Learning at Liberty: Charcoal and Masque Mapping with Dermalogica

The Venue

When I was invited to a Dermalogica launch event I knew I was going to discover a great product. That’s because I’ve never ever come across a dud product from them. Then I heard that the venue was the iconic Liberty building. So I knew I’d learn a little about architecture and history as well as being in a great retail outlet. But what I didn’t know is that I’d find out a whole lot more about charcoal and how amazing it is in general and more particularly for the skin.

The Launch

I was invited to this amazing emporium (only word that seems grand enough – shop doesn’t quite cut it!) for the launch of Dermalogica’s Charcoal Rescue Masque. It’s been launched exclusively with Liberty but will be available nationwide from 1 April 2016.

The Masque

This is a multi-tasking masque. We’ve been hearing how products are starting to hone in on how to handle the pollutants that our skin battle with every day. I’d say that’s a particular concern for us city girls! Environmental pollutants combine with natural sebum secretions to form a waxy coating on our skin that dulls its appearance and contributes to inflammation and congestion. Normal cleansing can’t combat this which is why you need to deep cleanse with this masque.

The Promise

The Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque is suitable for all skin types and promises to:

• detoxify
• brighten
• draw out impurities
• refine pores
• calm redness
• improveskin texture and smoothness

And to address:

• ageing
• dullness
• breakouts
• sensitivity

 

The Ingredients

We heard about the key ingredient, binchotan charcoal and how it has amazing adsorption abilities. ( I also learned the difference between absorption and adsorption!) So this activated charcoal has a negatively charged surface and attracts and binds itself to positively charged toxins.

Additionally, the masque includes:

• sulfur, to promote cellular turnover, is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
• volcanic ash, hot spring, marine silt, and bamboo extract to physically exfoliate
• phytic, lactic, and mandelic acids – chemical exfoliants that accelerate cellulat turnover, increase collagen prodution and brighten skin and brighten skin
• naicinamide – to combat redness, inflammation and congested pores
• chilean wild mint – to improve skin texture and reduce pore visibility

Masque Mapping and Multi-Masking

While we were there we learned about masque mapping. This is basically examining the face to see if different areas of your skin have different needs and then mapping them out. Dermalogica did this for me and found that that the lower part of my face is a little oilier and more prone to congestion and spots and the upper part of my face is slightly more in need of hydration and has some pigmentation.

As part of this learning we heard more about multi masking which is really about not having to apply one mask over your entire face and targeting products where they are needed. So it was suggested that I might use the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque on the lower part of my face and the Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque on the upper part. Alternatively, it was explained I could apply the masks to the whole of my face alternately.

As you might expect I’ve brought the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque withe me to try but I was also given a water bottle with a charcoal filter and a Botanic Lab Isotonic Drink with activated charcoal. So I think it’s fair to say that I’ve had a good introduction to the benefits of charcoal. I’m planning on giving some of them a go and I’ll get back to you with some thoughts very soon!

Hazel

This post contains PR samples.