An Afternoon Facemask with Dew of the Gods

Today my darlings I am super excited about using the FijiFuji Collagen Whip Vitamin Mask from Dew of the Gods. And no it isn’t because I feel like I need a little extra blessing from Buddhist Monks. Although that is a lovely thought and I will never turn down such blessings.

But that is beside the point.

Today is the last use of this mask. That’s right. Don’t let the blue tint inside the plastic fool you. The plastic itself is actually dyed blue. This is the final wear of this Dew of the Gods Face Mask. I think it actually feels like such a big accomplishment because it is so large a container. I also did not think it would last this long.

I adore this mask. Of the Dew of the Gods face masks that I have tried this is my favorite. Which I wasn’t actually expecting. I have a pink clay mask and a charcoal mask from the brand as well. Both are really great masks and clay and charcoal masks are sort of my go to masking favorites so I was a bit surprised that i liked this so much.

But I found myself reaching for this so much that when the Black Friday sales were popping off I went ahead and picked up a back up. I never pick up back ups of masks. I usually tell myself once I have finished a mask I love that if I clear out two more samples or one more full sized masking jar then i can think about replacing it.

This one, I picked up before I was finished with it.

And yes having the unopened mask lurking in the back did give me an odd anxiety for some reason. I think it was potential product wastage. So I probably won’t do that again but it was a really good sale so i have a hard time regretting it. (It retails for $2 and I think I ended up getting it for around $15 when all was said and done and nothing makes a really great product better than getting a really great product at a really low price. It’s like a double win, especially if you know you will use it.)

According to Dew of the Gods…

Vitamin cocktail, anyone? That Fiji glow really hits different. Rich, luscious and thick electric kaolin infused with vegan collagen, vitamin-C and lychee extract brightens, tones and lifts your skin while restoring its natural bounce. Injected with hyaluronic acid, Fijifuji is all about that youthful, radiant glow — it’s a party in the tropics, and the vibe is Fiji-chic.

Maybe it is the hyaluronic acid in it that I love so much. The mask smooths on easily and feels a little more like the clay you would use in a pottery class than your typical clay mask. I think it is because clay masks tend to be looser and this really looked like a chunk of blue clay you would start on a potter’s wheel. But it does smooth over the face really easily.

It is cool from the start and I did feel the cold along my cheekbones as I wore it. I also noticed that if I have allergy puffy eyes that coolness does help reduce some of the puffiness just by default. This is the mask my babydoll loves making fun of. He thinks it looks like some sort of Mesoamerican death mask.

It does dry down pretty far in the 15 minutes of wear that I usually keep it on for. It isn;t exactly kiln baked but it is dry. I keep a facial brush that is too harsh to use as a facial cleansing brush around just for clay masks. As you can see I have used this enough with this mask that the bristles are somewhat tinted. I am going to give it a good soak tonight and see if i can get some of the blue out of the bristles.

I don’t use the brush to remove the mask, I just wet the brush and lightly trace over the mask so that the water loosens it up and makes it easier to remove. Essentially I am rehydrating it and using the trace lines from the bristles to loosen it up. i find this just makes mask removal just a little easier.

Then it is rinsed off and I have to say but skin always feels so fresh and clean. I feel smooth and really revived with this mask. It not only perks the skin up but if you have a day where you feel like you are dragging just a little bit, then this kind of gives you a bit of an energy boost without resorting to an extra cup of coffee.

While I like other Dew of the Gods Masks the Fijifuji Collagen Whip Vitamin Mask is my favorite. As much as it bothered me to know I had a back up instead of waiting until I finished and cleared this and at least one other product out, I am thrilled that as this empties, I have one jar of this waiting in the wings. And now I can use it to prompt myself into using up other masks because I will not open the new jar until I have emptied two more. That was the deal I made with myself when I purchased the back up. I remember because I put a post it note on the box. So it will be a little while before I get to see this mask again, but I know it will be worth the wait.

20% Off Your First Apiceuticals Order with code WELCOME20

Mid week Masking with 111Skin

This is not the first time that I have used the 111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Masks and it probably won’t be the last. Partially because I have four more from this box in my collection but mostly because I really love them.

