Annabella – The lovely Fei from Peonies and lilies recommended I try Love Lettuce a few weeks ago. Lush fresh masks are always so fun to use and the fact that you have to keep them in the fridge just adds to the novelty factor. I expected this to smell like salad but it reminds me of shortbread biscuits?! It’s made with ground almond oil and honey so maybe that’s what gives it a sweetish smell but it isn’t overpowering. This mask also reminds me of what a 1960′s housewife would be wearing in her pink bathrobe and hair rollers.

This mask is nice and creamy, goes on easily, and doesn’t slide off your face. There are also loads of scrubby bits in it as well which of course I love. I made sure I left it on for only the recommended ten minutes by timing myself. I have this bad habit of leaving masks on for longer than the recommended time. When I went to take it off I splashed my face with water for a few minutes but I didn’t really get anywhere, so I took the warm flannel route to get it off. I have to admit the first time I used this it didn’t really wow me as much as I hoped. I thought it was okay but I felt like there was an oily residue leftover which I assume was the almond oil. I have however used it a few more times and it has grown on me but I think if I buy it again it will be in the winter when my skin is drier.

James – Another day another face mask! If my mates knew that I used these things I would never hear the end of it. Annabella happily put this green goo on my face with delight and I sat in front of my computer for ten minutes feeling like a plonker. After using the lava mask a few weeks ago this one just felt ordinary. I was expecting it to smell like seaweed or grass because of the colour but I didn’t notice much of a smell at all. Getting this off made a bit of mess in bathroom, I thought it was just going to peel off but I ended up getting bits of it everywhere. Annabella didn’t fair much better with her water splashing so we used a warm flannel to get the rest of it off. I didn’t think this was anything special and my skin felt a bit dry afterwards but maybe it’s not for my skin type. Apparently there a quite a few other Lush masks and I can’t wait to try them! (By the way I was being sarcastic)

This is available at Lush!

This is available at Mankind!

A few weeks ago when James was placing an order for some men’s bits at Mankind he stupidly asked me if I wanted/needed anything. He probably thought I would say no as it’s a men’s site. Yeah right like I wouldn’t find something to buy?! I’ve always loved scrubs and masks that contain dirt, grit, mud, sand, rocks etc. and men’s products seem to have these in abundance. I immediately spotted this lava mask under ‘Editor’s Choice’ so I knew I had to get it. When I opened the packaging it contained a little card that I would consider to be a ‘love note’ telling me it contains volcanic mud and sand.

The scent of this mask is really hard to place. It reminds me of the fresh air of the Colorado Rockies but it also reminds me of freshly washed laundry. I was expecting the mask to be black but it’s a very pale ash colour. There was a pool of liquid at the top when I opened it but you just need to stir it. The liquid helps to keep the mask from drying out. You can also add additional water if you need too. This was a bit tricky to apply. You need to make sure your face is damp otherwise the mask just keeps coming off and then you end up putting more on. Once the mask is on it starts to have an immediate cooling affect that lasts the entire time you leave it on. I don’t know if this is a side effect but it feels really nice. This says it will draw out excess oils and toxins from the skin so I left two angry spots unattended (it was very difficult to do) just to see if this mask would draw them to the surface and sure enough it did!

Just as it was difficult to put on, it was also a bit of faff to get off. It didn’t quite peel off it kind of came off in chunks. I made a bit of mess in the bathroom. James asked me why it looked like someone dropped cement on the floor! For all the difficulties get it on and off the results are totally worth it. Plus the cooling feature of this mask is really unique, almost like you having an ice pack on your face. My skin felt so smooth afterwards that James was eager to have a go. He also got fantastic results, smooth skin that looked refreshed and clear. I would definitely buy this again. If you have oily or problem skin (when mother nature brings your monthly bill) then this is a real treat!

This is available at John Lewis!

REN makes ‘Clean Products that are free from skin-unfriendly ingredients including: Synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, synthetic colours, animal ingredients and parabens’. In addition to this they make they make sure they don’t include a whole host of other nasties in their skincare. They also care about the environment so this should be great right?

