Mask Monday
I just want to express my love for Banish's Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
I know. I get it. How many times is she going to talk about it?!
The answer is: when I feel like I've talked about it enough... & right now I do not feel like this little guy has received enough love.
This week my skin was not looking its best, I had some kind of allergy to something and the right side of my face (cheek & jaw area) always flares up and turns red and blotchy. The right side of my jaw is the first thing that immediately gets irritated whenever I put something on my face or eat something that my body doesn't like.
Aside from the allergy I had, I did my eyebrows on Friday and the area that was waxed got extremely red, bumpy & inflamed, this never happens because my eyebrow lady uses a hypoallergenic wax and immediately follows the waxing with aloe gel. This simply happened because my skin was having an off-week, which is fine... but enough is enough.
I have mentioned this mask in a favorites video, in my skincare video and it was also in my Mask 101 post but I have never really talked about it in depth and how it helps me.
When you have very sensitive skin there are times where even your holy-grails won't bring you back from a skin irritation but I kid you not, I put this mask on for 5 minutes and then wash off the residue with my aveeno calming foaming face wash and 90% of my irritation went away immediately. It is my savior.
The bumps on my eyebrows along with the inflammation and redness vanished less than an hour after using it. It is seriously magical. Every time I use it I am more and more impressed. So much so that I was compelled to open my laptop and write this.
Here are Some notes about this mask which I notice on my skin seriously moments after use. This mask delivers everything it claims to deliver.
- Contains Vitamin A (fights acne) , Vitamin C and Beta-Carotene (plumps, reverses damage & reduces fine line)
- Contains AHA which is a chemical exfoliant (removes dead skin, brightens, doesn't dry out your skin)
- Vegan and cruelty free
- All organic (actually made fresh to order)
- No parabens or sulfates
Sure, it feels like I'm putting baby food on my face, it tingles a little & it's kind of annoying to rinse off but when I tell you it is worth it... I truly believe it is worth it. It is so incredibly underrated but so good.
My face the next day after using this looks so healthy, plump and even. It is packed with so many amazing beneficial ingredients at such a reasonable price point, I cannot get over this mask.
Tips For Healthier Skin
There is nothing more important to me when it comes to "beauty" than the health of my skin. You can buy hundreds of makeup products but at the end of the day if your skin is not up to par nothing is really going to look very good.
I have already talked about my skin care routine so that's not what this post is about. Today I'll be sharing some extra tips aside from the exact products I use on my face that have helped me get my skin to it's happy place.
1. Silk pillow cases I thought this was a gimmick until I tried one. At first you can't really notice a difference, it's when you stop using a silk pillow case after using one for a while that you really see how much it helps, especially if you have sensitive skin & textured hair. When I moved to my new house I had left my silk cases at home & was using some new regular pillow cases for about two weeks. My skin on the side where I sleep, as well as my hair, was just not looking as good as the other side.
You may not notice it but regular pillow cases cause friction on your hair and face while you sleep, it is not extremely abrasive but anything, no matter how small, if done daily can cause damage & if we can do something to prevent it then why not?
I have not put my skin under a microscope lately but from experience and close monitoring of my skin and hair daily I have noticed a positive difference in the side of my face that I sleep on and my hair after using silk pillow cases.
I use these pillow cases.
2. Wash pillow cases frequently: I feel like this is pretty obvious but not a lot of people do it. Wash your pillow cases people! Don't wait until it's time to wash all of your bed sheets to wash your pillow cases. We put our face on these things every night. Oil, dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells and who knows what else, accumulate on the pillow you put your face on EVERY NIGHT.
I wish microscopes weren't so damn expensive so that everyone can purchase one and understand how gross our bodies really are lol. I keep extra pillow cases at all times, I bought two of the silk pillow cases I mentioned previously and I rotate them every 1.5 - 2 weeks.
3. Masks: If you saw my mask 101 post you would know that I usually have several masks on hand at any given time because I don't believe there is a single mask that covers every problem that your skin may have throughout time.
As seasons change, heck, as DAYS change so does our skin. There are days where my skin is Sahara desert dry, other days where I have stubborn texture and then there are days where my skin is normal but my pores are enlarged. I use several masks throughout the week aside from my daily skincare routine to target any specific problem that my skin may be having.
