Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Mask, Papaya Enzyme, 3 Oz

Okay, I am really in love with this stuff now, lol. I normally use a gel mask several times a week. It's been a Korean collagen gel for a long time. Still, this time I wanted to try something different because I already get collagen daily through micro-needling, sonic massage, and supplementation. Enzymes are in my cleanser, but nothing else, so I thought this might be something nice to try. I love it. It's kind of hard to explain, though. It is mildly acidic, but not as irritating to my skin as retinol, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide can be. I can go over the 5-minute specification without much if any skin irritation. It's VERY nourishing and hydrating, which I wanted it to be so... YAY to that! But unlike other gel masks, this one does something a little different: it helps break up dirt and sebum in your pores, so when it gets rinsed off... perfect 10 skin. It even has helped minimize my pores a bit. But the major reason to use it isn't that it helps keep pores clean or nourishes the skin. The major reason to use it: it makes your skin glow up like a lightbulb! More even skin tone, and definitely - visibly - brighter after just one treatment. It smells like papaya but I wouldn't recommend eating it, lol. Kind of sticky feeling like glue with glucose mixed into it or something... first time I used a gel that was sticky and not just slippery. A little goes a long way. It can be a bit difficult to spread with a silicone applicator in comparison to other masks because of this... it's thick and takes some work to thin and spread out. I recommend placing it in several places on your face to begin instead of just starting at one spot, then spreading all those out to cover the entire face. Easier that way! You can leave it on as long as you want... probably overnight even, though I haven't tried that yet. I have sensitive skin though that has a lot of bad reactions to skincare products, and I've been able to keep it on for 15m so far. I haven't tried any longer than that - don't need it, actually, lol. I do highly recommend using a mud mask prior to using this mask if you want to avoid any chance of breakouts. This mask is very rich, and not only will you want your skin to soak up as much of it as possible, but also adding this on top of clogged pores might make them worse. This is not a one-shot or even a primary solution to clogged pores. It just helps break anything down that was too hard and stuck to get out of your pores before you used it. Follow up with a facial oil to keep it from becoming hard again, and you will be in the clear within a week of daily treatment. Highly recommended to any woman over 35 just for how well it brightens the complexion even when you're tired. And also recommended to anyone that wants to use an acidic product like retinol, salicylic acid, etc. but has sensitive skin preventing it.

This is a wonderful product. It is easy to use, has a pleasant fragrance and is gentle on the skin. I tested it by not using any other products on my skin for a week, I just wiped my face with a damp cloth. By the end of the week my skin felt rough and my pores were full. I used this mask as directed, washed it off with a damp washcloth using circular motions. Old skin cells and pore contents came off easily and left my skin very soft and very smooth, beautiful, bright and comfortable. It's not going to act like a face lift or chemical peel, it's just a beautiful way to keep your skin clean and soft and your pores clear. Don't expect it to be more than that, because it's not intended for any other purpose. It doesn't deserve a low rating for unrealistic expectations. I highly recommend it, and will buy it again and again and look into other products in the Alba line. The price is very reasonable, all in all a very good buy.

I've been using many other high end "luxury" natural brands - Tata Harper, Dr Alkaitis, May Lindstrom, etc - but am looking to save money and find some good masks that are non toxic and cost less. It's hard to beat the Tata Harper exfoliating enzyme mask, that thing is like magic. But for inexpensive cost of this Alba Botanicals mask, it does a great job. The scent and color are nice and I felt a gentle tingling while it was on, but not too strong and no stinging. (I was expecting some pink/redness after, as I usually have for a short while after I wash these masks off, but that didn't happen with this one.) It's gentle yet effective. My skin was definitely a little smoother and softer afterwards, and my pores were less visible. I loved that my skin still felt cool and tingly up to an hour after, even after I'd slathered on my usually nightly homemade facial oil. If I needed bigger results - when my skin occasionally goes haywire - I would probably want something stronger. But for maintenance, gentle "clean up", and after long flights, this mask is a winner! I will purchase it again when I'm done this first jar. ETA: I first tried this mask at night before bed. My skin was so soft and smooth when I woke up. Since this is a gel mask (doesn't need to dry and its gel, so water won't immediately dissolve it) - to amplify the effects you can put it on in the shower (for the steam effect to keep pores open) or use it as an actual steam mask (towel over head over hot bowl of water). I've done this with other gel masks and it makes a difference! Will do with this one next time.

