What’s That in My Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask?
What’s in my night mask?
If you’ve used the Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask, you may have noticed small yellow pearls nestled between layers of white. It is our favorite night mask for glowy and supple skin in just one night.
Pick one up and roll it between your fingers: it’s soft and a little bouncy, barely larger than a freckle and the color of summer marigolds. Do you know what it is?
These pearls are actually cellulose—the same stuff that plant cell walls are made of! With a bit of skincare science, we’ve condensed these cellulose fibers into the sleeping mask you use every night.
But hang on! What even is cellulose? What is it for? And most importantly, what’s it doing in the Pretti5 Night Mask?What is cellulose?
First things first: cellulose is everywhere, from your houseplants to your closet and office desk. It naturally occurs in stalks, stems and other woody parts of plants.
Some common everyday materials, like bamboo, linen and paper, are also cellulose-based! Others, such as rayon and cellophane, are synthetically produced cellulose derivatives.
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
Let’s zoom in a little on the structure of cellulose. A single molecule is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; in the wild, though, it comes in much longer “crystal” structures of glucose molecules. Joined by linkages known as glycosidic bonds, these glucose units create cellulose.
A side note: Glucose is a “simple sugar” carbohydrate that the body breaks down to use as fuel!
As such, cellulose is a complex carbohydrate (a.k.a. a “polysaccharide”). Other common polysaccharides include starch and glycogen. We bet you didn't know that!
What does cellulose do?
In plants, cellulose is incredibly essential. It’s the reason why plants are able to stand at all! The walls of plant cells are made of cellulose, which helps form a strong, supple structure. The cells of wood, plant stems and leaves all contain cellulose.
Photo by trevor pye on Unsplash
It’s also a dietary fiber and a major reason why we eat vegetables. While we can’t digest cellulose, it helps to move food through the digestive system, improving digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Pretti5 Secret: Good digestion has been linked to clear skin and less inflammation, so be sure to eat your greens!
Cellulose intake is important for everyone, especially people who want to control their blood sugar levels!
A cellulose-rich diet can also help prevent heart disease, stroke and obesity (and undo many of the health effects of chronic stress).
What’s it doing in my Night Mask?
Cellulose is a major skincare super-ingredient! It’s a great moisturizer and subtle exfoliant: as you massage in the Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask, it sloughs off dead cells and nourishes your skin to give you soft, supple and protected skin.
That’s not all, though! The drops of cellulose in our overnight mask are on double duty: not only do they hydrate and exfoliate, they stabilize and emulsify the formula to make sure each ingredient in the mask works the way it should.
Photo by Maddie Leopardo on Unsplash
Don’t toss out the celery and kale just yet, though! Cellulose works differently on your skin and in your digestive system, and a healthy diet is just as important as your skincare routine for a healthy glow.
How do I use it in the Night Mask?
The Night Mask is best used on clean, dry skin. Use it after a foam cleanse with the Hydro-Power Brightening Cleanser and a few gentle pats of the Antioxidant Hydrating Toning Essence!
Take a small dollop of the light, rich cream and gently massage it into your skin in small circles. You don’t have to do anything else: the massaging motions will help the cellulose exfoliate and hydrate, to leave your skin feeling soft and silky.
It’s that easy!
Pretti5 Secret: Mix in a few drops of Serum or Facial Oil for some Hyaluronic Acid + Squalane goodness!
Start your day off right
When morning comes, forget waking up greasy-faced and tired—your skin will naturally absorb the cellulose pearls overnight for a smooth, hydrated complexion. Freshen up with a quick cleanse and your morning routine, and you’re all set to seize the day!
Written by Fion Tse
