face masks – sarah fynn

Best Face Masks for Normal to Combination Skintypes

It’s hard to find a good face mask for combination skin types. I have normal to combination oily skin: my tzone is slightly oily and the other parts of my face are normal/slightly dry depending on the time of year. In the summer my skin is more normal to oily and blemish-prone. I have used a lot of face masks and I found a few that work well with my skintype no matter the season! These are my tried and tested best face masks for normal to combination skin types

Pixi Peel and Polish

This is a mild enzyme peel mask that leaves the skin radiant and smooth! I like this mask because it doesn’t sting the skin and leaves it in excellent condition for makeup. It can also double up as a gentle scrub, I have come away from using manual exfoliants but if you still like that in your routine (just not walnut scrubs) then this is a great 2 in 1 product for you.

Nip Fab Dragon’s Blood Jelly Mask

I especially love this mask in the fall/winter but you can never go through with a good hydrating mask no matter the season. This one from nip fab is formulated with Dragon’s Blood which leaves my skin hydrated and plump. I love adding a scoop of Vitamin C powder to this mask for a brightening boost.

Beauty Pie Fruitzyme Mask

If you are a member of BP then you should try this mask. I think it’s a dupe of the Pixi Peel and Polish however the texture of this is very ‘gel-like’ compared to Peel & Polish. This has fruit enzymes and acids which is responsible for leaving the skin smooth. I don’t use this weekly but once in a while when I am seeing texture or as a quick prep for makeup.

Kose Vitamin C Sheet Mask

Who does love Vitamin C in their diet and on their face?! This K beauty find was something I fell in love with straight away. It comes in a big pack of 30 and the vitamin C infused sheet mask helps to hydrate and brighten. I used this as a morning toner and I really liked how it left my skin. Read my full review here

Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks

I have to add another sheet mask to this list, Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet masks are some of my favourites from the drugstore. I love the original Moisture Bomb mask but I have also tried the Super Hydrating Glow Revealing Mask with Camomile and the Super Hydrating De tiring mask with Lavender. These sheets masks are packed with hyaluronic acid so they leave the skin very plump and hydrated.

Other masks I love are Nip Fab Extreme sheet masks, Glamglow Supermud, Youth mud and Thirst mud and Sephora sheet masks.

I hope you are able to try some of these masks, let me know if you pick any up!

Catch you later

NEW! L’Oréal Pure Clay Bright Mask Review

Skin brightening and skin glowing are two terms that are certainly used interchangeably in the beauty community so when L’Oréal released the New Pure Clay Bright Mask, I said to myself what’s the point as the already have a Glow mask anyway. The USP selling point of the new L’Oréal Pure Clay Bright Mask is that it has been ‘specially formulated for ethnic skin’ I didn’t even know this claim until another blogger (Vicky) pointed it out to me so I thought why not? Let’s try it out!

The new L’Oréal Pure Clay Bright Mask promises to clarify skin tone and illuminate the skin. it’s been made with Yuzu Lemon extract, known for its skin-evening properties and natural exfoliators

Experience

Because I thought this was very similar to the Glow Mask, for the purposes of this review, I will compare it to the Glow Mask in case you were stuck between the two. In my pics, I have them side by side

The new Bright Mask is creamier and definitely easier to apply, compared to the Glow mask. You also get a little tingling sensation (it’s more underwhelming than over) with the Bright Mask. In my opinion, I feel like the granules in the Bright Mask are finer although it takes slightly longer to dry. As directed, I leave this on for 10 mins (sometimes more) and rinse off with warm water. You get some exfoliation from the granules as you wash it off which I like. And it’s not too harsh on the skin. My skin doesn’t feel dry or tight afterwards.

In terms of brightening my skin, I haven’t noticed any difference there. I have been using the Body Shop Vit C daily moisturiser and that has made a huge difference in my skin so I thought the addition of this will take it to the next level (lol) but it didn’t. I usually get instant results from masks- I mean you kinda should seeing that you are only using it 2 or 3 times a week but with this, it’s just blah in my opinion.

