Ghosts of Beauty Products Past

Ghosts of Beauty Products Past

I'm a self processed YouTube addict; every morning whilst getting ready for work I've got the new videos from my subscriptions playing on my laptop on the edge of my vanity while I do my make up. One of my favourite types of video is the empties videos because thats when you get a real proper review, after you've squeezed the last drop from the tube; so here are the remnants of some products that I've squeezed every last drop out of!

Hair Care

Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam - I worked at an Aveda salon many moons ago and this is a product that's stuck with me ever since. A light weight styling mousse that adds volume and bounce to your hair; apply it to the roots wet or dry and then style as normal. I've never achieved the type of volume I get when I use this on my damp hair and dry it upside down, there's just not taming that volume! If there's no Aveda salon or store nearby you can get your hands on it here and while you're there try some of their awesome shampoos, I feel like I'm at the spa when I use the Rosemary Mint hair products!

Batiste Dry Shampoo - This is one of those items that I've seen popping up all over beauty blogs for the last year or so and I couldn't understand the hype behind some powder. so when my usual dry shampoo ran out I decided to give this a try instead. I can't place my finger on why I love it so much but I've tried several others after I finished this can - anywhere from drugstore to salon brands - and none of them did anything for me, I ended up giving up and purchasing another can of this and I won't stray away again. I've been trying desperately to get my hands on the tinted version for dark hair but even the original white isn't too bad on my black hair! Check out this video about dry shampoo by one of my favourite vloggers.

Skin Care

MAC's Lightful Marine Bright Cleanser & Softening Lotion - So you've heard me mention this duo a couple of times and I'm still very much in love, I've already replaced these. There was a two day period where I was without my softening lotion and I felt like my world was unraveling. I won't go into too much detail but you can read more about these here.

Avene Thermal Spring Water - This first cropped up in the blog here and then may have made an appearance here so it's no wonder I've got one empty can and I'm already almost finished another. This stuff is a perfect step between cleansing and moisturizing, wonderful to keep your skin feeling fresh on a long plane ride, refreshing on a hot day and dang it just feels good all around! 

 Body Oils  

Nuxe Huile de Prodigieuse - This was the star of my very first proper blog post here and I've been using it religiously ever since. I finished this 50 ml bottle and I'm already more than half way through a 125ml I picked up in Paris. I add this to my bath water, spritz it in my hair to tame frizz and slather it all over my body right out of the shower, I love the way it smells and how glowy it leaves my skin looking. They've made a perfume of the same fragrance that I got a little bottle of in a box set with the 125ml bottle and the mini gold Huile de Prodigieuse pictured above.

Nuxe Huile de Prodigieuse Gold - I was interested in trying this variety of my already favourite body oil so when I saw it in a box set with a large format of the original (the 125ml bottle comes with a spray pump that is so handy!) and a small bottle of the perfume that I was also keen on trying, I figured it was as good a time as any to give it a go. I love the sun kissed shimmer that this gives the skin but I am a little sad that the fragrance isn't as apparent as the original and it's a drier formula, I layered it on my arms and chest over top of the original Huile de Prodigieuse to compensate for that. I have not yet replaced this but come summer I think I'll find myself reaching for it again.

Beauty

I'm not one to finish cosmetics very often since I'm always trying new things, in fact it's probably taken six months to accumulate these few in my Back2MAC bag (if you don't know what Back2MAC is: save your empty plastic and glass containers and when you've got 6 you can exchange them for a free lipstick, lipglass or eyeshadow. Who doesn't love free stuff?!) 

MAC Something Special Cream Blush - I was a little skeptical of cream blush when I received this as a gift for christmas (2011 - told you it took forever for me to finish things!) and it fell to the bottom of my make up drawer in favour of other blushes. But one day after finishing a blush and being too broke to replace it I found myself reaching for this peachy cream and I fell in love! Takes a little getting used to but once you do you'll be hard pressed to go back to powders; wonderful colour pay off and they wear FOREVER! I'm a true convert...

MAC Eye Brow Pencil in Strut - I usually use powders to fill in my brows but I found myself drawn towards this brow pencil quite a bit during my stint as a brunette, I love the definition it lends to my sparse brows and then I use a powder to soften the overall look.

