Masks are multifarious. There isn’t a cream, clay, gel, or sheet on the market that doesn’t promise a more lifted, wrinkle-free, “glowier”, decongested, brighter, tighter complexion.

But do you ever just feel like a gentle, simple fix that will under-promise and over-deliver? Cue the Cucumber Gel Mask by Peter Thomas Roth. What does it do? It soothes, hydrates, and detoxifies with a gentle blend of cleansing enzymes (pineapple, papaya, lemon, sugar maple, and sugar cane) and anti-inflammatory botanical extracts (chamomile, cucumber, and aloe).
Who is it for? Those with sensitive, dull, tired, dry, irritated, and/or acneic skin. Does it work? Yes. Does it feel good? Oh my, yes.

This is r-e-f-r-e-s-h-i-n-g; like standing under a waterfall with a whole packet of Mentos in your mouth refreshing. There are actually a few ways you can make the most of this giant tub of green goo, and, because it’s so gentle, you can use it a few times a week to keep your complexion balanced, refreshed, and hydrated.

Apply a thin layer, et voila — you have yourself a light yet super hydrating overnight mask. Pop it in the fridge to de-puff your face in the AM or to cool it down after a lazy day at beach. It also works surprisingly well when it comes to shielding your skin from the moisture-sucking, soul-destroying perilous desert that is a plane cabin. During a long haul flight, I applied a serum, followed by three layers of the mask, popped in my earphones, and went to sleep. The gel forms a kind of viscose protective barrier that prevents moisture jail-breaking from the epidermis. As we made our descent, and I awoke with my head back and mouth wide open, my skin was soft and bouncy to touch.

In short, Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask isn’t going to be the loud friend at the party who makes a grand entrance and ends the evening with the phone numbers and last names of every eligible bachelor in the room. But she will, with regular use, quietly keep the vibes high and those moisture levels in check.

Words, Rose Howard. Photography, Magdalene Shapter.