facial cleanse

But your face will thank you, just the same.



This story comes to you from Allie White.

In the last decade, I’ve attempted to complete no less than seven juice cleanses. They’ve varied in length from a single day to 10, varied in content from all-greens to fruit included, varied in success from “almost made it to the end” to “couldn’t get past the first one.”

Apparently, I like chewing too much to juice cleanse.

I know juicing is “a thing” and, if it works for you, great! Keep doing your thing. It’s just not a necessary part of my self-care routine, which is why I was a little skeptical when EWS Beauty’s Raw Juice Cleanse Mask Set entered my life.

Now, before I get into the how of it all, let me spoil the ending and tell you, dear reader, that I was proven wrong. Not only did I use the entire set in a matter of days, I went back for seconds and I liked it. See, there’s a big ole difference between drinking a concoction of chard-spinach-kale-wheatgrass-spirulina six times a day and placing a cooling, calming sheet mask on your face for 15 minutes every night. Quelle surprise!

While I’m sure you can juice your way to brighter, clearer skin, I found that this five-pack of juice-inspired sheet masks was just as effective — and way faster, cheaper and more pleasant — than a week’s worth of juicing. Yes, it’s true that what you put into your body shows up on your skin. So I’m not proposing that if you subsist solely on salt and sugar but use EWS Beauty’s masks your face will glow. But if you already eat well and are looking for a little juice-inspired boost, these masks are for you.

Interested in a (mask-based) juice cleanse? Here’s how I did it:

Sunday: All good skincare stories start on Sunday nights, right? Well, at least this one did. After a long week and an even longer weekend, my skin was in need of some serious attention. Wearing a mask for the last six months was not doing my face any favors, nor was the weather that couldn’t make up its mind nor was my inability to sleep through the night completely. After tearing open the conveniently packaged box containing all five mask options, I decided to start with the Deep Detox, figuring the rest of the masks would work even better on clean, detoxed skin. The star ingredients here are charcoal, lemon juice and water, all of which are meant to purify and decongest skin by drawing impurities out of pores. After taking the mask off, there wasn’t a noticeable difference in my skin, but the next morning, I noticed a few new spots on my chin and nose — areas that are always super congested for me — proving that the charcoal was doing its job and priming my pores for what was to come.

Tuesday: Once the charcoal-induced pimples had subsided, I went for the Pineapple Bliss blend, which promised to rejuvenate and brighten thanks to a mix of kiwi, ginger, pear and pineapple extracts. I’m a fan of each of these things on their own as food, but I’d never actually used the first three in my skincare routine, so was wary of the results. Luckily, my skepticism was unwarranted. After 15 minutes and half an episode of “New Girl” I was rewatching for the tenth time, I removed the sheet mask, patted in the excess essence and started inspecting my skin. The result was subtle, but there was definitely a difference. My skin looked brighter and was free of the dullness that had been plaguing it all week, likely thanks to the bromelain enzymes in pineapple that work as gentle exfoliators to break down dead skin cells, as well as anti-inflammatory ginger.

Friday: I skipped a few days to give my skin a chance to reset after the first mask (and also because it was still looking pretty good after Tuesday’s mask), and then opted for Strawberries & Cream to make sure my skin was getting sufficient hydration while I masked like crazy. Thanks to the eponymous strawberry extract and its dose of vitamin C, my skin felt smooth and toned afterward, while the coconut and almond milk extracts deposited nourishing healthy fats and vitamin E to plump my skin and keep moisture locked in.

Monday: Following another not-at-all relaxing weekend, I needed a mental, emotional, physical and skin-based reset. Luckily, the mask set included one aptly named Green Reset, which is literally billed as “a green juice for your face.” While it also has anti-aging properties, I was more interested in the fact that it was packed with kale, spinach and broccoli extracts, a color my diet had sorely been missing. This one did not disappoint, either. What do you get when you combine antioxidant packed kale, superfood broccoli, retinoid-heavy spinach and the collagen-boosting power of vitamin C in apples? Skin that looks healthy, well-rested and, dare I say, vibrant.

Thursday: With my last mask calling my name, I settled in for yet another night of Netflix and skincare, this time with The Pink Dream. Even though I was using it last by default, I was glad this was my final mask since it promised soft, glowing, hydrated skin and really, what more could you want heading into a Friday? The watermelon, rosewater and grapefruit extracts worked together beautifully to soothe, moisturize and hydrate my face, so much so that on a Zoom call the next morning, a coworker asked if I had a filter on my camera. Joke’s on you, coworker — it’s my real face! And I didn’t even have to drink a bunch of green juice to get it.

More To Read

how-to-grow-out-your-hair

WORDS OF ADVICE

How I Grew Out My Hair

It's the ideal time to achieve your longest locks.
october-2020-horoscope

THE HAPPY FACTOR

This Month Is About Self-Care, Courtesy Of Venus

The planet of Love is here to hold us together…
Rosehip Oil

GLOW GETTER

The One Skincare Staple Every Free People Girl Has In Her Regimen

How could I not try it?