MAC Lashes in #20 and #4 - I've got a friend that is renowned for stacking 20's and 4's to give the perfect natural, flirty, dramatic lash that so many women crave, thus this combination has been dubbed the "Lindsey Lash" in my circle of friends. #4's are a natural length wispy lash mainly used to add volume and #20's are corner lashes that add a bit of drama so these two work amazingly together, try it, you'll thank me!

Bits and Bobs

Jojoba Oil- This is another one of those versatile oils that's taking the world by storm; I love it for my skin, my hair, my nails, everything! I mainly use this before I shower, yes you heard me, before. I found that this winter my skin was taking a beating and my acupuncturist suggested something I'd never really even thought of. I exfoliate with a body brush like this one and massage jojoba oil into my skin before hopping in the shower and my skin's never been softer and here's why: the oil protects your skin from the hot water which will normally strip it of it's natural oils especially when we crank the heat like we tend to do in the winter AND the heat of the water will open your pores allowing your skin to better absorb the oil. You get out of the shower with soft non-greasy feeling skin and none one would guess you've spent all winter in Alberta...

Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner - After hearing a couple people talk about this magical blue liquid (not that you can tell what colour it is from the empty bottle...) I had to give it a go myself and picked up a small bottle here. First let me explain why it caught my eye: 1. It actually kills 99.9% of bacteria that the bristles of our brushes play host to. 2. It leaves your brushes smelling like vanilla. 3. It will get ANYTHING out of your brushes. Anything. On that last note let me offer you a word of caution, this stuff is seriously strong and not to be taken lightly. If you're forgetful like me, set a timer when you put your brushes to soak in this cleanser. I forgot about my brushes (for like an hour...oops!) and the bristles sucked the cleanser all the way up into the handle and when I went to rinse my beloved MAC #168 all the hair came out in one clump, this stuff means business.

Bath and Body Works Wall Flower in Frosted Cupcake - I'm a fat kid at heart who loves smelly things, clearly I was going to love this. I'm a huge fan of the wall flowers because I find they have a wonderful variety of fragrances and last for a decent amount of time before needing to be replaced. I never find that I can smell them but it must be due to the fact I smell it every day as whenever I have guests over they always tell me it smells like I've just been baking. I will also be blaming my cupcake addiction on smelling this in my sleep every night...

Have you tried any of these products, if you have what did you think? Are there any products that you think I would love? Let me know in the comments below!

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Brand Focus: Etude House

Brand Focus: Etude House!

You've probably noticed me mention a brand by the name of Etude House in some of my previous posts, they're a Korean cosmetics and skin care company that I am absolutely in love with. After meeting the most adorable Korean girl at a work function last weekend and gushing about Korean cosmetics for a while I realized that this company is a bit of a hidden gem here in North America; they deliver quality products, adorable packaging and all for quite an inexpensive price tag. I figured it's high time I let you all in on the secret!

Lipsticks

Etoinette Crystal Shine Lipsticks in PPK002 and PPk003 - First of all; how freaking cute are the bullets they're in?! This was another purchase made strictly for the adorable packaging; the lipsticks themselves are a really nice creamy texture with medium colour pay off (I'll post swatches down below) but look quite vibrant when paired with a liner of similar tone, due to the creamy consistency they're not at all drying on my poor parched lippies.($5 + free S&H on eBay)

Dear My Blooming Lips Talk in PPk005 - I absolutely love the formulation of this one; lightweight and hydrating and it almost seems to flex with your lips so you don't get any feathering. I find it has medium to buildable colour pay off and is quite long wearing, not to mention this colour is amazing!! ($8 + free S&H on eBay)

Look at My Lips in #03 Celeb Pop Pink- This was a surprise favourite for me, I didn't think I'd love it as much as I do. It has a medium colour pay off, is super hydrating and feels like you're not wearing a thing! And this colour is amazing; kind of a coral pink colour! ($6.50 + free S&H on eBay)

