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I always think of Borghese as this really old-fashioned brand that made fun mud-oriented products that my mom splurged on back in the early '90s, which makes me feel both nostalgic and wary. I mean, sure they're still around, but as Cathy Horyn would say, "Is it modern?"

Of course the company swears so, and they've made some bold moves to enter the 21st century lately. Mass darlings Del Labs (you might recognize them as Sally Hansen, although they were recently acquired by the mega empire that is Coty), just inked a deal to license Borghese hand, foot and nail products in drugstores like Walgreen's. Should be interesting to see where all of that goes, but in the meantime, I will be kicking it old school and coating my face and body in their very excellent and updated for NOW Fango Brillante Brightening Mud Mask for Face and Body.

As opposed to the usual go-to mud color, this huge jar is filled with a thick, Pepto Bismol pink clay substance that smells like clean bar soap. You're meant to smear on a thick layer on your face and body parts du jour (unless you want to go for the full monty, but let's get real here), and leave it on for 15 minutes so it can dry, after which you remove it and expect to look like a shiny new butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

And the thing is, you kinda do. In addition to mineral rich Italian mud and their signature Acqua di Vita Living Water Complex (known for its healing powers back in the motherland), this mix also contains vitamin A and Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract (a.k.a. Japanese mandarin), which acts as the brightening agent. I don't know how much I care about brightening up my entire body--like I said, that would require way too much time--but 15 minutes for skin that looks like it's been to the priciest dry cleaner in town? Sure. That's always modern.