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Is it too early to think about fall?
Rhetorical question, of course.
YES! IT IS!
Leave me to my beach sunsets, my coconut scented sun cream and my “too hot to sleep so I´ll dance the night away” nights.
Not that I have many of those, mind you, but I could have, in a parallel universe where I am awake after 10 pm. Ah, back in the days…
Where was I? Fall. Or at least the prospect of fall, with the promise of crisp mornings, colorful leaves and … pumpkin spice latte.
Isn´t that what fall seems to be all about? This seasonal beverage taking over social media feeds?
You tell me, because I never had one. *insert schocked emoji*
Not because I am cool enough to be anti-pumpkin spice latte. Even thinking about it makes me laugh. Or because of the huge amount of sugar it contais. That hasn´t stopped me with any other beverage either.
No, because I don´t drink coffee.
Completely useless information here, granted, but I do have a related question for all your pumpkin spice latte experts: Someone told me the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask smelt exactly like the Starbucks drink. True?
What Peter Thomas Roth claims
This powerful, triple-action, manual, chemical, and enzymatic exfoliating treatment addresses a dull, aging, and congested complexion in three ways: it exfoliates with pumpkin enzyme, reveals with alpha hydroxy acid, and polishes with aluminum oxide crystals. It also helps even the appearance of skin tone, smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and clarify to reveal skin that looks smoother, younger, radiant, and revitalized.
Facts
Prize and size
One pot contains 150 ml and retails for 58 $ on the website and on Sephora here.
Texture and smell
Of course I was curious about the scent: Warm, a little spicy, really fitting for fall. The texture is soft and pleasant, gliding on to the skin, and the physical scrub parts are very gentle.
Application and effects
Easy to spread, no dryness during the time it is on my face and no tingling on my exfoliation approved skin. The results do speak for themselves, my skin is soft, smooth and plump without irritation.
I would not use this mask daily, but once, maybe twice a week works just fine for me.
Ingredients
Favorable ingredients
- Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin): Rich in beta-carotens (plant precursor of Vitamin A) as well as trace elements and vitamins, contains exfoliating enzymes
- Alumina: aka Aluminium Oxide, physical exfoliant
- Glycerin: Humectant
- Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate: Rich in nutrients and antioxidants
- Sodium Lactate: Salt of lactic acid, humectant, pH adjuster
- Ascorbic Acid:Vitamin C, brightening, stimulates collagen production
- Tocopheryl Acetate: More stable form of Vitamin E, antioxidant
- Retinyl Palmitate: Weakest from of retinoid, bound to a fatty acid. Less irritant
- BHT:Antixodant
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil: Rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid, anti-inflammatory
Other ingredients
- Triethanolamine: ph adjuster, potential irritant
- Carbomer: Thickener
- Leucostonoc (Radish Root) ferment filtrate: Preservative (natural alternative to parabens)
- Citric Acid:AHA/Preservative
- Disodium EDTA: Binding Agent
- Benzoic Acid: Preservative
- Sorbic Acid: Preservative
- Potassium Sorbate: Preservative
- Chlorphenesin:Preservative
- Phenoxyethanol: Preservative
- Benzyl Alcohol: Preservative
- Cinnamal: Fragrance (from cinnamon)
Unfavorable Ingredients
- Perfume
Pumpkin, as the name would suggest, both as pumpkin as well as the fermented fruit filtrate version. In case you are wondering, the fermentation breaks down the nutrients so they are said to absorb more readily into the skin. Aluminium oxide for physical exfoliation, very gentle and a few humectants and antioxidants and Vitamin C for good measure. A few chemical exfoliants too, but further down the ingredient list, so I am not sure how much they contribute to the actual exfoliation process.
It does contain perfume and quite a few preservatives, in case you try to avoid that.
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
My skin feels hydrated, smooth and very soft after using it.
Would I repurchase?
Maybe.
I have proclaimed my love for chemical exfoliants numerous times on the blog, and I can get similar results with these, so I am not sure if I will. If I had skin more sensitive than mine is though, I´d be all over it for sure.
Who do I recommend it to?
People that experience texture or uneven skin tone and need a gentle exfoliation. I would advise though not to go too hard on the physical scrubbing part then, the enzymes should do the trick on their own.