Verdict– for some reason, the bright yellow colour of this mask made me think it would stain the skin when used but it doesn’t! I’m not sure why it’s been ‘specially made for ethnic skin’ because it kinda does nothing. I’ve used it 4 times now because it wanted to give it a fair chance. For me, it will be one of those masks I use when I want to (physical) exfoliate and mask at the same time.

I don’t think you need both the Glow Mask and the Bright Mask. If I had to choose between one I think I will go with the Glow Mask. With that, I saw a little something when I washed it off plus it also claims to brighten the skin but I also like the sensation you get this the Bright Mask and it’s easier to apply too.

Read my review of the Glow Mask

It’s available from Boots & Superdrug (although I can’t see it online yet..) but also from Amazon for £7.99

Top 4 Face Masks For The Summer!

Summer is well on the way and here in the UK so far the weather has been alright! Summer is great but what’s not so great is when you have oily skin! the heat + oily skin = clogged pores, breakouts and texture on the skin. all of which will get in the way of your makeup looking as great as it should be!

Luckily I have tried and tested a lot of face masks and in this post, I am spilling the beans on my top 4 masks that are great for the summer. Well, they are great all year round but their ingredients make them more suitable for the summer! Why? Because, between these face masks, they will leave your skin balanced, detoxified and pores unclogged! If you’re ready for your best skin ever this summer, make sure to keep on reading

Top 5 face masks for summer!

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask, £16

This mask is part of the Body Shop’s Expert Face Masks Collection. The Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask is 100% vegan and has charcoal, bamboo, green tea leaves and tea tree oil. All these ingredients are known for its purifying properties. I super love this mask- it tingles (I must warn you) but it refines pores like a dream. I recommend it for oily skin types and those wanting a mask to balance their skin. I love that the mask doubles as an exfoliator because it has these ‘flakes’ (lack of a better word) in it and whilst rinsing they gently scrub the skin.

P.S I think it’s an excellent dupe for the next mask I’m going to talk about

GlamGlow Youth Mud Tinglexfoilate treatment, £39

Hailed as a 10 min facial in a jar, this face mask is serious! I pull this out for special occasions like skin care prep for weddings or when I am going on a short break but can’t pack a face mask with me. I also reach for this when I’m back from holiday and my skin needs a quick jump start. This mask does all sorts to the skin. It balances, draws out impurities and leaves your skin smoother and brighter. I was blown away after 1^st use and it’s definitely a mask I will repurchase! It tingles like crazy though so I won’t necessarily recommend if you have sensitive skin.

P.S- this mask helps to retexture your skin too. So many times I pull this out when I get texture on my skin and instantly my skin looks better after washing it off. I also use it as a spot treatment when I get breakouts and this works to reduce them by size and eventually get rid of them!

Mary Kay TimeWise Revealing Radiance Facial Peel, £48

If you know my blog, you know I am obsessed with acids- AHA/BHA’s, so naturally, I was super excited to try this for BrownBeautyTalk. The mask helps to minimise pores and brighten the skin, something we all love, especially if you have hyperpigmentation. Whilst I love mud masks, sometimes I want something ‘lighter’ on my skin and that’s where this mask comes in.

P.S- AHA increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun so SPF is needed

GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Treatment, £39

Another mask from Glam Glow that blew me away after 1^st use! I always compare this to the Youth Mud and call Super Mud its ‘baby’. I would use this when my skin needs a little boost but not so much that I reach for the Youth Mud lol. it doesn’t tingle but it gets the job done! Pores, texture and I use this as spot treatment too.

P.S- if you find Glam Glow’s masks too expensive I suggest getting one of their gift sets. They run about the same price for one full mask but you get a few ‘to-go’ sizes plus a full size or bigger size mask. For instance when I bought the Youth Mud Gift Set for £39 ( I think this set is sold out btw) but it came with a full-size Youth Mud and two 30g masks- Thirst mud & Supermud. The 30g masks last a long time too. I have used my Supermud many times but I still have some left and I will definitely be purchasing the full size when I’m out.

