Boscia Luminizing Black Mask Photos and Review

I mentioned before how I'm starting to get really into skincare lately, and so far I've found a lot of new favorites and a couple of duds. This is one of the things on my favorites list. I love this stuff. It's weird and it's goofy but it works so well for me. It's one of the things I fell in love with from the Sephora Favorites In The Glow Kit. I've been meaning to review that kit (it's great) but since it's been sold out for a while I'm wondering if there's even a point... Anyway, train of thought is derailing. Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. It rocks.


It comes in a decent sized tube, though not as big as the drugstore mask tubes I'm used to. It's 2.8 ounces, which will last quite a while.


The tube has a screw-off lid (that doesn't sound right, does it?) with a narrow tube opening so that the product doesn't dry out or leak too much when you open the tube.

The directions and ingredients. You can enlarge it if you want a better look.

The texture of the mask is thick, sticky and wet but easily spreadable. It's somewhere between the texture of thick molasses and glue. It's a peel off mask so it starts out really wet and gel-like, but tightens or shrinks a little as it dries.

After about 20 minutes or so, depending on how thick of a layer you use, the mask dries into a stretchy sheet that you peel off. I've been trying to practice peeling it off in one whole, face-shaped sheet but no luck so far.

Applying this is so strange, I love it. It's thick and sticky and it's black. It has a subtle, sort of Elmer's Glue-esque scent, but it's not strong and it dissipates as it dries. I try to apply a medium-thick layer of mask because the thicker it is, the easier it is to peel off when it's dry. But I also don't want to waste too much of the mask since you really don't need to use a lot for it to work. It's helpful to make a thick spot at one corner of the mask so you have a little handle to start peeling after the mask dries. When I apply it, I really try to work it into my skin so that it coats all my pores, otherwise it forms more of a film over them and doesn't work as well.

Peeling it off is intense at first, but after a few uses my skin got used to it. It can feel like ripping off a Band-Aid. The part that hurts the most is when it tears out all the little hairs on the side of my face. But, really, you get used to it after the second or third time. Just be sure not to apply it near your eyes.

What I liked:

• Sleek, attractive packaging. I love the black tube. It looks stylish and more high-tech than medicinal.
• The mask sometimes acts like a wax because it removes hair when you peel it off. Bonus.
• When I have dry, flaky areas of skin on my face, peeling off the mask removes them.
• The mask also acts like a pore strip and clears things from my pores that I didn't even know were there.
• The mask actually visibly improves my skin after use. It looks brighter and smoother. It also makes it feel smoother and softer.
• You get a lot of uses out of the tube.
• Looks hilarious to anyone who sees you wearing it.
  

What I didn't like:

• It can be a little harsh or irritating when you peel it off, probably not great for sensitive skin.
  
• $34 is not the most I've paid for a mask, but it still feels steep for such a small tube.
• Sometimes the mask won't peel off in certain spots and you have to rinse it off your face.
• The pieces of peeled-off mask can make a mess in the sink if you get them wet.

I find it hilarious that something that looks so dark and soot-like makes my skin look so bright. I love this stuff. For reference, I have fairly normal skin, but far from flawless, as I'm prone to hormonal breakouts and occasional dry and irritated areas, mostly on my jawline. I'm not particularly oily or dry and I don't ever seem to get blackheads. My biggest problems are discoloration and uneven skin texture and this really helps with that. I use it once a week. It's refreshing to use and my skin looks so much brighter and smoother every time I use it. I've already been through a whole deluxe sample size tube and part of a full-size tube and it still works for me.

So, yeah, love this. I got mine from Sephora, $34 for a 2.8 oz tube. They also have this set with a 1 oz tube of the mask (which lasted me about 7 uses) for only $25.