Some people might say that this is excessive, masks are not necessary. I disagree, no one is perfect, there is a chance that on a particular day you forget to drink enough water or intake the adequate amount of vitamins through food or supplements. Our skin is a representation of our diet, if we eat like shit that is going to be reflected in our skin ( I will get more into this in number 5.)
Aside from that what about all of the pollutants we are exposed to daily? All of this builds up within our pores and sometimes cleansers and our regular skincare routines are not enough to extract them.
Masks can be quick fixes to many of the skin issues we face daily & some masks contain helpful ingredients that can actually help nourish & improve your skin throughout time if used frequently.
I use masks 2-3 times per week, sometimes less if my skin does not need it, I simply listen to my skin & see if it needs something, if it does then I will treat it, otherwise I just leave it alone.
4. Exfoliate: As I mentioned previously when I was talking about washing your pillow cases, our pillow cases get all of this buildup of oil, dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells and the majority of all of that comes from our lovely faces. Gross right? Yes I know.
You can use chemical or physical exfoliants to help get rid of build up from residue that our cleansers did not get rid of throughout the week. I definitely recommend that you use one in order to prevent your skin from looking dull.
I use a physical exfoliant once a week. My skin is very sensitive so this exfoliant is very finely milled and does not irritate my skin at all. However, most of the time one of the masks I use already works as an exfoliant when I rinse it off so if I don't feel like my skin needs something more abrasive throughout the week I do not use one.
5. Food: This is another obvious one but there are still people out there that really don't understand the phrase "you are what you eat." I don't have a pristine diet BUT I have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin when I'm eating somewhat clean as opposed to eating unhealthy. Seriously, night & day. Sometimes, something as simple as substituting things that you eat regularly for something that has more nutritional value can help improve your skin like crazy.
For instance, instead of using butter on your toast every morning try using avocado. You're substituting one fat for another but one is actually good for you. This is just an example, you can substitute whatever you want but these are the little things that you can implement into your daily routine which truly convert "clean eating" into an actual lifestyle.
6. Water: Don't mean to sound like every other person who rants about the benefits of water but I'm not only talking to you as someone who has researched these things in the passed, I'm speaking from experience. When I am well-hydrated it is reflected in my skin, just like when I am dehydrated that is also reflected in my skin.
The task itself is ridiculously easy yet we're all guilty of not hydrating ourselves properly at times. Don't think that good skin is going to last or even happen at all if you're not hydrating yourself, simple as that.
To help me reach a certain "water goal" I usually keep a 75 oz water bottle around the house.
7. Never sleep with makeup on: Another no-brainer but I still see it all of the time. I really can't remember the last time I ever slept with makeup on & it makes me cringe when people do this. Back to the whole pillow thing... if your face excretes all of these things while sleeping when it is clean... it is only three times worse when you've got all of this makeup on your face.
I clean my face twice a day, once in the morning and once at night prior to going to bed. If you only want to wash your face once a day that's totally fine but just make sure its at night prior to going to bed.
We shed a lot of our skin cells during the day but that rate is increased while we're sleeping. Similarly, many other processes that take place in our bodies and our skin are heightened while we sleep. Sleep is a restorative time for our skin and our bodies, imagine how difficult it is for our skin to regenerate when we've got all of these clogged pores caused by dirt and makeup. Just take it off!
8. Sunscreen: You don't need to be going to the beach to apply sunscreen on your face. This should be part of your everyday routine. Push yourself to apply sunscreen everyday until it becomes a habit. If you find the right sunscreen that works well under makeup or one that is mixed in with your moisturizer this makes things easier. Do whatever you have to do but don't stop until it becomes second nature.
Most people like instant gratification & that is why they are not compelled to take an extra step in the morning for something that is not immediately changing the appearance of their skin but open up a book, google, a magazine, WHATEVER you want and educate yourself on why protecting your face and body from sun exposure is so important. You will thank yourself when you're 50 & don't resemble a leather purse.
My current go to sunscreen is the glossier invisible shield, this stuff is seriously the best & it doesn't feel like you have absolutely any sunscreen on your face. You can get 20% off glossier by shopping through my link HERE.
xx
Mask 101
My absolute favorite part of skincare are masks. I seriously cannot get enough of them. Technology and science evolve quite quickly & with them so do skincare products, for this reason skincare can get a little overwhelming, everyone is always talking about "the next best thing" & I can see how it can be a little difficult to start a proper regimen on your own following solely the advice of someone on the internet.