They currently have a similar set available on their website. The multi masking set has one 30g mask plus 5 7g masks for £35! Check it out here They also have smaller masks starting from £14

Other drugstore alternatives include

Garnier Self Heating Sauna Mask- the £1.29 mask that packs a punch!

Simple Deep Cleansing Mask

If you have oily skin, charcoal is an ingredient you should look for in your skincare products, especially in the summer. it detoxifies the skin and helps draw out impurities meaning your pores will be reduced and your skin balanced. Look for it in your face masks but in your face washes too.

If you want to find out your skin type and how to build a routine, make sure you check out my previous post on them.

That’s all folks. These are the masks I have been switching between this summer. Oily skin will definitely benefit the most from these masks and if you have clogged pores definitely give these a try!

I will catch you guys later in my next post! see ya

P.S.S.S- make sure you are using SPF!

Best Face Masks For All Skin Types!

Hey hey

I have been loving skincare lately and so I thought I would share my best face masks suitable for all skin types! Let’s get into it. Face masks what are they and what do they do?! Think of them as the deep conditioners of the face. They target a range of concerns and skin types. There are a lot of different masks out there: rinse off or leave on? Clay masks? Gel?

Face masks what are they and what do they do?! Think of them as the deep conditioners of the face. They target a range of concerns and skin types. There are a lot of different masks out there: rinse off or leave on? Clay masks? Gel?

How to Choose the Correct Face Mask

The best tip I can give when choosing a new face mask is to look at the ingredients and what the product claims to do, then match it with your skin concern. In general, anything with clays detoxify or purify, any with charcoal also detoxifies or brightens, anything with oils/butters moisturise and anything with acids exfoliates. These are not set in stone so important to be flexible, most masks have a combination of ingredients so ae good for a range of concerns.

It’s also best to have at least one of each type of mask to reach for when the season changes or when your skin starts to play up!

What about Multi- Masking?

Multi masking is when you use two or three masks in one go. I love this technique because it allows you to target specific areas of your face with different treatments at the same time. Most of us have some sort of combination on our skin e.g. oily in some areas and dry in some so multi-masking is a genius way of targeting that. For a tutorial on how to multi-mask and what I use check out my previous post here

Ok now onto the best part, product recommendations!

L’Oréal Pure Clay Glow Mask, £7.99

This is part of the new face masks from L’Oréal. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It has exfoliating beads that gently exfoliate as you wash the mask off. My skin felt nice and smooth afterwards!

Avon ClearSkin Blemish Clearing 3 in 1 Cleanser, Scrub & Mask, £5

We tend to forget about Avon but they have some really good products. I love this mask ( I only use it as that) because it just works! Pores and soon to be spots- gone! It may be a bit harsh for some as it contains AHA (I have a post on this! Click here to read it) so SPF is recommended.

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask, £20.25

A new fav of mine, I love it because it leaves your face squeaky clean without drying. Catch my full review here

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, £24

This is what got me onto charcoal masks. It draws out impurities leaving the skin nice soft and clear pores.

Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Mud Mask, £8.29

This is a mud mask done right! I have a full review here

These are the best face masks suitable for all skin types! I hope you guys find these useful. Let me know your favourite face masks by commenting below! see you soon

Want to get a skincare gift for a loved one? Check out my Christmas Guide ft Skincare Sets

Love

Sarah

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask Review

Shea Moisture is well known for their amazing haircare products ( now available in the UK in Superdrug and Boots). They’ve been branching out lately and dipping their very creative hands in beauty and skincare. They released a range of skincare masks (anyone notice they correlate with the haircare line? colours and ingredients?) and I couldn’t wait to try them out!