This is one of those things that I looked at, saw the ingredients and went into my Skin Scrubs fantasy land. Vitamin C, Papain, and Barbados Cherry. Yes I thought little Caribbean cherries would be dancing around in the tube waiting to make my skin all sparkly and fresh. Unfortunately I hate this mask! I tried it four times just to be sure and every time I used it I hated it even more that the last. Let’s start with what I did like. I really love the scent and it must be the Arctic Blackcurrant oil because it smells lovely and fruity. I like the packaging, you get a little plastic thing to cover the pump so it doesn’t go all over the place when you aren’t using it. This is where the pleasure ended. This is supposed to gently exfoliate, detoxify, boost cell renewal and leave the complexion smooth.

Okay the instructions say to apply a generous amount to clean skin – check. Leave for 10 minutes – check. Pat and lift with fingertips – nope didn’t happen. Rinse thoroughly with warm water – i.e. make a mess in the bathroom. I will say this did make my skin soft but (and there is a big but coming) the amount of faffing around to put the mask on and take it off wasn’t worth it. The texture is a little thicker than honey so as you can imagine it goes all over the place. Being a gel mask I was expecting this to dry so I could lift it off in one go like Leatherface does in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It never dried. I was never able to peel it off as I’d hoped. I tried leaving it on longer – no dice. I tried putting less mask on – no dice. I tried two more variations of this trying to get it to work. I really wanted it to work! I wanted the cherries from Barbados to dance on my face. I fully accept that sometimes consumers have no idea how to apply beauty products and they don’t follow the instructions. Well I tried four times and each time it was a mess.

This says it’s for ‘all skin types’ but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I think it would be better for someone with drier skin….like Leatherface.

If you read my Y2K shower gel post the other day you’ll see that I was quite happy with it. I was really looking forward to using the Y2K Exfoliating & Soothing Mud Mask as well. I love the packaging and the little additional lid that covers the mask. What I wasn’t so keen on is the smell. I had the same issue with the shower gel and I’d like point out that this is a preference thing only and not that it actually smells bad. The mask is quite thick but it does spread easily so you don’t have to use much. I left this on for a little over five minutes but not longer than 10. I then had the fun task of taking it off. I needed to use a wet wash cloth to shift it and once I got all the residue off my skin it did feel smoother.

Jump to the next morning and my face was bumpy, red and not at all happy. I usually expect a few new spots after a mud mask as it draws the impurities from your skin but these were like big red welts. This completely aggravated my complexion. I’m not however going to rubbish this mask. I think it’s my own fault for buying it in the first place. It says it’s for Dry to Sensitive Skin and although my skin can be sensitive it is never dry. I have quite oily skin so I think this product wasn’t meant for me. Doh!

I’ve read other reviews for this mask and they have been mostly positive so I am going to put this down to me not paying attentiont to what I was buying. I think the Yes To Tomatoes range is more for my skin type.

This is available at Bath & Unwind!

It’s not that often that an entire skincare range can make me feel so disappointed. Normally I can find a few different products that I like and some I don’t, and that’s just the way it is. Biotherm is a division of L’oréal which might explain something.

I was approached by a Biotherm sales person whilst I was looking at another range of skin care products. Looking back I should have told her I wasn’t interested and carried on doing what I was doing. The only problem was she had this little device in her hand and was going to tell me how hydrated my skin was or not as the case may be. Of course I had to find out or else I’d never know! Well I left with a bag full of stuff and much lighter purse. But I was promised moisture and my moisture levels were dangerously low. What like a plant? I also booked an appointment so I could come back in a months time to see if my low hydration levels had improved. Here’s what I bought:

Biosource Biosensitive Soap Free Cleanser – this is the only thing that I’ve managed to use the most of because it’s okayish. Better than a kick in the bum. It’s supposed to help my sensitive skin but it just feels like regular cleanser to me not dissimilar to other L’oréal brand products. Mmm.

Biosource Biosensitive Instant Cool Down Mist – Now what could possibly be wrong with this you say? Well there’s nothing wrong with it but it doesn’t do much. I regularly use toner so I’m not in the ‘what’s the point of toner club’. However this just feels like I’m spraying water on face and then having to wait for it to dry, which then makes my face feel sticky.

Aqausource Biosensitive Dermostabilising Hydrator – Wow what a mouth full! This moisturiser did nothing to relieve my sensitive skin. I think with the combination of the mist and this it just made my skin feel tacky and very unloved.

