Merlot Natural Grapeseed Purifying Peel-Off Mask Review

I've had the opportunity to try a peel-off mask from Merlot, a brand known for products made from the grapeseed. This is a new product which claims to do the following, according to the Merlot website:

Gently rid skin of imperfections with easy-to-apply formula.

Rids skin of impurities
Soothes stressed skin
Retains skin's natural moisture

Of course I've used masques before, but this was the first time I used a peel-off mask. My first question was, "How the heck do I peel it off?". I was also apprehensive that it would peel in a million tiny pieces, which would be quite a pain to take off.



Application: I squeezed a considerable amount on the tip of my fingers. It was a lavender-colored blob of product that has the consistency of glue. I applied it all over my face, trying to make the application as even as possible. I noticed that this is not as quick to dry as the glacial mud or sulfur-based masques that I've tried before. It probably took 20 minutes before I felt confident to try to peel it off. I noticed a nice tightening of my skin, which to my mind is the product's attempt to squeeze gunk, grime, oil, and other impurities out of my pores. After 20 minutes, I noticed that it was quite easy to peel off the product from the face:



It's just like imagining yourself being a snake and shedding your old skin. :D I was also glad that this thing peels off in big sheets rather than in small, annoying pieces.

The biggest difference that I can see between this mask and the other masks I've tried is that this does not strip your face of oils. Your skin stays moisturized and supple. I can thus see that this would suit dry, more mature, or sensitive skin. After the process, I can also see minute blackheads and whiteheads disappear from my nose and around the nose, and the skin has a generally better texture.

The downside I noticed though is that the smell was a bit too strong for my taste. I didn't like the scent at all, but maybe it's just me because I really do have sensitive olfactory nerves.

Overall, this is a good product to try, especially if you find sulfur-based or glacial-mud-based masks a bit too harsh. The bonus is that this contains powerful anti-oxidants found in the fruit of the vine. You can purchase Merlot Grapeseed Purifying Peel-Off Mask at Walgreens and other retailers for $16 (6 oz).