As we all know, skincare and makeup products have been a consistent social media craze. Whether you want longer lashes, a more hydrated face, or an even complexion, there is always a company trying to persuade you that they can help you achieve perfection and more. They tell you their products are different than any other product out there, and it’s sometimes hard to tell which ones are worth trying and which ones will really work.
When I came across MZ Skin by Dr. Maryam Zamani, however, I found it both unique and intriguing. Founded by the oculoplastic surgeon and leading facial aesthetics Dr. Zamani in London in 2014, Maryam has created a very trustworthy and advanced skincare line. She is well respected in her field and has always been passionate about skincare, since high school, when she began making her own scrubs. From college to residency and now a practicing doctor, she built this brand out of necessity. Although she loves her night and morning skincare routine, she doesn’t have much time with her busy lifestyle, which is something I think we can all relate to as college students leading busy lives. She lives by her skincare, helping to reveal, enhance, and protect everyone’s skin.
What Dr. Zamani thinks makes her brand different is that it is made by women, for women, combining clinical and sensory experience. Her clinical background makes her customers feel as though they can trust her, especially since she makes the formulas herself and knows exactly what to put into them to achieve the results she wants in each product. She swears by keeping her brand away from anything artificial, having no artificial fragrances, parabens, or silicones.
Some of her products include:
- the depuff and define: helps with puffiness around the eyes
- the hydra-lift golden facial treatment mask: helps with skin cell repair and reduces the appearance of hyper-pigmentation
- the lift & lustre golden elixir antioxidant serum: helps create radiant skin and nourish
- sooth and smooth: an eye cream that helps decreases dark circles and fine lines and wrinkles as well as helps with hydration around the eyes.
- She also lives by using SPF everyday, since UVA is what makes us age quicker, and highlights the importance of sleep – which is the time to remove toxins and rejuvenate.
After expressing my personal goals for my skin – reducing acne and redness, as well as wanting to hydrate and bring out the glow in my skin, especially in these winter months where my skin feels dry and rough – I was suggested to try three MZ Skin products. These included the natural konjac sponge, the hydra-bright golden eye treatment mask, and the radiance and renewal instant clarity refining mask.
First, I tried the Konjac Sponge, which is made in Japan from iron oxide clay and the Konnayaku plant to help stimulate blood flow and rebalance the skin’s natural pH. What I really appreciate about their website is that there are highly detailed videos for every product. It tells you what each product does, the ingredients in each product, the benefits such as being suitable for all skin types, and the directions on how to use that specific product. It also has a rituals tab which explains what your basic daytime and nighttime skincare routine should look like, no matter what your skin type entails. I chose to use the sponge with a cleanser, although the use of a cleanser is not necessary. To use the sponge, you have to first hydrate it with water until it is fully expanded, then squeeze out any excess. Then you use it to gently massage in a circular motion across the face, neck, and décolleté. With the addition of putting some cleanser on top of the sponge, the directions explained this would supercharge the ritual, so I thought I might as well go all out. Afterwards, I hung the sponge to dry.
I was very pleased to see immediate results first and foremost, since some products are a more gradual process which can be a bit frustrating. My skin felt exfoliated and had a deeper glow to its otherwise dull color from the cold. I felt that I had a smoother complexion overall. The product was very soft and gentle to apply, and it also helped me remove any makeup residue on my face. The sponge can be used to remove masks such as the radiance and renewal masks I will be discussing soon, and men can use it with shaving cream, too. I also tried it without a cleanser and felt its powers on its own – I felt just as clean, even only with water! It’s crazy to think you don’t even need soap for the skin to feel so healthy and clean, without ever drying my face out.
After cleansing, I used the Hydra-Bright Golden Eye Treatment Mask, which includes two golden eye patches which go right under the eyes after cleansing. This gold eye mask’s ingredients include water, Glycerol, Propylene Glycol, Trehalose, Seaweed, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Flower Oil, and more. It is also infused with gold, and all of these ingredients work together to help with anti-aging and smoothness of fine lines.
After using this mask, I felt elasticity around my eye area, as well as firmness and hydration to the eyes. I had pretty dark circles on the days I tried these, and these masks really helped lighten them. My eyes were also noticeably less puffy, and just like the sponge, I much appreciate the instantaneity of the results. In just 15 minutes, my eyes transformed. I also tried refrigerating the mask for 5-10 minutes beforehand for a more intense soothing and cooling treatment as the product details described, and the cooling made me feel that the mask was working on an even more intense level. I also think the masks being impregnated with the gel in the packaging helps them fully absorb the ingredients and transfer them right over to your eyes. After using these masks twice a week, my friends told me how I looked less tired than usual, even though I was sleep deprived all the same.
My last product to try was the Radiance and Renewal Instant Clarity Refining Mask. Something I find particular and friendly about MZ Skin is that the first ingredient is always water in all of the products. Other ingredients of this mask included Lactobionic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Glycerin, Hydrolized Yeast, Extract, Citrus Lemon Peel Oil, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Exract, Peppermint Oil, and more. What I also really like about these products is how none of them have a strong smell, which is a huge turn off for me when trying to find good skincare products.
Now this mask just works wonders. It really exfoliated my skin, while at the same time illuminating it, helping with that dull skin. The 10% concentrate fruit acid complex also helped with reducing redness and restoring brightness. My complexion was clearer and more radiant, and my pores were more refined, all after just one usage. Directions said to apply all over the face and décolleté for 15 minutes before rinsing, but Dr. Zamani shares in the directions video that her secret is sleeping in a thin layer of it all night to help with an even deeper exfoliation. I also just really loved how beautiful the product was, as it glimmered and sparkled all over my face. It was quick and easy, and I appreciated how well it did everything the product promised.
One thing I was hesitant about with these products is that they are on the pricier end of skincare. Being a college student, it’s often hard to find products that do the job well but also don’t blow you out of your already broke student self. I think these products, however, will help you get your money’s worth since they proved to achieve such amazing results in a matter of a few weeks. These products will also last you a long time, as they each contain a worthy amount. I can only imagine what these products are going to do for me long term.
If you want to try these amazing MZ Skin products yourself, go check out their website: https://www.mzskin.com/usa/?v=7516fd43adaa