SHEET MASK | Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask

I am probably not in the best mood to be writing about something as relaxing as #SheetMaskSunday, but I am annoyed that one, I have to work on my day off and attend a 5 hour virtual workshop and two, talk about a sheet mask that I had hoped would be a bit better than it was. The new Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask is another biocellulose sheet mask that claims to be unique, but is in fact fairly derivative and on the entry level spectrum of its kind. Though I suspected this would be the case, I wanted to find out as Philosophy does make some pretty amazing products especially in the area of peels. When I worked for them five years ago, they were at the beginnings of wanting to pitch themselves as the "peel brand" and were among the first chemical exfoliators I used.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask Review
 Purchased by me

Firstly, I agree that biocellulose was a good option as it is a step up from the fabric sheet mask and is truly the more hydrating option just because the material hugs the skin perfectly and tends to be more effective at keeping skin hydrated for a longer period of time. I cannot use a biocellulose mask every day (nor is it advised to be used) as it is a richer treatment. The key ingredients in this mask are aloe and hyaluronic acid so quite nice though I wish the concentration of fragrance was not HIGHER than that of the actual HA. I feel like if you are going to feature specific ingredients that they should truly be at the forefront for a $12 mask.  

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask Review

Ingredients: Water/Eau, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Limonene, BHT

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask Review

This is a fairly thin biocellulose sheet that comes sandwiched between one layer of mesh and one of plastic to aid in application. With a skin-like mask like biocellulose, it is helpful to peel off the mesh and then fit the mask to your face while the other plastic layer is still on to give the mask some structure. Once you have fitted the mask to your face, peel off the plastic layer and do some fine tuning. It is MUCH harder to apply this mask if you remove all of the plastic layers because the mask EASILY sticks to itself.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask Review

Mask Summary:

Price: $12 CDN
Skin concerns: Dryness and uneven skin tone
Scent: Herbal
Essence Type: Thick gel
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Thickness: Super thin which means it dries out in 15 minutes
Mask Fit: Fitted like the way biocellulose should be!
Tackiness: Medium
Hydration: Very hydrating
Other notes: Thicker and higher quality biocellulose masks like those from For Beloved One are meant to be left on the skin for 40-60 minutes because they retain moisture incredibly well.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask Review

Final verdict: When it comes to pricing, this is expensive for a biocellulose mask so stick with Korean brands as they are about half the price and give similar results. Repiel and Mediheal are good options with similar biocellulose thickness and costs around $7. If you are looking to elevate your biocellulose experience, go with Lumeclat (Vancouver-based) or For Beloved One which will give you the hydration, is thicker so you can wear easily for an hour and does not leave a tacky finish. They are about 3x the price, but the experience is better IMO. While the idea of biocellulose is new to Philosophy, it's years old in the skincare world so for them to call it "unique" makes me do a hard eye-roll. I won't be buying again, but it was nice and did the job. Just know that there are other better options out there!

You can find the Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisture Mask at www.sephora.com

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