No point in dancing around it, 2020 blew. It was a year we were all more than ready to say goodbye to, but if you’re a cynical realist like me, you know it’s far from over. Was it all bad? Absolutely not. We moved to a city that’s been on our wish list for years and, most importantly, we’ve stayed healthy. But with everything going on in the world, everything good had a grey tint to it.
That said, this round-up is pretty heavy on one of my favorites for self-care: masks. While I was pleasantly surprised by a sheet mask, another from a brand I love was more of a bummer.
Here’s what I used up last month:
Repurchase:
LA FAON Maximum Hydration-Infusing Mask (gifted) — I’m a big mask person. I mask most days of the week. However, I’m not usually a fan of sheet masks. They slip and slide and just get in the way. These, however, I loved. These hydrating sheet masks (whose ingredients include algae, niacinamide and mandelic acid) are very thin so they actually shape nicely to your face and stay put. My face felt so smooth after 15 minutes and the tone of my skin looked more even and bright.
Ole Henriksen C-Rush™ Brightening Gel Crème (gifted) — Lightweight gel or gel cream moisturizers are what works best for my very oily skin. I prefer multiple thin layers of moisture as opposed to a thick balm or cream. I really enjoyed using this one on my face, neck and chest each day to keep my skin hydrated and to give it a boost of vitamin C. No breakouts, no pilling when layered with sunscreen and it even played well with my retinol at night.
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm — I know this little jar is only sample size, but I got a good eight uses out of it so I threw it in here. Man did I enjoy using this one, which features mineral-rich moor mud. The way this balm warms on the skin to help draw out impurities and has a tiny bit of grit but isn’t harsh really does make your bathroom feel like a spa. I wish it emulsified so you could remove it without a cloth, but I got over that.
On the Fence:
Yon-Ka Paris HYDRA N°1 MASQUE (gifted) — This mask really is a pick-me-up for your face. There’s glycerin, aloe vera and jojoba to hydrate and a slew of vitamins including A, B5 and C to brighten. My favorite way to use it was during the daytime, leaving it on for about 45 minutes. It filled in any fine dehydration lines and gave my skin a nice glow. It wasn’t, however, quite as comfortable to use as a sleeping mask. It felt too sticky for my liking.
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask — Hand on heart, I admit I bought this after watching a video of Kourtney Kardashian doing her nighttime skincare routine. Then I remembered, her face looks like it does mainly because of doctors and money. Jokes aside, this is a fine clay mask — it doesn’t dry too tight and helped pull impurities out of my pores. But it has a very strong floral scent I didn’t love.
Pass:
Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask — I adore the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask and the Lip Mask, so I had big hopes for this eye treatment. You know I’m #teameyecream. But I just didn’t notice much of an effect with it. I used it twice a week and while it was hydrating, that was about it. I also would prefer it came in an airless pump. Why can’t every skincare product come in an airless pump?!
See what else I’ve used up here.
1 Comment
Great info!