Resurrection Girl: our face mask for dry skin

If your skin has ever felt so dry or dehydrated that even your best moisturiser just won’t cut it, have we got a launch for you. Introducing Resurrection Girl – the latest addition to our organic face mask range, it’s specifically designed to hydrate parched skin. And what’s more, it does the job in as little as 10 minutes.

Read on for an in-depth guide to our new mask for dehydrated skin, from its impressive trial results to the natural ingredients that make it so unique.

A mask made for dry skin

Our brightening mask and clarifying mask (which we recently reformulated for even better results) are already firm favourites – and now we’re adding our most hydrating mask to the mix. It’s certified organic, cruelty-free and vegan, as well as patch tested to be suitable for sensitive skin just like the others, but this time the brief was about quenching your skin’s thirst. Resurrection Girl drenches dry skin with moisture, intensely hydrating and reviving a lifeless complexion to leave it soft and soothed.

And we can prove it, too. This latest launch is our highest ever performing product in consumer trials, with 90% agreeing that it left their skin feeling smoother and more hydrated with just one use. To top it off, 87% said it had a soothing effect and 80% were impressed with the resulting radiance*.

But we didn’t need the stats to tell us we were onto a good thing – we knew this formula would be special, and it’s all down to the organic ingredients.

Our most hydrating formula yet

As you know, we pride ourselves on finding the very best natural ingredients to give the results you’re looking for. And this time, Mother Nature really delivered. Here’s everything you need to know about the key botanicals that power our moisturising mask.

Resurrection Plant

The powerhouse that gives our mask its name, Resurrection Plant is a natural marvel. A small resinous shrub indigenous to South Africa, its name in Zulu means ‘wakes from the dead’ – because that’s exactly what it’s able to do.

This extremophile can survive for years in the desert without water, only to revive itself almost instantaneously when moisture becomes available again. Its miraculous ability to tolerate and recover from complete dehydration is thought to be in part down to the way it curls up into a ball; laying dormant during dry spells and shielding itself from the sun’s damaging rays.

More importantly, it contains three key compounds, which not only help to rescue the plant from dehydration but do the same for your skin, too. First up is Trehalose, often known as ‘Resurrection Sugar’. It mimics your skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor (a group of elements which keep the outer layer of the skin protected), helping to trap moisture in the skin and maintain hydration levels. It also has antioxidant properties, protecting cell structures from environmental damage and extreme temperatures – making it especially helpful for those with sensitive skin.

Next up is Arbutin, a glow-giver that even gives Vitamin C a run for its money. A melanin inhibitor, it helps to even out tone, reduce the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation and leave the skin looking brighter. It also protects lipids from free radicals to help reduce further damage – so it’s a real fighter against the effects of ageing.

Last but by no means least is Glycerol Glucoside, a combination of Glycerol and Glucose which helps to maintain moisture in the skin, as well as improve the function of the all-important skin barrier. Together, these three vital components help to bring your skin – and Resurrection Plant – back to life.

The other reason we love it? Even the way the plant is harvested means it can continually restore itself. Extensive training is given to ensure a sustainable supply, with workers cutting sprigs from the very base of the shrub – so that the newer buds are left intact and able to continue to grow unharmed. That’s our kind of plant.

Blue Tansy Oil

We know what you’re thinking: why is Resurrection Girl so blue? Rest assured, we’re not ones to add artificial colours or dyes to our products. Nor do we add ingredients just to make a formula look pretty. Our hydrating mask’s ocean-blue colour was in fact a happy accident – because we carefully chose organic, steam-distilled Blue Tansy Oil for its incredible calming benefits.

Yes, this rare skin soother offers far more than its beautiful azure shade. Blue Tansy (also known as Moroccan Tansy or Moroccan Chamomile) is in fact a tiny yellow flower, and its essential oil has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic properties. And as you can imagine, that’s great news for tight, sensitive skin.

Blue Tansy Oil works at a cellular level to help reduce heat and inflammation, which is why it has such a reputation as a salve for anything from eczema and psoriasis to sun damage and even acne. It’s all down to its components – Chamazulene (which incidentally gives this wonder oil its intense indigo colour), Camphor and Sabinene.

But while Camphor helps to aid skin repair and bring relief when applied topically, it’s also the reason for the oil’s sweet, herbaceous aroma. Being part of the Chamomile family, it’s no wonder that this heavenly scent can have a powerful, mood-shifting effect; another reason for its inclusion in our reviving mask. After all, we all know the intrinsic link between our emotions and our skin – as our largest organ, it’s the first place to show its irritation and discomfort when we’re stressed.

Aromatherapy is not to be underestimated in its ability to bring about a sense of calm. By connecting your sense of smell to the limbic part of your brain, it can have a profound effect on the way you feel – and Blue Tansy Oil is one of the best for relaxation. In fact, the essential oil has historically been hailed for its ability to help ease stress, anxiety and low mood.

