We Tried It: A (Halloween-Appropriate) Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
What Is It: Peter Thomas Roth’s Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, a treatment that uses pumpkin enzyme, alpha hydroxy acid and aluminum oxide to exfoliate, peel and polish skin.
Who Tried It: Lydia Price, Features Editorial Assistant
Why We Did It: I’ve searched high and low for the perfect products to handle my breakout-prone skin, so even though I don’t think “beauty secret” when I hear “pumpkin,” I thought it was worth seeing what fall’s most festive fruit has to offer in the skincare department.
Opening the jar for the first time, I was immediately hit with that classic pumpkin smell. The mask literally smells exactly like pumpkin pie, and it’s a strong scent to boot. It was a little weird to apply at first because of this. I thought maybe the beauty industry had finally tricked me into just rubbing food on my face. And obviously I got a mean craving for pie.
Ignoring my stomach’s pleas for dessert, I gently massaged the mask into my face to get the aluminum oxide powder working. I started feeling the burn right away. My cheeks and chin were especially getting that fiery sensation. Personally, I don’t mind when products have a little kick because it feels like they are actually doing something, and that certainly seems to be the case with the pumpkin mask.
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I loved the texture of this mask; it’s a bit jelly-like and feels much lighter than products I’ve traditionally used, making it quick and easy to apply and take off. I rinsed it off after about six minutes (the instructions suggest leaving it on for three to seven). The benefits of the mask were apparent instantly; I didn’t get that dried-up, stiff feeling on my face like I do with many masks, and my skin was distinctly brighter and healthier-looking after I rinsed it off.
Verdict: Believe in the power of pumpkin! Although it costs $58, unlike many masks you actually get a pretty hefty amount of the product, and because you only need to use a thin layer at a time, you’ll definitely get your fair share of uses from every jar. I used it three times in about a week and a half and had a noticeable reduction in breakouts. Plus, I love that you only have to leave it on for a few minutes, because I’ve tried masks that can take upwards of 20 (although that does leave you with more time to go eat pumpkin spice treats). And even though the mask burned a bit, my skin wasn’t at all irritated after rinsing, and my face looked and felt fresh and glowy!