I will admit that while it is an expensive brand and I usually feel very fancy using their products, there is no way to look cute wearing this mask. At least not for me. In general when i wear any masks I look I am either up to something nefarious or had an unfortunate accident. I think this one might lean towards the unfortunate accident look. So at least I don’t look like I was planning to rob a bank and decided charcoal infused mud would work since i mislaid my balaclava.

So there is that.

Unfortunate or not, i love these masks. There is a slight whisper of rose skincare scent but it is really light. The entire masks feels as though it is an under eye mask that you wear for your entire face. Personally I try to make sure the mask is well smoothed out under my eyes as it really does reduce the puffiness.

While there is some brightness that I get from the mask, mostly I feel really refreshed after wearing it. Like my skin absorbed an espresso when I wasn’t looking. It actually makes it great for an afternoon mask. If you are looking for a quick pick me up without adding more caffeine to your body, this is not a bad way to do it.

While this mask does stick fairly well to the skin I will find it hanging a bit around my chin. while most masks I can wear at the desk and ignore them, this one I will find myself occasionally running my fingers over, so I keep a dry wash cloth at the desk with me when i wear it so I can dab my fingers before i touch the keyboard again. The chin looseness doesn’t bother me, but it does cause me to want to check to see that it is in fact still on the skin under my eyes.

It always is but I think it is the looseness that makes me want to double check.

the mask feels cool on the skin. I think this might be why it feels refreshing. well that and the actual skincare elements. There is Niacinamide, grapefruit extract (which I’m guessing is part of the brightening), red algae and rose oil. All of which my skin really loves.

It is one of my favorite mid afternoon treats, no matter what day of the week it is, simply because after I wear this mask for fifteen minutes I feel energized and fresh, like I had a power nap. I know it is touted as a pre event preparation for your skin and I could see where that would work, but for me, it is a great skincare pick me up. After fifteen minutes I am refreshed and ready to face the rest of the day. Which for me involves all the paperwork I didn’t get around to yesterday. And with that in mind it is time to remove the mask and get back to work. But rest assured, the 111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment sheet mask and all it’s wiggly glory will be returning.

Mid-week Mask in a flash with Borghese

Normally I stick to sheet masks for my mid week masking moments but as i skipped last week’s face mask Friday, I felt that a little something extra was called for. And then i remembered that I set aside a couple of 3-5 minute masks Somehow they don’t tend to feel right for my moment of Friday relaxation. Perhaps because they take only 3-5 minutes instead of giving me the full fifteen to take a breather and regroup before the final push to end the work week and stat the weekend.

I do like these sorts of masks, but they are more suited to the work day trial. And now that I have whittled down my sheet mask collection to something more manageable, I feel that the time is right. And so today we have the Borghese Roma Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask for Face and Body. I opted for just the face today. i did test it on my arm though (on Monday) just to make sure there was no adverse reaction.

I always think of Flash masks as being a little stronger because they require so little time on the skin, so they are ones i will always test on my inner arm before using on my face. I also left it on my arm for ten minutes (well past the time of the mask). I’d like to say that part of that was to really make sure it wouldn’t cause problems but in all honesty the phone rang and by the time I dealt with the call it was ten minutes. So, not really intentional but because there was no adverse reaction I felt it would be okay.

Let’s look at our 3-5 minute wear time flash mask from Borghese…

Everything you love about our Italian spa inspired Classic Fango Active Mud, with added advanced benefits! This detoxifying mud mask helps counteract environmental pollution with a blend of powerful survivalist plant extracts. Exfoliates skin and helps minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines.

I have a sample size that came in a subscription box (either Look Fantastic or Glossy Box, I can’t remember.) It is 0.5 ounces. On the website there is a 2.7 oz version sold for $20 and there is also a 7.5 ounce jar of the mask offered for $50. The largest one is in a glass jar with a mason jar like lid on it. I think if I were getting it to use as a body mask that would appeal to me. The 2.7 ounce mask is in a container that looks like a larger version of the sample size. Personally I like the look of this jar. I don’t know why but the jars with the slightly pinched in sides so it is a little more hourglass shaped always just look a little classier to me. I have no idea why. Perhaps i just like the shape.

