::REVIEW:: Osea Red Algae Mask
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Products Reviews Forum

free skin care · Fri May 12, 2006 1:16 am

Product: Osea Red Algae Mask (www.oseaskin.com)
Price & Packaging: US$36.00 / 1.7oz (50ml) airless pump

Someone here on the boards mentioned this line and after having a look over the site (and feeling particularly down about work that day) I bought this mask, a body lotion and a travel kit to sample their basics.

Now don’t ask me why, but I was expecting this mask to be a gel.. it actually is a clay-like mask that is a deep brick-red color (best not used when hubby is around to laugh at me “drying”.. perhaps not so bad if you have darker skin than little ole Casper-like me). It does become a bit taut as it dries, but it is not uncomfortable (unless you try and smile big) and it seems to be a soft dry. I don’t like that over the nose area it dries with little holes (just gives me the creeps when I see it dry, that is all) Laughing

Being a dark red clay mask, I think you could possibly ruin wash-cloths getting it off, however both times I have tried it I followed the OSEA SPA treatment recommendation for a “Red Algae Mask Friction Rub” (see full instructions below). Besides the exfoliation benefit, it means that there is much less mask to wash off. I have always applied a gentle wash-off cleansing cream to remove the remains (I always have one cleanser of this type which is specifically for mask removal.. currently Jurlique but when that runs out, PSF Green Tea).

All three times my skin felt mat and soft afterwards, similar to the other soft clays I have tried (Decleor, Jurlique, Dr. LeWinn’s, and Cellcosmet). I don’t think I would use this in winter as it could prove too much with our dry conditions, but I think it will be a wonderful summer mask. As for the rub, I would not want to use this as my only exfoliating treatment, but I think it is nice as a “between exfoliation” use (or something to use between enzyme peels when the skin does not need scrubs/manual exfoliation so much). I also love that there are no “nasty” ingredients in this mask (the whole Osea line is like this)

One hint, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS as regards to time.. I am notorious for forgetting to remove my masks and often end up with them on double the time they should be Embarassed

. This mask states 5-7 mins (or 8-10 mins if doing the rub). The second time I used it I left it on for 20 mins and gently rubbed off.. but somehow my face seemed a bit red and the single spider veins that exist on each side of my nose and the one on my chin were MUCH more prominent than usual. I never had this trouble the first couple of uses, so it was likely a combination of leaving it on too long and rubbing it off too dry (though it did not feel abrasive rubbing it off).
I think I will give this

(5 is reserved for OUTSTANDING products)

Company Spiel:
Unlike traditional clay-based "purifying" masks that have a drying effect on skin, Red Algae Mask maximizes the rich minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, and trace elements of Red Algae fortified with a variety of antioxidants to help heal breakouts and purify pores. Simultaneously, Red Algae Mask implements the properties of Red Wine polyphenols, herbal extracts and a phosphoric diester of Vitamins E and C to hydrate, nourish and condition skin during treatment.

Ingredients:
99% Natural Ingredients: Deionized Water, Red Algae Extract [Red Lichen], Glycerin, Corrective Oil Complex, Sodium Lauryl Oat Amino Acid, French Red Clay, French Pink Clay, Cocogluciside and Coconut Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Palmitoyl and Water Lily Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acid and Sarcosine and Potassium Aspartate and Magnesium Aspartate, Sesame Oil, Jojoba Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract [Canadian Willowbark Extract], Multi-fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol Acetate [Vitamin E Acetate], Wine Polyphenols Proline [Red Wine Extract], Matricaria Extract [Chamomile Extract], Marigold Extract [Calendula Extract], Camellia Sinensis Extract [Green Tea Extract], Grapefruit Seed Extract, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Blueberry Extract [Natural Colorant], Red Beet Extract [Natural Colorant], Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol

RED ALGAE MASK FRICTION RUB (taken from the Osea website)
Step One: Cleanse your skin with Ocean Cleanser for normal to dry skin or Ocean Cleansing Mudd for oily skin types.
Step Two: Apply Red Algae Mask to face and neck. Allow to dry 8-10 minutes.
Step Three: Standing over a sink or basin, gently begin to rub off the drying mask with a light friction rub. You should feel the mask peeling off along with the top layers of dead skin cells.
Step Four: Rinse with warm water.
Step Five: Follow with Osea Sea Minerals, Skin Essentials and Moisturizer.

free skin care · Sat May 13, 2006 12:54 am

Thanks for the review.. I really like how you list the ingredients too Smile

This sounds really nice.. I've been trying to find a nice clay-based mask that isn't so drying and purging.

I have previously used a friction-mask by Living Nature and it was really disappointing.. I probably wasn't rubbing right, my face always ended up quite red after trying in vain to get anything off.

So can you actually 'rub' the entire mask off or only the thicker parts? I think somehow you have to wait for the *perfect* time so the mask is at a right texture to be able to rub it off...

free skin care · Sat May 13, 2006 3:15 am

virtually the entire mask can be "rubbed off".. you just wait a little longer for it to dry more and at first I was wondering how it would ever rub off, but if you just gently rub your finger over one area for say 5 seconds suddenly it will start to rub off and once one bit starts you just work from there. It really is a very gentle pressure to rub it off and I reckon if it was too dry you could probably just do a light mist to add a touch of water.

free skin care · Sun May 14, 2006 5:46 pm

Hi Tiger Tim,

I'm that person who raves about Osea products, although the red algae mask is not my fave. In fact, I have yet to find a mask I actually LOVE, since I used to use Living Nature's papaya enzyme mask, which was brightening, smoothing, and moisturizing, until it started giving me red blotchiness all over my face that lasted much longer than necessary... (So funny--I've tried the friction peel, too!) I bought a Caudalie mask when I was in Paris last summer, and that did virtually nothing. I am excited to try Osea's white algae mask, though.
NOW, what I WANT, is SOMEONE to corroborate me on the utter wondrous, fabulousness, of Osea's Ocean Lotion--I'm dying to know--what is your review?
For me, the test is that when my feet are dry and cracking I apply it to them and they are soft and perfect almost immediately--is that your experience too?

avalange

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.