Face Mask Friday! #2

It's that wonderful time of the week again, it's Friday! As if that wasn't good enough, it's also Good Friday which for many means an early start to a 4 day weekend, happy days!

As I hinted on Twitter during the week, this week we have another newbie from Montagne Jeunesse, the Dragon Fruit Sauna, a dragon fruit and kiwi self-heating mask for a 'skin sizzling cleanse' and let me tell you, I think it's a favourite!

I've always liked the self-heating masks from MJ and this was no exception. I find that I relax more when using a heating mask and it's also very comforting on a cold day, like those we have been experiencing recently (snow? in March? Really?!), and if you close your eyes you can almost imagine the sun beaming down on your face... bliss...

Ok, enough daydreaming and back to the mask! This was super drippy to apply, (so make sure you do so over the sink, don't wear your best clothes etc.) but was fine once applied and came out a gorgeous, bright pink! It smelled lovely and fruity, although I'm not sure what real dragon fruit smells like so can't comment on the authenticity of the scent but either way it was good! There were also little seeds in there so that when it came to washing off the mask I was able to get a nice exfoliation from it too, you gotta love a product that does double duty! 

The ingredients include natural clays, and a number of fruit juices and extracts including lychee seed, dragon fruit, watermelon, pear and kiwi which the sachet claims will deeply cleanse, removing oil and dirt from pores. The mask lived up to this expectation and left my skin looking and feeling fresher, clearer and even brighter. I was really impressed and think that this is one of the best masks that I've tried, ever!

That's all for this week, I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend!

Lilybet x

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Face Mask Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! 

I thought I'd give this series a go as I've seen quite a few bloggers do it and I enjoy reading them. Not to mention the fact that I've also got about 15 face mask sachets sat in my drawer waiting to be used. Also, as I'm a bit of a workaholic (I'm just coming to the end of my 2nd year at uni, have 2 part time jobs, a volunteer job and assignments coming out of my ears!), this will be perfect for making sure that I take some time out to relax each week.  Life is never dull, but with so much to do I usually feel guilty if I'm not doing something.

So, onto the first face mask and this week I've tried the new two step Shine Control mask from Montagne Jeunesse. Step one is a deep cleansing mud masque with acai berries and argan oil to balance oily skin and nourish it with protecting antioxidants. Aesthetically,  the mask was a little disappointing if I'm honest, it's very superficial but the colour didn't match the pink shade on the packet and was instead a less than glamourous nude colour, making me look as though I'd had some kind of foundation disaster! The smell was also, well, odd! I was expecting a fruity, berry scent but was surprised to find what I can only describe as 'children's toothpaste scent' (I hope at least someone knows what I mean by that!). Whilst neither made this mask unpleasant to use, the experience could have been enhanced if they were better. This aside, the texture was very nice, a little drippy, but fine once applied. The mask felt cooling and refreshing to wear and hardened over time. The packet recommended wearing the mask for 15-20 minutes but I think I went slightly over that as the mask started to crumble and flake off which became quite messy! After rinsing my face off my skin was left feeling soft, clean and refreshed with not a hint of oil, perfect!

Now for step two, the balancing moisturiser. First of all, there was loads of this, easily enough for two applications so I squeezed the excess into a pot to use another time.  The smell was the same as the mask and I still cannot find a better way to describe it! This was quite thick (it was a similar texture to Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Moisturiser) but soaked in well and provided a good base for applying make up. My face stayed almost completely shine free all day and the effects were still noticeable the next day. 

Overall, this treatment really seemed to do its job and keep shine at bay without drying out my skin, particularly my checks where I don't suffer oiliness. I was very impressed with this new addition to the Montagne Jeunesse range and will definitely be using it again!

Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Blemish Stick

Ok, no messing around, this is magic! I recently suffered a monster breakout and all of my usual products and tricks just weren't working (even my trusty Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser!), although I am lucky with my skin and don't get spots very often so don't have many spot fighting products. I remembered someone mentioning this before so thought it was worth a try as it's only £2.59. 

Resisting the temptation to squeeze my spot, I rubbed the blemish stick over it after applying my moisturiser and went to bed. By morning a drastic difference could be seen, the spot was much less red, less raised and the 'head' (yuk!) had gone! I applied the blemish stick again before putting on my make up and the spot was much easier to conceal due to its reduced size and redness. I applied the blemish stick one more time before bed and by the next morning it had gone completely! I've since tried this on smaller blemishes and they have disappeared overnight. The stick itself couldn't be easier to use, you can't even feel that it's on your skin apart from a nice tingly, cool feeling for a few minutes and it has a menthol like smell. This is definitely my go-to product for spots and blemishes as it works like a dream, is so quick and easy to apply and is easy to carry around for top-ups or emergencies!

Read more reviews or purchase here

L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist Hair Masque

I recently replaced my Goldwell Inner Effect conditioning treatment which I loved but wanted to see if I could achieve the same results with a cheaper product this time. I settled on the L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist Masque as my weekly conditioning treatment. I regularly colour and heat style my hair so it is prone to dryness, split ends, breakage and falls out a lot! The tub promises 'intensive care' for 'fragile hair with a tendency to fall' with reinforcing serum and Arginine 'an essential amino acid and a vital constituent of the hair fibre' which all sounded great, just what I needed!

I have now been using this for about a month, just once a week. I put it on after washing my hair and leave it on for around 5-7 minutes, this is longer than the 2-3 minutes recommended on the tub and whilst I don't think I get any extra benefits from keeping it on for longer it's just my personal preference as it's easier to fit into my shower routine this way. The conditioner is a nice texture, very similar to the normal conditioner from this range, doesn't feel too heavy or sticky and washes out well. The scent is also the same as the normal conditioner, a fresh, fruity fragrance that's not too strong.

