Yahoo Finance These fuss-free face masks took the confusion out of my skincare regime
The brand is looking to cut through the noise of the skincare sphere
(iStock/The Independent)Much like the age-old rift between those of us who have been wildly productive during lockdown and others who have been in a constant state of exhaustion, there have been two different approaches to skincare during the pandemic.
Some of us have viewed the extra time at home as an opportunity to experiment with new treatments, ingredients and formulas, while others have pushed skincare right to the back of their priority lists, allowing our normal regimes to slack.
Quite frankly, I’ve been lurching between the two. Some months have been a huge success, with a far more extensive and strict routine, while in others it’s been a struggle to simply take my make-up off. Whichever camp you fall in, Faace is a skincare brand that will intrigue you with its pared-back, simplified approach to ingredients and results.
With an aim to provide “a solution to skin that’s been disrupted by life”, Faace is looking to cut through the noise; rejecting the endless marketing ploys and technical jargon that dominates the skincare sphere. It’s certainly aimed at the busy millennial, priding itself on creating skincare for those of us who are too busy or burned out to read complicated ingredients lists, or too broke to visit a dermatologist.
Its minimalistic range features four masks and two cleansers that are all tailored to different skin scenarios as opposed to skin types. From “period faace” to “tired faace”, each formula looks to treat a particular ailment and is broken down to justify every ingredient in an accessible way. The brand has impressive eco-credentials, too.
I’m usually quite sceptical of beauty brands that centre their branding around such a tailored skincare approach: can one product really do it all when it comes to tackling hormonal breakouts? I tried a few products from Faace’s line to find out.
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Faace face masks
Buy now £24 each, Wearefaace.com
First up, I was impressed by the packaging that the Faace products arrived in – the cardboard box is made from 100 per cent recycled materials and is recyclable, and there was no annoying Sellotape (which can’t be recycled) stuck to the box. Cruelty-free, vegan and produced in the UK using ethically sourced ingredients, the products are sadly housed in (recyclable) plastic packaging, but the brand is switching to a 60 per cent PCR plastic that’s made from recyclable materials soon. I’d prefer no plastic at all, but it’s a good start.
Now to the important stuff: the formulas. I tried two of the brand’s masks: period faace and tired faace. Perfect timing, as I was facing a serious two-day hangover after the first weekend of post-lockdown freedom while being on my period – the worst kind of double whammy. Although these masks are designed to treat a specific concern, they are multi-use, which I love. You can use it as a priming moisturiser before your make-up, as a quick five-minute mask or as an overnight treatment, depending on your needs.
The period treatment mask is aimed at skin that is “unnecessarily shiny or super dry – or both” and looks to rebalance your complexion and combat hormonal breakouts. I do suffer from temperamental skin generally, but even more so during my cycle, and recognise my skin in this description as it changes from dry to oily with painful breakouts and sensitivity. I’d usually try to keep hormonal acne at bay with a cocktail of skincare products and a complicated routine, including niacinamide, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. I was thankful to see some of these familiar ingredients present in this mask, alongside more natural ingredients that I wouldn’t usually dabble in, including lavender for its antiseptic properties and hormonal balancing, and green tea for soothing inflammation.
Read more: 8 best rosehip oils packed with skincare benefits
The potent mask gave me everything I needed in one treatment, without any irritation – the gel-like formula is strongly scented, which usually rings alarm bells for my sensitive skin, but applied smoothly without any discomfort. It dried down relatively quickly, unlike thicker face masks, which meant I could go about my day (read: nurse my sore head on the sofa). I kept the treatment on overnight and was impressed to see my skin looking clearer and far less inflamed – angry breakouts calmed down and the texture appeared smoother.
I enjoyed similar success from the “tired faace” mask, aimed at dull complexions that need pepping up with plenty of hydration and gentle exfoliation. The formula includes caffeine to awaken the skin and soothe inflammation, aloe vera for hydration, vitamin C, the gold standard in brightening, and lactic acid to gently exfoliate, as well as rosehip oil, a natural vitamin A (retinol) to boost collagen. Considering the potent acids present here, I was surprised that I didn’t feel any tingling or irritation, and was left with seriously bright and glowy skin. I loved that this mask allowed me to try new ingredients that I wouldn’t usually invest in, and I’ll definitely be reaching for this as a glowy priming base underneath make-up as a new way to experiment with the product.
The verdict: Faace face masks
My concerns around these types of tailored products being a fad have been sufficiently debunked by Faace’s offering. The branding is uncomplicated yet detailed enough to give you a real understanding of which ingredients work to target a particular concern, while the formulas cleverly blend well-known hero ingredients with lesser-known natural solutions that actually work. I’ll definitely be reaching for these products again when the next hangover and hormonal breakout comes around.
Buy now £24.00, Wearefaace.com
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