Trib tested: Biore Skincare Self Heating One Minute Mask
The claim: Infusted with natural black charcoal, two fast-acting purifiers draw out dirt and oil without stripping the skin. In just one minute, this thermal mask warms to open pores and draws out and dissolves 2 1⁄2 times more dirt, oil and surface toxins than a basic cleanser, and rinses them clean away with an invigorating cooling sensation. This breakthrough mask melts dirt and oil better than the leading competitive mask.
Cost: $7.99
Where: Major drug, grocery and discount stores or www.biore.com
The Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask was a bit surprising. My daughter and I were both a little startled by how quickly the charcoal-based mask heated up and how warm it was. But the intense heat only lasts a few seconds, and then it's just pleasantly warm. The substance, as you can imagine, is quite unappealing as you put it on your face, but it really seemed to dry up my tweener daughter's skin. I'm not sure it's something I'd use again on my drier (read older and more wrinkly) face. But for her, it would be good to use two or three times as week, as the package suggests. Just be careful to get it all off when you're done.
I'm always eager to try a product from Biore, my favorite big-box store skin-care line. (If I were stranded on a deserted island, I'd long for its pore strips, maybe even before chocolate.)
The Self Heating One Minute Mask was the perfect salve for a cool, rainy night after 10 hours at work. I focused the minute massage and mask — which heated on contact — on my nose, where my pores tend to clog the most. After just two uses, not only was my skin cleaner, but my face was silky and radiant, too. I was delighted that the mask came off so easily, unlike many of its counterparts, which I've found clinging to my hairline several days later.
The sludgy color, because of the natural charcoal used to draw out impurities, isn't the most attractive, but that's a minor point.
Biore has done it again!
Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask was just the thing to freshen up my skin after such a gray winter. Smooth the scary-looking, mud-colored mask onto your wet face, add a bit of water to spark the heat and you have an instant beauty treatment.
The product changes temperature surprisingly quickly. With this mask, there is no waiting for the product to dry. After your 60-second pause, it rinses easily with warm water and a wash cloth.
My skin was left feeling soft and smooth, with pores minimized and perfectly primed to absorb my daily moisturizer.
