I know, I know I've been gone for more than a minute. More like a year, but I'm back once again. And just in time for my favorite season, Fall. Hot caramel macchiatos, cramming for midterms, lots of beef stew, candles and ridiculous amounts of face masks. I'm not sure I can pinpoint when my love for face mask began, but it safe to safe that I'm borderline obsessed with them. Clay mask, sheet mask, gel mask, D.I.Y.s, carbonated bubble mask, overnight mask, you name it I've or on a boy tried it or have some in my stash somewhere.
Before we jump into some of the goodness for your face I should give you a quick rundown of my skin and how it's holding up. I have normal to dry skin with very few breakouts, mainly hormonal. The use of face mask is essential to skincare regimen. I use some form of face mask at least 4-5x a week. Some might say this is excessive, but my skin loves the extra love and affection especially with the colder months rapidly approaching. I rarely stray from the blueprint I've set for my skincare regimen, it works well for me. Occasionally I swap face mask in and out because I'm a product junkie, but we established that a while ago. Now that I've given a few deets on my face let's dive into some of the goodness I can suggest you try on your face.
Freeman Feeling Beautiful Acai Purifying Clay Mask
My latest impulse buy and I already don't want to imagine the coming winter without this in the stash. I picked this up from one of the many beauty supply stores lined along Jamaica Avenue for $3.99. I really enjoy face mask from Freeman Beauty so the fact that I’m addicted to this one is no surprise to me. I love the creamy texture and the spread ability of the mask.
“A quick fix for dulling skin, powered by an 8-antioxidant blend of Acai, Goji, Mango, Mangosteen, Pomegranate, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry to neutralize environmental damage. Super oil-absorbent clays draw impurities from skin and clean out clogged pores. Perfect for all skin types.”
Can we get into the smell now? Ok when I opened the lid I instantly walked into a patch of infinite blueberries you can't convince me otherwise. If the scent didn’t put me there than the Smurf blue color definitely did. Not only does it smell good, a bit messy to apply, but it’s also packed with great ingredients for your face. Below are a few of my skin faves,
•Bentonite Clay draws toxins from the skin, noticeably shrinks pores, helps prevent breakouts and leave skin soft and supple.
•Kaolin Clay is by far the gentlest of the various clays available. It has disinfectant properties which help heal existing blemishes and prevent new ones.
•Blueberries are packed with high concentrations of salicylates, the salt of salicylic acid. You’ve probably seen salicylic acid as a key ingredient in acne treatment products. These power berries can remove dead skin, open clogged pores and fight against bacteria.
•Mangoes are packed with vitamin C which helps to give your skin a radiant glow.
•Cranberries are also a great source of salicylic acid and vitamin C.
The price, the great ingredients I couldn’t pass it up. Feel free to check out their site to see what other great mask they have if I don’t mention most of them before you get the chance.
Another favorite of mine also from Freeman Beauty, Sparkling Pear Pore Cleansing Mask.
I picked this is up a while ago from Bargain Hunters also located on Jamaica Avenue. This definitely isn’t my favorite scented mask, but it leaves my face feeling cleansed and noticeably clearer. This mask has a strong witch hazel smell, but it subsides as this mask dries. I’ve never tried a whipped clay mask prior to this one, but if the texture and consistency of all whipped clays are like this I’m down to try them all. This mask is so light and airy and applies like softened butter. Fair warning don’t let this mask completely dry if you have dry or sensitive skin like most clay mask when it dries your face will feel extremely tight. When using clay mask I follow up with a moisturizer.
“Skin-clearing clays are whipped to an ultra-light consistency, enhancing their ability to coax impurities out of skin all without the dramatic tightening effects of traditional clay masks.”
I semi agree with this, the tightening effect depends upon with face wash I use prior to using this mask. A few of my skin ingredient faves,
•Willow Bark Extract is a natural source of salicylic acid, exfoliates and cleans pores to reveal smoother, fresher skin.
•Pear Extract has astringent benefits to help minimize pore visibility for a perfected surface.
•Tea Tree removes impurities without over-drying skin.