Lipglosses

Dear My Enamel Gloss in EPK001 - This was the first lip product I purchased from Etude House and clearly you can tell by my collection it had a great impact on me! Similar in colour to MAC's Pink Nouveau, no sticky texture and a great strawberry scent, I'm in love with this! Click here to see why it's a staple in my bag and here to see what makes it such a beauty bargain! ($5 + free S&H on eBay)

Dear Darling Tints in Vampire Red and Real Red - The verdict is still out on how I feel about these, some days I love them and some days I'm not quite sold. What I love about these is they have an amazing cherry fragrance and great staying power with a bit of a stain effect to them, what I'm not sold on is the whole idea of lip tints in the first place. They're quite a thin texture which is what I'm not sure I like but they're not at all sticky or tacky which is nice. I find the Real Red shade to be a bit more wearable as the Vampire Red is quite a dark shade to be so sheer, might look great paired over top of a red lipstick to give it some extra staying power... ($4.50 +free S&H on eBay)

Color Lips-Fit in Magical Fit Pink - I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I ordered this but what I got was not at all what I wasn't expecting, am I making any sense yet? I thought this would be a gloss (you're probably asking why it's under the gloss category if it isn't in fact a gloss and the answer to that is: because I felt like it!) but it is more like a liquid lipstick. I was never really in love with the concept of liquid lipstick (I'd never tried them but hey, I fear change!) but this has sparked an interest. It has the same wonderfully shaped applicator that gives effortless application, it gives amazing colour pay off and my favourite part: it dries matte! It's a matte liquid lipstick that isn't drying on your lips and super comfortable to wear!!! Yes you read that right, such a thing exists and I'm sharing it with you my friends! ($8.50 + free S&H on eBay)

Purse Essentials

I featured both of these products in my What's in My Bag post so you can go check them out there but I will leave the prices for them down below!

Missing U Hand Cream in Peach Panda - $6 + free S&H on eBay; since my What's in My Bag post I've actually fallen in love with the lotion that it came with, initially it wasn't hydrating enough for my dry hands but now that we're out of the depths of winter it's great for an on the go refresher. I've also recently purchased the Pink Dolphin, Fairy Penguin and Harp Seal varieties of this because they're so stinking cute!

Kissful Lip Care Lip Scrub - $6.50 + free S&H on eBay

Sheet Masks

I Need U Alphabet Sheet Mask Set - I featured these on my Sheet Masks 101 post and since then have been gradually working my way through the alphabet and still very much in love with these! $42 + free S&H for the 27 piece set.

BB Cream

Precious Mineral BB Cream Cotton Fit in #2 Light Beige - This was the BB cream that got me into BB creams, I got a sample of it in one of my many Etude House purchases (now I totally get why they load you up with samples!!) and figured I'd give it a go and was hooked. I love that it comes in a squeeze tube so that nothing is wasted and it also has a pump to distribute the perfect amount to cover your whole face. Anti-Wrinkle, Brightening, SPF30, Whitening, and Anti-Darkening, this stuff made my skin glow like nothing else and felt like a thin veil of powder sitting lightly on my face as opposed to a thick cream, the only reason I switched brands was it was sold out when I ran out. $5.50 + free S&H on eBay.

Cleansers

This is a review on a couple of cleanser samples I got (they're big enough to get 3-4 uses out of each packet) and why I didn't buy full size versions of either of them.

Milky You One Step Cleansing Foam - This was a nice lightweight cleanser that worked into a great lather, was gentle on my sensitive skin and made for a great morning cleanse. Now why didn't I buy the full size version? I have quite dry skin and I found my face feeling tight right after cleansing, very tight, if you were normal to oily I think this would be a great choice for you but it was a little too astringent for my dry skin.

Baking Powder Deep Cleansing Foam - This cleanser is quite a bit heavier than the Milky You one, it goes on almost like a paste if your face isn't damp enough (rookie mistake) but lathers up quite nicely once you work a little water in. It has a bit of a gritty texture, I'm assuming that's the baking soda in it, that's a  great exfoliator as my skin was super soft and radiant after using it but is a bit too abrasive for every day use on my sensitive skin. It has a light citrus scent and it really feels like the baking soda opens your pores and scrubs them out (I had a mental image of the Scrubbing Bubbles television ad whilst washing my face). I received two samples of this and tried one a couple of weeks ago and really disliked it but after wearing a full face of make up all day I give it another try and was really pleased with the results. I may have to add this to my evening routine a couple nights a week on those make up heavy days, if you have oily skin this might make a great daily cleanser for you!

