If ever there was a gateway drug for my skincare addiction, Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask was up there as one of the items that threw me over the ledge. I obsessed over purchasing this dude for weeks. At the time I couldn’t fathom spending so much on a mask. HA! So naive. So young. 

Now that I’ve owned this little guy for several months now, I don’t know what all the fussing was about. Honestly this thing is a value. I’ve used it at least 20 times and have barely made a dent. Just look at the pictures of the tube! That shit’s full.

The Aura mask is packed with incredible ingredients. The second ingredient is, you guessed it, Manuka Honey. Now Manuka is definitely a (possibly annoyingly so) trending ingredient in both skincare and diets these days. At least it’s for good reason. Manuka Honey is a beautifully potent natural material. 

What makes Manuka honey so special is the wonderful composition the Manuka extract creates when it mixes with the honey. Honey itself is an amazing healer: it’s antibacterial (good for blemishes), full of antioxidants (anti aging) and is packed with moisturizing properties (In fact it’s a humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin). 

The Manuka, comes from the the nectar drank by bees from the flowering buds of the Manuka tree. It’s native to New Zealand and has been used in all manner of daily life by the Maori people.  Manuka on its own is also antibacterial, anti fungal, akin to tea tree but much less irritating, and more effective. The two together really compliment one another, creating what is known as an active honey.

Aura also contains a blend of additionally beneficial ingredients. Avocado Oil is also a humectant, making it very moisturizing, and has a high amount of antioxidants like Vitamin E. Both Vanilla Oil and Mandarin oil are known for treating acne with their antibacterial properties. Both are considered to help calm the nervous system from their aromas, with Vanilla being an anti depressant, and both adding in calming anxiety. Carrot oil also appears lower on the ingredients list, and it helps add more antioxidants like Vitamin A as well as bring its antiseptic and detoxifying benefits. 

Pohutukawa Extract is a new ingredient to me that doesn’t seem to have much information out there about it. It’s derived from a beautiful flowering tree native to New Zealand known as Metrosideros Excelsa. What I did gather is that it’s often been used to help treat sun damaged skin, and as a toner. It’s claimed by Antipodes to be a moisturizer as well as antiseptic, and full of anti oxidants as well. Grapefruit Seed Extract rounds out the ingredient list with both more anti bacterial and anti fungal properties.

I think what makes this mask a favorite and so unique is that it’s, in a way, a bridging mask. What I mean by that is that it fits into two categories of masks. It is a detoxifying mask duo to all its acne clearing, and pore refining ingredients, but also an immensely hydrating one from all the humectant and antioxidants in there as well. My skin never feels tight after using this, as most detoxifying mask will do, and in fact seems plumped. 

The aroma is a little intense, but pleasant, and you don’t need much to cover your entire face. My only problem with this mask is using it up. You get a rather large amount and I need to step up my usage of it before it goes bad. I tend to reach for this around times of hormonal breakouts, or when I’ve eaten particularly shitty. It helps fight off, and calm down any jerks that are trying to grow or have grown on my face.

All and all I think this is a great investment piece for anyone dealing with breakouts, even the occasional one. You can actually find it for a variety of different price points by doing a little research online. A few examples here and here* and here.*

I think I am having a little bit of a love affair with products from both New Zealand and Australia. I’ve been loving using Jurlique and Trilogy items as well as this Antipodes mask and have my eye on some items from Aesop and Grown Alchemist. Have you tried Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask? I am very curious about other products in the Antipodes range, anybody got some favorite out there?

*this post contains affiliate links