Make a Strawberry Maple Jelly Mask

Do you prefer sweet or salty? I will almost always choose a cheese plate over a sweet treat for desert. However, there are a few sweets that I can't resist - chocolate ganache, carrot cake and anything maple. Growing up we had a sugar shack in our backyard and it was always a very good day when we got to enjoy tire sur la neige (maple taffy on snow). This French Canadian treat is made by boiling maple sap past the point of maple syrup and then pouring it over snow to harden. Yum!

The other day I spotted some maple water at the grocery store and I just had to find a way to include it in a formulation. I even prepared some strawberry glycerite for the occasion. I’m wearing this jelly mask as I type and let’s just say that is most definitely a sweet treat for the face.

Let’s get started

The ingredients

Maple water

Maple water contains organic acids which are often used in cosmetics as a mild exfoliant. The acids work to remove dead skin and encourage skin cell renewal.

Strawberry glycerite

I cleaned and chopped fresh organic strawberries and left them in the fridge to marinate in a preserved glycerite. After a couple of days, I strained out the glycerite using a coffee filter.

Not only does the strawberry glycerite smell divine, but these berries can also help protect your skin from damaging UV rays (it won't replace your sunblock).

Also in this formulation:

• Aloe Vera gel

• Hyaluronic acid

• Xanthan gum

• Geogard Ultra Preservative

The measurements

For a 2 oz jar of jelly mask, you will need:

• Aloe Vera gel – 26.4 g

• Maple water – 25.5 g

• Strawberry glycerite – 6.3 g

• Xanthan gum – 0.9 g

• Geogard Ultra (preservative) – 0.6 g

• Hyaluronic acid – 0.3 g

The steps

1. In a glass beaker, mix the glycerite and xanthan gum until clear.

2. In a separate beaker, add the maple water followed by the hyaluronic acid. Mix until dissolved.

3. Add the Aloe Vera gel to the maple water mix and stir until combined.

4. Add the glycerite mix into the maple water mix and stir.

5. Blend in your preservative and stir until the mixture is smooth.

6. Check the pH and adapt as necessary based on your preservative requirements.

7. Do a patch test on your wrist 24 hours before applying the jelly mask to your face.

Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think on Instagram.