My Beauty Diary Apply Polyphenol Mask Review

I had seen these My Beauty Diary masks on other blog posts and wanted to try them. I spotted them at T&T Supermarket on sale for $14 and I had to pick up some to try! For those of you who are not conveniently located near a T&T, you can order them online from SASA.

I bought two different ones: Apple Polyphenol Mask and Black Pearl Mask. They have a large selection of other "flavours", such as Strawberry Yogurt, Natto, Aloe Vera, Red Wine, Bulgarian White Rose, etc.

Each box comes with 10 sheets soaked in serum and individually packed, so they are perfect for travelling. Although they are imported from Taiwan, I am glad they adhered to the regulations in Canada and have a full ingredient listing.

Each pack contains a sheet, cut out to fit your face. You might look like you are ready for Hallowe'en, but the results are worth it! I would definitely use this before a big day. Each pack also contains a generous amount of  "serum". I like to use the excess on my neck and declottee. I use this mask in the evening after cleansing, leave it on all night, and rinse with warm water the next morning.

                                                                                                                                                       

My Beauty Diary Apple Polyphenol Mask

The apple mask has a light apple scent, which I find yummy and refreshing. It leaves my skin brighter and more hydrated. I've introduced a few friends to it and they also said that it helped to brighten their skin.

Apple Polyphenol Mask Ingredients

• Aqua  - water
• Glycerin - humectant, draws moisture from the air thus helps the skin to retain moisture
• Butylene Glycol - humectant and solvent with anti-microbial action; enhances the preservative activity of parabens
• Propylene Glycol - humectant, draws moisture from the air
• Aloe Barbadenisis Leaf Juice - hydrating, softening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory
• Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract - skin brightening with exfoliating, antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent properties
• Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract - fresh apples contain malic and tartaric acid, which are naturally exfoliating
• Triethanolamine - emulsifier and pH adjuster
• Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract - soothing
• Laminaria Digitata Extract - kelp; helps with skin hydration
• Fucus Vesiculosus Extract - seaweed; helps with skin elasticity
• Gentiana Lutea Root Extract - anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
• Arnica Montana Flower Extract - anti-inflammatory and helps with skin flaking
• Methylparaben - preservative
• Styrene/acrylates Copolymer - film former
• Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate - humectant
• Polysorbate 20 - oil-in-water emulsifier
• Citric Acid - balance pH levels
• Sodium Hyaluronate - hydrates down to the deeper layers of skin; holds up to 1000 times its weight in water
• Hydrolyzed Albumen - skin conditioning
• Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract - apparently stimulates cell regeneration
• Carbomer - emulsion stabilizer and controls consistency
• Xanthan Gum - thickener and emulsion stabilizer
• Sodium hydroxide - buffering agent; controls pH
• Fragrance

As you can see from the list above, there are a lot of ingredients in the Apple Polyphenol Mask that help to hydrate and soothe the skin. Although it contains a large number of natural extracts in this product, I wouldn't count on them doing too much because the usually the amount is too low to be beneficial to the skin, and/or may no longer be active. The brightening may be a result of hydrated, plumper skin and exfoliation from the lemon and apple extracts.

Can your skin sweat out toxins?

I'm sure you have heard about sweating out toxins and detoxifying your skin.

If you believe the myth above, I have to burst your bubble.

You cannot flush out toxins through sweating. I'm sorry, physiology just doesn't work that way. The main function of sweating is to cool you down (regulate body temperature). There are trace amounts of toxins excreted, but not enough to make any difference.

Sweat is made up primarily WATER...and small amounts of salts, some minerals, vitamin C, uric acid, urea, ammonium and lactic acid. This varies a bit from individual to individual.

 It is actually harmful to sweat too much. If you don't drink enough water after heavy sweating,  you could dehydrate your body, which will make it difficult for your kidney and liver to do their job properly.

If you are concerned about heavy metals, studies have shown that the body rids most heavy metals through your urine and feces. Less than 1% come out when you sweat.

Still not convinced? Just ask your doctor.