It can take a while to write about skincare – I always like to give a product a fair amount of time to give it a chance and see whether it does make a difference to my skin. It is also quite tricky to write about skin products because everyone’s skin is different; what my skin loves someone else’s might not get along with, and vice versa.
Masks are one of the few products that you can get an instant effect from – of course regular use will give you even better longer term results. A good exfoliator is also something that can make an instant difference. Sloughing of dull skin will make complexions smoother and brighter and is something I recommend all the time. (You can of course over exfoliate so be mindful of how often and what products you use.)
I tend to do my masks while sitting in front of the laptop – multi-tasking 😉 and for the last couple of weeks I have been using a combination of Oskia’s Micro Exfoliating Balm and their Renaissance Mask and they have been making a big difference to my skin.
Oskia were on my radar years ago, in fact I actually had an Oskia facial with the wonderful facialist Abigail James during my SIX Magazine days. The Renaissance Mask was one of my favourites back then along with their Perfect Cleanser. The products slipped of my radar for whatever reason, but I’m very happy they’re back in my routine. (I got some products for a job I did last year some time, and they have been sitting there patiently ;))
The Micro Exfoliating Balm is more like your traditional scrub, and uses micro silica and pure MSM** granules to buff away dead skin. They really are tiny granules but you can feel them – massage gently into the skin or add a bit of water to soften if you are feeling sensitive and want a gentler scrub. The Oskia products are like a vitamin supplement for your skin in terms of ingredients; they contain a whole host of things to nourish. So as well as brightening skin by removing dead cells and unblocking pores, the scrub can help with cell regeneration and collagen production. Prebiotics will also help to balance the skin and omegas 3 and 6 help with moisture levels.
The Renaissance Mask is also exfoliating but uses natural fruit acids such as passion fruit and pineapple to gently “unbind cells in the top layer of the skin to activate renewal”. The texture is a smooth pinky, peach rich gel which turns white as you massage it into the skin. Sensitive skins should leave on for 10 minutes but it can be left on for up to 20 minutes – I’m reasonably sensitive and I leave it on for the latter, sometimes I can feel a gentle tingle but nothing uncomfortable. The mask will brighten and add radiance by removing old tired skin but will also boost cell turnover and respiration which means skin will have more energy and therefore looks and feels better. Oskia call it a radiance, brightening and resurfacing mask – great description as I really do feel it does that for my skin.
Both products on their own are really good, and my skin feels smoother after using each on separate occasions. However I’ve actually been using a combination of them both these last couple of weeks. A gentle scrub first with the Micro Exfoliating Balm, followed by the Renaissance Mask to get in a little deeper and smooth a little further. My skin definitely feels brighter, more radiant and the texture more refined. Make-up goes on smoother and looks better too. If I were to choose just one, I’d go with the mask I think as it is more of a multi-tasker..
**MSM or Methyl Sulphonyl Methane is a natural form of organic sulphur, and one of Oskia’s signature ingredients.
“Sulphur is the fourth most plentiful mineral in the human body and is known both as the ‘beauty mineral’ and the ‘healing mineral’ for its ability to support collagen production, promote circulation and decrease inflammation.”
MSM in a skincare product – and taken internally – can provide a whole host of benefits to skin. To name just a few – it can help to protect and regenerate collagen and elastin, therefore help to keep skin plump, smooth and supple. It can protect against free radicals and help with cell repair and production. It can also help with cell permeability – letting the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. A good one for sure 🙂
Have you tried either of these products? What do you think?
