The Cheap Mask for the Pumpkin Everything Lover

Ahhh fall.  It’s almost that time again.  When I was younger it was noted by the cooling temps and the leaves changing vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow.  Now it’s because well…IT’S PUMPKIN EVERYTHING SEASON!

This mask is sure to make the pumpkin fiends out there as happy as enjoying a pumpkin late with a slice of pumpkin pie.  Andalou Naturals is a bit off the radar as a brand, but has some impressive products.  Their Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask retails for drugstore friendly pricing and works as well as it’s luxury competitors.  Beyond the fact it works, it literally smells like pumpkin pie on your face.  And that, ReadHead readers, is a little slice of heaven.

For those who also like a little granola on the side of your scientific skincare, you’ll like Andalou’s brand promise: “Andalou Naturals, the first Non-GMO Project Verified beauty brand, is the ultimate culmination of their many years developing meaningful policy and healthy products partnered with their deep commitment to uplifting people and the planet.”  Hug your skin and the world while you’re at it.

Ingredients:

Andalou Naturals is full of natural products and little fillers.  That’s why I like this brand.  Sure, you’ll see straightforward ingredients which means you could make something similar at home, but by the time you get the ingredients and the formulations right, whether it be hard costs for ingredients or opportunity cost, I’d pass and go for this little gem that’s ready. set. go.

Pumpkin is a double whammy of goodness, providing vitamin-rich C and glycolic acid, which both help to brighten skin by reversing free radical damage and removing dead skin cells.  It’s the #1 ingredient, and is supported by the stand-alone glycolic acid ingredient, which is what you want to see when you’re judging effectiveness. You’ve also got pineapple juice and sugar cane which aid in the breakdown of old, dull skin.

Ingredients like glycerin, honey and sodium hyaluronate help to calm and moisturize, as well as many other “extracts” that help to aid in exfoliation or soothing of the skin.

This does have cinnamon in it, which can add in that tingle that you’ll feel and is supposed to help invigorate the skin, but being towards the end of the list I think it’s more for the smell to evoke that pumpkin pie feeling, and can be irritating to some.

Here’s the list of ingredients:

Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Puree*, Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Vegetable Glycerin, Manuka Honey, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Juice*, Pectin, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus (Guar) Gum*, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestsica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Lecithin, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract*, Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) and Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Oils, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Extract*^, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon), Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) and Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Powders*.

Non-GMO verified *Organic ^Fair Trade

Application & Consistency:

Right when you open the jar, you get a whiff of pumpkin which smells slightly like pie but a little less sugary.  It looks like an earthy concoction with an orange tinge as anything with pumpkin should.  It comes in a jar, which I prefer a pump top to maintain the ingredients, but for the price is expected.

I put it on my face and immediately felt tingle.  I’m used to acids, but if you are a newbie, know that this will have some kick.  Negative reviews will state this, that it burned or left their face red.  I say that they may not understand the role of acids (they can burn and turn you red).  Pumpkin also contains niacin which can give you a bit of a flush if you’re sensitive to it.  It’s always best to patch test if you are reactive to ingredients or have very sensitive skin.

The consistency was a bit of a gel-like puree.  It spread easily, but felt earthy.  It’s a bit inconsistent in it’s application which is fine by me.  It doesn’t contain silicones that will give this a beautiful slip.  It’s a bit clunky, not like oatmeal, but you get the idea.

I sat with it on my face for 15 min.  The tingle stopped in that time, and it dried down to a nice feel.  It wasn’t overly tight or harsh like a clay mask.  I rinsed it off and voila!  Bright, clear skin that had a slight orange tinge to it that went away quickly.

Final Assessment:

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a mask with this type of quality and is yummy to use.  Especially with fall time coming around when we’re trying to undo all the summer sun damage and get ourselves into the swing of cooler weather and flannel.  For around $15 for a 1.7 oz jar, it’s one I forget I own as I pillage my more pricier options, and continue to kick myself after using it because it’s great and for a great price.

Sit down and slather this one on. It’s time to treat yo’ self without feeling guilty from your wallet or the calories.

Overall: 5/5

Price: $$$$$

Packaging: 3/5

 

Have you tried any Andalou products or want to know more about them? Drop us a line in the comments.