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Top 10: Wishlist Items

I've had quite the busy weekend so today's post might be a little bit different from the norm; instead of reviewing products I've tried I'm going to share with you my top 10 items I would purchase if I had an unlimited budget, they shipped to Canada or other obstacles that keep them from within my reach didn't exist. This is totally a shopping list as well FYI as I will most likely cave and buy these things as funds become available.

1. Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm

I have seen so many bloggers talk about how amazing this stuff is and I've been dying to try it; you can get it here for $59.50 with free international shipping so it's not a budget breaker and it's definitely something I will be trying in the very near future but I've got to work my way through some of the cleansers I've already got in my skin care cupboard, there's just no more room for anything new! 

2. Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules

With a price point of $121.50 here and no shipping to Canada this fragrance seems determined to elude me! I am a bit of a perfume hoarder, I'll admit it. I've loved perfume since my mum bought me my first bottle of Calvin Klein's Obsession for Her (found here for $75 +$10 S&H) when I was 14 -it's still one of my favourite fragrances - and my collection has grown uncontrollably since. So when I heard of a perfume that blended my love of fragrance with science (also a total science nerd) I kind of freaked out and do what I do best, googled the shit out of it! 

"Escentric Molecules' Molecule 01 is created solely from the aroma-chemical Iso E Super, traditionally a perfume basenote that adds allure to a scent, which works as more of an effect than a fragrance. The scent has a subtle, velvety, woody note which will meld with your natural pheromones, vanish, then re-surface after some time, making it totally individual and personalised to the wearer. You will rarely smell this fragrance on yourself, Molecule 01 perfume is more about the effect it has on others."

UGH!!! I need this in my life clearly. I could write a Top 10: Wishlist Items on just fragrances alone I'm sure so for this particular fragrance to make the cut clearly I'm willing to sell a kidney or something to get my hands on this stuff.

3. Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist

A mineral water mist inspired by the first recorded perfume original created for the Queen of Hungary during the 14th century?! You heard me; a facial mist inspired by the first known perfume, need I say more? With orange blossom, rose and sage water this stuff smells divine and is supposed to make your skin look phenomenal but with a price point of $86 here I'm having a hard time convincing my budget I need to replace my $10 Avene Thermal Water Spray that I still enjoy. I'm saving this one for when I've had a particularly rough day and need some skin care retail therapy, because a fancy mist can't make you feel anything but special.

4. Costes Scented Candle

Scented candles are right up there with things I love and go through like they're water and when one has a review describing it as "Sexy, mysterious, sensual, addictive, vintage class, unique." It definitely grabs your attention; with notes of Black Musk, Bitter Orange Skin, Rum, Mahogany and Paprika this isn't your run of the mill scented candle. It is the signature scent of the Costes Hotel in Paris, France; if you haven't heard of this hotel follow the link to see how elegeant and refined it is, this scent captures the image of the hotel without a doubt. It can be found here for $93 with free international shipping.

5. Astrid & Miyu Secret Box Subscription

                                      Photo courtesy of: brushupandmakeup.blogspot.ca/

So Ipsy Glam Bags and Birchbox Supscriptions are pretty cool but as a gal that has issues picking out jewelry that I'll actually wear I love the look of the Astrid & Miyu subscription boxes. It's  £39 + FREE UK & EU Delivery for a subscription and they send you out a box with three handpicked pieces of jewelry that were chosen for you based off a style survey you complete when you sign up and you get a box three times a year. They currently only ship to the UK and the EU but if you're lucky enough to live there you can find out more here.

6. Therapie Himalyan Detox Salts

"A blissful cocktail of therapeutic Himalayan mineral salts, powdered Amethyst & essential oils of Lemongrass, Juniper & Geranium; these pink crystals work to balance pH levels & positive/negative ions, to help the body establish equilibrium. The Amethyst has a high mineral content, to heal & clarify problematic skin whilst counteracting the electro-magnetic energy we absorb from modern day gizmos. Add to this blood purifying & anti-inflammatory properties & discover that heaven is a bath soak." Enough said. You can find them here for $69.