•Raspberry Fruit Extract helps fight against bacteria and fungi.
I love this mask particularly for those hormonal breakouts. Its really a skin saver. Check out the website link above for more information on this mask.
My all time mask hands down, if you can’t tell by the looks of the tube already is the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask Orange + Bergamot.
When my skin is feeling “blah”, when I have a pimple in it’s final stages, when I just feel like using a mask I turn to this. I picked this tube up over two years ago from ULTA and it’s finally on it’s last leg, but I’m going to milk it until the tube is dry. It’s just that good. I love the texture and the lasting results I’ve seen on my skin. As long as the formula stays the same I’ll keep a tube of this in my stash for life.
“This super-cleansing detox mask cleanses impurities for a clearer, brighter complexion. The energy of the orange recharges, while sea salt cleanses and bergamot balances. Your face will notice the difference.”
I see no lies. After using this my skin literally glows, feels softer and is clean. I can't ask for a face mask that does more. Some my skin ingredient faves,
•Kaolin Clay
•Bentonite Clay
•Cucumber Fruit Extract, cucumbers and skin share the same hydrogen level. The cleansing and cooling properties help your skin tremendously leaving it hydrated and supple.
•Orange Oil has been shown to increase the ability to absorb vitamin C, collagen production and blood flow, all of which are essential for anti-aging.
If you decide to take a look into any mask mentioned I strongly recommend this one. You can find it at ULTA or their I site.
Another fave of mine also by Formula 10.0.6, Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask Strawberry + Yarrow took some getting used to.
I picked both face masks up from ULTA at the same time for $4.99 each. They were more than likely on sale at the time. I went months before giving this mask an earnest try, but when I did there was no turning back. This mask reminds me of strawberry yogurt and applies like it. I’ve often spilled this mask carelessly leaving the top open, it’s pretty runny especially in my warm room.
“This skin-refining mask with energy boosters goes straight to work on clogged pores. Strawberry and rosemary eliminate impurities while yarrow clarifies skin for instant complexion perfection.”
I’m not sure about “instant complexion perfection”, but I have noticed that my skin texture is softer and looks brighter after using this mask. It's much lighter than their previous mask listed. It like the little sister version in my opinion. Some skin ingredient faves of mine,
•Strawberry Fruit Extract is very effective in fight blemishes and acne scars.
•Yarrow Extract is a wonderful anti-inflammatory agent for your skin.
•Rosemary Leaf Extract contains iron, calcium and phytonutrients.
This mask is definitely one to look into if you aren’t looking for the deep clean you’d receive with the others. Check the link above for more deets on this mask.
A new addition to my skincare regimen as of the last few months has been sheet masks. They’re great for lazy mask days and when my skin needs an extra boost of hydration. Sheet masks may be ideal for dry or normal skin, but a downfall for oily, acne prone or combination skin. Essentially a sheet mask is a thin cotton sheet doused in a liquid based formula that claims to moisturize and brighten skin. Most formulas are packed full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids would could be quite beneficial. Results really vary on what your skin likes and can handle.
When I began using and researching different sheet masks things instantly got overwhelming. THERE ARE SOOO MANY. You can literally try “a lot” and you still won’t even begin to make a dent in all the sheet masks available. It’s really about trial and error with sheet masks. I have a few of my current faves, but I’m constantly swapping out sheet masks due to the vast array available and how easily accessible they are.
A cult favorite in the sheet mask game, My Beauty Diary Royal Jelly Mask.
This mask claims to refine, revitalize, moisturize, and brighten your skin. I picked this up along with a few others from 0035mm, an Asian skincare boutique off Canal Street in the city. They often sell My Beauty Diary Masks 4/$20 or 5/$20 and you can mix and match your sheet masks which is always great when you're experimenting with sheet mask.
I picked this mainly because I wanted to give royal jelly a try. I've often heard that it's a miracle worker for skin so when I can across this mask it was just perfect timing. What I love about this mask is that I can read it and clearly comprehend everything inside. I've found while delving into the world of sheet mask is that not all mask are created equal or put in English. So you have to do your research before just picking one up.
