To say that I’m a skin-care enthusiast is putting it very lightly. As a kid, I remember being enamored with my grandmother’s collection of beauty potions. As I got older, while others my age were throwing their cash at typical teenage fare, I would save all my dollars for fancily packaged cleansers and creams. I’ve carried those same priorities into my 30s, steadfastly slathering each morning and evening. And throughout it all, I’ve consistently been impressed by products from Borghese, a luxury skin-care company with Italian roots that basically helped pioneer the at-home spa experience.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Borghese’s mud masks and silky serums, but I went all star-eye emoji when I discovered the brand was adding a new product to its lineup: the Overnight Resurfacing Mask. I love a gentle exfoliating mask, and the fact that this one works its magic while you sleep, to reveal glowing skin the next day, made it just that much more appealing.
It’s formulated with a gentle but powerful blend of 6 percent alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and 0.4 percent beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), which together nix dead skin-cell buildup and help unclog pores. But what makes the treatment extra-special is that it’s also infused with essential fatty acids, via grape-seed and meadowfoam-seed oils, which nourish, plump, and soothe skin while helping bolster the skin barrier. It’s also got hyaluronic acid, a humectant that draws water to your skin and helps reduce moisture loss. Basically, this mask is a trifecta of skin-care goodness: gentle exfoliation, nourishing moisture, and skin-plumping hydration.
My expectations were pretty high for this one, and they’ve definitely been met. When applying—which I do two to three times a week—I’ll start with a gentle oil cleanser to help sweep the day away. Then I spread about two pumps of the product onto my clean skin. Its light texture doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, as some overnight masks can—I like to keep the product on my skin and not on my pillow, thank you very much!
I can feel a slight tingling sensation as the acids work (fellow skin-care enthusiasts will agree this is highly satisfying), which lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and then subsides. The best part, of course, is the morning reveal. My skin is notably brighter and more dewy after I use this treatment, and over time the cumulative effects have helped keep my skin clear.
Exfoliation is something I’ve always incorporated into my skin-care regimen, and I believe that a gentle and consistent approach is your best bet. I love that you can use this product several times throughout the week without irritation, and that it doesn’t just strip your skin but also nourishes and moisturizes, for a truly healthy and vibrant complexion.