  7. Oskia Rose De Mai Massage Candle

We've already established I love scented candles and who doesn't love a massage? While $64 for a candle does seem pretty steep it's a wonderfully scented candle that turns into a nourishing hydrating body oil, seems pretty rad to me. Even if you don't have someone to give you a good old fashion back rub sometimes just massaging in a nice rich oil to your dry skin is enough to make you feel like a million bucks. This can be found here. 

8. Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil

I have so many issues falling asleep at night there's not enough sheep in the world for me to count. I've seen numerous people talking about this and how they're nearly passing out in their bath tubs they're so relaxed, combine that with how luxurious a bath oil feels I need to give this a try! It can be found here for $73.

9. Cattier MASQUE ARGILE ROSE & MASQUE ARGILE JAUNE

I tried so hard to find these whilst in Paris (ask the boyfriend who I had trained to spot the green pharmacy crosses from a mile away) but could not find anywhere in store and can't seem to find anywhere online to order them. The pink clay mask is supposed to be amazing for sensitive skin and the yellow for dry, I have both of those and love clay masks only seems like a perfect fit! I now have someone in France willing to ship me anything I'm looking for so I may see if he can find these and I'll report back to you guys!

10. Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

I am all about avoiding foundation now that I've got my skin to a place that I'm happy with it I want to show that bad boy off! So when I heard this mentioned in a couple YouTube videos my interest was peaked so I hopped on CultBeauty to see what they had to say... "A light, water-resistant foundation to unify skintone, a luminiser that re-creates the dewiness of 18 year old skin, SPF 20, anti-ageing anti-oxidents and a fragrance-free moisturiser to keep your face looking and feeling great all day, that also works on hyper-sensitive skins. " So what you're saying is I pretty much need this to live?! You can find it for $55 here.

These are some of the things I've been lusting after for the last little while, let me know what's on your wishlist, chances are I'll feel the need to add it onto my forever growing list! If you've tried some of these items or know where I can find them online (that'll ship to Canada - I swear we're not a postal vortex!) let me know.

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The Process: Night Time Skincare Routine

It should come as no shock to you by now that my evening skin care routine is more than just a simple two step cleanse and moisturize; it is a bit of a ritual for me. I love the process of thoroughly cleansing and hydrating my skin before bed and I'm not just talking about my face, I moisturize right down to my toes before climbing into bed. While the products I use are constantly changing here is a look at what I'm using right now, some products I've been using for months others I've just added into the routine in the last couple weeks.

The Process:

Step 1: Shu Uemura Anti-Oxi Skin Refining Anti-Dullness Cleansing Oil I've been using cleansing oils as a gentle way to remove my make up at night for several months now but I stumbled upon this particular one at Sephora a couple weeks ago and snagged a sample. I've been using it daily for about a week now and when my sample ran out last night I knew I'd have to splurge and buy one. I say splurge but it's only $44 so it's actually quite economically priced. With dry hands and a dry face take 3-4 pumps of the oil and gently smooth it over your face, wet face to emulsify oil and gently scrub away your make up and then rinse! This one is great because not only does it smell amazing but it contains Moringa and Green Tea extracts to remove environmental pollutants from your skin and promote a bright clear complexion. 

Step 2: Bioderma Micellar Solution I bought into all the hype of this product while I was over in the UK and I now understand why it's such a cult favourite because I've used it every single day for the last three months and can't imagine my life without it. A little too dramatic? Maybe, but this stuff is the bomb! I use it mainly as the second step of my evening routine to make sure that if I missed any make up the first time around it's gone now, but when I used to work at the bar and get home at 4am exhausted I really didn't feel like scrubbing my face so I'd splash some on a cotton pad and lay in bed and remove my make up as I was already on my way to sleep, not the greatest I know but at least it's better than nothing! I also love that they have a sensitive skin line because my dry skin freaks out with anything too abrasive.