Royal jelly contains complex B vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, natural antibiotic properties, and anti-aging properties. Royal jelly is like everything we wish we could have for our skin in a tiny pill. Not only is this packed with royal jelly extract, but check out a few of my skin ingredient faves,
•Cosphingo is a long last moisturizing agent. It softens and refines skin while enhancing nourishment and resilience.
•Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein is often put into skincare products because of it's moisturizing and conditioning properties. It's often used to heal wounds.
•Grapefruit Extract is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, it also applies vast anti-aging support. Helping to even skin to and fight off free radicals.
•Lemon Peel Extract serves as a dead skin remover which could clog pores in turn leading to future acne breakouts.
Another cult favorite among sheet mask wearers, Innisfree it’s real squeeze mask cucumber.
I picked this up from the Yeon on Main Street in Queens, NY. I have a love/hate relationship with Innisfree sheet mask. I often feel like they have too much serum in the sheet mask and it tends to drip down neck when I put it on my face, but my face looks so damn good once I take it off I continue to purchase. A few skin ingredient faves,
•Cucumber Juice is not just a hangover remedy gals it's also packed full of greatness for your face. It addition to it being hydrating which helps with puffiness and redness,it's chalked full of vitamin C and caffeic acid which can help soothe irritated skin.
•Grapefruit Extract
Hit the links if you're interested in trying some Innisfree masks,
I was so surprised to see just how many places sold sheet mask, Forever 21 included. The have a wide array of not only sheet mask, but skin care products in general. Not all stores will carry the same products though, you may have to move around a bit and see what each store in your area has to offer. I tried a few mask by them, but one of my faves is their Love & Beauty Lavender Sheet Mask for Oily skin.
It's also one of my faves for the price, $1.00. I prefer using this mask when face is super dry it's an instant fix for me. They also have a Tea Tree mask which is great for breakout or trouble pimples.
A few of my skin ingredient faves,
•Cucumber Fruit Extract
•Witch Hazel is coveted for it's outstanding antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
•Oat Kernel Extract commonly used for moisturizing and soothing your skin.
Please feel free to check out your F21 or the link below, for $1.00 you can't pass it up!
I gave you fair warning that you can find sheet mask just about anywhere, Dollar Tree included.
I picked up this Green Tea Face Mask while in North Carolina visiting my older sister and brother. I walked through the aisle not expecting to find anything too good. But their skin care aisle in particular is full of hidden gems, $1.00 hidden gems 😀. I've found that storing this mask in particular in the fridge takes it to the next level because it's a gel sheet mask. Some of my skin ingredient faves,
•Hydrolyzed Collagen improves your skin's ability to absorb moisture, making it looking healthier and keeps wrinkles at bay.
•Ginseng contains large amounts of phytonutrients that can nourish and boost your skin's metabolism.
•Green Tea is packed full antioxidants which help your skin to fight free radicals that can cause damage to cells and tissue.
•Honeysuckle Flower Extract has great antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It's great for minor burns.
Next time you're in Dollar Tree make sure you take a scroll down their skin care aisle.
Sometimes, most times finding the right sheet mask for you can be daunting or costly. Buying a pack of 7 or 16 sheet masks can just expedite the whole process for you. I picked up a 7 pack of LuluLun sheet masks from oo35mm. They're economical and full of royal jelly. Some of my skin ingredient faves,
•Royal Jelly Extract
•Algae Extract can stabilize minerals that aid in moisturization.
•Glycerin has the ability to hydrate your skin and fill in the gaps of dryer skin cells, in turn keeping the outer layer of skin intact.
I've tried another set of mask sheets by LuluLun that I'll be reviewing a little later. I'd honestly recommend these for lazy mask days and for the blatant cost effectiveness. 7 sheet mask packed with goodness for my face? Yeah, sign me up. They make numerous sheet masks types for whatever your skin concerns. Feel free to hit the links for more information,
Because I love face mask sooo much you know I'll be back with a lot more reviews and my current skin care regimen. In the meantime you can keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow me on IG @Stillhungry02
I'm happy to be back! Until my next post ✌.
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