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Clear glowing skin is what we are usually seeking when starting skin care. There are so much information and so many products out there on the market, it is really hard to choose one.
Today we are going to learn about Coffee Jelly Mask by Innisfree. It is one of a kind mask and made in innovative way.
So, What is Coffee Jelly Mask?
Let’s see how the company itself describes its own product. “It is an upcycling product containing coffee ingredients recycled from coffee grounds that are easily discarded as a result of high coffee consumption.” (innisfreeworld.com )
In simple words this means that this mask contains coffee grounds that were previously consumed and then “easily discarded”. At least this is how I read this description. And, to be honest, it really puzzles me how this company even collected used coffee grounds? Or who consumed all these coffee from which coffee grounds were collected. I have many other questions, but you get the picture. However, since I love Innisfree and trust this company, I proceeded with this product.
Ingredients
This mask has a very impressive and quite nice list of ingredients. Some of the main ingredients are the following:
Kaolin – naturally occurring soft clay. In skin care products kaolin helps to exfoliate skin and remove dead cells.
Glycerin – humectant that creates a protective lipid barrier and keeps skin’s moisture inside.
Chondrus Crispus Extract – a seaweed extract that controls viscosity of the product. This extract is full of vitamins and minerals that are vital for our skin.
Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Powder – powder obtained from the dried, ground seeds of the coffee plant. It i full of antioxidants. In skin care products is helps to exfoliate dead skin cells.
Allantonoin – is by-product of uric acid. This ingredient is excellent for sensitive skin; it relieves dryness, itchiness and promotes skin healing and repair.
Coffee Seed Oil – the concentrated oil from the coffee bean plant. Please, note that coffee beans are naturally green in colour; they become dark brown after they are roasted for flavour. This oil is rich in antioxidants and can also promote skin’s moisture retention.
Centella Asiatica Extract – this extract is very famous for its anti-inflammatory properties. it is rich in Vitamin C, A, B1 and B2 and helps bright skin, fights acne and premature signs of aging.
Hydroxycinnamic Acid – also known as ferulic acid. This is a very powerful antioxidant and is famous for providing excellent UV rays protection.
Here is the full list of ingredients in case you would like to know:
Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cellulose Acetate, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol,Bentonite, Xanthan Gum, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Allantoin, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Fragrance
How to use this mask
Basically, you would use it the same way as any other washable mask:
- Wash your face (I strongly recommend double-cleansing method).
- Generously apply mask all over your face (and neck) using your fingers. You can use any cosmetic spatula or brush, but let’s be realistic – fingers are so much easier 🙂 Avoid eyes and lips area.
- Leave for 15 minutes
- Wash off using gentle strokes
- Follow with your usual skin care routine that is suitable for your skin type
So, nothing unusual or fancy and if you are familiar with any other types of clay / gel masks, you will not find anything new here.
Now, let’s talk about the impression I got from this mask and whether it would be suitable for you.
First of all, I would like to remind you that this mask is a mechanical exfoliating mask, in other words scrub.
What is a face scrub?
According to Collins English Dictionary, face scrub is “a beauty product or treatment which cleanses and exfoliates the skin of the face”.
Mechanical scrubs contain some sort of particles which main purpose is to exfoliate and remove dead skin. Common particles are ground-up shells, coffee grounds, volcanic rocks or fruit pits. Many scrubs contain very large particles that damage skin by causing micro-tears in skin’s surface. Those micro-tears weaken skin barrier that protects our skin from loosing moisture. This leads to red, dry, flaky and irritated skin.
Many people think that they can scrub away blackheads and rub, rub, rub those harsh particles into their skin and chin. The reality is that blackheads form deep in the pore and no scrub can reach it.
As you can see from this photo, this mask has large coffee grounds which are very large in size. They will cause micro-tears for sure.
If you have thick, oily or combination skin on your face and really, really, really want to experiment, you could try this scrub. I would suggest that you use it no more than once (1!) a month and, please, do not rub coffee grounds into your skin vigorously.
If you destroy surface lipid barrier layer, your skin will become dehydrated. As a result your oil gland will start producing more oil to compensate for dehydration. That will lead to shinier look and greasy feeling that is so frustrating for all beautiful people with oily or combination skin type.
If you have dry or sensitive skin type, please, do not use this scrub. The last thing you want is drier and/or irritated and inflamed skin.
Would I buy this mask again? Well, it is not that simple and I do not have firm “yes” or “no” answer.
I think if the company ever released the same mask but without coffee grounds, I would be among the first ones to buy it.
- First of all, it smells FANTASTIC. Yes, so fantastic, that I had to spell it in capital letters lol. It has gentle, but very definitive coffee smell. And not just pure coffee; it smells like a weekend relaxing morning when you pour yourself a cup of coffee and then treat yourself with a freshly baked cookie or croissant. To me this smell just reminds of something yummy, relaxing, and pampering.
- I really like mask’s jelly-creamy texture. It is so smooth and soft; and it is so easy to apply to the skin. Again it reminds me of soft crème brûlée (I am not sure why I am all about food and deserts today lol).
- I am not going to lie; I like how my skin looks and feels after this mask. It looks so much brighter, glowing and pure. It feels so soft, nourished and fresh. Everything is just so lovely.
But!!! Those huge coffee grounds are a huge no-no for our delicate face skin.
I love the mask, but I love my skin more. I do not really want to deal with thin protective layer, rough patches, excessive oil production (I have oily skin), irritation and so on, that might come in the future. So I cannot use this mask on my face.
So, I use this mask in different ways.
You could use this mask as a scrub for your hands, elbows or chest At least, this is what I do. And you will love the results.
Skin on those body parts is not as delicate and can take a bit of mechanical exfoliation.
Your hands will feel so soft and smooth, same for elbows and chest. After all, those body parts need care and love as well. They often reveal signs of aging even earlier than our facial skin does. And yet, we neglect our hands and chest concentrating more on facial skin care.
It would be nice to give a good and deserving care to our hands, wouldn’t it?
You can read about wonderful sheet mask SNP Bird’s Nest Aqua Ampoule Mask.
Stay beautiful!!!!!
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