Regardless of how I feel about the jar, it is what is inside that counts.

In the other flash masks I have tried, they were either a gel like consistency or they were charcoal based. I don’t know why but the fact that this one was bright green sort of surprised me. In the ingredients there is ginseng root and avocado listed which is where I think the green comes from. The bentonite clay is sort of a grayish color as would be the mushrooms in the mix I would think. There is also almond oil in the blend. I say that because you can sort of smell the almond in the mix. The scent has almond and ginseng as the forward notes with a sort of back note of avocado. It is a very fresh and clean scent.

clean again and the pic I will use for comparison after I’ve used the jar of mask up completely.

I did notice that when I first opened it the mask was a brighter green and it turned a little bit darker by the time I finished applying it. While I don’t think it will go bad as fast as an avocado as there are stabilizers in it, the slight change makes me think this isn’t a mask I want to let sit around too long. It does have a 12 month shelf life listed on the bottom of the jar though. So we will see.

Applying it on the face was quick and easy. It smoothed on well. There are no solid particulates and it is a smooth and creamy mask. I was very impressed not only by how easy it was to apply but by how little I actually needed to use in order to cover my face. Usually with sample sized masks I can get one or two uses out of them and that’s it. This one I think I will be able to get significantly more from.

The three minute wear time also makes it really good for mid day masking. I applied the mask and set the timer, then I actually made the bed and took out the trash. By then the timer was going off so i was able to take the mask off. It doesn’t really dry down all that much. I think that between the almond oil and the avocado there is enough oily fats to keep it from drying down. It stays in place while moving around with the mask on and then wipes off with a damp wash cloth. This made it easy to wear while doing things and quick and easy to remove.

When I took it off, my skin felt fresh and clean. It was a very good first use. While it didn’t magically erase the lines that time is starting to etch into my skin, it did make my skin look and feel really good. Certainly good enough that i will have no problem using this mask again. In fact I might continue using this mask (as recommended) until the container is empty just to see if there are any longer term results. As it is just the way my face feels will have me coming back to this mask. Over all the Borghese Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask is a hit, even if i still don’t know why there is Fango in the name. If anyone knows could you let me know in the comments, I looked all over the website and can’t find a single clue. And that will bug me. the mask however was very nice for a mid-week masking moment. Since I plan to continue using the mask to see if there are longer results, we’ll also call this a first review post. we’ll talk again when I have reached the bottom of the jar. Hopefully by then I will have uncovered the Fango mystery as well. Stay tuned my darlings.

Aceology for Face Mask Friday!

That’s right folks. It is Friday and I am actually getting to do my Friday Face Mask on Friday! why does that feel like such an accomplishment? I think it is because the last two Fridays have been maskus inturuptus. I also thought that with everything that was going on, I might have to skip this week’s as well. But no, it’s masking time.

Each Friday I like to give myself a little bit of a masking break. It is sort of the fifteen minute self care reward for staying on top of things and making sure life runs smoothly both in work at on the home front. It is just me in the house and I can take those fifteen minutes and lay back, clear my head and breathe. On an ideal Friday I will apply the face mask, light a candle and put on some music.

But no radio, Truest me, go radio free music for this because nothing interrupts your fifteen minutes of calm more than a breaking news cast announcement. It is never going to be a good breaking announcement. No one is going to interrupt your music to tell you that something good happened. Good announcements wait for a regularly scheduled broadcast. Personally I would love a good interruption.

‘Good afternoon folks, sorry to interrupt your music, but we just took a survey and at this very moment, no one is doing anything bad to anyone else anywhere! That’s right, we have a lull in all ongoing battlefields and all serial killers and despotic dictators are taking a lunch break, We’ll have follow up news of this spontaneous peace invasion at eleven along with a basket full of puppies. Don’t worry, no one abused them and they all have good homes, we just brought them in to celebrate.’

Wouldn’t that be lovely for a Friday afternoon when you are feeling good about getting your e-mails and files out as well as making sure the laundry was done? So we dare to dream, but until then, no radio for the calm making fifteen.

