Current Skincare | Facemasks #3

 

I’m back again with another round up of the current facemasks in my collection! First up is the NIOD Flavanone Mud (FM) RRP £40.30* and as with every DECIEM product, there is a fair bit of science behind its fancy name that we won’t go into in too much depth here but you can see on their website! Burnt orange in colour, this is a decongesting mask that purifies the skin, offers a barrier against external pollution and responds and works to improve the skins defence mechanisms. It’s advised to only use once a week for ten minutes and let me tell you the tingle is real with this one while it’s on the skin and for a good bit after! I don’t experience any redness or reaction to it though and it’s my favourite of the bunch I have here today. My skin always feels so smooth after use and looks so much more refined and brighter. I tend to use it on a Sunday evening as a detox/reset for my skin for the week ahead! Read more about it along with some other NIOD products here! 

 

Sticking with DECIEM, and I got the The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque RRP £10.30 in a Space NK box last year. Since finishing up Roaccutane last year, my skin concerns have changed so where once I probably would have used a mask for blemish prone skin like this at least once a week, these days it’s far less, *touch wood*. Saying that, this is a lovely formula that I tend to use on specific areas of my face rather than all over and I also put some on my chest as and when needed too! Along with the BHA, it contains charcoal, Amazonian clays and squalane and works to exfoliate dead skin cells, cleanse pores and reduce inflammation and blemishes. My skin always feels smooth after use with any spots drying up (not out!) and while my skin isn’t as oily as it used to be, this would work wonders on anyone who does have oily skin! Such a good price too! 

 

I still can’t get over the size of the Pixi Vitamin-C Remedy Mask RRP £20*, I don’t think I’ll ever get through it! I got sent this along with the Milky Remedy mask and Rose Remedy mask and while there is no difference in their jelly-esque textures, I think the Vitamin C one is my favourite simply because of the antioxidants included! The mask is cooling to apply (though it can take some extra work getting it off as I apply a thick layer) and hydrating too! It contains ferulic and ascorbic acid but they are quite far down the ingredients list so I’m not sure how effective these are in a wash off mask! Overall, this is a nice cooling experience, and my skin does look fresher and brighter straight after use! I also like to use this on my chest too especially as it’s such a big tub and I am taking my neck and dec care more seriously these days! It also comes with a little spatula that attaches to the side, hygienic! If you shop around, this is regularly on offer for around a third off making it good value

 

 

I’m finally getting round to trying out the cult favourite Oskia Renaissance Mask RRP £68 (for full size 50ml) and I can see why its reputation precedes it! This is a rose scented and coloured balm that, on contact with the skin, turns to a white colour so you know it’s applied correctly. I usually leave on for 10-20 minutes then before fully washing off, I massage some water to emulsify it and activate the second phase. This contains natural fruit AHA’s and lactic acid to gently exfoliate the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and leave skin feeling smooth. It never leaves my skin red and despite feeling so gentle, I have been really impressed with how soft and refined my skin looks after! I’m gutted the full size is so expensive as I prefer to spend money on serums rather than masks but this one crops up in GWP’s and beauty boxes quite often so look out for it in those if you want to try before committing to the full size!  

 

Lastly, the Inkey List Madecassoside Mask RRP £8.99* which I can’t find online anymore so I am wondering if it’s been discontinued already – it only came out last year? Anyway, this is billed as a mask to provide instant relief to stressed skin and on first use I was surprised to be met with a toothpaste-esque scent, indicating menthol, which is one of the ingredients in this mask. I think it’s a strange inclusion for a calming mask as I know some people with sensitive skin who can struggle with this ingredient! My skin didn’t react however, and the cream formula feels very cooling and invigorating on my skin so I think it would be perfect after a workout etc when you want to cool down! Madecassoside is found in Centella Asiatica and helps to reduce inflammation, redness and itching but personally I have found other calming masks such as the I’m From Mugwort mask to be more effecting in calming my skin! 

 

So that’s what’s in my current collection! If you want to read Part One or Part Two of this series, I have linked them for you! Let me know your favourite face mask!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Current Skincare | Facemasks #2

Facemasks are one of my favourite indulgent skincare items and since my last facemask post in September, I have acquired five more! Read on to see what I think of them! 

