MASK MONDAYS | Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask vs. Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask Review

Well, there was a mistake on my end with scheduling and I must have clicked the wrong day! This WAS supposed to be up yesterday, but just pretend for now that it’s Monday again!

I remember a few years ago when Fresh was just getting onto everyone’s beauty radar and nowadays if someone tells me they don’t know about the Fresh Lip Tints I assume they’ve been living under a rock. I then remind myself that not everyone on the planet lives and breathes beauty products. Fresh has been taking the Sephora skincare world by storm now that both are owned by parent company LVMH. One area they are amazing in is their masks. For awhile, it was just the Brown Sugar, Rose and Black Tea masks, followed more recently by the Honey Mask. What Fresh didn’t have in their repertoire was a sleeping mask until earlier this year with the release of the Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask*($108.00 CDN/100mL). I had sneakily used its predecessor, the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask ($108.00 CDN/100mL) through the mask trio set as an overnight mask though that proved to be tricky because of the texture. What are the differences between the two seeing as how they both have black tea ferment in them? 

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask and Instant Perfecting Mask Review

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask Review
Black tea ferment is also known as the powerful antioxidant kombucha. I’ve tried kombucha tea before and although it can be a taste to get used to, it is good for you. Kombucha in skincare is supposed to boost the skin’s immune system. What this really means, I’m not sure, but what I will take away from it is that skin looks and feels healthier once using this mask.

(If anyone is wondering, the background is David’s Tea Red Velvet Cake!)

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask  Review (2)

There is mention of a “corset-like” effect on the skin intended to give a more contoured and defined appearance. While I didn’t feel quite this effect, this type of description makes me feel like this mask can be placed in the “anti-aging” category especially since we are leaving this mask on. I always wonder if tightening or pulling effects are felt by more mature skin…

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask  Review

In addition to black tea ferment, there is also blackberry leaf extract and lychee seed extract that together fight free radicals and improve skin’s elasticity. I know that lychee seed extract is a powerful antioxidant that is quite effective at the cellular level so I like knowing it’s in this mask.

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask and Instant Perfecting Mask Review (2)

The main difference in terms of usage between the Firming Overnight Mask (FOM) and the Instant Perfecting Mask (IPM) is that the FOM can be incorporated into your nightly skincare routine as the final step and left on the skin while the IPM is meant to be used 2-3x per week and left on the skin for 5-10 minutes before being rinsed off. The IPM also has cucumber and rose extract which you can definitely pick up while the FOM smells more herbal. 

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask and Instant Perfecting Mask Review (3)

You can see that the FOM looks more like a moisturizer and the IPM has slightly more texture to its formulation. When I was using the IPM as a sleeping mask, I had to be careful to use a very thin layer or else it would start to pill or rub off onto my pillow. While the IPM also having kombucha and lychee seed extract for collagen support places in somewhat in the anti-aging category, I feel like something you rinse off after 10 minutes isn’t really going to do much…every mask gives you soft and supple skin directly after, but is collagen support REALLY going to happen in such a short time frame?

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask and Instant Perfecting Mask Review (4)

You can see that IPM does not absorb into the skin while FOM is happily disappearing.

Final Verdict: While I love all masks, I do prefer the overnight ones because I like leaving things on my skin. Oftentimes, I will break the rules and instead of doing what it says on the box, I will sleep with masks overnight as long as they aren’t those messy clay masks! Can you imagine the mess? Both masks certainly have their merit and what I DO love about the IPM is that because of the cucumber and rose extracts, it is VERY soothing on skin that may have had too much sun or just feels stressed. The FOM has a texture that absorbs quickly into the skin and gave my skin a bounce in the morning. If you are a mask lover, you will appreciate the merits and purpose of both masks, but the FOM is definitely easier to work into your routine because it is treated as an add-on to what you are already doing while the IPM is something you would have to make a mental note of to use a few times a week. The FOM is almost like the extended movie version of the IPM. Similar in purpose, but with that added director’s commentary.

Both the Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask and Instant Perfecting Mask can be found at Sephora stores and Sephora.comSephora.com

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