As far as I can tell this product does what it promises! Immediately after use my hair smells lovely, feels soft and silky, is tangle free and blow dries smoother (my hair is prone to frizziness!). This in itself would be enough reason for me to continue using this product, but to add to it's brilliance it also lives up to it's claims! I have noticed that my hair is falling out less (I'm not clogging up the hoover or pulling hair out of my hairbrush/plug hole quite so much!) and for the length of time since my last hair cut I have surprisingly few split ends! My hair feels soft and looks shinier and as my hair blow dries smoother it helps me to cut down on the straighteners and wear my natural waves more often! Overall I'm really pleased with this product and would definitely recommend and repurchase as it's such great value for what it does. I'm also keen to try out more products from the Triple Resist and other L'Oreal Elvive ranges. 

Read more reviews or buy it here for £5.20

L'Oreal Double Extension Waterproof Mascara

I actually bought this mascara for the primer as I had run out of my previous one and couldn't find an affordable one to replace it with. However, I also needed a new waterproof mascara, I decided this product would do double duty and it didn't disappoint!

L'Oreal have developed a good reputation for mascaras and this is no exception, the primer lengthened my lashes whilst the mascara volumised.

This is the primer alone on my lashes...

The formula was a really nice consistency, thick enough to add some length and volume but not so thick that it causes clumping when you apply the mascara. The brush is very easy to use as it is a manageable size and combs through the lashes evenly so you achieve an even coat and can reach the corners.

The second step is the mascara, again the brush was very manageable, (although as you'll see from the photo I still managed to get some on my face when coating my bottom lashes!) and I was able to get to the lashes right on the outer corners of my eyes. The formula coated my lashes nicely, although I did find that I needed to ensure the tops of my lashes were covered too as the primer was visible at first.

This is the effect I achieved...

Finally, the ultimate test... how waterproof is waterproof? This mascara survived the swimming pool! I have tried other waterproof mascaras for swimming in the past and whilst they may not have run or smudged, they have crumbled and my lashes have lost their lift. Not with this one! My lashes looked as good as new even after swimming my lengths, getting splashed in the face a few times and the post-swim shower. The only downside was that I did pay for this when trying to remove it later on as it took a fair scrub with my make up remover, but it was totally worth it for a mascara that fulfills it's claims as well as this. I would definitely recommend this for a hardcore waterproof mascara that doesn't compromise on lift, length and volume!

Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

I bought this mascara despite reading some rather negative reviews of it and will admit that I too was a little disappointed when I first tried it. I was initially attracted to the brush as I quite like the chunkier, plastic design and have got on well with the Avon Supershock mascara in the past which has a similar brush. The first couple of times I tried this it came out really thick and clumpy, and the more I tried to work it through and comb my lashes out, the worse the got! I ended up looking like I had only 5 eyelashes, not a good look! I have since practised with this and have seen a vast improvement in the results!

I tried this both over eyelash primer and on bare lashes and I have to say that I prefer the effect on bare lashes! I also think that it works better with just one coat as the formula is already quite thick to achieve the volume it promises. The picture below demonstrates this as the one on the left is with primer and the right is without. The picture underneath shows my rather straight and short naked lashes (apologies for the lighting!), so you can see it makes a real difference to both length and volume! 

The only criticism I have now is that the brush can be a little clumsy if you're used to something smaller (and, like me, tend to get it on your eyelids!) but a little practise soon solves this issue. Also, the mascara is quite difficult to remove as it is so thick, however the results are worth the effort and the staying power is brilliant. This mascara did not crumble or flake at all during the day and my eyelashes didn't drop as they sometimes do! Overall, I was impressed with this and am glad I persevered to overcome my own (and others!) disappointing first impressions!

Scholl Express Pedi

I was lucky enough to receive the Scholl Express Pedi to test before its release! If I'm honest this wasn't really a product that greatly appealed to me as I've always considered my feet to be quite nice (as feet go!) and I would not have been likely to buy anything like this.

The Scholl Express Pedi is of a similar size and shape as an electric shaver and feels nice to hold with the power switch under your thumb for easy operation. The Express Pedi is powered by 2x AA batteries (included) and is covered by a 2 year manufacturer's guarantee. It promises 'professional hard skin removal at home'.

Using the Express Pedi couldn't be easier! After giving your feet a soak, dry them then gently roll the Express Pedi over your areas of hard skin using 'light but firm pressure' for 2-3 seconds. For more stubborn areas it is recommended that you use this several times before all hard skin is removed.

I used this on my heels and big toes and felt a difference after the first use! This was much quicker to use than my foot file and was so much more effective! My feet were left feeling super soft and looking lovely so I followed this up by applying Soap and Glory Heel Genius before bed to soak in overnight.

I would definitely recommend this product as it gives such amazing results so quickly and easily! As I said, I would not have looked twice at a product like this before but my opinion has totally changed and I will be using this regularly, especially with spring around the corner, my winter boots will soon be replaced with my sandals and pumps!

**UPDATE** I let my boyfriend try this out on his feet as he suffers with some heavier areas of hard skin and he too was mega impressed! Whilst he didn't remove all of his hard skin in one sitting, he was able to buff away the worst, creating a more comfortable and smooth surface, otherwise only achieved by a trip to the chiropodist. A brilliant product!

You can buy the Scholl Express Pedi here for £39.99