 

The Huxley Secret of Sahara Good Night Sleep Mask RRP £24 has featured a couple of times before, most recently in my K Beauty Favourites. It’s a beautiful, cooling, gel like formula that contains Pricky pear seed oil, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica. For an overnight mask, it feels exceptionally lightweight and absorbs quickly! I was actually worried that this wouldn’t hydrate my skin enough especially as I started using it regularly while on Roaccutane when my skin was at its driest but it delivered every time! My skin feels nourished and I wake up with calm, hydrated, smooth and plump skin! Bear in mind it is lightly scented – personally this doesn’t bother me and I love the scent – a subtle floral that reminds me of something I can’t quite put my finger on!

 

Sticking with K Beauty and the I’m From Mugwort Mask RRP £32 also featured in the same post as the Huxley mask! Forget outfit repeating, I am a product repeater! I love the I’m From Mugwort Essence so much I just had to pick up the mask to match after hearing so many good reviews and this really didn’t disappoint either! It’s a super gentle wash off mask designed for sensitive or irritated skin and it instantly calms down angry skin taking the redness out! The “bits” you can see are mugwort pieces but aren’t abrasive at all, the mask feels like gel and spreads easily! It has an earthy scent and only needs to be on for 5-10 minutes for skin to feel soothed and calm! 

 

Next up, back to overnight masks and the Lanolips Face Base The Aussie Flyer Jetlag Mask RRP £20 (for 60ml - mine is 30ml) which as well as lanolin also contains coffee to reboot dull skin and mint oil to restore radiance. This isn’t strongly scented to me nor do I experience any tingling with it due to the mint oil but it’s something to keep in mind if you have very sensitive skin! This only needs to be left on for 10 minutes then it can just be tissued off to get the results but I tend to just leave on overnight! It leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated I reviewed it along with the other Lanolips products in my collection in this round up post! 

 

The newest mask to my collection is the Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque* RRP £59 and its quickly become my most used! Containing shea butter, mango seed butter, linoleic acid and Vitamin E, this is a very nourishing moisturising mask that transforms from a balm to an oil on contact with skin and is perfect for dry skin! You just hold the pump to dispense (it can be quite slow especially if it’s a cold day!) and a pea size amount is enough for your whole face as a little goes a long way! It melts into an oil and is like a comfort blanket overnight for skin! I wake up to smooth and hydrated skin and this would have been perfect while I was on roaccutane! I think the price is really reasonable too considering its a 50ml and you need so little each time! 

 

Lastly, I have the Sand&Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Mask* RRP £36.90 (for 60g – mine is 30g) and this one I have had since before Christmas as it featured in my gift guide however I’ve only been able to use it within the last month as it contains Vitamin A which is a no go on Roaccutane (which coincidentally is also Vitamin A lol). Now I’ve been off it for the last month, I have slowly been introducing this mask and so far so good! It’s a ten minute mask that uses Australian pink clay to detoxify and brighten skin, drawing out impurities and refining pores. Now, I am still on a clear skin high at the minute so haven’t noticed anything in the way of a clearer complexion but the tingle with this is real and when I remove I do notice my skin feels smoother and tighter (but not dry), pores look smaller and my skin looks brighter overall. I think it would work particularly well if you have oily skin and I can’t wait to test it out more as my skin returns to normal over the next few months! 

 

So those are the latest five masks to my collection! If you want to see part one of this series click here! Let me know if you have tried any of these or what your favourite face mask is! 

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Skincare Review | K Beauty Favourites

Over the last year, my collection of K Beauty skincare products has grown significantly so I thought now would be a good time to talk about some favourites! I am so happy more brands and products are easily available in the UK now through the likes of Tonic15 as well as moving into LookFantastic and Cult Beauty and I have a wishlist as long as my arm of products I want to try!

  

I recently did a whole post on my current toners which included these three so I will keep this brief but I love all three of these and am already on my second bottle of the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner! This was one of my favourite skincare discoveries of last year and a staple for me while on Roaccutane as my skin was so dry. It is cooling, soothing and hydrating and very similar to the Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner! Another gel like toner, this one is also perfect for dehydrated skin. Finally, the I’m From Rice Toner, a milky, hydrating toner that brightens and evens out my skintone. It feels calming and balancing and rounds off a trio of impressive toners! I actually have a couple of others in my stash that I haven’t had the chance to test properly yet but I finished my Roaccutane tablets last week so it won’t be too long before I get them into rotation! If you want to read a more detailed review of these three toners see my Current Skincare | Toners post here! 

