Last week, my friends at Nectar Skin Bar in Georgetown sent me a sample of GlamGlow tingling and exfoliating mud mask ($69) to try.  While I’ve been loyal to Borghese since I started using their product last month, I thought I’d give the product a once over.  So I washed my face and reached into the jar without hesitation.

What the Hell? 

As I removed the product from the jar my fingers encountered an unexpected surprise (?), foliage.  Specifically, the leaves and stems of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant.  Needless to say, I was somewhat timid about proceeding.  But once I had confirmed that the leaves were in fact, supposed to be in the product, and this wasn’t some possibly fatal production error, I was happy to give the mask a go.

Unlike Borghese, which is meant to be slathered on with a trowel, GlamGlow should be applied sparingly and allowed to dry on the face.  However, unlike so many masks that I’ve tried, GlamGlow doesn’t dry out my skin.  A miracle?  Perhaps.

The “tingling” was also interesting.  I was initially concerned that this might be painful on my sensitive skin, but it wasn’t.  It just felt a bit like I’d accidentally gotten BenGay on my face.

While I usually remove my masks with a warm wash cloth, GlamGlow is meant to be rinsed off using a circular motion to continue the exfoliation.  This is where the mask’s volcanic rock really comes into play.  By the time that I was finished rinsing, I could already feel a difference in my skin.  And when I looked in the mirror, I was very impressed.

GlamGlow touts radiant skin, but so does every other mask I’ve tried.  So to find one that actually makes your skin glow like some kind of angelic halo (or really good Photoshop) is like finding the Holy Grail inside the Ark of the Covenant in the hull of Noah’s Ark. 

When I opened the container, I was fully prepared to hate this product.  The foliage, the earthy smell, the sickly-grey color…so when I actually liked it, I mean really liked it, I was pleasantly surprised.  I plan to add GlamGlow to my regular Sunday night routine (deep condition, self-tan, teeth whiten, pedicure, etc.) and save the Borghese for during the week.

If you want to pick up your own jar of GlamGlow, stop by Nectar Skin Bar in Georgetown or buy from their website.