Mario Badescu’s Whitening Mask Review

I tan very easily and absolutely hate it. Even after being careful…I got very tanned this summer. So, I’ve been looking into new products that can help me get rid of this tan ASAP. Mario Badescu’s Whitening Mask is one of the products I bought to help me with this issue. It’s supposed to be very gentle for sensitive skin and contains no Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). So…what do I think about it? Keep reading to find out!

Product Details

Mario Badescu’s Whitening Mask is a hydrating facial mask that brightens uneven skin tones and gently minimizes the look of old acne scars and discolorations from the sun. Natural skin lightening ingredients like Kojic acid, Licorice extract and Mulberry make this mask gentle for all skin types. As mentioned, it contains no Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA), making it safe and gentle for acne erupted or very sensitive skin.

Price: $24.00 USD/ 2 oz

Key Ingredients

Kojic Acid– is obtained from mushrooms that are native to Japan and is a by-product of the fermentation process used to produce the alcoholic beverage Sake. Kojic acid inhibits melanin production and is safe for people with sensitive skin. It is also an antioxidant and antibacterial.

Licorice Extract– is used in treating a variety of skin diseases due to it’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic and antiviral properties. It helps fade hyperpigmentation by blocking melanin production. The licorice root is also known to act as a mild sunscreen.

Mulberries– are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene. They contain vitamins A, C and E. Mulberries help to regulate melanin synthesis, a naturally rejuvenating process that forms a protective covering in the inner layers of the epidermis, absorbing UV rays and inhibiting their penetration.

Performance

Mario Badescu’s Whitening Mask has impressive ingredients and best of all it’s safe for acne prone, sensitive skin. I really appreciate products made for sensitive skin, as we age, try new products, retinols, AHAs and stuff, our skins just get more and more sensitive. I never had sensitive skin before, but now it has become somewhat sensitive. This mask spreads nicely on the skin. I applied this mask with my fingers after showers, when my pores were all open. I find that I waste less product when I apply with my fingers, as opposed to a brush. I left it on for 15 mins or so until it dried white and took it off with a washcloth. Obviously with any topical skin lightening/whitening treatments, you will not see much of a difference right away…it takes a while for it to work. What I noticed immediately after the first use was how my skin had an oily residue. I had to wash my face with a cleanser to get rid of that residue. Since I obviously wasn’t going to notice a difference after the first use, I used it a few times  for two weeks until I realized the residue was actually getting annoying to remove and I wasn’t seeing much of a difference anyways.

The Bottom Line

Good natural ingredients, suitable for people with dry, sensitive skin…I did not have any sort of burning or redness when/after using it. But, I gotta be honest, I was not impressed with the residue it left behind. I did try it for two weeks, until the double cleansing got annoying. I also did not see any significant brightening/whitening…I am guessing it was too soon to notice anything….but like I said…I hated the residue. I will not use this again, nor will I recommend this to anyone.

Full Ingredients: Aqua (Water,Eau), Kaolin,Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide,Dimethicone,Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax,Cire Microcristalline), Sorbitol,Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil,Hulle Minérale),Propylene Glycol,Cera Alba (Beeswax,Cire d’abeille),Cellulose Gum, Kojic Acid, Tocopherol,Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Rhizome/Root, Morus Nigra Root, Scutellaria Galericulata Extract,Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract,Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil,Polysorbate 80,Methylparaben,Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract,Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract,Sodium Chloride,Parfum (Fragrance),Sorbitan Sesquioleate,Benzoic Acid,Magnesium Aspartate, Panthenol,Potassium Asparate,Potassium Hydroxide,Propylparaben,Sarcosine