Take a deep breath as you apply Resurrection Girl and its uplifting, relaxing aroma will soothe tension in your body and mind – which can only serve to do the same for your skin, too.

NMF Sugar Complex

We all know face masks are the instant, intensive pick-me-up of your skincare arsenal; they’re the step you reach for when you want noticeable results, fast. But unlike a serum or oil, they’re designed to be rinsed away – which may make you question whether they’re worth the effort (not to mention the money).

Enter, our NMF Sugar Complex. We wanted our rich, luxurious mask to be more than just a moment of comfort – we wanted to leave that feeling behind, long after your 10 minutes are up. Our plant-derived Natural Moisturising Factor (or Saccharide Isomerate as it’s known in the INCI list) does exactly that. A carbohydrate complex, it binds to the skin like a magnet, holding onto moisture and never letting go.

So what does that mean for your skin? Not only is it deeply hydrating, but our NMF Sugar Complex also helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function – and most importantly, this moisturising extract cannot be washed away. It stays behind even once you’ve removed your mask, providing the long-lasting comfort and hydration that dry, sensitive skin so desperately needs.

Hyaluronic Acid

You’ll no doubt already be familiar with Hyaluronic Acid (you’ll find it in our most hydrating products) and so it’s probably no surprise that we included it in a mask designed for dehydrated skin.

To recap: a sugar molecule that’s naturally occurring in the skin, Hyaluronic Acid has an unrivalled ability to retain moisture – a vital function for skin health. However, our natural levels deplete as we age, leaving our skin drier and less bouncy as a result. That’s why it’s so essential to top up through your skincare routine.

This unique humectant is able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, much like a sponge; it attracts moisture from the air and binds it to your skin, leaving it looking plump, radiant and hydrated. So when it came to formulating Resurrection Girl, adding Hyaluronic Acid was a bit of a no-brainer.

Prebiotic Inulin

Inulin is an ingredient that we have long been excited about (so much so that we even created a concentrated Inulin booster to add to your existing routine). But while everyone can benefit from this extract, we knew it could really make a difference to those with dehydrated skin. And that’s what Resurrection Girl is all about.

Think about it. This plant-derived, scientifically proven prebiotic helps to rebalance the skin’s microbiome, and reinforce its natural defences – making it an absolute must-have for those with sensitive skin. And never is sensitivity felt more than when your skin is tight and dry.

When your skin lacks moisture, its barrier can become impaired and that way irritation lies. Dehydrated skin can easily become sensitised and uncomfortable as the all-important barrier struggles to do its job. Our active-packed formula solves both concerns in one, by combining powerful hydrating ingredients with this potent prebiotic to enhance skin recovery and repair.

Extracted from chicory roots, Inulin is like a lawn feed for your skin, helping its microbiome to thrive. In short, it bolsters your skin’s resilience, leaving it even stronger than before.

How to use it in your routine

So you know what’s inside our moisture-rich mask – but how and where do you use it within your standard skincare routine?

As with all our face masks, we recommend using Resurrection Girl once or twice a week for an intensive, 10 minute treatment. Apply it generously to dry, freshly cleansed skin using dry hands in upward movements, then sit back and unwind as it gets to work (don’t forget to inhale that calming Blue Tansy scent as you go).

Once your 10 minutes are up, moisten your fingertips and massage it in to create a silky milk – then rinse away with water. This beautiful texture is so light once wet that you won’t even need to use a muslin cloth. In fact, we recommend you don’t, so that protective NMF Sugar Complex can stay put and keep the hydration coming.

Thanks to the powerful ingredients, the benefits will be instant as well as long-lasting, but you can further increase hydration levels by topping up with your next skincare steps. We recommend applying our Back To Life hydrating serum, followed by our Love and Haight moisturiser to lock it all in. If you use a face oil, add a few drops as your final step and you’re all set.

Take ten, hydrate and recharge

We made this mask to revive dehydrated skin, but we also made it to revive you.

We know better than anyone how it feels to have uncomfortable skin, and how it can play on your mind. But we also know that it works both ways – and it’s fair to say that after the turbulence of recent years, we’re all in need of a moment to reset and recharge.

That’s what Resurrection Girl is all about, and why we so loved the story of its hero ingredient. The Resurrection Plant needs just a few drops of water to begin coming back to life, restoring itself and continuing to grow, no matter how long it’s waited for the rain to come. Sometimes, that’s all it takes – just as sometimes all we need is a few minutes to give ourselves a break, treat our skin to something luxurious and come back feeling refreshed.

Much more than a mask; this is your chance to hit the pause button, practise self-care and do something that’s just for you, while our formula does all the hard work to get your skin back on track. How you use those 10 precious minutes is up to you – whatever it takes for you to bounce back.

Shop our hydrating mask for dry skin now, or for more help and advice, book a free online skin consultation with our coaches

*Immediately after use. 1-week independent consumer trial of 55 women