Paula's Choice • skin recovery hydrating treatment mask • Masks

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jchoi128 on 4/10/2013 11:03:00 AM more reviews by jchoi128

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I gave this product 5 lippies with a slightly different perspective.

This so called, "hydrating treatment mask" really doesn't work well as a mask. So I would give this product a horrible rating if I were to rate it as the sole purpose of using it as a mask. It's a bad bad mask.

But Read On. Why do I love this product?

TEXTURE: It's a light textured, not so heavy, ever so slightly thick lotion like texture. If you have all used Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion, it's lighter than that but not a runny consistency.

No breakouts, no whiteheads, etc.
No fragrances, no harsh additives, Non-greasy.
Love this aspect.

PRICE: $16? You'll definitely get your bucks out of this product. Here is why.


I live in Toronto Canada and it gets very cold and dry in the winter.
I am 24 years old, have normal to dry skin which was pulling in every direction as soon as I landed in Toronto a few months ago. I was looking for a solution so I initially searched for a mask until I ordered this product accidently.

I apply a very thin layer of this mask over a cream or daily moisturizer if I feel like I need something extra, depending on the weather and the condition of my skin. It seems to work, it really hydrates and my skin absorbs it.

Recently, I have been getting more creative and used this mask by mixing a pea size amount with 1-2 drops of face oil (Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil or Darphin Rose Aromatic Care) and applying directly to my face at night. I've always found applying face oil a difficult task for me. I seem to have a heavy hand and I can't help myself. But this trick actually seems to help the face oil to absorb into my skin faster, thanks to this Paula's Choice mask. This helps to relieve my skin for the night and my face is so soft in the morning when I wake up.


FINAL VERDICT:
Although this product doesn't live up to its true purpose as advertised, I think they should just change the name to "Multipurpose Cream" and sell sell sell. At $15 a tube, it's a bargain in my opinion. It's just a simple moisturizer that doesn't do any harm to your skin and you can mix with other products or layer it depending on your needs. I sometimes even apply some on my hand if I see it.

Try it, and if it doesn't work for you as a mask or even as a moisturizer I'm sure you can figure out a creative way to use this product, ONLY because this product doesn't have any complex ingredients.

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Violetgreenblue on 3/24/2013 3:09:00 AM more reviews by Violetgreenblue

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

This is my HG moisturizer. I've never actually used it as a mask. It is fantastic around the eye area especially. I typically use it at night after applying a retinol product. I've never broken out with it, and if I did randomly a couple of times I probably wouldn't even care. I'm just so happy to have found a good winter moisturizer for dry combination skin (I do not put it on my nose).

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

BitJustGingerly on 3/12/2013 2:19:00 PM more reviews by BitJustGingerly

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

So far I think it is pretty good, I haven't used a mask in years and probably need to because my skin is so dry. In reading how others used it as a "night" cream and just applied it over the top of everything else, I tried it this way but it made those yucky peely things you get when you put on too much product. It probably was because I had on a fresh application of exfoliant.
I tried it today as the instructions said, and yes, my face feels a bit more hydrated. So I will continue to use it per instructions (just after cleansing) and even try it as an "overnight treatment".

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*TOP REVIEWER* seaswan on 2/27/2013 7:26:00 PM more reviews by seaswan

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Other, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

How have I not reviewed this? I love this mask. I soothes my skin more than any of her moisturizers. It has great ingredients and no fragrance.
I apply this all over including my eye area and leave it on overnight. I wake up with such soft skin. I think this mask would be good for just about any skin type except oily.

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HWL on 2/22/2013 6:04:00 PM more reviews by HWL

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This product broke me out. But then I went crazy with AHAs and pro-retinol (not from PC), but I don't really tolerate them as well as I'd like. So I ended up very red and sore and this is the only thing that helped ease the pain and I have been slobbering it on with neosporine as night cream and it's been a Godsend. So I think I will keep some sample packs or a tube of of this around for emergencies. I am avoiding my forehead where I break out the most though. I think I am more sensitive and dehydrated than dry skin. I might even be combo skin (the combo being dry/oilier not oily/normal). Still, I can get quite dry.. This also terrific for really chapped hands, as I had the dumb idea of exfoliating my cracked fingers tips. Some of the products in this line are too hydrating for me, which was something I did not think was possible. I am checking out some of the other lines. Anyway I found a use for this.