My advice would be to understand your skin, don't buy something just because you've heard rave reviews about it. DO YOUR RESEARCH! Educate yourself. Know your skin type and the issues you want to solve on your skin & go from there. The skin on your face is not something you want to mess with. I wish I would've followed this advice years ago prior to giving myself contact dermatitis and slight eczema. Luckily, I have completely reversed these skin issues and I'm pretty happy with the skin on my face today.
I think I have narrowed my skincare down to a relatively minimal, yet effective routine. You can see my skincare video HERE. After using tons and tons of unnecessary skincare products I came to the realization that the simpler your routine the better, at least for my very dry, very sensitive skin.
With that said, I don't believe that there is a single mask out there that does it all and takes care of every single problem you may be having with your skin. This is why even though I try to keep my skincare minimal I always have several masks that I use on rotation depending on what my skin needs at the moment & today I'll be sharing these bad boys with you!
1. Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
- Immediately minimizes the appearance of my pores
- Doesn't dry out my skin
- Really does detox my clogged pores & evens texture
This one is a new favorite and I am so pleasantly surprised every time I use this mask and look at my skin the next day. I noticed that the pores on my cheeks were becoming a little larger and I really wanted to try something that targeted that specific problem. Coincidently, this was part of my Sephora free point perk and after using it one time I knew I had to purchase it. It REALLY does minimize my pores and make my skin look very uniform. I also use this when my skin is congested and it works wonders on my texture. It doesn't dry out or irritate my skin in any way, my skin loves this stuff.. I'm obsessed.
- Peel off mask
- Excellent for fine lines
- Firms my skin and evens my texture
One of my favorites!... I'm sure you've probably heard three million and two people talk about this mask already but it's for a very good reason... It does wonders for the firmness & suppleness of your skin. I have laugh lines that can look pretty bad if my skin lacks suppleness & this just does such a great job at plumping my skin. It also helps my texture... most of these masks help with my texture. Overall, it just makes my skin look very even and cohesive.
3. Odacite Synergie Perfecting Beauty Masque
- Detoxes
- Removes dead skin
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Firms
This is kind of your one-stop-shop if you want a mask that does a little bit of everything, besides hydration of course. However, even though it doesn't supply hydration it does not irritate or further dry out my skin.
4. Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Cleanser
- Detoxes, firms, reduces appearance of pores
- Can be used as a mask or cleanser
- Doesn't dry out my already dry skin
- Vegan & fragrance free
EXCELLENT for when your skin is congested and you just need to bring everything to the surface. This can also be used as a cleanser but I have only used it as a mask, and again, even though it is a detox mask it does not dry out my skin, nor does it irritate my skin.
5. Origins Retexturing Mask with Rose Clay
- Removes layer of dead skin including dry patches
- Reveals skins radiance
- Evens texture
This little guy is going to be in my mask collection for many, many years to come because it's one of those masks that you notice a major difference in your skin right away. This mask dries like a regular mud mask but you're left with a sandy texture which exfoliates your skin when you're rinsing it off.
Whenever I touch my face and feel dry patches I use this mask and it takes care of everything. I do not have acne prone skin and I rarely get hormonal acne BUT I do get really annoying texture on my forehead, my jawline & chin. My skin gets clogged and I get little bumps that are nearly impossible to get rid of. This mask does a really good job at clearing that stubborn texture.
- Supposedly great for acne
- Vegan, cruelty free & organic
- Evens out skin tone
Whenever I feel as though my skin is looking a little uneven, blotchy or dull, I pop this mask on and it does the trick. It also moisturizes and brightens my face. Many people who suffer from acne claim that it is excellent for clearing their skin.
7. Murad Rapid Age Spot Lightening Serum
Technically, this isn't really considered a mask but I wanted to include it because I use it as a spot treatment overnight. Whenever I get a blemish I am almost always left with a dark spot and this serum seriously does what it claims to do. I place a little bit of it onto the spot that needs to be lightened with a Q-tip and the next day the spot is much lighter, it usually takes a couple of tries to completely lighten the spot if it's very dark but it still works great none-the-less.
- Takes care of dryness
- Soothes redness
- Minimizes pores
This mask really tones and soothes my skin. It also works really well for minimizing my pores and introducing moisture and suppleness back into my skin when it is feeling dehydrated... which is the majority of the time.