Skincare Saturday: Mask It.

I've been dreading this post all week. Not because I dislike talking about facials (well some forms creep me out, TMI), but because I decided that I would take photos of my painful face mask in action. First of all, I'm not a big fan of photo's of myself, as you can see by the fact that I do not have 1,000+ photos tagged of me on facebook. Second, photo's of me covered in a green slime that transforms into a mint coloured, chalk textured solution that pulls my skin so tight it dimples isn't exactly confidence boosting. But - for the love of skincare and the love of this blog, I agreed to do it.

By now you all know I love skincare. By now you all know I invest time and money into my skin. What you may not know is I use the cheapest face masks ever. I don't have a ton of experience with different facemasks because I have 2 or 3 that I use all the time, and continue to buy over and over again when they are empty (its rare that I use a product until its empty, and even more rare that I repurchase the same one after it's gone).

A little about facemasks before I lose my dignity. Facemasks are [should be] an important part to your skincare routine and often underestimated. Ideally, a face mask is done once a week - if you have problem skin, more often. I average about 2-3 per week, not only because of my fear of adult acne, but because I love them. Aside from the devil mask, the other ones I use are so refreshing and cool that they actually leave me happy and energized when I take them off. Loser, I know.

Facemasks not only deep clean your skin, but they can help to retain moisture, remove excess oil and blackheads, ease fine lines...it all depends on your skincare concerns and which mask you purchase. Generally, masks come in either clay or gel form, both of which are designed to stay put on your face. If you have very sensitive skin, a gel form may be better than a heavy clay, but I have had no problems using clay masks and I have sensitive skin. Because the masks remain on your face for a period of time (usually about 15 minutes) they clean very deep in to your pores, removing dirt and oil that is trapped under your skin [that means you blackheads]. When the masks are removed or peeled off, the top layer of skin is removed, revealing smoother, tighter, and brighter skin.

To get the most out of your facemask

1. Wash your face as you normally would, removing all makeup
2. Steam your face prior to putting on the mask to open up your pores. Either do the mask right after you shower (your pores will be open from the steam) or steam your face in the sink. I have a steam machine from Target which is awesome, but for free, you can fill your sink 3/4 full of hot hot water. As it fills drape a large towel over the sink to keep the steam in. Shut off the water when the sink is 3/4 full, lift the towel and insert your face [why can I not write this paragraph?]. I place my arms around the sink and rest my forehead near my hands, keeping the towel over my head and sink to keep the steam trapped in and working on my face. If you've never steamed your face before, it's hot and somewhat uncomfortable, but after a good 10 minutes your pores will be nice and open and if you know how to do extractions, you can remove blackheads on your own much easier.
3. Dry your steamed face off [again, this all sounds funky] and put on your mask. Usually a thin, even layer works best
4. Leave the mask on for the required amount of time, usually about 15 minutes until it dries, turns another colour, or is ready to peel off depending on the brand and type of mask
5. Either peel off, or using a warm washcloth rinse the mask off your face, making sure to get all edges around your hairline and chin off [I've been to work one too many times with leftover facemask on my chin, true story.]
6. Enjoy your new skin :)

Ok. Now for my masks. The painful mask I refer to all the time is called Aztec Secret and it's definitely a love/hate relationship. The mask is purchased at the Vitamin Shoppe and comes in powder form which you mix with water or raw apple cider vinegar. I have tried it with only water, only cider vinegar, and half and half, and the latter works best. When mixed with only water, the solution is too thick and clumpy, when mixed with only cider vinegar, it is almost too foamy and messy. Taking a lesson from Goldilocks I tried a mix of both and it was juuuuust right [ps, before editing this post, Goldilocks was Little Red Riding Hood and I had to google it to see that it wasn't correct - apparently my mother never read me fairy tales. Child Sevices. Just Sayin']. This mask is heavy clay, and by the label you can see that it claims to be the most powerful facial on the planet. Oh - you can also see clearly the "feel your face pulsate" on the label and let me tell you, this thing doens't f*ck around. Instead of trying to explain the feeling of this mask, I thought I would take a selection of pictures of the mask process for you to see for yourself. In the side profile pictures, the divots and dimples in my face are not an illusion, the mask pulls so tight that my face looks like paradise for a moguls skier. In additon, near the end of the 15 minute period, the pressure is so tight on my face that it becomes difficult to close my lips and I have a beautiful duck face. I can't believe I'm posting these.