Step 3: MAC's Lightful Marine Bright Cleanser Now that all that gunk is off my face I can properly cleanse it. I love this cleanser and have for a while now, I mentioned it in my January Favourite's post so I won't go too much into it here, but I'm still in love and you can click the link above to find out why!

Step 4: Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray I discovered this during my pre-Paris french skin care googling spree and managed to find it here at home and it's quickly become a staple; I have a large can on my vanity and small ones in my gym bag and purse. I took this with me when I flew and it was a great refresher during my 9 hour plane ride, I also keep one stashed in my gym bag to refresh my skin after a heavy lifting session. I use this morning and night during my skin care routine because somewhere along the lines I once heard someone say your creams absorb better when your skin is damp, whether or not that's true it feels great and my super dry skin loves it!

Step 5: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate This is one of the newer additions to my nightly routine, I was looking for a serum and saw this particular one pop up in quite a few blogs. I went into the Kiehl's store to take a better look at it and the girls there were beyond helpful. Telling me all about this specific product, offered me a couple of samples to try it first (it should be noted as you only use 3 drops a night one sample pack will last you like two weeks!!) to make sure my sensitive skin didn't freak out. After the first night I woke up in the morning and I'd couldn't believe what a difference one night made; I mean seriously, there was bursts of light and a chorus of angels singing from my face, well not really but pretty damn close! 

Step 6: Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado When I was chatting with the girls at Kiehl's they recommended giving the Midnight Recovery Serum a couple minutes to sink in before applying your night time face cream so in the meantime I like to dot on my eye cream. I was using L'Occitane En Provence's Imortelle Precious Eye Balm and quite liked it as it didn't irritate my sensitive eye but it wasn't quite as hydrating as I'd like so when I finished my tub the other day I figured I'd try something new for my scaly eyelids (gross right?!). I've only got a little sample of this Avocado eye cream right now and this is night two of using it and I quite enjoy it so far, but a few tips from the girls at Kiehl's on application: 1. only use a very small amount. 2. Warm it up between two fingers before applying. 3. Lightly pat it onto your ocular bone, don't rub it it! I like this cream because it's a nice thick texture that absorbs well, I'll keep you posted on whether or not it fixes my crocodile eyes.

Step 7: Bath and Body Works Lavender Chamomile Sleep Aromatherapy Body Lotion After my face is taken care of I make sure to slather a decent amount of this on the rest of my body to keep it hydrated over night, I also find the scent quite relaxing which helps my restless mind calm down and get ready for bed.

Step 8:NUXE Reve De Miel Ultra Comfortable Face Cream (Night) So you've listened to me sing the praises of the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm for ages (totally not done singing them yet!) and I tried the day cream and loved it but was unable to find the night cream anywhere in Canada (until recently YAY BAY! Thanks for having my dry prairie girl's back this winter, see link above to order yours!) so I stocked up while in France and it's amazing! I'm having a hard time putting it away to try out some of the other night creams I bought. It is super moisturizing, not at all irritating and delivers a powerful punch of over night moisture.

Step 9:Reve De Miel Lip Balm Told you I wasn't done singing it's praises yet! Before bed I exfoliated with my DIY lip scrub that you can find the recipe to here and then apply a generous layer of lip balm. This stuff is seriously so good that when I wake up 8 hours later there's still some left keeping my lips soft!

Step 10: The Body Shop's Africa Honey and Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter and last but not least keeping my feet from becoming scaly monsters is Essie Button to the rescue with her recommendation of this amazing foot lotion. It's not pictured above because unfortunately I'm all out but will be running to the store to replenish my stocks soon!!!

Step 11: This one is a once a week treat for my dry skin. In place of step 8 I will apply a thin layer of Glam Glow's Thirsy Mud and leave it on overnight for some intense hydration. This stuff smells amazing, probably due to the fact it's packed full of raw honey, ginger root and coconut; it leaves my skin feeling super soft and looking great in the morning, I wish I could bathe in this stuff!

This may seem a bit excessive but I love my skin care and my skin has never looked so great in my life! I also love the ritual of it and find it a quite relaxing way to wind down before bed after a hectic day. What are some of your guys' favourite night time skin treats, let me know in the comments below!!