So i was in the market for a masque ( i suffer from acne and i do have a lot of acne scars) when I came up upon this. After reading the ingredients and several reviews I decided to make the purchase. I liked the ingredients and I try to use effective yet gentle products on my skin and this sounded perfect. With this product a little goes a long way, so while the package may not be huge it will last you a while, it is easy to apply, does not run or drip and has no strong scents. I have notices my face feeling a tad warm when i apply the product but it is nothing uncomfortable or strong so I don't mind. To remove the product from my face i simply rinse with water and another thing i like is that even though it's thick it isn't difficult to remove and isn't difficult to rinse. I've noticed my skin feeling much healthier after use and I have a nice glow going on whenever I use this product. This is the first product I've used from the brand and I am impressed, i'm actually considering purchasing a few more items from them and trying them out.

This enzyme mask is very light. I use it everyday and have had no issues with redness or irritation. Also I leave the mask on for at least 15-30 minutes. I have been using it for a month now and I do see an improvement in my skin. Previously my skin was very oily in the forehead and cheekbone area but dry and scaly around the mouth. Also I had very bad cystic acne last year which had just started to go away after four months of being on antibiotics. I still had 3-4 active bumps and a lot of scarring from previous eruptions when I started using this product. I do see a slight lightening of the scars after a month but not very much. I will probably supplement my regimen with a stronger peel once a week or so to get rid of the existing scars. But my skin looks healthy and evenly hydrated. I have also had no breakouts in the last one month that I have been using this. I will definitely buy this product again just because it is so gentle on my skin and makes it look healthy and glowing. Also the smell is so delicious. It has a light gel like texture, is easy to apply and washes off very easily too.

After my mother noted that I needed to take care of my skin as my daughter wouldn't like having an 'older looking mom' when she grows up (moms, gotta love them!) and after several years of neglecting my facial care, I decided to dive in to help my complexion, suppleness, and overall look. After looking up numerous reviews from another site, I found the review for Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask and was impressed by the reviews and the price! I love Alba's natural organic ingredients. I had just started using a pore cleansing mask and radiance mask when I added this mask into the rotation. After one use, I could feel my skin was softer, improving the texture of my skin and it seemed to brighten it a little as well. I had also had one pimple that had formed on my forehead. The duration of the breakout was shorter and the scarring/recovery of the skin much improved than another breakout that had happened just the week before within an inch of the same spot. I generally have a T-zone with my cheeks getting drier as I get older. It seems to work well overall to balance and manage my skin. You only need a thin layer applied onto your face (and neck, if you choose) and it does not dry completely. The enzyme will cause a tingling sensation as well. You can find a mask brush to apply if you desire. I haven't yet and it hasn't been a problem.

I had been paying an arm and a leg for a professional strength papaya enzyme mask, so I was so excited to find something over the counter (OTC) at an affordable price. The user reviews for the same product in the single jar were pretty good, but I took the leap of faith by purchasing the 2-pack at a better discount, especially with the 15% off Subscribe-and-Save option. At first, I thought it did not sting at all but when I tried it again, my skin did get the expected tingling feeling. After 2 months of using it religiously 2 +/-1 times per week, Alba's papaya enzyme mask is now part of my daily beauty regimen. I am about half way through the first jar, so the 2 jars may last 6-7 months (I think closer to 6 months, since I love this stuff). I also bought a large fan brush, which uses a minimal amount without wasting much and effectively spreads a thin layer across my whole face. If you use your fingers, then your consumption rate may be faster. Make sure to wash your face thoroughly and dry with a fresh face towel before applying any mask. Although this mask (feels more like a gel) does not dry (as indicated on the packaging label), I believe the enzymes are effective in softening up the skin and breaking down the oils, dirt and old skin. Every time, I follow up it up with a clay mask, such as mud or mint (different brand), which does dry and pull out the dirt and oils from the pores. Of course, a non-greasy moisturizer is a must as well. Bottom line: I love how this product clears up my pores and helps my skin radiate. These jars with fan brushes would make great personalized beauty gift baskets for girly Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. With that said, I definitely would recommend this product to family and friends!

I do like the Alba Botanical Jasmine and Vitamin E Hawaiian moisturizer. I have also used and like their hair shampoo and rinse but I really did not care for this product or feel it did anything for my skin. I use to go for facials before I retired and he had a papaya product he used that made my skin look luminous and very fresh. I am searching for a similar product since he is no longer in business and I had hoped this might be a good replacement.