Why do I do it? Well, in not f*cking around, this mask cleans absoutely everything out of your skin. You can only do it at night because once removed, your face is red and a little sunburned-soreness remains for about a half hour - but in the morning, you wake up to clear, bright, and SUPER soft skin. I noticed a big difference after I started using this mask, and I only started using it this summer. My skin never reacted poorly to the cider vinegar either, the smell is a tad tangy, but once the mask starts to dry and pull, that little aroma is the least of your problems. Beauty is pain ladies.

Before risking my skin to the Aztec secret, I used the Queen Helene Mint Julep mask a good 3 times a week for over a year, and I still use it weekly here. I cannot rave enough about this bad boy - its super cheap, lasts forever, smells fantastic, and leaves your face feeling amazing - sort of like every guy's dream woman. You can get this in the US at Meijers, Ulta, and CVS I believe. Queen Helene also makes other masks which I love as well - the Mud Pack Masque and the Grapeseed Peel Masque - again, cheap and awesome. I've only ever been able to find the full line of Queen Helene at Ulta, but Meijers and CVS sell the Mint Julep masque because it's very popular. If you have problem skin and are concerned with breakouts and blackheads, this mask really clears them up. I used it almost every other night when my skin was bad and it really made a difference. A testimonial? When I went for my first facial, I apparently had a shocking number of blackheads (note: I never exfoliated or used face masks). After hearing that, I was in the US and purchased this product, used it regularly, and 8 weeks later at my next facial I had not one single blackhead. WIN. [please note devil kitty is playing a nice game of 'just the tip' in this photo]

Unfortunately for you Canadian ladies - I don't believe these are sold here; however, you can purchase them online. The other option is to be really, really nice to me over the next few weeks because I am heading to Michigan at the end of February and will definitely be stocking up on these items; the idea of me fulfilling your wishlist is a definite possibility. The first option is definitely easier, because I am picky and will charge you interest, but hey - beauty is pain ladies.

Another level of pain? Trying to take photos with devil kitty. Notice the facemasks between his legs. Is this what it's like to have a baby?

Skincare Saturday: Cleansing

It's Saturday night and you guessed it: I'm waiting for 48 Hour Mystery to come on. The problem is it's on at ten, and although I've been going to bed later for the last little while, I enjoyed one too many Vodka Soda's (with lime. always a lime. never a lemon) last night and am a tad tired.

Needless to say, my skin is dry today. Ever notice that the day after a night where you felt really pretty and really funny, your skin is lackluster and dry? It's because the alcohol removes water from your body, therefore taking away some of your skins hydration. Note: my mom's skin is always dry, you do the math. My combination skin proves that I have a good life balance of work and play. It's science.

I started taking good care of my skin when I graduated. All through high school and University I struggled with acne and it was awful. I was so self-conscious and would try a million different lotions, gels, and creams in attempt to have Jessica Simpson skin. Proactiv worked for Jessica Simpson. Proactiv did not work for me. B*tch.

My skin started to clear when I stopped trying to treat just the blemishes, and started taking care of my skin as a whole. I will never forget reading a magazine article on Hilary Duff - her number one beauty tip? Always take off your makeup before bed. I mentioned in an earlier post that I used to leave my makeup on, sometimes for days, in University. As soon as I was at home, that stopped. I made it a point to wash my face earlier on in the evening when I knew I wouldn't be going out after (even if it was 6pm). I found that if I left it until right before bed, I was always too tired (thanks Dad for passing down your fall-asleep-anywhere-anytime gene). Important to note: simply washing your face doesn't remove your makeup, even after using a cleanser there are still traces of makeup deep in your skin that can clog your pores. At night, I took off my eyemakeup and started using cold cream to remove my foundation before I washed my face, and the difference was remarkable.

