I have a FWB (that's "friends with benefits" for the uninitiated) type relationship with this product. It doesn't fulfill me on a deeper level--sure, it's hydrating, but so are millions of other creams, masks, serums etc. At $22 for fl. 5oz. it's neither expensive nor particularly cheap. So why do I keep this around? I use it for one purpose and one purpose only, and that's to protect my skin from drying out in the sauna. For this, I have yet to find a good replacement. I love saunas, the dry heat, the wooden slats, the way it clears my head and relaxes tight muscles, everything. Unfortunately it dries out my skin something awful, which inevitably leads to breakouts 1-2 days later. This is the best solution I've found, I slather it on my face up to my hairline (it smells herbaly and good in that Aveda way). The reason it works so well for this is because it never dries or evaporates off even in dry heat. It stays moist (tacky actually) to the touch for at least a good hour, I know that I've never had to reapply but then again I do use a good quarter-sized blob before I go in. I've also used Korean and Japanese brand sheet masks before but still go back to this gel mask because the sheet masks do eventually end up drying out on me. This product is super, super effective at preventing breakouts due to dehydration and for that reason alone I have to give it four stars. Since it's an oil-free gel and not a cream I don't get paranoid about it breaking me out, also I have the impression that using oil-based products in the sauna is poor etiquette but maybe that's just me.

I don't use a lot of masks, other than my own home-made aspirin mask, but I bought this on an expensive impulse, and I do like it. It's not too annoyingly or cloyingly scented (one big thing that will make me immediately dislike a product) and it gives a visible boost of hydration and refreshment to my skin, especially in winter.
I've tried the trick of applying a thin layer to my face overnight, and while that can be a little sticky, it's a nice way to get the moisturising effect without wandering around doing nothing with my face covered in goo for ten minutes.
I don't think this is a must-have essential in my cabinet by any means, but overall my experience of this masque is all good.

This mask works alright. It wasn't super moisture or "intense" moisture, but it does slightly work to moisturize my skin. I won't repurchase but I am using the one I bought just to avoid being wasteful. I'm putting it on every couple of days over my makeup and letting it set five or ten minutes before I wash my face. Using it this way, I notice a little difference but not enough to justify purchasing it again. It works better this way for me, than it did by following the directions.

I have dry skin so it's difficult sometimes to find products that will refresh your skin without making it feel all greasy. This product definitely helped put a glow on my face and it can be used day or night without drying your skin out. I would definitely use this product again!!! :)

I've used this many times and really like it. It's very refreshing, smooth, and hydrating. It can burn a little depending on one's skin type but overall, it does the job for me.

I have been using this product for years. I have always liked it. But recently I tried it as an overnight mask. I put my serums (e.g., TNS) on and applied this over top. My skin was so smooth and glowy the following day. I actually had a (straight) male friend tell me my skin looks radiant. A couple of others commented as well.
It's a great mask. It will not clog your pores. I think it's great.

It burns. My skin feels tighter after I wash it off. Smooth skin, but it doesn't feel any more moisturized than before.

This is the best mask I ever used! I can feel my skin is all soft and moisturized right away after using it. It's easy to use and scent free. I use once a week. I will definitely buy again!

I love this product! It is the one product that I have consistently loved and cannot live without and believe me I have tried many products of various brands. I have been using it for a couple of years now. My skin seemed to stay flaky mainly in the winter no matter what I used. I found myself using tons of products on my face at night just to combat the dryness. However, when I applied makeup, I still had flakes. I started using this during the winter. It would be the last thing I applied before going to bed and I would sleep in it. I used it every night. I noticed that finally the flakiness was reduced. I think the price is great. A tube would last me for about six months. But the great thing is that I stopped using so many other products (and I am talking expensive products) which saved me money. I have now been diagnosed with rosacea. The treatment for that leaves me flaky, but as long as I use this product, I am good. This product just works great for me. Plus I never break-out while using it.

I really like this product. It works well for sensitive skin or sunburns, I usually use it in the winter when my face is especially dry or windburned. I also enjoy using this product when I'm sick and my nose has gotten dried out from tissues. A little does go a long way as many other reviewers have mentioned and it does not cause any type of breakouts if you were to say, fall asleep with it on (guilty). It's very hydrating, almost scentless (vaugely refreshing and crisp) and gentle. I have very dry skin and I like to use this after I've used a purifying mask to restore moisture.

I use this every three days or so at night and it makes my skin so so soft. I barely use a pea size and I put it all over my face and then I wake up with super soft skin. Doesn't break me out at all, and it comes in such a big tube it will last forever.

