YÜLI Pure Mask Review

For as long as I could remember, masks have been the singular most important part of my skincare ritual. I just love the pampering and attention to self that is required when doing a mask; it is that extra therapeutic step which defines our relationship with our skin. Although I’ve been a fan of the entire YÜLI line, counting many of their products among my top must-haves for their innovative formulas that manage to be both clean and modern, I dragged my feet at purchasing their mask. I have been so spoiled by my ‘dirty’ masks that forays into natural masks left me relatively underwhelmed. Then the reviews came in for Pure Mask, and they all sang its praises, so I placed it on my wish list. One day while perusing my instagram feed, I saw this picture on Spirit Demerson’s Instagram and Pure quickly moved to the top of my to-purchase list.

If the reigning queen of green beauty and owner of Spirit Beauty Lounge put this front and center on her beauty counter of masks, then I knew this was going to be something special. The only problem was, other people got the same idea and beat me to it as the mask was sold out for about a month. When it was finally back, I quickly placed an order:

This mask is a robust water-activated powder so finely grained that they feel silky to the touch. One time I accidentally dropped it, and when I opened the container there was a puff of powder floating around, that just tells you how high the quality of the fine grains are, its definitely not something you can DIY by hand. It is made for all skin types due to their skin technology which lets the live product adapt to individual skin needs. YÜLI is known for their ultra pure and high quality ingredients, and true to form, this masks very vibrant and rich hue is indicative of that unparalleled high standard. The dynamic mix contains enzymes, clays, and botanicals that come alive when activated with water (they also recommend mixing in honey or yogurt for added moisture). The powder means there are no preservatives or fillers in the formula and that everything in there has a direct purpose.

After adding water, it becomes a very rich creamy paste that is light and velvety in texture. I went a little overboard with water the first time, so I learned to use a spoon to slowly add water until it was the consistency that I wanted (I prefer it to be a little on the light/runnier side for easy application). The scent like all YÜLI products is a pure result of the actives as no ingredients are used for fragrance purposes. You’ll be glad to know the scent of the mask is very light and subtle with botanical notes of rose, frankincense, and green tea which are calming and soothing.

I guess the first sign I had that this mask is serious business happened as I was applying the mask from the palm of my hand. After I had washed my hands, I felt that my palm was just softer and more hydrated. I know it’s a weird observation but with repeat applications, I kept observing this. Once I apply this on my skin, it feels almost a bit moussey which helps it spread evenly over skin. I concentrate mostly on blemish-prone areas, areas of clogged pores, fine lines, and post-acne scar damage areas. Sometimes if I want more of a nourishing active treatment, I spray some water every 2 minutes to keep the mask wet which keeps the bioactive mixture at peak activity. If I want more blemish treatment and decongesting of pores, I allow this mask to dry on my skin which creates a purifying action where I can feel toxins and pore cloggers being evicted from the depths of my skin. I can feel inflamed breakouts start shrinking and pores being cleared as this mask dries.

I like to keep the mask on for 20 minutes because the actives are very beneficial for skin so I think it would be a waste to wash off quickly. Most mask rituals are spent with a cup of tea and sitting through the recording of a TV show. Upon rinsing off, the tri-phase mask evolves into its final stage with the water to create almost a milky cleanser that gently removes all impurities. After toweling off, my skin feels like it went through a deep cleaning, and it instantly feels fresher and softer, and looks more vibrant. The natural lactic acid and anti-aging actives seem to quickly plump fine lines. Going through 2 months of weekly use, I can say this kept breakouts from forming which is no small feat given my propensity to breakout and the humid summer weather, and what beginnings of breakouts I had quickly ceased when confronted with this mask. Over this period, my skin has healed significantly since using this mask, as my complexion looks clearer, firmer, brighter, more even toned. I’ve heard masks described as “glow inducing” but this is literal, as my skin just transformed. So let’s examine the ingredients to see what makes this mask so spectacular:

