How a Busy NYC Beauty Editor Uses the Intense Recharge Mask for a Self-Care Mask Moment

Not only am I a beauty editor, but I’m a beauty editor living in New York City. That means there’s usually a layer of grime, dirt, and dust that’s accumulated on my face by the time I get home at the end of the day. My skin has seen it all — moments when I had to pass through a cloud of mystery steam brewing from the street corner, air conditioning condensation dripping on my nose as I walk under a building, and, of course, just general pollution that I can’t always see but can definitely always smell. 

That’s why I use skincare as a way to see real results fast (because let’s be honest, if there are no results, there’s no point), but to make my mind slow down. My skincare routine is a coveted time away from sensory overload, if you will. Since I have combination skin, with an extremely oily and pore-heavy nose and forehead area, I typically reach for clay masks to give my pores a much-needed detox. When I discovered the clay Epionce Intense Recharge Mask, which both recharges and refines my skin, I knew I had to give it a try. 

As a beauty editor, the first thing I typically look for when choosing a mask is its antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants are one of the best ways to fight against natural pollutants that you simply can’t avoid when you step outside. 

The Intense Recharge Mask has Enmei Extract, which is a highly potent antioxidant that both helps shield the skin from harmful pollutants, and also works to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles at the same time. This is a must-have because if my mask isn’t pulling double duty — nourishing my skin while also helping me age proactively — I’m going to skip it. 

This mask also has Red Seaweed, which helps hydrate the areas of my skin that are more dry, and Noni Extract, a medicinal Polynesian plant known for its calming capabilities and its ability to minimize all that T-zone area shine. Finally, another favorite ingredient of mine in this mask is Wild Carrot, which helps to restore the skin’s barrier. Without a strong and healthy skin barrier, the rest of your beauty routine (including makeup application) will always fall short. A healthy skin barrier can work to stave off breakouts, clogged pores, and annoying patches of dryness and redness. 

The Intense Recharge Mask is also clinically proven to reveal a brighter, healthy-looking complexion; it basically takes the day off of my face. That’s why it’s one of my most recommended masks to friends looking to boost their skincare routines, no matter which skin issues they’re dealing with.

Now, as a beauty editor, I have to take a minute to break down one of the most talked-about beauty terms floating around in the skincare zeitgeist: anti-aging. In my opinion, the more appropriate term that beauty editors and consumers are both striving for is proactive aging. To me, proactive aging means that you continue to look and feel like yourself as you age, while ensuring your skin looks the best it can possibly look at any stage. In the aesthetics world, this typically means getting minimal treatments that are barely noticeable, but in the skincare world, it means staying proactive about reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but not totally eliminating them in the process.

Lines are going to happen, but how can we hydrate, maintain, and care for those lines as we get older? For me, it’s about eliminating synthetic ingredients and turning towards plant-powered ones that actually work. As a beauty editor who tries and tests hundreds of products in a year, it’s also a must that I use products that are free of parabens and fragrances. Fragrances can seem nice and soothing in the moment, but can be harmful to your skin’s health over time. I’d much rather light a scented candle as I take a self-care moment with my Intense Recharge Mask than add unnecessary fragrance chemicals to my skin’s surface through the products I apply. With the Intense Recharge Mask, I can actually turn off my brain to enjoy the wellness moment fully, knowing that nothing unnecessary or synthetic is added to the product. 

So, how do I like to use the Intense Recharge Mask? This mask is one of the most important tools in my beauty arsenal because it allows me to maintain my skin’s health in between appointments with my facialist. It’s recommended to see an Epionce Pro for a facial at least once a month, but I can definitely start to see my skin needing some help around two weeks post-facial. For me, I can tell it’s time to mask up when I notice visibly clogged pores with the blackheads and sebum protruding through my skin, causing uneven makeup application. 

When you live in New York City, many unexpected events pop up in the middle of the week. When I need to give my skin a quick and effective reset, this mask is the perfect thing to add brightness and restore balance to my skin barrier in a short amount of time. 

You can use this mask anywhere between five and 20 minutes, which is another reason why it’s one of my favorites. If you just want to do a quick pre-event skin reset, all you have to do is leave it on for five minutes to see results. And sometimes, when you’re trying to head out the door as quickly as possible, five minutes is all you have. I’ll leave the mask on as I’m steaming my dress or chatting on the phone with my friends about what they’re wearing and what the vibe of the upcoming function will be. When I FaceTime my friends in my Intense Recharge Mask, it’s one of the easiest ways to share my favorite skincare secrets. 

But if I’m using the mask as a mid-month treat to maintain my skin in between facial appointments, I make a night out of it. Instead of leaving the mask on for 20 minutes as I catch up on my favorite reality TV (I’m a Bravo girl through and through), I like to take my mask moment completely offline and away from screens. My favorite thing to do is wash the makeup and the day off of my face with the Gentle Foaming Cleanser, apply the Intense Recharge Mask, light that aforementioned candle, and sit on the floor of my living room (it makes me feel like I’m grounding, even though I’m on the ninth floor of my apartment building). 

As the mask does its thing, I like to take a few minutes to run through what I’m grateful for and connect with how I’m feeling in the moment and how the week has felt so far. I think about anything I’d like to focus on or change. And then, I like to journal. There’s something about journaling completely away from screens with just the light of my flickering candle that makes me feel like I can dig into my thoughts deeper. Sometimes, if I’m truly into my reflection, I’ll keep the mask on a little longer than 20 minutes (which is totally okay!). Then, once I feel like I’ve flushed out my thoughts fully, I head back to the bathroom to rinse the mask off with warm water and apply the rest of my nightly skincare routine. It’s actually become a practice I look forward to, since after purging my thoughts in my journal and purging the toxins from my skin, I feel like I’ve just experienced a full life reset, and can have a fresh start for the next day and whatever it might bring my way. 

Whether you’re looking for an effective way to maintain facial results between appointments or indulge in a self-care mask moment, the Intense Recharge Mask has earned a permanent spot on my beauty shelf (which is no easy feat — there’s a lot of competition!). If you’re interested in learning more about Epionce’s approach to healthy skin with no synthetic ingredients, contact an Epionce Pro near you who can guide you on your own self-care skincare journey and recommend products tailored to your skin’s type, texture, and goals. Find an Epionce Pro Near You, and tell them I sent you. 🙂 

By Brittany Leitner