There are few brands which tick all the boxes for me: green [ check ], luxurious [ check ], cruelty free [ check ], effective [ check ], and beautiful [ check ].
Especially when you take toxicity and sustainability into account too; then the number of candidates becomes quite small. Yet I’m happy to say Kypris checks all those boxes! There are several products from the botanical luxury skincare line that I really adore. The serums, in particular, are totally worth the hype!
But for today’s post, I want to focus on their refining face mask. I feel like the Kypris Glow Philtre will be on everyone’s green-beauty wish list at some point. Oh, it’s already on yours…? Well, you are in luck!
Read on to see why the Glow Philtre is my current favourite luxury mask. Plus, some tips on how you could integrate it into your beauty ritual.
I know that appearance isn’t everything, but I have to say that Kypris did a stunning job on the packaging for this. (I even kept the box.) A frosted glass jar with high-quality gold appliqué is an eye-catching home for this unique mask.
The texture of the product is interesting. I can honestly say I haven’t come across anything quite like it in the green beauty market. It feels bouncy and gel-like. And it alternates between creamy opaque and clear jelly. I would say it looks edible, like jam, (but please don’t!) and the ingredient list is pure.
Fermented pomegranate pith, silver ear mushroom, and algae form a rockstar team for brightening, renewing and hydrating. Silver ear mushroom is both a delicacy and a fantastic cosmetic ingredient that rivals hyaluronic acid for its water-retaining abilities. It’s also a source of vitamin D, helps fight free radicals, and adds to the skin brightening claim of this mask by targeting darker melanin spots on your skin. In natural medicine, silver ear has also been credited with wound healing. Which makes this the perfect mask to use post-pimple extraction. Just sayin’ 💁.
Chill out: The best way to use the Kypris Glow Philtre? Chilled of course! Pop the jar and your applicator of choice in the fridge an hour before you mask.
As with any of my pricier skin products, I never dip my fingers directly into the product. To avoid the risk of contamination, and to not waste any product, use a beauty spatula. Or a small spoon or a blunt-edged cheese knife. You could use a masking brush, however, I wouldn’t recommend it for this product since the brush fibers will absorb some of the product.
My favourite way to apply the Glow Philtre? Place the mask and your applicator of choice in the refrigerator an hour before you plan to use them. When you are ready to indulge, grab your chilled mask and applicator. Use the spatula (or back of the spoon/tip of the knife) and scoop a small dollop of product out. Apply in dots across both cheeks, your forehead, chin, and neck. Then spread the mask evenly to make a thin film. Gently press the cool applicator against your under-eyes to ease any puffiness or sallowness. Then, I like to use the flat side of the applicator to evenly press the product into my pores. This ensures my pores get a deep-cleaning.
Relax for 20 minutes. Chilled water or white wine is optional but encouraged.
The mask can be wiped away with plain water and a washcloth. But make sure you follow-up with a gentle cleanser! The jelly-like texture of this mask can be a little difficult to fully remove, as it really clings to the skin.
Because this is a refining mask, you can expect your skin to look smoother, cleaner and refreshed as soon as its rinsed off. With use, you will notice the effects more. I find that the Glow Philtre provides exfoliation like a very light chemical peel, but waaay more natural and gentle. My face feels clean and hydrated after each use.
Because this is a non-physical exfoliator, don’t expect it to buff away build-up the same way a scrub might. But it will deep-clean your pores and encourage cell turnover.
With use, skin discolouration gradually diminishes. I’ve been using it primarily to fade acne scars, and it does a decent job of that. And as I mentioned before, this is the perfect mask to use if you’ve just extracted a pimple since it will help heal the spot. Kypris says this mask is gentle enough to be used up to three times per week, depending on your skin type. I would agree with that, but because of the price tag, I’ve been savouring it only once per week. It can be used as a spot treatment too if you have one stubborn area that requires extra TLC.
To my surprise, I’ve also noticed my pores look a tad bit tighter! Either that or they are just less noticeable because any gunk trapped inside is gone now.
Overall, the effect could be described as naturally luminous. For myself, I notice the effects more-so around 12 hours after I’ve used the mask. It looks like I’ve had a facial and woke up refreshed! My skin never feels stripped or dry. And I’ve been able to use this as a follow-up to other masks or during travel to revive my skin’s natural healthy glow.