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An exfoliating mask trending on TikTok – that statement about the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque had me intrigued. Does trending mean it actually gets recommended? I am not on TikTok that often, but I remember the hype around a similar mask from Peter Thomas Roth a few years ago, praised as effective exfoliation for all skin types. Is the same true for the Banish one? Let’s take a look at ingredients, performance on the skin and how it is best used for optimal results.
And if you are on TikTok – what is the consensus there? Let me know!
What the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque claims
Apply, wash off in 10 minutes, see instant glow & smoothness!
An exfoliating mask to reveal your best skin. It’s a customer favorite, and trending on TikTok for good reason!
Facts about the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
Prize and size
One pot contains 50 ml and is available for 58 € on the website here.
Texture and smell
If you have ever cooked with pumpkin, you will instantly be reminded of that when you open the pot as it looks like a brownish, gooey cooked down pumpkin.
How to use the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
Despite the gooiness it is easy to spread on the face though, leaving an interesting colored film that will amuse everyone seeing you. According to the brand you should use it one to three times a week on clean skin, so after cleansing and before you apply other products.
I wouldn’t classify my skin as sensitive although it is a little reactive sometimes to strong acids due to the Tretinoin I use. Using the Banish Mask for ten minutes once a week was about as much as my skin could tolerate though, it felt a little tingly starting at the five minute mark and my skin was reddened and a little tight after washing it off. Once the redness subsided, my skin was definitly smooth and appeared brighter, but needed good hydration. The mask dries down to a film and isn’t too easily washed off, I preferred using a wash cloth to remove it.
Ingredients of the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
sii|h 0 0, Tetrasodium EDTA chel, Vitamin E (Tocopherol) 
aox 0–3 0–3, Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus) emo 0 0, Phenoxyethanol pres, Citric Acid buff, Meadowfoam Seed Oil (Limnanthes Alba) emo, Xanthan Gum vc, Glycolic Acid exf|buff, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) aox|sb|buff, Organic Sugar Cane Extract (Saccharum Officinarum) h, Organic Bilberry Fruit Extract (Vaccinium Myrtillus), Organic Sugar Maple Extract (Acer Saccharinum), Organic Orange Peel Extract (Citrus Sinensis) perf, Organic Lemon Peel Extract (Citrus Limon) emo, Organic Cranberry Fruit Extract (Vaccinium Macrocarpon), Organic Neem Seed Oil (Melia Azadirachta), Organic Rosemary Leaf Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis) aox|so|amic, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus) emo 0 0, Organic Cinnamon Cassia (Cinnamomum Burmanni) Powder, Organic Ginger Root (Zingiber Officinale) Powder, Organic Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans) Powder, Organic Allspice (Pimenta Dioica) Powder, Organic Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum) Powder, Organic Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum) Powder, Organic Alcohol 
amic|solv|vcHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Looking at the ingredient list you need to be aware of the fact that there is an older version of the mask still referred to in reviews that only had different extracts as source of natural AHAs. The new version here has Glycolic Acid added separately to exfoliate as well as Ascorbic Acid for extra brightening (More info: The benefits of in acids skincare explained and The benefits of Vitamin C in skincare explained)
Both are in the first third of the ingredient list, but I can’t say at which percentage. Other than that you have Glycerin for hydration, Vitamin E as extra antioxidant, and then a bunch of plant extracts. Those plant extracts are in parts “source of natural AHAs”, in parts for antioxidant benefits, but also with quite a few that could be irritating, like Orange and Lemon Peel Extract.
More info: How to read the skincare ingredient list in your products
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It doesn’t claim to be gentle, only to reveal smooth skin within ten minutes, and to ths claim it lives up.
How does it compare to…
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
Of course this is the exfoliating mask I was referring to in the introduction to this review – the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask that was a must have amongst beauty bloggers around 2017. Obviously I had to by it back then and enjoyed it much more than the version from Banish as it made my skin feel just as smooth, but without the tingling and redness. Pricewise they are at the same level.
You can read my full review of the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque to?
Even though I liked the smoothing and brightening effect on my skin, the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque isn’t something I would consider adding to my rotation. I get the same effect from other AHA products, but without the added plant extracts that in combination, at least on my skin, lead to redness and a tight feeling I try to avoid. That might be different for you, but even then I would argue you could get similar results for a better price. If you skin is sensitive, I wouldn’t suggest using it and if congested pores are your main concern, it probably won’t be the best choice either as it has mainly surface exfoliation better for texture and pigmentation than for exfoliation inside the pore. (More info: How to reduce the appearance of large pores)
Shop Banish skincare here
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