Before we proceed, read all about skincare and why it’s important here and find out the reason why I LOVE Black soap here

I picked up the African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask from My Luxe Beauty a while back and been testing out ever since. The full range of mud masks are

Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Mud Mask for Dry Skin ( available on MyLuxeBeauty)

Coconut & Hibiscus Radiance Mud Mask for Dull Skin

Peace Rose Oil Complex Mud Mask for Sensitive Skin

The African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask has been formulated with African Black Soap, Tamarind Extract and Tea Tree Oil and it targets blemish prone skin. It has no parabens, phthalates and mineral oil among others and made with natural organic ingredients. It’s supposed to draw out dirt, excess oils and congestion and improve the appearance of troubled skin leaving the skin purified and fresh.

My skin- I have normal to combination (oily) skin. More towards the normal side of the scale. Oily areas- t-zone.

Experience

At £14.99, I found the mask a bit pricey but it’s in the same price range with all the other SM products. For a mud mask, I found the consistency quite thin but the texture is very smooth. it applies really easily and washes off quite well and leaves the skin squeaky clean.

I leave it on for 10-12 mins or till it dries on my skin (face and neck). It doesn’t dry into a hard mask unlike other mud masks on the market. After washing, my skin feels very nice and looks de congested- pores look minimised. In terms of improving the skin’s appearance, I haven’t noticed any difference due to using the mask. It doesn’t smell of authentic black soap but it has a pleasant scent to it.

Verdict

I found the mask pricey but you do get a lot for your money 177ml and its filled to the top! I love the ingredients and the fact that its mostly natural. Will I recommend it? yes if you are a SM lover and on the market for a good drugstore face mask. It doesn’t leave my skin dry so normal skin types can use it too however, I think oily skin types will benefit more.

Its worth nothing its black soap mixed a few other ingredients as authentic black soap is not black. I do like the mask anyway

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask is £14.99 at MyLuxeBeauty.com

Want more skincare recommendations? Follow me on Instagram for the latest products and tips. Instagram- SarahFynn

Come back later for my EPIC Christmas Gift Guide!

By his stripes

GARNIER MOISTURE BOMB TISSUE MASK REVIEW

Hi guys! I hope all is well. This post will be a full review on the new Tissue Mask from Garnier. The tissue mask aka sheet mask is part of the new Moisture Bomb collection which launched a few months back! Check out my post here, at the time of writing this wasn’t available.

Garnier describes the mask as a ‘super hydrating revitalising mask’ that intensely rehydrates and reduces the look of fine lines. It’s been formulated with pomegranate extract and Hyaluronic acid and supposed to deliver 1 weeks’ worth of moisture in just 15 mins! It’s also suitable for sensitive skin.

Experience

The mask smells divine and it’s very easy to put on. The blue side faces outward and white side on your face then peel the blue sheet off. It’s large enough and fits the whole face quite nicely. The eye and mouth areas are cut out at the right places too. You will have to fold the mask around the chin area. I didn’t find the mask slipping/moving whilst I had it on. I just pop it on and carry on with my day! E.g. I have one on now as I write this blog post! Sheet masks are great for a quick mask session and when you’re too lazy to doll a full skincare routine. There’s no need to rinse, after taking it off, I simply massage the rest of the serum into my skin and allow to dry, then I carry on with the rest of my routine.

I didn’t experience any breakouts or irritation with the mask.

Verdict

If you are a #sheetmask fanatic you have to get this mask! It’s amazing, it certainly leaves my skin moisturised and very smooth! I’m probably on my 4^th purchase by now! I used this on a recent long haul flight and apart from the very funny looks I got (lool) it did really well to keep my skin moisturised! And because there’s no need to rinse, you can use this any and everywhere! I can’t wait to try the rest of the Moisture Bomb collection now. If you have dry skin, I will defiantly say this is worth a try!

At an amazing price point, you can’t afford to miss this. Be quick though, it almost always sold out in stores!

Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask is £ 1.49 and available from Boots. It’s worth checking frequently as it’s almost always on offer for 99p (LIKE NOW!) then grab loads (which is what I did lol). You can also get this in Superdrug.