Cheat Sheet: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Sheet Masks

Cheat Sheets: Sheet Masks 101

Sheet masks! One of my all time favourite beauty products and the skin care snowflake that turned into a full fledged avalanche. It all started when a friend posted a picture on her Instagram of some sheet masks she'd picked up at a local Asian supermarket, this led to questions which lead to googling which lead to heading down to the supermarket to get my hot little paws on the Dermal Collagen sheet masks which I've mentioned briefly here as one of my favourite budget friendly beauty products. I was going to start by giving you a run down of some common ingredients but I think my first mask set covers all the bases so let's get the ball rolling!

Etude House I Need You Alphabet Sheet Masks

This collection is wonderful because it contains a mask for every letter of the alphabet (and a wee little heart) each letter represents a key ingredient. I'll give you a quick list below of each ingredient and its benefit, this will prove helpful later on as you'll see certain ingredients are always popping up!

A - Aloe (soothing relief)

B- Bulgarian Rose (brightening)

C- Collagen (firming)

D - Dandelion (revitalizing)

E - Elder Flower (soothing & moisturizing)

F - Fig (purifying)

G - Green Tea (moisture & relief)

H - Hylaronic Acid (richly moisturizing)

I - Imortelle (energizing & nourishing)

J - Job's Tears (revitalizing & smoothing)

K- Korean Ginseng (revitalizing & nourishing)

L - Lemon (tone clarifying)

M - Mango (nourishing &firming)

N - Noni (revitalizing)

O - Olive (deep moisture)

P - Pomegranate (smooth elasticity)

Q - Q10 (tightening & firming)

R - Royal Jelly (smooth hydration)

S - Shea Butter (richly nourishing)

T - Tea Tree (trouble care)

U - Unpolished Rice (firming & nourishing)

V - Vitamin Complex (radiating skin)

W - White Pearl (bright complexion)

X - Xyitol Forest (clean moisture)

Y - Yogurt Strawberry (soft & moist)

Z - Zucchini (nourishing & moisturizing)

<3 - Heart - Five Berry Complex (antioxidant) 

So far I have tried the Olive, Q10, Heart and Yogurt masks and have really loved them all. The pouches have lots of collagen serum in them, you could almost make a second mask out of all the left over serum in the pouch...or scoop it out with your fingers and smear it all over your face like I do... The serum isn't sticky like some sheet mask serums I've encountered, it sinks in fairly quickly - I usually do these in the evening before bed so I don't know how long it usually takes but there's no residue on my pillow! - and my skin the next morning is always very soft and supple. 

Dermal Collagen Sheet Masks

These were the first brand of sheet mask I tried and really got me addicted to skin care; remember how I've said a million times I love instant gratification? These guys fill that need to se results NOW for me, especially the royal jelly one. If you want to read a bit more on these you can check out this post where I gush to my hearts content about these skin saving little beauties.

My Beauty Diary Sheet Masks

Apple Polyphenol Mask  

for oil control and pore constricting

I by no means have oily skin, I'm quite the opposite actually, but I do have some enlarged pores that like to laugh in my face as I apply my make up every morning. I use this mask probably once a week (twice if I can find the time) to help with my enlarged pores, and while it is also for oil control it is not at all drying. I find that if I work this into my normal nightly skin care routine after cleansing and before moisturizing not only do I see some shrinkage in my pores but I have super soft and smooth skin! 

Chocolate Truffle Mask

for moisturizing and softening

These were my second delve into sheet masks and for obvious reasons; chocolate and skin care in one?! Before we get into this let me just say - slather your body in cold press extra virgin coconut oil, pop one of these babies on and lay back and enjoy smelling like a macaroon cookie! These masks are phenomenal, now a word about usage: they say to leave the mask on for 20 minutes, I say to leave the mask on for a MINIMUM of 20 minutes. There is so much extra serumy goodness in the packet that these sheets are highly saturated with moisturizing and softening magic. The first time I used one I fell asleep on the couch watching a movie and it was probably on my face for a good four hour before I woke up, that's not something I would recommend doing as peeling a dry sheet off your face is kinda gross but dang did my skin look good!