The other thing that made a difference? Sticking to simple products. I am a sucker for beauty products, but I am very hesitant when it comes to skincare. I am uncomfortable buying anything to put on my face without researching and reading countless reviews, always fearing that my acne would come back. I don't like to push specific products too much as much as let you know what works for me, but I have no problem recommending Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser no matter what your skin type. Cetaphil is a soap free, PH balanced cleanser that can be used with or without water. It's not fancy, it doesn't smell like tangerine, and there are no promises of geisha skin. Cetaphil leaves your skin feeling soft and comfortable. I used to think that the tight feeling other cleansers left meant my skin was cleaner, but they were really harming my skin, causing it to produce more oil since I had stripped all of my natural oils away. I have been using this Cetaphil for 4 years now and it never disappoints. I've bought a couple new cleansers over the years and all are up for swap on MakeUpAlley - I just can't cheat on Cetaphil. The only time I wash my face with another product is when I exfoliate, which was reason number three of my skin turnaround.

Exfoliation is critical to good skin and should be done at least once a week, preferably more. If you are struggling with acne, very dry skin that flakes, or clogged pores and blackheads - regular exfoliation could be your savior. When you exfoliate, you remove a thin layer of dead skin cells that accumulate on your face throughout the day. All skin types can benefit from this, the trick is to pick the right one. I prefer gentle exfoliation using a facewash with smaller beads or particles to using one that feels like sandpaper on my face. I have a great love for three gentle exfoliators - Aveeno's Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, Philosophy's The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, and Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant. The microfoliant comes in a powder form that reacts to the water on your hands and is so gentle on your skin, it is one of the very few products I repurchase over and over. If you are like one of my very good friends and enjoy it rough, Queen Helene makes an Oatmeal 'n Honey Natural Facial Scrub that will definitely satisfy. Queen Helene is found at Ulta stores in the US and it is so cheap and very effective. My all time favourite face mask (not the painful one) is their Mint Julep Masque, which is very, very popular. I'm going to do a post on facemasks at a later date, so I'll save my gushing on this mask for then.

Taking the time to learn about skincare and the importance of proper cleansing really made a difference for me. I stopped looking for fancy labels and stopped buying in to the promises that each product claimed. I don't like to buy high end facial cleansers- lotions and gels okay, but not cleansers. I have a hard time understanding how something that is rubbed on your face for thirty seconds and then washed off can make that much of an impact. Moisturizers, gels, and serums sink in to your skin and work throughout the night or day, but cleansers are washed off quickly. Save your money and invest in a nighttime Retinoid treatment instead (again, will cover that at another date).

My last tip to cleansing is to understand your own skin and your daily habits. For me, I wear foundation during the day and I am guilty of touching my face a lot. Understanding that simply using Cetaphil at the end of the day isn't going to remove all my makeup was a huge help. If you don't wear a lot of foundation, your cleanser may do the job, but if you do, using a cold cream or makeup remover before you cleanse will really help; it will allow the your lotions and creams to get into the deeper layers of your skin instead of sitting on top of left over makeup. I am not suggesting to rub eye makeup remover all over your face. I used Ponds Cold Cream [yes, the classic cold cream] and I loved it. I am currently using Bioderma's Sensibio to take off my foundation before Cetaphil, and its great as well. You can definitely use these in place of your regular cleanser, I just found better results with using them at night to take off my makeup, followed by Cetaphil.

Obviously this is not my entire skincare routine, but cleansing is the first and most important step when taking care of your skin. If you don't cleanse properly, your other products won't work as well because they wont be able to get as deep [that's what she said]. Next week comes toning which isn't a common step in a lot of skincare routines, but can also help your other products to work more efficiently.

Its 9:21pm and I've done my nightly routine, am drinking The Skinny [had a big dinner], and am settled in for 48 hours Mystery. My mom has notified me that she is vacuuming so she won't hear her phone, but she'll be finished by ten to join me for the show.

Sweet Dreams... XxLM


PS - I'm guest writing a post for my friends site Mommy Brain, it's amazing and follows her journey as a new mom. Obviously a topic in which I have a black belt of experience.