Product Review: Summer Fridays Overtime Mask

A few years ago, I wrote an article breaking down the uses and benefits of spices in your skincare routine and offered suggestions as to how to combine some of them to make your very own pumpkin spice-themed facial treat. Today, I am pleased to share with you that I have found a breakthrough, ready-made version of such a thing-- the Summer Fridays Overtime Mask.

The Overtime mask is a resurfacing mask by nature, combining the chemically exfoliating properties of pumpkin enzymes and retinol-mimicking and precursor beta carotene to stimulate cell turnover and add brightness with apricot seed powder gently works to scrub away dead skin cells from the surface. Accompanying them of course, is the spices. Cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and turmeric all play their parts in infusing the skin with vitamins (especially Vitamin C), boosting circulation, helping to soothe and clear breakouts, and evening skintone.

What I love about about this mask is, like every Summer Fridays item I have tried so far-- it is results-driven and fast-acting and yet is super well balanced and gentle, even to my very sensitive and often reactive skin, and the product also gives you many ways to use it to customize it to your skin's needs The first benefit II note is just how gentle the apricot seed component is for the physical exfoliation. Th particles are visible but are fairly small, and there is plenty of creamy substance in the formula to diffuse and soften their effects. You still feel the buffing if you choose to actively scrub with it or when you wash the mask off, but it never feels scratchy or just too much, and the particles themselves are super easy to rinse off and wipe away,

That said, if physical exfoliation is not something you like to do, you can totally just not massage it in when applying it or taking it off and instead just leave the mask to sit on your face and let the pumpkin enzymes do their renewing and resurfacing magic. The directions recommend you leave it on for 10 minutes, but I have to say that in both using the scrubbing action and just leaving it alone to passively exfoliate, I have left the mask on for both times longer and shorter than that and have gotten great results with it. So you can definitely tailor this product to your skin's needs or your schedule on the day and still walk away with having had a great treatment. And speaking of it being a treatment experience, it smells so spicy and delicious-- though not at all overpowering to my nose-- that I feel all cozy and indulgent when I use it, especially during Fall.

As for the results themselves, my skin never looks or feels more smooth or softer than when I use this mask. It as if my face has been transformed to glass. Dry patches have been swept away and any little bumps from either forming or leftover acne have often disappeared directly after or the day after using this mask. This is not necessarily a mask that is meant to extract out or clear up deep-seeded or persistent acne, but it will help with smaller blemishes and will boost the overall radiance of skin, and with it's exfoliating and circulation-enhancing qualities, I feel it definitely helps shorten the life cycle of any and all acne I get. But my skin looks visibly glowing for days after I use this, makeup goes on seamlessly and my areas of redness and high color seem toned down for days afterward too. But just for the difference this mask has made to the smoothness of my skin, it would be astounding! I plan to definitely use this in heavy rotation as we get into the colder months to keep the skin feeling soft and comfortable as dryness really becomes even more of an issue. But truly, I use this about once a week or every two weeks and love it all the time!

If there ever was a mask that could be an instant skin pick-me-up and be an indulgent treat to use, it is Summer Fridays Overtime mask. No matter what your skin type or concern, I feel that this mask could truly suit anyone in some capacity and certainly for extra glow. The 2.25 oz tube of the Overtime mask currently retails for $44 USD. You can find it at some Sephora stores as well as online and on the Summer Fridays official website.