2- Step Europe Clarifying Pack

Step 1: Black Rose Brightening Mask

Step 2: Rose Honey Refining Gel

for brightening and clarifying

A 2-step mask was a whole new ball game I stumbled into and one I'm not 100% sold on (but I am like 98% sold on it...) The idea is the mask helps brighten your complexion while the serum refines and clarifies. Let's start with step 1; this mask is intended for a minimum of 30 minutes use which is a little bit longer than all the other My Beauty Diary masks. I did it while enjoying a bubble bath so I could just lay back and enjoy my tea (pro-tip: use a straw to drink beverages while wearing a sheet mask or you'll get mask in your tea and tea in your mask!) without having to worry about faffing with a mask for 30 minutes. Like all other MBD sheet masks there is lots of serum in the packet which is always nice. After the 30 minutes were up I removed the mask and then dabbed the extra serum into my skin like usual. After step 1 I was in love my skin felt and looked great!

Step 2 is where I lose that 2% of love. Because there was so much extra serum in the mask your skin is already a little dewy and then you have to apply a thick gel over top. The gel is supposed to be left on to absorb, my issue was that two hours later after my bath the gel had still not absorbed into my skin. I was headed to bed and didn't mind the extra gel on my face as I was going to sleep but it did leave a bit of an oily residue on my pillow that I was not a fan of.

My final thoughts on this mask are I love that it is a gentle enough clarifying mask that I can use it on my dry sensitive skin without having any sort of reaction to it. I did wish that the gel absorbed more quickly instead of just sitting on the surface of my skin but I will most likely be using this mask again, now I just know to put old pillow cases on my pillows before going to bed after this 2-step mask!

Intensive Double Vitamin C Eye Mask

for brightening of the eye area

First a word of caution to anyone who like me may have super sensitive skin, especially around the eyes, these may not be for you! The first time I used these I followed the recommended 15 minutes of usage and because I have such sensitive skin I had a mild reaction aka super dry, itchy and flaky. Since then I have been able to use them twice a week for 5 minutes and have been fine and can see the difference in the brightening. That being said I gifted some to a girl friend who has skin of steel and she uses them every other day and has seen massive improvements in her dark under eye circles, so these little eye masks do pack quite a punch but be warned the concentrated vitamin c can be quite irritating if you're a delicate flower like myself!

Dark Circle Intensive Care Eye Mask

for lightening of under eye discolouration

I tried this formulation of eye mask after the Double Vitamin C above so I've only been using them at 5 minutes a piece right from the get go so there was no sensitivities to these ones but I would still heed my warning from above. I love the results I've gotten from these masks but would recommend investing in some good quality eye cream as these can be a little drying on the under eye skin. My two favourites, and two on the only ones my temperamental eye skin will let anywhere near them are the Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Morning Eye Rescue and the L'Occitane En Provence Imortelle Precious Eye Balm.

Face Q Sheet Masks

 Red Pomegranate + CoQ10 Mask

After discovering that the reason the french are famous for their beautiful skin and amazing skin care is in part due to their understanding of prevention in place of trying to reverse damage I was all into preventing my skin from premature aging which lead me into an all engulfing google rampage into Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 for short, which helps combat cellular damage that causes wrinkles and aging of the skin. There's a nifty little article here that breaks down the science of it into easy to understand terms for those of us that don't enjoy trying to pick through all the science jargon.

Back to the masks! So when I was in the supermarket and saw that not only did one of my favourite sheet mask brands carry a mask containing CoQ10 but that it was on offer I had to scoop it up. While I'm still in my 20's and my skin hasn't started to deteriorate yet this mask is definitely a staple for me and as I grow older I will be investing in many more products containing CoQ10. For now this mask provides a nice punch of prevention and leaves my skin feeling and looking great!

If you have made it all the way to the end you must really be a sheet mask connoisseur as well and will be pleased to know that I will be including several of these mask in my giveaway box. We're only 11 likes away on Facebook before I host my first giveaway contest so if you're not already following the blog over there check it out, there will be a link below! 

Do you guys have some favourite sheet masks that I absolutely need to try, if so let me know in the comments below!

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