Jerry and I have not shopped at our local Stage store in a LONG time. Most stores seem to grow and add new products, but this store has seemed to go in the opposite direction over the past few years. I was a frequent customer at the Lancome counter (Hi, Tiffany!), but they got rid of the brand, and only have Estee Lauder, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, and Fashion Fair now. Well, we were bored, so we decided to wander in there to see if they had anything new.
While we didn’t expect much, it was our lucky night! We ran into a friends’ son, Jordan B., who recently started working there- thank you for the stellar service, Jordan! We also met their Elizabeth Arden salesgirl, Kristin, who was super friendly and told us about some of the new products. Additionally, we discovered that they added a “Beauty Bar,” which included brands such as NYX, Pur Minerals, Cargo, and Studio Gear, along with a handful of various products from other random brands. While perusing the two gondolas, I saw a display with cute little round packages. They were individual masks from a brand called “Nugg,” which I had never heard of. (I later did a search and found out the company was founded by the former CEO of Tweezerman.)
There were six varieties of “single serving” masks: Anti-Aging, Deep Cleansing, Exfoliating, Hydrating, Soothing, and Revitalizing. The masks were very reasonably priced at $4.00 each. Or you could get a four-pack for $15.00. (They are $3.29 each on the Nugg website.)
Since I had never tried these before, I only got one. I chose the Revitalizing with flaxseed and peppermint oil, as it claimed to revitalize and plump dull, tired, skin. The packaging is like a little “pod” type thing, with a foil covering that peels away. Inside, there is a generous 0.33 ounces of product, which will last me for several treatments. I was also intrigued by this because of the peppermint. Mint is often used in plumping lip products as it works by irritating the tissue, causing an almost inflammatory effect.
The first thing I noticed upon opening the package was the smell- it smelled very strongly of menthol, like Vicks Vapo-Rub. I expected a strong scent, but I was thinking more minty, due to peppermint being an ingredient. Nevertheless, I decided to be brave, and smeared it onto my face. It had a cooling effect, kind of a “burning cool” sensation, kind of like a mild version of your grandma’s arthritis ointment. After a few minutes, the scent was no longer noticeable. I don’t know if it actually dissipated, or if I just became “immune” to it.
Although my skin is a lot more sensitive than it used to be, the sensation was not irritating, nor unpleasant. I left it on for about 20 minutes, as opposed to the recommended 5-10 minutes. I was concerned about getting peppermint or menthol into my eyes, so I used a tissue to wipe off the majority, then rinsed my face off. The results? I am SO glad I got this! My skin was not only smooth, but it really did have a plumping effect. My fine lines and pores seemingly shrunk due to the plumping. I will absolutely use this again. I can’t wait to go back to stage and try out more of these!
Nugg masks retail for $3.29 each for 0.33 oz. on the Nugg website.
I don’t know if I’d like to put vapo rub all over my face, but if it works I might just have to try it, especially for the price. Have you tried any of the other ones?
Hi Miriam! It’s not that bad, it just really surprised me when the smell hit me! No, I haven’t tried the others yet, but I agree, it is a great price!