If find out more about the collection and Garnier, please visit the website

Make sure you are following me on Instagram as I regularly post infographics and products, you can’t afford to miss that! Instagram- SarahFynn

See you soon!

Crystal Collagen Gold Powder Facial Sheet Mask Review

Hey guys, I hope everyone is doing great! Summer 2016 is here whopppp! So in the summer, I like to take my skincare game up a notch and do more face masks to keep my skin in good condition over the warmer months. Before I get into today’s post, check out my previous posts on face masks!

Multi-masking ft. Superdrug & Avon

TT Beauty Charcoal Detox Brightening Face Sheet Mask

I have been into the face sheet masks trend lately and I really wanted to experiment with different brands and types. I went to Amazon and picked up one of the bestselling Crystal Collagen Gold Powder Facial Mask. The reviews seemed really good and they sold it in great values packs so I decided to go for it. I got 3 for £2.74.

Whilst browsing I came across their Crystal Collagen Gold Powder Eye Masks and decided to try those too since I am starting to pay a bit more attention to my eye area lately. Again they had good reviews and a bargain deal- 10 pairs for £2.28! – review to follow soon!

Shipping was excellent; quick and free and I was really excited to try these! I must say that after using them I am not impressed at all! Here’s why

Crystal Collagen Gold Powder Facial Mask

For starters, it claims to do too many things, i.e. instant lifting &firming, moisturizes &rehydrates, whitens &illuminates, enhances face slimming & sculpting, activates cellular regeneration, collagen synthesis, skin pH balancing, soothing &anti-inflammatory and combat biological &sunlight skin aging! A whopping 16 so called benefits! FYI- when it says whitens its really brightening and evening out the skin NOT bleaching! I’m NOT trying to bleach this melanin!

You apply the mask on dry skin after cleansing and leave it on for 20 to 30 mins, followed by your normal skin routine

Experience

LOL. I mean I knew for £2.74 it wasn’t going to do all that but this is a joke lol. I haven’t tried a lot of facial sheets but the ones I have tried didn’t come in water. The ‘serum’ it comes in looks so much like water. The holes are cut wrong and too big, so it didn’t fit me properly. Its super slippery too, it wouldn’t stay in place and it kept sliding down lol so I couldn’t wear it for 30 mins! Infact when I wore this mask, it lasted for 5 mins! Trying to type and wear this mask is a myth! The only way I could have kept it on for that long was if I lied down! It also doesn’t say which part you put on your face so I played the guessing game each time.

After taking it off and the serum dries my face feels normal, just like when I dry my face after washing it and before I put on moisturiser. It doesn’t feel soft or moisturised.

I didn’t experience ANY of its 16 benefits. The only thing I can say I noticed was it’s quite cooling and left my face slightly cool- that wasn’t even on the list of benefits lol!

Verdict– Don’t waste your £2.74 lol. 1/5 (1 point because it’s a bit cooling and shipping was quick), I have used all 3 and no results. I don’t know if its travel friendly either, although its flat it’s also quite big which I found weird because most masks come folded which make it really convenient to travel with.

I purchased this from Gold Mask on Amazon

See you soon with the Eye Masks review! It should be interesting lol

Love Sarah

Exalt God above yourself . xx

Top Skincare under £5

A good skincare regime will help you put your best face forward- healthy, radiant and well moisturised! Prepping your skin before makeup does a lot to ensure your makeup looks its best, no matter how many high end products you use!

Don’t fall for the hype! Your skin care products do not have to cost an arm or a leg. I have found as long as you have a good routine (cleanse, treat, protect and moisturise) you can get away with using drugstore stores which can give you the same or dare I say better results! Research is key when trying out skincare products, whether it’s a well-known brand or not, make sure you read as many reviews as possible or speak to a professional. For optimal results, make sure you are buying products for your skin type e.g. only buying products for normal/combo skin types if that’s your type.

I have for you 16 great skincare products under £5! That’s 16 products covering a lot of categories like creams, makeup removers and treatments. I have included all the products I have used and you will have reviews in my review index, so much sure you check them out!

