This Sea Kale Mask Is a Beachy Getaway in Skin Care Form—And It’s What My Dry Winter Skin Has Been Craving

Let’s be honest—the long stretch of winter from January 2 through March/April is kind of the worst. For most of us, these months are pretty “blah”—there are no super fun holidays (sorry, Valentine’s Day), the days are shorter, and unless you live on a coast, summer days on the beach are a ways away.

Already craving a sun-drenched getaway in the sand and surf? Me too. Unfortunately, between a totally tapped post-holiday bank account and the uncertain state of travel, a tropical vacation doesn’t seem to be in my cards. To satiate my need for saltwater therapy, I’ve invested in a bottle of Cocokind’s Sea Kale Clay Mask ($18), which is lot less cheaper than a resort getaway on the Caribbean sea.

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Cocokind, Sea Kale Clay Mask — $18.00

All the magical healing properties of the ocean, minus the hefty plane ticket.

It’s no secret the ocean holds a sea of healing properties for our bodies, especially our skin. Salt, sand, sea kelp—beauty brands have bottled these nautical superstars for years, giving us a bevy of body lotions, serums, moisturizers, and more. Personally, I’ve always gravitated towards these pelagic products (this includes the iconic La Mer face cream—a tub of this stuff can go for over $2,500)—whether that’s because my sun sign is Cancer or I’m just genuinely impressed by their quality is to be determined, but if you scour my medicine cabinet, it’s beach-y ingredients galore.

But my new favorite happens to be this marine mask from Cocokind, the clean, conscious skin care brand beloved by editors for its $30-or-less skin care line. The Sea Kale Clay Mask is saltwater lover’s dream, bottling the secrets of sea in a mask that leaves skin soft, smooth, and utterly sea-worthy.

That’s because this clay mask overfloweth with skin-loving stars. Scan the ingredient label and you’ll find blue sea kale extract, which is loaded with antioxidants that support skin health, calms irritation, and strengthen it against free radicals. You’ll also find the base is made from glacial oceanic clay, a natural detoxifier that de-gunks dirt and grime, shrinks pores, smoothes, and soothes.

But it’s not just marine ingredients that steer this ship. There’s also landlubbers, like cucumber seed extract for added protein and gentle exfoliation, aloe leaf juice for hydration, and avocado oil for added protection. Blended together, these ingredients make a heavenly mask that transports your skin on a beach getaway in the comfort of your own home.

While it works like most masks (apply to clean skin, leave on for ~20 minutes, use a few times a week), I do have some pro tips. One is following up with a creamy dreamy moisturizer. While the formula is designed specifically to not dry you out, I find lathering on a face cream afterwards is *chef’s kiss*.

Another tip—don’t forget to recycle the bottle when you’re done. Fun fact: the tube is actually made from sugarcane, meaning it’s bio-based and completely recyclable (but note, they’re not biodegradable). Each bottle will last you a long time, but when you’re done, toss it in the recycling and not the trash—especially if you want to preserve more oceanic ingredients for the future.

The winter doldrums are here, and for most of us (myself included), it’ll be a long time before we see the ocean again. Instead, buy a bottle of Cocokind’s Sea Kale Clay Mask for just $18 online or at Target. It’s the less-than-$20 tropical getaway you and your skin didn’t know you needed.

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