Review: Lush Fresh Cupcake Mask

My fascination with Lush started when I visited my aunt in Vancouver many years ago. I walked into one of their shops and caught a whiff of the bizarre looking cream cheese blocks, pots of creamy liquids on ice and candy-like looking products. It smelt so decadent that I could not believe I was staring at soaps and bodycreams. I could have sworn I walked into a candy shop. I was young back then and did not think much of skincare but now that I'm aging *gasp*, boy am I glad Lush made it's way back to Singapore!

Lush is famous for being an eco-friendly company; all their products are vegetarian and animal-cruelty free. Their items are handmade with each tub bearing the names of their maker. Fresh masks are sold by weight and comes in Lush’s trademark 100% recycled black tub. It is said to be able to last between 5-8 uses. It’s kept chilled in the shop and due to the fresh ingredients (and lack of preservatives) found in the mask, the mask should be kept refrigerated at home as well.

Wandering into Lush at Wisma Atria, I found myself purchasing the Lush Fresh Cream Face Mask in Cupcake. Cupcake is the cocoa-rich option best suited for oily and combination skin. The mask promises to deep-cleanse your face, preventing acne, purifying pores and removing blackheads. Chief ingredients in this gooey chocolate delicious-ness include Rhasoul mud which cleanses and soothes,shea and cocoa butters and linseed which soften the skin and peppermint, spearmint and sandalwood oils to calm the skin and round off the relaxing experience.

yums max!

The consistency of Cupcake is extremely thick. I thought it would be gooey like the usual mud masks which I've tried but it was sandy and grainy to the touch which made it a tad difficult to apply. I used the scoop that came with Laniege's water sleeping pack for application but it sure felt as though I was buttering cement on my face.

But oh, the smell!!! The Cupcake mask is definitely one for all the chocoholics out there. The minty chocolate scent is simply divine. If you are as big a fan of chocolate fudge as I am, you'll be really tempted to dip your finger in and sneak a taste.

The mask dries rather easily. Lush recommends five to ten minutes but I left it on for 25 mins because I love the feeling of tightening once the mask dries! The rinsing off part may be a chore for some but I found that using a soft muslin cloth and warm water and cleansing the mask off in circular motions gets the mask off pretty easily. But I have friends who literally dip their faces into a bowl of warm water to soften the mask and rub it off slowly. Do remember to clean any remaining residue off the sink though!

Skin Inspection

I was reasonably impressed with the immediate results. My skin felt baby soft to touch and my pores looked cleaner and my spots look less red. I was surprised by how quick the effect of the mask was evident on my face! I slap on my night skincare and went to bed. Morning came and I noticed that my skin is not as oily as usual and the spots have diminished. I can see that this mask is rather effective for me in terms of reducing sebum and diminishing spots.

Overall, I like how the mask impacts my skin. I love the smell, the immediate effects and how it's preservatives free. I would use this on spotty days when my skin is acting up before my regular spot treatment gel or serum.

Lush Fresh Cream Face Mask in Cupcake is available in 75g / S$24.