Face Wash

A staple in your skincare routine to wash away make up residue, dirt etc. a good one will gently cleanse your face without stripping it of its oils. I have tried loads but my top 3 are:

Garnier Pure Active Anti Black Head Deep Pre Wash, £4.28

Simple Refreshing facial Wash £3.39

Simple Triple Action Face Wash, £3.75

Day cream

After your morning cleansing, it’s a good idea to follow with a light day cream with SPF to help protect from the sun and provide moisture and hydration underneath your makeup. Try these budget friendly picks

Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15, £4.99 Waitrose

Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15, £2.99

Night cream

They say night time is when your skin renews itself. A rich night cream is perfect for providing optimal moisture and aiding in that process. Make your beauty sleep go further with these night creams

Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream, £4.99, Waitrose

Nivea Rich Regenerating Night Cream, £4.35 Superdrug

Toners

Essential to balancing skin pH and removing any makeup residue. My picks are

Simple Pore Minimising Toner, £4.79

Formula Daily Care Toner, £3.50 M&S

Makeup removers

This is probably one of the most important steps in your skincare regime. I have included wipes in this post but feel free to check out my micellar water post for great drugstore alternative and under £5

B.Pure Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, £1. Superdrug

Garnier Simply Essentials, £2.99 Superdrug

Face masks

Perfect pampering treats. There are face masks for a wide range of problems: dry skin, blemish prone, detox etc

Garnier Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask, £1.29 Superdrug

Simple Deep Cleansing Face Mask, £3.99 Superdrug

Masker Aide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, £5. M&S

Exfoliators/scrubs

Deep cleansing for brighter clearer skin. These are perfect and within budget too

St Ives Apricot Scrub, £4.19 Boots

Garnier Pure Active Exfoliating Scrub, 2.33 Amazon

Phew! That was a lot. The drugstore has tons of effective skincare products. Don’t knock it off till you try.

Did I miss your favourite drugstore brand? Let me know below

Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral BioPlasma Mud Mask Review

Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask, what a mouth full! I have been using this mask for the last month and I can finally bring my review to you guys on it! I received this in my February You Beauty Box (Read my review and the other products I got).

Let’s talk about the details of this product. It is free from a lot of chemicals including parabens, SLS, fragrances and harsh preservatives. It also contains a LOT of bioactive natural and organic ingredients like oils e.g. spearmint, wild mint, bitter orange leaf etc, it also has dead sea mineral salt, aloe vera leaf juice and kelp extract. It has clinically tested bioplasma- arginine ferulate. Basically a bunch of really good ingredients. The texture is smooth and smells a bit medicinal to me. It comes in a standard size of 100 ml.

It also says it stimulates new cell regeneration, removes excess oils and impurities whilst penetrating deep into the pores of the epidermis. It has anti-aging and rejuvenating benefits. They recommend you use it twice weekly.

Experience

I didn’t exactly know how the bioactive ingredients would work until I actually used it. After cleansing my face, I apply a thin layer and leave that on for 10 mins. I noticed each time I used it, I felt a slight sensation on my skin. I could actually feel it working. As the mask dries this sensation goes away which was how I knew it was time to wash it off (it doesn’t say this on the pack btw)

After washing it off, my skin feels slightly tender, just slightly but it also feels soft and smooth and my pores appear greatly reduced. My skin doesn’t feel dry or tight afterwards either. (I have normal to combination skin).

Verdict– it’s really bio active and does what it says on the tin! The sensation I feel lets me know its working and the combination of ingredients is really good for the skin. All masks are good but mud masks are great for the skin, it detoxifies and draws out all the toxins and impurities leaving your skin refreshed and clean. I definitely recommend incorporating mud into your skincare regime. This one is great because it’s organic and free from nasties. The mask is NOT tested on animals and suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask is priced at £8.99 and available from Holland & Barret.

Why not try multi-masking with this and a selection of your favourite masks? Read all about multi-masking here

Love

Sarah