Our Honest Review of Naturium’s First Face Mask

The end of summer often leaves us feeling happier and healthier from all that fun in the sun. But that can translate to trouble for your skin. Think of clogged pores from sunscreen, dry patches courtesy of too much AC, and shiny T-zones thanks to excess oil from the heat. That’s why it’s perfect timing for Naturium to launch its very first face mask, the AHA Exfoliating Mask 10%, which solves many of the complexion conundrums we face as the summer comes to a close.

Launching in the first week of September, consider it a one-stop refresh to get your skin ready for fall. “The AHA Mask instantly resurfaces and brightens skin thanks to its dual-action exfoliation,” says Naturium Founder Susan Yara. “The mask also works to minimize the appearance of pores while improving texture, leaving skin smooth and glowy over time.”

Best of all, it only takes 5 minutes to work its magic. Yara tells us all about it, plus our honest thoughts on the Naturium AHA Exfoliating Mask 10%, ahead.

The Inspiration

“Exfoliation is back!” Yara says. “[We don’t] want you to scrub your skin until it’s red. We’ve all learned that lesson. Instead, we created the AHA Mask which gets you brighter-looking, smooth skin by using 5% glycolic acid, 5% lactic acid, and a really gentle physical exfoliant.” The Naturium AHA Exfoliating Mask 10% can be used on normal to dry skin types, mature skin, and those who deal with dark spots. Getting the job done in just 5 minutes was key to its creation.

Most importantly, Yara wanted this product to deliver maximum benefits but require minimal effort. “I tend to use this mask in the morning when I want my makeup to lay beautifully or I just want to look refreshed, so I don’t want to keep it on for too long,” says Yara. “We don’t have time for that! Even if someone wants to use it in their nighttime routine, they likely want it to be quick. Think about all the clay masks you have purchased that sit in your medicine cabinet or bathroom drawer for a year because you don’t have time to let it sit for 20 minutes before you can finally finish your routine. This is the kind of mask you can use regularly.”

The Formula

As Yara mentioned earlier, this formula has a star-studded lineup of exfoliating ingredients. “[The mask] includes glycolic acid, lactic acid, rice powder, and clay—all of which were carefully chosen and curated for this product with their benefits top-of-mind,” explains Yara. What exactly are those benefits? Glycolic acid exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, improving the appearance of uneven skin texture and brightening. Lactic acid is another gentle exfoliant, plus it hydrates for softer, smoother, and brighter skin. Rice powder is a physical exfoliant that polishes skin to smooth out texture. Finally, clay draws out impurities, absorbs excess oil and controls shine.

Yara recommends using the mask once to twice per week. To maximize results, gently massage the mask onto your face, neck, and chest, leaving the mask on for 5 minutes and rinsing thoroughly when done. 

“I love that this is an updated take on traditional clay masks,” Yara says. “I personally love a mask moment. It’s indulgent and you tend to see a difference in your skin immediately. But I dislike when clay masks dry down and get too tight on the skin because it can make them hard to remove and irritating. You don’t get that with ours. Just apply it to your skin, gently massage it to get physical exfoliation, then let it sit for about 5 minutes to get extra exfoliation from the chemical exfoliants. Your skin will feel softer, smoother, and look brighter as soon as you rinse it off.”

My Review

As someone with combination skin who is majorly prone to clogged pores and congestion, I’m always excited to try a product that offers both chemical and physical exfoliation. The fact that this only takes 5 minutes was also very appealing, since I have a graveyard of face masks that take 20-plus minutes that I’m too impatient to use. Unlike some clay masks, the texture is light, making it easy to apply and massage into skin—and remove. Another textural win is that the rice powder is super fine, so you can barely feel the grains, meaning it’s not scratching up your face.

The only (very minor) drawback is the mask has a slightly acrid scent, but it’s obviously natural, so I’d much prefer that over a highly fragranced synthetic scent that might irritate my sensitive skin. Plus, I am like a wolverine in that I have a very sensitive sense of smell, so this con may not register with most people.  

Immediately after rinsing it off, my skin felt and looked softer and smoother. Sometimes my skin gets so oily that I feel like people can see their reflection in my forehead, but this kept my skin much more matte throughout the day (I applied it in the morning). My huge pores were less noticeable, my skin felt very fresh and clean, and overall my complexion was significantly brighter—the most noticeable perk. Reminder: All these benefits only took five minutes, earning it a regular spot in my mask rotation.