The Hydrating Vegan Mask That Soothed My Unhappy, Dry Skin

I usually believe that our bodies need fewer things than we put on them. In the past, I approached my skin-care routine with a similar mindset: for both my face and body, Dr. Bronner’s was for cleaning, Lubriderm was for moisturizing. This made me feel like a true pragmatist: I was saving money, I was bucking the trend of using hyper-specific products to solve made-up problems, and I was constantly coated with a thick layer of emollients.

My skin, however, was not happy. Or at least, it could have been happier—it was often uncomfortably dry and unnecessarily red and inflamed. Then one day, as the story often goes, I tried my partner’s face wash: Youth to the People’s Superfood cleanser. “Game changer” doesn’t do this experience justice. My skin felt cleaner than it had in months. But I needed more.

Within a few days, I was the proud owner of a proper skin-care routine from Youth to the People. This included not only its Superfood cleanser but its Adaptogen moisturizer, Dream eye cream, and, most notably, its Superberry Overnight mask ($48). All of the products were great, but the latter resulted in the most notable improvements. The mask is really a thick, water-based overnight cream, made with moisturizing squalene, redness-reducing prickly pear, and maqui berries, which the company says support cell regeneration. It provides a rich, hydrating experience that leaves your skin feeling plump and nourished in the morning. Almost immediately after starting to use it, my skin tone was more even and my face less puffy. With the Superberry mask, I was finally taking advantage of an overnight treatment. In fact, it’s actually the best period of the day to proactively treat your skin.

Having a skin-care routine—particularly one that I’ve invested some money in—has prompted me to take better care of myself in general. It forms the foundation of a more holistic bedtime routine: I’ve started stretching before bed, avoiding screens at night, and thoughtfully reflecting on my day. The sum of these parts is greater than one product alone. You can see the proof on my face.

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