Despite not spending the bulk of the summer outdoors (hello, I work y’all), my skin still looks worse for the wear. I even have bumps. They’re not quite pimples and they’re not blackheads but they’re definitely bumps. I know this because they stand out from the rest of my skin that looks irritated (why?) and dehydrated (again, why?!).
Hormones, lack of hormones, air conditioning, no air conditioning, stress…this list could honestly contain anything so I guess the “why” my skin looks and feels the way it does is not relevant and I need to be more about the “how,” as in how to correct it. Fortuitously, Aveeno recently sent me their new Oat Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract facemask to test drive and I’ve been slathering it on. It’s working.
Allergy tested, non-comedogenic, free of parabens and phthalates, its formulation is gentle, yet effective enough for me to use two to three times a week, so I have been. The oats are a prebiotic so work to boost my skin’s immune levels by easing away redness and irritation, while strengthening my dermis to prevent future damage. The pumpkin seed and feverfew (a flowering plant in the daisy family that also works miracles on migraines) extracts are rebalancing my skin in entirety. It doesn’t look as tired, worn out or dry, so the moisturizing benefits are clearly kicking in. The bumps between and above my eyebrows have diminished too, along with that tight shiny look associated with dehydration, even though I’m religious with the face cream.
And since I’m currently on a cleanse because I ate too much ice cream this summer, the mask’s delicious pumpkin scent makes me feel like I’m sipping a Starbucks pumpkin latte or indulging in their pumpkin scone with, mmm, icing on top. I consider this a win-win all-round.
Aveeno Oat Mask with Pumpkin Seed Extract, from $12.97, available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
