than once a week because I feel that any more than this would be too much for my dry skin. The directions do say that you can use it up to three times a week, but that sounds like too much for me personally so I'm happy with once-weekly applications.

After use I'm left with wonderfully smooth skin that looks brighter, fresher and just happier overall - and because the product removes the top layer of dead skin and gunk from your face, I always find that my skincare sinks in beautifully afterwards so I feel that my other products are working even better than they were before. 

It's definitely the kind of mask that preps your skin for other products, and I do like to apply an oil after use because I feel that my skin needs something extra hydrating after being blasted by this product.

Better still, for the next few days after use, my fine lines are reduced and my makeup goes on better because my face is so smooth. It's the kind of mask that you might use before a big event because it makes a visible difference that lasts more than just a few hours. For me, it lasts three days. How many products can you say that about?!

All in all, this is a fantastic product that I feel meets all its claims and it's earned a permanent spot in my skincare armoury so I've given it an HG tag. 

Worth noting also is that all the PTR masks I've used so far have had a 24-month shelf-life, which makes me happy because I've owned  this mask for over a year now and I don't feel any need to rush through it.

Sure it's expensive, but my 50ml tub is lasting forever so I absolutely think the 150ml full-size is worth the outlay: you'll have it for a good two years.

Love.