I have always loved using face masks. You feel like you’re doing something fun to treat yourself AND you also get instant, dramatic results that you can’t with your regular daily products. Most of the masks I use are for exfoliating, since I don’t use any products in my daily routine that do that.
Photo by Lauren Campbell. (Thanks, Lauren!)
Photo by Lauren Campbell.
I heard about Demalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant from Lisa Eldrige on YouTube (love her.) It exfoliates with lactic acid, so it’s creamy and smooth rather than gritty. It’s super gentle and great for if your skin is feeling sensitive/breaking out or a little dry, but you still want to slush of some dead skin on the surface. I apply it to my dry face, usually right after a shower, and leave it on for 20 minutes. This one has the least dramatic results of all the masks in this post, but I like to have it because it’s so gentle.
The Resurface Microdelivery Dual-Phase Peel from Philosophy is great. I don’t use it super often because it’s two steps and I need to bring my iPhone into the bathroom to time it. The first step is a really gritty scrub that smells like oranges. It says not to “scrub” but I totally scrub. The second is a liquid that you place on top of the scrub. It’s supposed to foam up, but that doesn’t usually happen for me. I leave that liquid on for a minute. After I’m finished, my face is a little red but super soft – definitely awesome results. I picked this up for 40% off at a local boutique called LeVisage but they also carry it at Sephora and Ulta. It’s pricey but it’s lasted me a long time.
The Boscia Intensifying Moisture Pack + is a moisturizer and a mask. This stuff is perfect for when you’re SUPER dry. I’ll get dry around my eyebrows, the sides of my nose and around my mouth. So, I layer this on pretty thick over night on top of my regular moisturizer. I also like to use this after with the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant so it soaks in. You can wipe it off, but I usually leave it on. I wouldn’t recommend using this before you use your makeup unless it’s just a small area that’s super dry because it might make your foundation slide off. This is a really thick gel with a strong scent. I love it but I can definitely see how it could be polarizing. This is definitely one of my stand-by products. I’ve repurchased it about three times.
The Glam Glow YouthMud Tinglexfoliant Treatment is my favorite. Everyone has been talking about this one, and I see why. I LOVE using this. It makes my skin super soft and it smells awesome. It’s dark gray, a little gritty and has flakes of something (seaweed?). I layer it all over my face, wait until it dries and then scrub it with wet hands for about 30-45 seconds before I rinse off. I get blackheads and not-so-smooth skin around my nose, so I focus extra attention there and this stuff takes care of it. I use this mask the most frequently of all these mentioned because I like it so much. I purchased it from the Glam Glow website on sale and it’s a special Breast Cancer Awareness version (pink packaging.) It’s also carried at Sephora. This is one of those “it” products right now, so Sephora.com is always offering samples, and they have a smaller $19 size online. Those are two options for trying it before investing in the $69 jar. When this runs out I’ll definitely be repurchasing.
I posted about the REN Glycolic Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask a little while ago when I picked it up in this kit from Sephora. I had sampled this before and really liked it. It’s a little bit similar to the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant in how it works but the texture is slightly different. The smell and color are similar to Step 1 of the Microdelivery Peel. But, instead of a scrub, it exfoliates with acid. I’d say this is my favorite skincare line and this is a great mask.
I’m so excited to try the Ole Henriksen Power Peel Professional Spa Grade Kit. I saw one of my favorite people. Hannah, using it and I had to pick one up. I love that you can buy a mini pack of two treatments for $16. This one has three steps – an almond polish, lemon strip and chamomile comfort. Sounds luxurious. I think it’ll be most similar to the Microdelivery Peel but we’ll see! I’ll let you know how this one goes!
What are your favorite masks?
This Vince blouse is gorgeous. The color is so awesome – the prettiest light blue. I saw it in the store and I keep checking Nordstrom.com to see if it’s gone on sale. Fingers crossed!
Up until recently I associated clear purses with beach bags, the 90s and those bags you’re forced to carry in some schools/stores so security can make sure you’re not bringing in anything sketch. Then, I came across this clear clutch in a YouTube video from Dulce Candy. They look so chic. I can’t believe this one is less than $20 from Love Culture (Have you been there before? It’s very similar to Forever21)
This one from ASOS is great too. I love the wooden clasp.
I also love the idea of adding a fabric pouch so everyone can’t see everything you have in there (Which I think is a lot of peoples’ hesitation about these.)
AND… I found this tutorial from Pop Sugar on how to make your own!
What do you think? Would you carry a clear clutch?
Read MoreI’m a huge fan of J Crew’s silk camis. I have a basic nude and a black, but I love the different colors they come out with each season like this fuchsia. I think this color would be so fun with the leopard flats from my last post.
They’re so flattering, go with a bunch of different things.Plus, they’re super soft and don’t need to be dry cleaned. I like to wear my black one with jeans and a black blazer, and here’s how I paired it with a pencil skirt for work:
I was flipping through an issue of Glamour when I came across these beauties. How cute are they? They’re at DSW by Jessica Simpson. Should I get them?!
