As one of the most adventurous summers comes to an end, there is one unwanted reminder about my epic travels, suspiciously enlarged pores. This cumulative side effect of seasonal overindulgence is currently being addressed by the latest Sunday Riley launch. If you’re in need of a clearing, de-congesting and refreshing potion, the new Saturn Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask is out-of-this-world good.
I’m certainly no stranger to this blemish busting compound, having used my first Sulfur mask back in 2000. I recall vividly the DDF jar, which was sold only at Sephora at the time. Others followed: Peter Thomas Roth, Dermalogica (the Charcoal mask is Sulfur infused), Dr. Dennis Gross, and Mario Badescu, to name a few.
The constant battle against excess oil and a T-zone shine that makes you glow in the dark? The struggle is real. That said, the new Sunday Riley mask is hands down the most elegant of them all and is also the most effective I have tried to date.
Formulated with 10% Sulfur, 4% Niacinamide, and 1% Zinc, Saturn offers a kaleidoscope of complexion perfecting benefits in a single application. First, Sulfur features anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it draws impurities from the skin’s surface without triggering any alarm bells for those with ingredient sensitivities. Helping to refine the look of pores, Niacinamide also corrects uneven skin tone and loss of firmness. Finally, Zinc soothes and calms redness or other breakout related irritation.
Creamy and ultra spreadable, the Bentonite Clay base dries without cracking nor feeling tight on the skin. A word of caution: the very particular scent of Sulfur is very much present in Saturn; it smells like a freshly lit match to me. As to its performance, this mask delivers on every promise and the results more than make up for the temporary unpleasant natural aroma.
Apply a thin layer, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, rinse off completely, and follow with a moisturizer. Balanced and calm (thanks to Tea Tree Oil), your skin will be brighter with pores that appear visibly tighter. You can also use it as a spot treatment on areas that are prone to breakouts or that need an extra TLC while healing.
I’ll be the first to admit that $55 is a bit north of what most people are willing to spend on a face mask, but the remarkable performance of Saturn totally justifies the splurge. Available at Sephora.com.
*press sample