This is one of the products my Aveda aesthetician uses when giving me spa facials. It does STING my sensitive skin after being applied (every time) and I've tried it quite a few times. This effect goes away after a minute or two, which is why I still get spa facials, and my skin is not red afterwards. She sent it home with me to try on my neck, which is always dry & itchy in the winter, and suggested that you can mix a few drops with a moisturizing cream as well. You are supposed to gently wipe it off, with a damp towel when using as a masque. I use this inbetween spa facials occasionally. She also sugggested keeping it refridgerated and use it on sunburns, as other reviewers have commented, but I haven't had an occasion to use it this way.
Has not been HG for me, but does moisturize my skin. If you aren't happy with this or other Aveda products, you should return them! My Aveda salon has a generous return policy (in lieu of providing samples) and will take anything back.
I have mostly dry skin that tends to be sensitive, and occasionally get break-outs. continued >>

I have dry-combination skin & have used this hydrating mask for years. It's clear, kind of sticky, but safe enough to leave on overnight & wake up with well hydrated skin. Sometimes before going out, I'll mix it with the Tourmaine charged radiance mask by Aveda & leave on for 10 mins or so, wash off & my skin is moisturized & radiant. continued >>

i only use this maque for one area only, the lips. this really helps with my dry crack lips.
and it works so magically well. its great enough to use it daily. i tried using on my face, doesnt do anything much. its really light and feels like aloe vera gel. no scent.

I usually don't like using masques, as I can't be bothered putting them on, then rinsing them off 15 mins or so later. I use this masque as a moisturiser (only use a pea-sized amount - definitely not much more than that, or else it feels too sticky/tacky to wear overnight or under makeup) when my oily, acne-prone skin is playing up.
I mix the masque with 1 or 2 drops of german chamomile oil (in a jojoba oil base) in my palm before spreading it on my face, let it soak into skin for about 5 - 10 mins before putting on my powder mineral makeup. i find that those big, painful pimples get soothed and less painful, and that blemishes heal a lot faster than they normally would, though they don't disappear overnight, it makes my skin feel more 'comfortable' and less irritated.
i also used this masque on my underarms once after getting laser done, because i noticed that it was red, stinging and itchy because the laser must've burnt me. by the time i came home from work that day (about 3 hours later), i couldn't tell that i had been burnt at all. the redness, itchness and stinging had completely gone.
the trick to using this masque is less is definitely more. ignore the instructions on the back which tell you to put a "thick layer on your skin" - that's fine if you want to use it as a masque where you want to rinse it off, but i find that the way to get the best results is really by putting a thinner layer on your skin (mixed with essential oils to balance your skin - just like how they do in their spa facials to customise it for your skin type), and use it as a moisturiser under your makeup.
My skin gets blocked and irritated by lots of moisturisers, and breaks out if i use anything with titanium dioxide or mineral oils, and some essential oils, but using this masque with german chamomile essential oil mixed in has really balanced my skin in a way that no other blemish treatments, pimple treatments/creams/masques/cleansers/exfoliants have worked.

This is a GREAT GREAT GREAT product. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and it's a critical part of my skin care regimen. I first use the Bliss Lab Triple Oxygen Mask for five minutes. Followed by this awesome thick masque and then use the Botanicle Toning Mist also from Aveda to finish it off. My skin looks bright and it feels sooo soft afterwards.

Great product. The trick is to wipe it off with a damp towel, not wash it off. Sometimes when there's a dry patch on my face I rub it in like a moisturizer and wear it under makeup; even though it gets a little tacky/sticky, it does the job for healing and moisturizing the dry patch.
It's expensive, but it lasts for-freakin'-ever. I keep it in the fridge for an extra-soothing effect on irritated skin.
I know Aveda products can be tricky, but they're INCREDIBLE when you find the right use for you. They're all-natural and will not work in the typical fashion or necessarily have the same textures as more synthetic/fake products. EXPERIMENT before giving up!
Great multipurpose product (for cuts, burns, dryness, irritation, as a mask or moisturizer... ). Justifies the price.

Really like this product. I have dry, sensitive skin. This doesn't break me out, and it does a great job of hydrating my skin. I usually just leave it on, not sure if you are supposed to wash it off, but I usually don't. It is also really great on burns too. I have 2, one that is less full, I put it in the fridge for a little bit and apply it to sun burns. It's a great all around product.

I've got sensitive and dehydrated skin, and I can only recommend this product to anybody with this skin type. It's great to put on overnight - I only apply about as much as I would do with a nightcream - and it does not get sticky or dry on my skin at all. In the mornings after using it, my skin feels very supple and well-hydrated. I use it about every 3 or 4 days overnight and it is clearly a product that helps maintaining youthful looking skin. This is a staple that I would buy over and over again and I hope Aveda will never discontinue producing it.

I had high expectations for this product but unforunately, was highly disappointed. This product felt nice going on. But after I washed it off, I felt my skin was tighter and dryer! I have only used it that one time and won't use it again. It did the opposite of what it was supposed to do.