Source Therapie Superactiv – Now this is a serum to help hydrate and revitalise the skin. Remember as I said before my moisture levels were low. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a total idiot for buying this. Why? Because I can’t stand serums. I’ve used several from other skincare brands as I thought they could do something for me but clearly my skin hates them with a passion. My face felt horrible after I used this. Serums are meant to be used in tandem with your moisturiser and the rest of the ‘regime’ you use on your face. But I think you can have too much of a good (in this case bad) thing. If you see me purchasing another serum ever again please feel free to clobber me over the head with a rolling pin!

Hydra-Detox Bio Defensive Mask – This is another product promising to add more moisture to my skin. It’s a mask you can sleep in. I tried it a few times and it was alright but I’ve seen better results with a .99p mask from Montagne Jeunesse. I don’t think they even make this mask anymore as I can’t find it on their website. Maybe even they thought it was rubbish too!

I never went back to find out how much more hydrated my skin was but I learned several lessons; don’t be pressured into buying an entire skincare line you’ve never used, always take samples home before you commit, don’t buy stuff that isn’t in cute packaging, and never ever under any circumstances buy any more serums!

Well you’ve heard in the news that inflation has gone up again meaning that things are going to cost more. But thankfully that is not always the case. Montagne Jeunesse makes lovely face masks right here in the UK and at .99p you can’t go wrong! I have been a fan of Montagne Jeunesse masks for over 10 years. They are great when you want a bit of beauty retail therapy but are short on cash. I can usually get two uses out of one packet.

I love to keep the fruit ones in the fridge so they feel cold and refreshing. My favourite is the Sauna Masque which contains self heating therapy clay. It feels hot when you put it on your wet face and is great for oily skin. Considering the price you would normally expect low quality and questionable ethics. However all Montagne Juenesse products are all natural, Vegetarian Society Approved and Not tested on animals. The packets also make great gifts for teenagers who are new to skincare or for a cheap girls night in!

These can be found at Superdrug and are currently on offer 4 for 3!

Easter is nearly upon us and I know you are excited about all the choccie eggs that the Easter Bunny will bring. I am a self-confessed chocolate snob. I turn my nose up at Celebrations, Roses, and Quality Street. I love Hotel Chocolate and reading their product reviews on Easter Eggs.

Chocolate is also used in beauty products, but what is the benefit? Some experts say chocolate has anti-oxidants like green tea. Cocoa butter also has moisturising properties that some skin types find very effective. Most of us agree that the smell of chocolate can boost our spirits. I love food based beauty products so I say why not? So if you would prefer to wear, rather than eat your chocolate go to Lush!

1. Whip Stick lip balm – It’s like a little pot of chocolate frosting but without the guilt. Good for people who cannot tolerate cocoa butter or lanolin as its made with oats, almond, and wheatgerm oil. Orange oil gives it a nice twist. Make sure you keep it out of direct heat or it will melt!

2. Fresh Cupcake mask – This has the consistency and smell of real cupcake batter and must be kept in the fridge. I like using this mask in the summer when my skin has excess oil. It contains Rhassoul mud from the Atlas mountains of Morocco, which helps draw impurities out of the skin.

3. Business Time massage bar – Made with cocoa butter, almond, and coconut oil. Great for massage therapists as an alternative to using traditional aromatherapy oils. Approved by the Vegan Society.

4. Charity Pot body lotion – All the money from the sales of these pots goes toward Lush Charity Pot fund. They support charities such as Respect for Animals and the Environmental Justice Foundation. In return you get cocoa butter soft skin and a feeling that you’ve made a difference to a great cause.

This is available at Holland & Barrett.

Having used Dead Sea Spa Magik Mild Exfoliant with fantastic results I thought I should give the mud mask a go. The tube looks exactly the same as the mild exfoliant so again it won’t win any style awards but I don’t think this is what this brand is about.

How to use

I used the mild exfoliant first to clean my face before application. The mask itself is quite thick so you don’t need much and it does properly cover your face with black mud. I left it on longer than the recommended 5 minutes. It does take some effort to get off. I had to splash my face with water and also use a wet face cloth to remove the residue around my hair line.

My skin felt quite smooth and clean after I dried it and the mask definitely mops up the oil. I think if you use it 2-3 times a week you will see the benefit. My skin was much clearer and less blotchy. If you have combination skin or just an oily T-zone it would be ideal just to put on those areas. The smell is sea salty so it makes it feel like a real spa treatment.