To start, YÜLI incorporates four wild-crafted clays of exceptional quality. Most masks use one or two as the 3^rd or 4^th ingredient to cut costs and because some of the clays are not easily attainable, and this shows why I love YÜLI so, as they go above and beyond with four clays to refine and purify skin. These four clays contain vital minerals that enhance skin health and texture including zinc and magnesium. They’re also natural sources of antioxidants and nutrients which revitalize and nurture skin. The combination of the four clays means that pore-cloggers and blemishes don’t stand a chance, while aging skin benefits from the deep delivered skin restoring nutrients. These natural clays are also naturally balancing and adapt to different skin types so they’re never harsh or dry out skin.

Mung Bean Powder is one of the ancient botanicals they infused into this mix and it is known as a gentle yet powerful medicine for detoxifying the body. It’s also used as an anti-inflammatory which is a targets the key culprit behind aging skin and blemishes. Finally, it helps cool the ‘heat’ condition that can accelerate breakouts and skin tissue breakdown.

White Willow Bark Powder is a natural source of salicylic acid which is extremely effective in the treatment of acne and exfoliating dead skin cells and surface debris. Aging skin benefits from the cell renewal stimulation while problem skin benefits from the cleansing and toning properties. This is unlike most salicylic acid products which use a synthetic form which is less active but more prone to causing irritation. This natural version is not used very often because of how expensive it is to obtain, which just shows the attention to quality in this product.

Biophotonically charged Matcha is a type of green tea derivative made of finely powdered green tea leaves that undergo a special biophotonic process which enhances the nutrition content. Unlike green tea, where only a portion of the powerful nutrients are infused into water, 100% of the nutrients in matcha are infused. According to ORAC values, matcha has 137 times the antioxidants as regular green tea, and biophotonic technology drives that number even higher. When induced with this technology, antioxidants and other phytonutrients multiply, with beta-carotene (a form of retinoic Vitamin A) levels more than 9 times greater than what is found in carrots. This is a major skin rejuvenator that benefits aging and problem skin as it promotes cell renewal and restores youth. Research has shown that the ECGC in green tea (28 times as concentrated in Matcha form) has a special way of communicating with damaged human DNA cells to either self-destruct or regenerate, leading the body to produce healthy new cells.

Goji Berry is another traditional botanical classified in a class of herbs that can preserve youth. There is research that shows its potent effects against photo-aging and uneven skin tone, fine lines, and spider veins. It’s also high in an antioxidant called astaxanthin which is a natural sunscreen which helps to reverse and protect skin from sun exposure. Similar to Matcha, Goji encourages new cell growth and contains more beta-carotene than carrots. This herb also contains skin regenerating polysaccharides and collagen stimulating Vitamin C. It is also a very potent anti-inflammatory. Goji also contains fine line fighting and hyper pigmentation regulating peptides.

The results I received from this treatment mask made me so curious about how these ingredients work together to transform my skin, seemingly softening emerging fine lines and neutralizing breakouts simultaneously. YÜLI excels at their careful attention to detail and in-depth knowledge and this mask is a shining example of their mastery of clean and advanced formulas. Unlike a lot of natural masks, this never left my skin irritated but it delivered way more results. $65 for 1.7oz is worthwhile when you consider how much use you get since the powder is so concentrated. After over 2 months of use, I’m not even 30% through the jar (see photo above). This mask does it all: deep cleanses, anti-aging, blemish fighting – it is a remarkable product that I’m happy to now call a staple. The best part is that YÜLI employs natural adaptogens to ensure that their products including this mask adapt with each skin type so even my mom with older, sensitive skin loves using it. I consider it a skin treatment, complexion perfecter, and essential once-weekly treat for skin. I very rarely give this much of a glowing review, but Pure Mask is a true knock out that even for this jaded girl who plays with new products every week, impresses and delivers in a way not really seen in today’s market. Trust me when I say this, keep a jar of this around you, and you are always one mask away from your best skin.