I saw that Sephora was doing a delux sample of Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum with purchase (code: DIORMAX) so I wanted to do a quick post letting you know my thoughts about it. It’s a game changer. I picked this up while I was Black Friday shopping in 2012 and just picked up my second tube. I know, I know – you’re apparently supposed to replace your mascara every three months. I don’t follow that rule. I actually still had some product left in the tube but the brush was getting funky. See the photo (my old one’s on the left.)
This stuff seems pricey at $28 when you consider you still have to use mascara on top. However, it makes your lashes look SO much bigger and it’s lasted over a year. I think it’s definitely worth it. If you use the code “DIORMAX” at checkout, Sephora will add a sample of it to your cart.
Read MoreEver since being inspired by Emily’s pale pink lipstick on Cupcakes and Cashmere (I love how she pairs it with cat eyeliner), I ‘ve been eyeing Buxom’s lip tarnish in “wardrobe malfunction.”
I was about to get it online when I came across this set. It was $34 for three products, and just two of them would have been $38 if I got them separately soo I decided to go for it.
It came with Buxom glosses in “Boo Ya” and “Creamsicle”. Here’s a little snapshot of what it “Wardrobe Malfunction” looks like on:
You can’t ever just go to the Sephora site and get only what you need. I always end up with a lot of extras in my cart. Boscia’s “The Art of Masking is $42 and comes with 4 different masks. I think the coolest thing about this set is how it suggests how to combine the masks on different parts of your face for different skincare concerns. I’ll sometimes do one mask after another but (like an exfoliating mask before a clay one) but I never do different masks in different areas a the same time. I think even if I don’t get this kit I’ll copy their method and try combining the ones I do have.
:
-“The Balancing Act”: Cool Blue Calming Mask on forehead and cheeks, and Luminizing Black Mask on T-zone and chin.
-“The Date Night”: Bright White Mask on forehead and cheeks, and Green Tea Oil-Control Mask on T-zone and chin.
-“The Post-Flight”: Cool Blue Calming Mask on forehead and cheeks, and Green Tea Oil-Control Mask on T-zone and chin.
-“The Fresh Start”: Bright White Mask on forehead and cheeks, and Luminizing Black Mask on T-zone and chin.
-“The Clean Sweep”: Green Tea-Oil Control Mask on forehead and cheeks, and Luminizing Black Mask on T-zone and chin.
If you’re not interested in the Green Tea mask, this kit comes with the other three in a slightly larger size (1oz vs. 0.7oz) for $38.
I also recently picked up this kit from REN, which is quickly becoming my favorite skincare line. I had sampled the Glycolic Lactic Renewal Mask and wanted to get the full size, so I picked up this kit because it came with the full size and some extra goodies for only $3 extra. I read a review that said the Resurfacing AHA Concentrate caused someone to break out and tried it anyway. Mistake. It does make you break out. Even though I really only cared about the Glycolic Lactic Renewal Mask, I’d still recommend getting the kit so you can try out the extra products for only $3.
Thanks so much to my friend Lauren from Brave Young Thing for taking fun shots of me and my place this past weekend. Check out a little sneak preview and keep a lookout for some of her shots in future posts!
Here’s the makeup I carry with me.
1. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone: Such a beautiful shimmer. I apply the liquid version in the morning but use this to touch up on-the-go.
2. Bobbi Brown Tri-Pan Palette with Pale Pink blush, and eyeshadows in Grey (lid) and Slate (crease): vrevre
3. bareMinerals Soft Focus Shadow Brush: Perfect for the lid and the crease so I don’t need to carry separate brushes.
4. Smashbox Brow Tech in Dark Brown: There’s a trick to using this product that I didn’t learn until a few months into using it. You have to dip your brush into the wax, then into the power and back and forth before applying. This creates a mixture that lasts on your brows.
5. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner in jet black: I recently switched to this from Fabuliner. I find that the staying power is slightly better.
6. Angled brow brush – this is from bareMinerals but I couldn’t find it online so I think it’s discontinued.
7. bareMinerals Heavenly Liner Blending Brush: I’ve never seen another brush like this one. The first one I had fell apart and I repurchased. After I apply the Stila liner, I like to run over it with the darkest shade in the Smashbox Brow Tech palette.
8. Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer in Vanilla 5: I would prefer not to ever leave the house without this.
9. & 10. bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara: I’ve been using this for years. I’ve tried a lot of mascaras and can’t find one I like better. This looks even layered over Dior Lash Plumping Serum (It’s like a primer for your lashes.)
11.Buxom Full-On Lip Polish: My favorite lip gloss of all time. My favorite shades are Katie, Kystal, Dolly, Samantha, White Russian and Pink Lady
12. E.L.F. Complexion Brush: I love E.L.F. brushes. This one is super soft and perfect for touching up bronzer and blush. It’s available at Target.
13. NARS bronzing Powder in Laguna: obviously.
14.Bvlgari Rose Essentielle Purse Spray: This is my go-to scent.
15. Carmex Lip Balm in Strawberry: my tried and true.
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