 

The K Beauty product I have been using for the longest is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and I went through a couple of minis of these in Canada and bought the big one just before I left and it has lasted a lifetime! I know people either love this or hate it but I am firmly in the love it category. It is so nourishing, gently exfoliates lips making them feel smooth and it keeps them from drying out overnight which is a must for me! I am so happy Laneige are about to be stocked at Cult Beauty too!

 

The I’m From Mugwort Essence also made its way into my daily routine last year and as with the toners, it was bought as a soothing, calming addition to my skincare collection! It’s a watery consistency and I press onto my skin with my palms after toner. This contains 100% Mugwort which is rich in antioxidants and really helps to calm redness in my skin leaving it smooth and helping with any irritation. It feels hydrating and though the most expensive of the products here at £37 it is well worth it, a bottle lasts forever and my skin loves it! I want to they their Fig Boosting Essence next! Read more about it in this Five Things I’m Loving post or my Roaccutane Diaries! 

 

As I loved the essence so much I decided to pick up the I’m From Mugwort Mask to match! It’s a gorgeous gentle, wash off mask perfect for sensitive and irritated skin like mine has been! It instantly calms angry skin down and takes any redness out. It has a very earthy, textured gel consistency but the mugwort pieces are not abrasive at all and the slight scent is fine! It only needs to be on for 5-10 minutes to be effective and my skin always feels so soothed and calm after!

 

Lastly, the Huxley Good Night Sleep Mask is another favourite! It contains Pricky pear seed oil, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica and though it’s an overnight mask, it’s a super lightweight gel and absorbs quickly. The first time I used this I thought I would wake up with my skin feeling parched but even though it does sink in quickly, my skin doesn’t dry out overnight. I wake up with hydrated, smooth and plump skin so this is a winner for me! It’s so cooling and soothing and it also featured in my Best Beauty Discoveries of 2020!

 

Like I said, I have a few other K Beauty items in my stash I haven’t had a chance to test properly as well as a huge wishlist so there may well be a part two to this post! In the meantime I would love to know what your favourite K Beauty products are! 

 

Get up to 5% off at YESSTYLE with my code DANIELLESBB5

 

If you like this post you may also like my French Pharmacy Favourites! 

 

*There are no PR samples in this post. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used. See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Current Skincare | Facemasks #1

I don’t know about you but I have been upping my masking lately and I thought today I would take the chance to talk about some facemasks in my rotation - the skincare kind that is! Three of these are constant, repurchased favourites and two are new to my collection over the last month!

First up, my Origins mask trinity – I have lost count of how many tubes of each of these I have went through at this stage. They are my go to when my skin needs help with texture, breakouts and hydration. The Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask is a Holy Grail product for me, it’s cooling, soothing and hydrating but doesn’t feel greasy at all. Every morning after I use this, my skin feels so plump, soft and moisturised, I love it!

When I’m having issues with texture on my skin I always go back to the Original Skin Retexturizing mask with rose clay. It’s a dual clay mask and exfoliator that my oily/combo skin really agrees with! The rose clay feels gentle and the jojoba beads do a great job of exfoliating my skin leaving it smooth, supple and clear.

The Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask rounds off this trio – it contains bamboo charcoal and white china clay and is one I like to use when I am breaking out as it’s calming and helps with oil control while drawing clogged pores to the surface. These three masks are £22 each for 75ml but it is worth shopping around for a discount or a gift with purchase to get the most for your money!

A mask I’ve had for a while but only opened recently is the Summer Fridays R + R mask which I received in a GWP. This brand is super hyped and an Instagram favourite but this is the only product of theirs I have tried and I don’t know, it’s just left me feeling a bit meh especially for the price! The mask is filled with oils to hydrate and soothe skin as well as flower powder to exfoliate (which I find quite harsh) and is lightly rose scented. I leave it on for about 10 minutes then use a damp wash cloth to remove but rub in any excess oil leftover. I just feel a bit underwhelmed with it overall especially when its £46 for 64g!