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alohahawaii on 2/18/2013 2:50:00 AM more reviews by alohahawaii

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I just ordered another one today. I use this as a moisturizer right before I go to bed. It helps control my flakiness caused by my Retin A use. I tried the Skin Recovery Moisturizer, but it smells so bad that I can't stand it. This seems to have no offensive odor for me. I just can't see using anything else when this is full of antioxidants. This clearly does not cause eczema on my eye area. For the price you certainly get more than the normal Skin Recovery Moisturizer. It really feels nice to know that I am applying a great product on my face. HG for me.

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funnyblossom on 1/1/2013 2:50:00 PM more reviews by funnyblossom

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is one of my staples. It does what it is supposed to do: a moisture boost to my skin. I was looking for a simple, straitforward moisturizer that could double up as a mask, also I wanted something with enough slip to make my skin dewy but not greasy. I use a pea size amount everyday, sometimes applying it thicky aroung the eyes, neck and chest,or as an all over mask weekly. It works for me.

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ratten on 12/2/2012 11:16:00 AM more reviews by ratten

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Unfortunately, this product made me to break out. I like reading Paula, I believe in her reviews as what ever I tryed was always good, but her own brand doesn't seem to be good for me in most cases.

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lamaris on 11/22/2012 2:15:00 PM more reviews by lamaris

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I don't use this as a mask. I use it in the winter, as a moisturizer. I use to get very dry skin in the winter and this moisturizes very well.

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possum on 11/10/2012 4:19:00 AM more reviews by possum

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this when I travel - it's a fantastic moisturizer on the plane. It is not really effective as a mask but as an occasional overnight moisturizer and a spot treatment for dry patches, this product is excellent. The price is very reasonable and I keep a little container of this cream in my purse at all times. Use it on my face, hands, neck - anywhere I want a quick boost of soothing moisture.

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SanjaFika on 10/25/2012 2:40:00 AM more reviews by SanjaFika

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

Being a skincare junkie, always looking for the next "it" treatment and trying promising "miracle potions" left and right - I sometimes get my complexion in trouble :( My bathroom sink is littered with all kinds of cleansers, scrubs, toners and exfoliating treatments...its a disaster area that i am always trying to organize, downsize and arrange in some kind of order...Resistance is futile and i am messy so its always a work in progress!
So when i go overboard with exfoliation, AHA treatments, acne creams or simply get a mysterious rash (yuck!) this mask is my HERO! No matter how much i mess up Skin Recovery always soothes any redness, flakies or mini-burns. Its gentle, not greasy, fragrance-free and thanks to the gel-like texture it feels great on the skin so much so that i often forget that i have it on my face. Thats no easy feat!
Aside from the soothing properties i have found that this mask works even better when paired with either a clay or deep cleansing mask. The purifying effects derived from the cleansing mask are complimented by the hydration of this one. It seems to restore skin balance after any treatment, soothing, moisturizing and softening the complexion almost instantly.
Did i mention that this is also priced very reasonably and using light layers insures that a tube will last you a long-long time!
I will hoard this always! Just in case they discontinue it or needlesly change the formula :( Paula's Choice i am once again your #1 FAN!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* heather on 10/9/2012 8:23:00 PM more reviews by heather

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I use this two ways: (1) as a mask while I'm in the bathtub after cleansing my face, so my skin won't lose moisture, and (2) as a moisturizer on the nights when I want to give my skin a break from retinol, exfoliants, and other heavy-duty products. If using as a mask, I just wipe off with a moist washcloth when I get out of the bath, then apply my normal skincare. When my skin just needs a break, this is what I reach for (after the RESIST toner) and it absorbs surprisingly well on my combo skin, considering it's designed as a "mask" product. Also works really well around the eyes and over the decollete area. It's a good deal for the 4 oz. size, considering the cost of other PC moisturizers.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Walko on 7/8/2012 2:33:00 PM more reviews by Walko

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Brown    

I love this as a night cream but personally I wouldn't use it as a mask.It's really nothing like a mask. It's very hydrating and is a super moisturiser.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* hpunkinway on 4/10/2012 5:20:00 AM more reviews by hpunkinway

