Skincare Review: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask and R+R Mask
While I was on a trip to Barcelona I stumbled into Sephora because…how could I not?
I took a stroll down the aisles looking at all the brands and products available; for a while now I wanted to try the brand Summer Fridays, a skincare brand launched by digital influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores. I heard a lot about the first product Summer Fridays launched last year, the Jet Lag Mask, and it’s become a cult favourite for many beauty editors and bloggers.
Aside from the attractive, very millennial, and instagram-friendly brand aesthetic and unique metallic paint tube packaging, I was curious to see what all the hype was about so when I saw Summer Fridays was available at Sephora in Barcelona, I quickly picked up the Jet Lag Mask and the R+R Mask.
I used both masks for a month and here are my thoughts. Just as an FYI: I have sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin — it gets oily mainly in the T-zone.
Jet Lag Mask
Designed to hydrate, the Jet Lag mask is rich, smooth and creamy like a moisturiser in texture. The key ingredients include chestnut extract, vitamin C and niacinamide and the main benefits of the mask include hydrating the skin and leaving it refreshed and radiant.
What I found interesting about the mask is that you don’t have to rinse it off like a traditional face mask. After applying a generous layer on the skin, you leave it on for 10 minutes and then wipe away the excess with a wash cloth — no need to rinse. I tried using the Jet Lag mask with this method for a few days but I didn’t really find any benefit from wiping away the excess. My skin felt softer and hydrated but not enough so I had to apply a moisturiser anyways.
According to the quote from the founders of Summer Fridays on the company website, ““We love this as an overnight mask and use it as a hydrating primer under makeup too!” XO, Marianna & Lauren“, so I decided to try leaving it on my skin instead of wiping it away. Since the Jet Lag mask has such a rich and creamy consistency, I use it as a night-time moisturiser in my skincare routine (I think it’s too thick for my liking for the day time in a hot and humid climate). I apply a pretty generous amount (maybe about three squeezes from the tube) and slowly massage it all over my face, orbital bone (works great as an under eye cream as well!), neck and ears. The Jet Lag mask has a mint-like cooling effect the moment it touches the skin but there’s no mint (or any other) fragrance and it’s really soothing.
After the first few days of using the Jet Lag mask as a night cream, I noticed my skin texture improve quite drastically. It felt much smoother and plump. When I wake up in the morning after a full night with the Jet Lag mask on, I don’t find any oily residue on my face (or the pillow). My skin has soaked up all the hydration from the mask, leaving it clean and fresh.
I also noticed that if I have any acne or pimples erupting, the Jet Lag mask helps to tame the inflammation overnight. I wouldn’t say it’s an acne treatment but it works nicely to calm redness.
Overall, I’m quite a fan of the Jet Lag mask because I do think it works very well to hydrate the skin and leave it looking radiant and smooth. And depending on your skin type and needs it’s a multipurpose product too — you can use it as a quick mask, an overnight mask, a night cream or makeup primer.
The Jet Lag mask retails for USD $48 for 2.25 fl oz and on Sephora’s US website there is a mini size, which retails for USD $25 for 1 fl oz. The Jet Lag mask is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores), sulphate-free, paraben-free, vegan and contains no synthetic dyes or fragrances.
Related:
Why You Need A Vitamin C Serum In Your Morning Skincare Routine — And Beginner Tips To Get Started
Pregnancy Nighttime Skincare Routine For Oily, Acne Prone Skin
Learning These 6 Rules About Skincare Helped Improve My Sensitive Acne-Prone Skin in Bangkok
R+R Mask
Designed as a 2-in-1 mask, the R+R mask gently buffs the skin and also adds natural oils to create a glow.
Similar to the Jet Lag mask in concept, the R+R mask requires no rinsing. Apply and massage the mask onto the face and leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wipe away the excess product with a damp washcloth and massage the remaining oils into the skin.
The key ingredient list is as impressive as it is indulgent: bulgarian rose oil, argan oil, rose flower powder, and a mixture of safflower, sesame, avocado, grape seed oils. Sounds like a spa experience for the face. I was sold.
On application to the face, the R+R mask first feels something like a face scrub / exfoliator because of the micro bits of rose flower that gently buff the skin as I massaged it in. But since the other main ingredients are different kinds of oils, the R+R mask overall has a butter-like texture –thick and oily but in a good way. After leaving the mask on for 10 minutes, I wiped away excess product and patted the remaining oils into my skin. I have to say my skin definitely had more radiance and glow and it felt very nourished with the oils.
And while the whole experience of using the R+R mask is extremely indulgent and reminiscent of a luxurious facial treatment, it just didn’t quite work the way I wanted it to for my skin. The oils from the R+R mask didn’t absorb into my skin the way I thought they would; even after an hour, I felt like the oils were sitting on top of my skin and if I touched my face it felt pretty greasy. Eventually, I ended up washing my face with a mild cleanser to remove the oily feeling on my skin and applied a moisturiser, which kind of erased all the benefits (except the exfoliation) of using the R+R mask. And for gentle exfoliation I have a lot of other products that do the exact same thing. So it seemed like I never used the R+R mask at all.
I don’t think it’s a bad or ineffective product by any means; I just don’t think it works for my sensitive, acne-prone skin because the leftover oils from the mask can clog up pores to cause more acne. I realise now that it’s not non-comedogenic like the Jet Lag mask.
I think if you have non-sensitive and/or dry skin and you’re looking for an indulgent, pamper-me product, you may enjoy the R+R mask and the whole experience of using it.
The R+R mask retails for USD $52 for 2.25 fl oz. It’s sulphate-free, paraben-free, vegan and contain no synthetic dyes or fragrances.
I don’t think Summer Fridays products are one-of-a-kind because you can easily find similar products (i.e. a hydrating face mask, facial oils, a rose-based exfoliator, vitamin C serum etc) on the market. That being said, I do understand the hype behind the Jet Lag mask and it is a product I would repurchase.
Overall, I think Summer Fridays offers high quality skincare products with unique and sought-after ingredients and they’re designed to create a luxurious, self-indulgent spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. This whole philosophy is reflected in brand ethos and higher price points; it’s not for everyone but if the experience is something you are looking for in your skincare experience, I think Summer Fridays is worth a shot.
Summer Fridays is available in store and online at:
- Sephora US, Sephora Canada, Sephora EU
- Mecca Australia
- Selfridges UK
- Cult Beauty website for global shipping
Please note: This is not a sponsored post. All products are purchased by me. Opinions are my own.