Lastly, the Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant* also promises hydration and exfoliation but this is one I can actually feel working! It contains snow mushroom for hydration and bamboo to exfoliate as well as cucumber extract (which it smells like) to soothe and I love it! I’ve included a picture of the texture so you can see the spheres which are filled with the bamboo powder and you move these over your face to wherever you feel needs exfoliating (for me it’s my forehead, nose and chin) and they burst to release the powder (it feels like an even more finely milled version of the daily microfoliant)! You only need to leave it on for 5 minutes to feel instantly refreshed, hydrated and exfoliated!

I also need to take a minute to mention the packaging as it’s so innovative! Instead of squeezing the tube you push the soft top down and it dispenses the perfect amount of product! You can also see how much product is left down the side which brings me to my only negative – it’s £55 for 50ml. Even though it’s only recommended for use 1-2 times per week I do think this is steep and which it was at a lower price point!

Have you tried any of these masks? Let me know your favourites in the comments!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

Danielle xx

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Face and Body Masking with Mint Skin

Before Christmas, I was contacted by the lovely people at Mint Skin - a new skincare brand from Sydney, Australia. In November, they launched their first line of products – MUD – mineral based face and body masks and having tried them over the last month I’m ready to talk about how the products performed on my skin!

I was kindly sent the full range of the Detox Mud mask, Rosa Hydration Mud mask and the applicator brush and all products are produced locally and are cruelty free using fair trade guidelines!

First up, the Detox Mud* (RRP $21.95AUD/approx. £13.40) and boy was I happy to see this! I ate so much junk over Christmas and drank nowhere near as much water as I normally do so I noticed my skin getting more and more clogged over the two weeks I was off. The Detox Mud is recommended for use with oily, congested and acne prone skin or if you suffer from rashes or cellulite on the body. It’s made up of a mixture of organic Australia clays and they work together to draw out toxins and bacteria from deep within the skin.

I used this for the first time a few days before I went back to work. I ran myself a bath and mixed the powder in the sachet up with some water to create the mask then brushed it over my face as well as my chest then the excess over my thighs! I left it the full recommended 15 minutes while it dried and when I rinsed it off my skin felt super soft and so smooth!

I had a patch of spots I could feel coming up on the side of my chin and I think this definitely helped draw them to the surface. This is something I’m always scared of happening when I use new products but after using this, they died down so quickly! It helped balance my oily skin and my complexion looked so much clearer after I used this!

This mask is probably the most satisfying thing to look at once its dried on my face – for me anyway! Seeing all my blackheads sitting on the surface then being wiped out once I rinse it off is the best feeling! My nose can feel bumpy at times with blackheads but this mask worked wonders on them leaving my nose completely smooth!

A full sachet gives quite a lot of product so I’d recommend using half if you only want to cover your face to make it last a little longer, just make sure you keep it sealed air tight! I mixed mine in a small bowl and it washed out easily!

The Rosa Hydration Mud* (RRP $22.95AUD/approx. £14.01) is slightly different in that you don’t have to mix water in to activate it. As well as kaolin clay, this mask includes rose oil, aloe vera and honey to soothe and hydrate the skin and is recommended for use when your skin is feeling dull, dry and in need of some hydration and glow!

The mask feels so cooling on the skin and dries down slowly – it’s not uncomfortable or tight feeling and it has a lovely light rose scent. I keep this on for 20 minutes and my skin feels so hydrated after and looks instantly brighter and clearer as well as feeling softer!

I noticed the aftereffects so much around my nose which although oily is constantly dehydrated and with this mask, my makeup applied so much more evenly and didn’t crack around my nose!

Lastly, the applicator brush* (RRP $19.95AUD/approx. £12.18). I am not a fan of flat brushes for applying foundation and the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind to apply a face mask with one until now – where have I been?! This brush is spa quality and gives such a smooth and even application! Gone are the days under my nails get covered in leftover mask that takes me an age to get out! The bristles in this brush are packed tight and glide over my skin easily to apply the product!

Overall, I love the simplistic packaging and branding of Mint Skin and the ethos behind them! The products are made in small batches and I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the future to add to their product line! The masks are such high quality and work so well on my skin and Mint Skin offer worldwide shipping which is free for those in Australia!

Have you tried anything from Mint Skin before? Tell me what your favourite facemask is!

Updated Jan 2021 - brand no longer exists!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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