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I cannot say enough good things about this! I put this on at night when I am severely dehydrated, sometimes I use this as a moisturizer. It has no perfumes, and is so effective. It does not cause breakouts.
In warmer weather, I show extremely oily skin. I wear this as a mask, and rinse it off well in the morning. It does not add oil, only increase the hydration of my skin. I am reaching my 45th birthday soon.
What I love most about this product is the lack of perfumes, irritants and greasiness. I highly suggest that you ladies who have issues with dry skin (even sensitive) give this product a try. I do not think that you will be disappointed.

By the way, DO use this as an overnight treatment. You will see the best results that way.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

pinkisthecolorofpassion on 3/23/2012 3:21:00 PM more reviews by pinkisthecolorofpassion

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

Paula has a good (not great, not stellar, not HG) product here, however, I had to use it as a leave-on moisturizer (per the suggestion on the package) instead of a mask for it to be effective. So instead of a 'treatment', I needed to use this product as an everyday moisturizer, night and day (before applying SPF product during the day) . This is closer to what I would expect a moisturizer for very dry skin to be like and I expect a hydrating treatment mask labeled for 'very dry skin' to be even richer and more hydrating.

I am happy to have found something that works for my rougher than 32-bit grade sandpaper skin, less moisture than the cracked desert earth at noon after 9,000 days with no rain, but given Paula's knowledge on skin care and matching ingredients with skin type (as makes sense), I expected more.

Paula beats certain horses to death (and rightfully so) and one is companies not creating products that actually benefit the skin types it claims to (ie: a hydrating product marketed for dry skin that contains highly drying and irritating ingredients). It would be nice to see some products, particularly from Paula's Choice, targeted specifically for very dry skin instead of the range I usually find of 'normal to dry' or as with the Paula's Choice Line, 'dry to very dry', all of which seem to cater to the closer to normal than dry skin.

I would imagine people with excessively oily skin may feel the same way, that products are catered too much toward the middle, toward normal. With so many people on this earth, I surely can't be as far in the minority as it seems when doing a search for skin care products for those with very, very, very dry skin (and those on the other end of the spectrum).

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

moushka26 on 2/25/2012 8:41:00 PM more reviews by moushka26

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I'm on my third tube of this wonderful skin treatment. Paula formulates her products so that all ingredients are justified by testing published in peer-review medical journals, the gold standard of medical research. This mask is a lifesaver for my combo skin, especially in the winter. I use it nightly under my eyes where my skin has become a little crepey and I wake up with younger looking skin. I also use it all over once or twice a week, just like a moisturizer, before I go to bed. It calms any redness or slight peeling and leaves my skin feeling plump and fresh. Definitely a HG product that I wouldn't be without.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

aykhan on 1/28/2012 9:12:00 PM more reviews by aykhan

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this to handle winter dryness. I usually apply this at night a couple of times a week. If my skin is feeling especially dry, I'll leave it on overnight.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

GoblinGirl on 1/7/2012 9:59:00 PM more reviews by GoblinGirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is a creamy mask that really manage to soothe and hydrate my skin. I love using it when my skin feels dry, flaky and irritated. It calms the skin after Retin-A treatment. The only thing that I don't like is that it can sting if I get it into my eyes, but the mask works really well for me so it is still worth 5 stars.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Seattlemama on 10/7/2011 4:30:00 PM more reviews by Seattlemama

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

My skin is insanely dry lately and this mask is saving me! I've been using it everyday, at least once a day, sometimes twice. I have not had any breakouts from it and it makes my skin GLOW. Loving it and can't live without it! Also love the price and the great customer service/quick shipping. (I would not recommend this for people who don't have severely dry skin as it would be very greasy.)

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fifi13 on 10/7/2011 2:29:00 PM more reviews by fifi13

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

This didn't really do it for me. Although I didn't have a problem with the texture or smell i just never really felt it moisturised that well, even when leaving on all night. I have rather dry skin that can really flake in winter and this just seemed to do nothing for me. I have a Natio intense moisturiser that I slather on and does a much better job. I would probably try something else next time.

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