Review of Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal MaskBy Kelly B
Packaging: The Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask comes in a clear hard plastic screw top jar. The lid is a shiny silver effect which looks elegant and stylish. The jar is securely encased in a sturdy grey recyclable box which has full ingredients displayed. Helpful usage instructions are on both box and jar which is helpful if the product becomes separated from its box.
Application: The Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask is in a powdered form which must be mixed with water before application. Clear directions are provided, 1 teaspoon of mask powder and 11/2 teaspoons of water. It was very easy to mix and a very fluid consistency. I was glad for the quantity instructions as I would have felt it was too fluid and would have made it thicker. The fluid texture made it very easy to apply. I used a face mask brush (I feel it would be too tricky to apply with just fingers). My skin is very sensitive and it felt soothing and calming on and not at all irritating ingredients wise. However the texture of the mask as it was beginning to dry felt uncomfortable and mildly itchy.The Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask is a dark green colour so care is needed to protect clothing such as tissue paper in the neckline of your clothing.
It states on the jar to keep the mask moist for 20 minutes. This was easier said than done. When it began to dry after maybe 5 minutes or more I tried to pat a little water on my face but this led to the green mask starting to trickle down my face and neck. I tried on other occasions to lightly spray my face with a water spray to keep the mask moist but again this made the mask run down my face. To me keeping the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask moist is impractical unless maybe you are taking a bath or shower. The heat and steam would presumably prevent the mask from drying out and if it began trickling it would not matter so much.
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask is not easy to remove. Even trying to ensure that it was wet when removing it led to dripping and mess and it was still tough to wipe off and extra hard from near the hairline. I removed the mask with a warm damp face cloth which went bright green (although it did come off in the wash). The sink needed washing afterwards too due to green mask staining and mask pieces.
After removing this Universal Mask my face looked quite green and I had to wash it several times to take away the green staining. For this reason I would only use Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask on an evening before going to bed or before a shower. This product is quite messy and stains a bit so takes more time to remove. Therefore I feel it needs an extra pampering time slot. This is not a quick mask to use. Plus mixing it takes extra time too.
As per the instructions I tried the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask powder mixed with honey and goat’s yogurt. It was easier to apply and didn’t dry out so much and felt more comfortable on the skin. (But I couldn’t wait for the 20 minutes to be over so I could take it off my face.) However there was still the same problem trying to keep it moist (i.e. dripping). This mixture was easier to remove than the water and powder mixture but still harder than most face masks.
I found the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask quite messy and time consuming. I quite like the DIY aspect but it does take extra time which I don’t always have. Plus with the mess and staining I feel like a shower afterwards is a must. Whereas my preference is to apply any mask after a shower when my face is warm and moist, then rinse and apply make up. I like to feel clean and fresh after a mask, not like I need a shower!
Ingredients: The Dr. Alkaitis is super natural. The Organic Universal Mask ingredients are either organic or wild crafted. It is free from all chemicals, synthetics and genetically modified organisms and their derivatives. Importantly 100% of the ingredients are active which means that they have been minimally processed to retain the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients to heal and nourish the skin.
The main ingredient is Oat Buds. Oats are soothing, calming, healing and hydrating and provide very gentle exfoliation which serves to promote skin smoothing. The green grass powders (Oat, Wheat, and Kamut) are highly nutrient dense and contain virtually all the vitamins and minerals known to man, therefore providing a real skin boosting treat. The chlorophyll these grasses contain is so soothing and reduces skin redness and is very healing. The algaes, spirulina and chlorella are also loaded with rich minerals and provide similar soothing and healing properties. Both the green grasses, algaes and other green vegetable powders are all thought to calm, soothe, heal and relax skin and strengthen broken capillaries.
Brown rice powder I believe will serve as an additional gentle exfoliant. The mild acids in tomato will have the potential to provide further light exfoliation which could serve to reduce fine lines and provide a mild skin bleaching effect. The seed powders (pumpkin, sesame, and flax) will provide essential fatty acids to nourish and hydrate the skin. Cucumber is thought to be extremely soothing and calming whilst ginger is invigorating and will improve blood flow to the skin. An impressive array of all natural ingredients.An important note regarding ingredients in the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask:
If you purchase a Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask please ensure that your mask powder is green in colour which is the correct colour of the Universal mask. I originally was sent a Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask to trial in which was mask powder was cream in colour. I emailed the Dr. Alkaitis brand in the US for clarification of any formulation change. I was informed that no formulation changed had occurred and that my cream powder Universal Mask was incorrect and that the Universal Mask was green. They kindly sent me the correct green coloured mask to trial. It seems that some manufacturing issue had been the problem. However with no clear explanation as to how a cream coloured powder ended up in Universal Mask packaging this would be cause for me not to trust the brand as it seems to me a very odd occurrence. I wanted to add this point as it would be something that would concern me and I like my reviews to be completely honest and contain all information that may be important to other consumers.
Results: Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask when mixed with water achieved for me a reduction in slight skin redness which made my skin tone look more even. It gave my face a refreshed glow. I noticed a gentle exfoliating effect as my skin looked smoother and more luminescent afterwards.
When mixed with honey and goat’s yogurt the effects of the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask were definitely more nourishing and appeared to leave skin cells plumper and more youthful. However honey and yogurt themselves are very nourishing and beautifying when used alone (minus the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask powder).
In conclusion although the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask was quite nice I feel that it is no nicer than mixing wheatgrass powder with either water alone or wheatgrass powder mixed with honey and yogurt. This would be far cheaper. The results from Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask are simply not spectacular enough to justify the price. Plus it is so messy and time consuming. I wouldn’t recommend this product.
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask (£55) and Dr. Alkaitis Products are available at naturisimo.com