Test : Hemp mask by Sephora

Hemp-based products, fashion trend or real benefits ?

Yes, even the global Sephora sells a hemp-based product, this anti blemish mousse mask :

And since I’m wondering about this type of products (read this article about it), I decided to test it.

The problem with Sephora products is that they’re not organic. So I went through the ingredients, in order to check what I had just put on my skin :

Water, glycerin, sativa cannabis oil, talc…so far so good.

Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, PPG-51/Smdi Copolymer : those are texturing synthetic polymers

Tapioca starch : that’s basically tapioca sugar, and starch has a thickening and gelling effect, so again about the texture

Phenoxyethanol : Ouch. An endocrine disruptor…It’s a solvant used about everywhere, an allergenic with possible cancerous effects, and that could cause neuroligical, neurotoxic or reproductive problems. Also since 2012, the ANSM (National Security Agency for Medicine and health products) has judged this susbstance toxic for the blood et liver.

PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether : are judged irritating and toxic for the environment.

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate : is a suspected endocrine disruptor. And since it’s anti UV solar filter, I don’t really see the usefulness in a mask you put on for 5 minutes…?

Disodium EDTA : another endocrine disruptor, harmful in large quantities.

BHT : Is a suspected endocrine disruptor…It’s a substitute for BHA which is toxic and cancerous.

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane : another UV filter…And a regulated substance as it’s considered risky, there must be less than 5% of it in cosmetics.

Sodium Hydroxide : It’s caustic soda. Extremely corrosive and it’s direct contact destroys organic material. I don’t think it’s used in its pure form in this product, but I hope their lab employees are well protected…

Polymethylsilsesquioxane : Well well, silicone. The characteristics of this endocrine disruptor : it has no reel benefit, just makes the product more agreeable to touch. And takes 500 years to disappear from our ecosystems.

Sorbate de potassium : shouldn’t be cancerous BUT could be toxic for the lymphocites.

CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 77492 : chemical dyes.

Indeed had I read that before, I might not have tested this product.

But since it’s done, let’s continue with the test :

Packaging : green, more green, and cannabis leaves. And guidelines, that you also find on Sephora’s website : apply mask, take a selfie, rinse.

Yes, because this mask is from their “instagramable” collection, there’s a yellow one, a blue one…Added to the number of texturing, stabilizing, coloring ingredients, that gives me the impression that this mask is made to be more fun to photograph than good for the skin.

Smell : not a natural plant smell, but chemical.

Texture/Covering : The “mousse” texture is agreable, light. However to cover the face as the drawing shows, you need a large quantity of it. It’s in fact written on the tube that’s it’s enough for 5 uses. For a 50ml tube, it doesn’t seem very economical.

Effect : After rinsing, I had a feeling that my skin was kind of “mat”, when other masks would for example leave a soft-skin feeling. To be honest I didn’t notice any particular effect as far as anti-blemish goes.

I also contacted Sephora and asked the quantity of hemp in the product and the benefits of this plant, but they answered that they were “sorry to inform that this product wasn’t par of their referencing”.

Conclusion : If I go back to my initial question, I have the impression that this product is surfing on the hemp fashion trend, without having any real benefit to do with the qualities of this plant.