Thursday, March 13, 2014

My Favourite Face Masks!

Face masks, I personally LOVE them, I am always walking around the house with one slathered on, scaring my parents and my brother (in fact I'm wearing one right now) . I sometimes think they're overlooked in the skincare area, not many people use them enough, and If I'm being honest, sometimes a face mask does more for my skin that my entire skin care regime! I am always reminding people to use at least one, once a week, it really brightens and refreshes your skin.
I have tried quite a couple of face masks over the years and I have found quite a few favourites that I use for different purposes! So today I thought I'd share some of them with you so that maybe you could try them out and who knows! maybe they will become a staple in your skincare products!
(Of course do a patch test before applying any of these masks all over your skin as certain ingredients can irritate the skin and you would not like to have an allergic reaction. Please also note that while these products may work amazingly for me, they may not do so for you, but that's okay! keep trying new masks until you find the one or ones that suit your skin!)

Let's talk about Hydrating masks first, I have two favourites that I find do the job excellently, at least for my skin! Hydrating your skin is very important no matter what skin type you have, (that includes you! oily skinned people) it keeps your skin looking younger for longer, and plumper and makes your make up glide on better. Sometimes however, a moisturiser isn't enough, or maybe you just really want to pamper your skin for a special event, or if you've just got the time while you're watching your favourite show (teen wolf!) and that's when I like to use these;

Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask
Out of all my face masks, this is the simplest one, it doesn't do anything else but really hydrate and moisturise my skin. I find that after I use it my skin looks brighter and feels much softer, it's the sort of mask I recommend to everyone. On the package it says to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes, I generally leave it for about 15 minutes, it feels very refreshing and cooling on the skin, it's also a nice baby pink colour. I picked it up for $10 dollars at the Chemist Warehouse, but I'm sure you could find it other places.

THIRST stop! hydrating and calming mask with MP aquaFLEX by Model Prefer
This is my favourite mask to go for when my skins having a rough day, it hydrates really well and I can leave it on for a pretty long while! it goes on white but dries clear and it doesn't set! it just feels really luxurious on the skin, sort of like a spa treatment! I definitely recommend this mask! but please do a patch test as I've heard of people saying this mask made their skin feel like it was burning, I have sensitive skin and didn't feel anything, however its always important to be cautious. It says on the package to leave it on for 15 minutes but I sometimes leave it on for longer if I'm busy.

Okay, let's talk LUSH! Their fresh face masks are my favourite things in the world! Seriously, if you want to indulge or splurge I suggest stopping by a Lush store, the sales assistants are always super nice and they're always there to lend a hand (and try the products on your hand!). I have tried 2 of the Lush Face masks but I am hoping to try them all, I don't currently have any however, as you know (or maybe not if you've never been to lush) their face masks have a shelf life of 3-4 weeks and they have to be kept in the fridge.

Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask
Relaxing, reviving, mineral-rich mask, to cleanse, soften and beautify. Fresh nutritious seaweed, cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absoloute makes this a great mask for everyone.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I really liked this mask, it was hydrating and was great for those days when you come home stressed and want to have a pamper evening and some time to yourself! It lived up to its claim and was just a pleasure to have on the skin, the only annoying bit was the pieces of seaweed were a tad bit big and annoying to wash off but other than that, AMAZING. Don't let the thought of seaweed put you off!
Note: Lush face masks on the whole are messy to get off and this one was no exception, I did find using a face cloth makes the whole process a bit easier and less messy.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask
Avoid disasters with the power of blueberries! Fresh blueberries are rich in beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to reduce inflammation and act as a mild antiseptic. Soothing chamomile, Irish moss and almond oil work with the gentle cleansing action of calamine to save your skin. 
I loved this face mask, I'm prone to small breakouts and this mask was just heaven, I noticed the difference as soon as I washed it off, my acne was reduced in size and less red. It didn't aggravate my skin at all and left it super soft! It's an awesome blue colour as well, with little bits of blueberries but not too big that they feel uncomfortable. This mask sets really well, so much that I can't smile, it also lightens as it dries so you know exactly when to wash it off! On the note of washing, washing this particular mask off was a pain in the butt, be aware that if you don't rinse well as soon as you dry your face you'll notice blue powdery residue left on your skin, but I mean, since this mask is amazing it's kinda worth the extra hassle. Amazing for those of you with acne prone skin.
Lush Face masks are generally $17 and I can get about 6 uses out of each pot.

Congested skin? No problem. These are a few of my favourite masks for when my face is frustrated and annoyed and covered in acne. I sometimes put them all over my face, or sometimes I just put them on the spots that need it, either way, these are my miracle workers.

Palmers Purifying Mask with Green Clay and Sweet Almond Oil
I feel like I'm saying I love all these masks and hey, this ones no exception. If it works, it works. This mask is just great at dealing with congested skin, it tightens, cools and sucks up all the oil and disgustingness that is congesting your skin. It comes in an easy to squeeze tube and goes on white, you can feel the tinglyness of the mask as it works to help your skin, this is another mask I'd say is good for all skin types. It's really gentle too so it would be great for those of you with super sensitive skin. You can pretty much get this mask everywhere and it's under $15 dollars so it's a great affordable mask.

Garnier Pure 3 in 1 Wash + Scrub + Mask
This is my go to spot treatment for those annoying pesky zits that just don't want to go away, it really helps in making them go away. I don't use this product for anything else so it lasts me quite a while, however I will occasionally apply it all over my face. Not much else to say, it works. The only thing is, if you have a really angry spot, be extra careful using this mask as it can aggravate it due to the small scrub particles, remove it gently with warm water and don't rub hard at your skin. Only use this mask if your acne prone, dry skin people beware, it has salicylic acid which can dry your skin out more.

There you have it, my top face masks, however I'd like to just mention a few others. If you can find Sheet masks, they're great! especially the hydrating ones, Olay has some great ones, or you can try Ebay or online stores. I also like heading to Priceline and picking up the packs of the Montague Jeunesse masks, they come in a huge variety and are great for pamper evenings or sleepovers with your girlfriends.

Here's a picture of myself wearing a face mask!


xoS

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