Swisse Skincare is one of the few supermarket brands that makes some decent products. There are a few things I really like. Their cranberry facial oil is one of them. It was one of the first facial oils I have used and, after trying many different ones since then, I still rate it highly.
But just like any other brands there are hits and there are misses.
The Hyaluro-Natural Hydrating Facial Mask was featured in the Beautyheaven's Natural Beauty Month members' event (which was in August). It is probably one of the worst products from the whole Swisse range. It is definitely the worst Swisse product I have come across.
That's my view from having used it for a good 3 months.
Claims
Swisse Hyaluro-Natural™ Hydrating Facial Mask is a deeply-nourishing moisture treatment enriched with a natural botanical alternative to hyaluronic acid.
What is "hyaluro-natural"?
You would probably have heard of the very popular hydrating ingredient "hyaluronic acid". It is a naturally-existing molecule in human bodies. It binds water, and it is one of the best things you can use for dehydrated skin. In the old days, hyaluronic acid was extracted from rooster combs. Nowadays it is usually produced by bacterial fermentation process, which means - the molecule is "natural", but the manufacturing process is "artificial" (and that is completely fine with me). There is, however, an opportunity to market a "natural" substitute for this popular ingredient.
This mask is called "hyaluro-natural". Don't be fooled by the name, it does not contain any hyaluronic acid. Instead, it contains "a natural botanical alternative to hyaluronic acid" which is senna plant extract. This plant extract is in fact widely used also as a humectant (that is, it is capable of binding water). Structurally, it is a polysaccharide (consist of chains of sugars) - same as hyaluronic acid. So it sounds like we are off to a pretty good start here.
In addition, this mask has a lot of plant oils (sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, avocado oil) which are all good and well for adding fatty acids and emollient to dry skin.
My experience
It's packaged in Swisse's typical glass jar for a mask. I have read on online review saying that it smells like cold cream, which is probably the best way to describe the smell. I don't mind it.
The consistency is very strange for a hydrating mask. It is nothing like any other hyaluronic acid masks that I have used in my life. This mask is gooey and thick. Very thick. And sticky.
The mask is so sticky that it cannot be rinsed off. It cannot be washed off using my regular cleanser either, even by cleansing twice. I had to use a face cloth to scrub that thing off my face.
Immediately, a lot of points are gone for user experience.
Results
Its instructions say it can be used either for 15 minutes or overnight. I have tried both.
Unfortunately, I found that my skin became very oily after using the mask, especially after an overnight use, which I don't think is the intended purpose of the mask.
The plant oils are great for adding fatty acids and emollient to dry skin.
However, there is a difference between "hydration" (replenishing water) and "moisturisation/nourishment" (replenishing oil). Dehydrated skin needs water; dry skin needs oil.
Although it contains senna plant polysaccharides which is a water-binding ingredient, I feel that the balance is tipped off by all the rich and sticky plant oils. I do not really feel there's any hydration benefits. All I feel is richness and oiliness. Note that senna plant polysaccharides is listed as 12th in the list, where as sunflower seed oil, soybean oil and avocado oil are all listed higher in the list.
The only way I can use this mask is to apply it to cheeks and chin only (avoid T-zone), on wet skin (to give the mask more water to bind to), and to scrub it off with a face cloth after a maximum of 15 minutes.
I think this mask is fine to use if it was called a "nourishing mask" or "repair mask". However, to call it a "hydrating mask" but all it does is to increase my skin's oil content but makes no difference to water content - it is just not going to get a very positive score from me.
Life after opening
As if I need another reason to not like this mask.
The "life after opening" is supposedly 12 months.
The content in the jar started to split after 2 months. A yellowish, oily layer started to appear on top of the mask. It became completely unusable after 3 months. This is the first time I see a skincare product splitting!
It's now in the bin.
Summary
Pros
Inexpensive
Good for very dry skin which lacks oil
Cons
Thick and viscous texture that is difficult to rinse off
Makes normal/combination skin greasy. Very greasy
Not enough hydration for my dehydrated skin
Goes off quickly
Full ingredient list
Aqua, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycerin (Plant Derived), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cassia Angustifolia (Senna) Seed Polysaccharide, Tocopherol, Corallina Officinalis Thallus (Red Algae) Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Octyldecanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol.
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.