Recently my skin has been feeling flaky because I ran out of my favorite Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Cleanser and my new stock hasn't arrived yet. I bought a temporary replacement but it's not working, it cleanses but my skin feels rough. That is why when I find a good facial cleanser I use it for years until it has been discontinued or I find a better one. So in cases like this, I rely on other products but I didn't expect it'll be an exfoliating mask. This new product from Althea is really unique, something I haven't seen from other other brands before. Curious how it works? Scroll down to read my Althea Milk Peeling Cream Mask review.
WHAT IS IT?
The Althea Milk Peeling Cream Mask claims to give your skin a big gulp of hydration with the refreshing peeling. Containing both AHA and BHA extracts, this gentle but effective exfoliator transforms from a clay to a whipped cream lather, whisking away dead skin cells to prevent flakiness. It's also formulated with casein protein from milk to revitalize and moisturize the skin. The result is radiantly smooth, healthy skin that's bouncy to the touch!
INGREDIENTS
The AHA in this product is Glycolic Acid, but I'm not sure which of its ingredients is the BHA but both exfoliates away dead skin cells for a smooth complexion, while the milk protein extract moisturizes and strengthens the skin. This also contains Kaolin which is my favorite clay that detoxifies and pulls out impurities from the pores. But interestingly, this also contains Titanium Dioxide which is a known UV protection ingredient. Another notable ingredient is Gluconolactone which is a known anti-aging ingredient.
But If you have oily skin, you may have to be cautious because it also contains stearic acid that can potentially block pores. You can check its ingredient analysis in CosDNA.
PERFORMANCE
APPLICATION: Dampen the skin and apply an even layer onto the skin, massaging till rich lather forms. Leave on for 30-60 seconds before rinsing away with warm water.
SCENT: It doesn't really smell like milk, but its scent resembles the Johnson's Baby Powder Milk.
PACKAGING: It is packaged in a plastic pump bottle which makes the mask easier to apply. No need to mix it with other stuff, unlike the other bubble mask I used before. Unfortunately, it is not packaged in a milk carton box contrary to what I thought when I first saw this product online. But it's still a pretty good packaging.
TEXTURE: Since it contains kaolin, I was expecting it to be like clay. It was, but it's more like a moist clay, almost like a mouse. Because of that texture, it's one of the easiest clay masks I ever apply on my skin. But you have to hurry on applying it because in just around 10 seconds it will start foaming.
RESULT: The moment you apply the Althea Milk Peel Cream mask you'll instantly feel the bubbles form and it makes a sound like how foam forms in the soft drinks when you pour it in the glass. I leave it on for 30-60 seconds and tingles while it foams on your skin, but it does not sting at all. It's also easy to wash off compared to other clay masks, which I really appreciate.
After that, my skin feels really soft and smooth. I do not notice if this also lightens my dark spots like other AHA products, but after three uses it does improve my skin's texture. It may be a placebo effect but it feels like a baby's bum! Despite that, I decided to just use this once a week or whenever my skin feels rough. Because even though it's really gentle and does not hurt my skin, it's still an exfoliating mask with AHA and BHA. I don't want to over exfoliate my skin considering I'm using an anti-acne treatment which also contains AHA and BHA.
VERDICT
PROS: It's a gentle exfoliating mask, it contains Kaolin that detoxifies the skin and unclog pores yet it's very easy to apply and wash off. It leaves the skin smooth and a little moisturized.
CONS: This is not exactly for all skin types, it may be too much for those with sensitive skin especially those sensitive to stearic acid. If you are, stay away from this mask.
WHERE TO BUY?
You can purchase the Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask exclusively in Althea for Php490. They ship to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the US. They also offer free shipping to those countries.