Today while I did manage to get the laundry done and I am catching up on everything that was slaw this week for one thing or another, i am wearing a mask while answering e-mails today. It is one of the perks of working from home and not having any video calls scheduled.

Today I went with the Aceology Brightening Treatment mask. As you can see from the tube, I have used this before. Quite a few times before. In general I am not a huge fan of peel off masks, but I will say the pain with this one is minimum and my skin always feels good about this. I just make sure I don’t put it too close to my eyes. while I like to avoid pulling at the delicate skin around the eye area, the part that always makes me cry is the part over my upper lip. It always peels off really quickly but somehow the part right under my nostrils, no matter how quickly it removes, it always brings a little tear to my eye.

The mask itself smells fresh and clean and smooths on well. While a lot of time I will review masks when i use them for the first time (and I did do a first use post of this when I first used it), I really like reviewing the same mask when it is at the end of it’s life. This tube probably has one to two more uses out of it, but it has been opened a while. The container is like a paint tube and that has kept the mask from drying out. There is a little dried crispy bit at the edge of the lid where I didn’t clean it off as well as I should have in my last use, but otherwise the mask is the same as when I first opened it. It hasn’t dried in the tube or gone bad. And if you look at the frist use post, you will see it is dated for February, 2022. I will finish this mask sometime this month, so it lasted for me about a year.

This isn’t a mask I reach for a lot or use on a regular basis. Partially because it is a peel off, and partially because I tend to prefer anti-aging or pore clearing masks to brightening ones. But every time I have reached for this it has been good. You may also notice when flicking through my past posts that around the same time that I picked up this Aceology Mask I picked up the Aceology Lifting Mask, Detoxifying Mask, and Firming Treatment Mask. All of those were peel off masks and all were used up within two months of opening. So it is more about me not reaching for brightening masks as often than the fact that it is a peel off mask. I will say I did try a sample of the Rose Petal Mask (not a peel off mask) and it was phenomenal. Let my skin feeling like a rose petal. So in general Aceology just makes good face masks, peel off or other wise (and yes their Green tea Mask is on my list to try this year. Rose Petal and the Detoxifying mask are also on the repurchase list.)

One thing I like about this mask is that I don’t have to set a timer. Which I like when working at my desk. I can just reach up and see if it is dry, if not, I continue to work. In general it is still worn for about 15 minutes, but the trick with all peeling masks is that you have to let them dry so you can peel them off. any parts that are still damp, simply won’t peel off and you will end up with a mess. It is both a lesson in patience and in restraint as you really can’t put the mask on too thickly and thus waste product because you will just have to sit forever trying to wait for it to dry, Because of the dampness in the air today it took closer to twenty minutes for dry time and there were a couple of tiny spots that were still wet as you can see in the photo.

when peeling there is always a moment when the mask comes off and your skin reacts to having the mask peeled off of your face. It will get red and feel hot. Or at least mine does. I tend to look a little sunburned post peel off mask. The color doesn’t last. it is mostly my skin’s reaction to having all of the baby fine hairs on my face being yanked at once. When I removed the Aceology Brightening Treatment Mask it was no different. Then, the redness faded my skin felt smooth, clean, nourished and yes, just a little bit brighter.

Face Mask On Delay…

On Friday we had a storm blow through and the power bounced on and off for most of the afternoon. As a result, posting was a bit dicey so I decided to skip the Friday Face mask Post. Also with the power going in and out there is always the possibility that there would be some reason for me to have to run out unexpectedly and I though having a mask on at the time might not be terribly helpful.

Also there is a part of me that thinks if I do put on the mask during such times it will almost guarantee that I will need to leave. I’m not normally superstitious however last wee as soon as I reached for this mask, I ended up having several sets of drop by visitors. The kids selling stuff came before I applied the mask, but then the people selling religion stopped by after I decided to apply it. Incidentally, if you are going door to door for whatever reason you have, if you come across someone wearing a face mask maybe realize that this isn’t a good time and possibly skip or shorten your entire spiel. However well meaning you are, no one wants to hear it at that particular time.

I was just too polite to close the door in their faces.

Anyway…I have now use this Dew of the God’s Alive Icelandic Silica Detox Mask a couple of times so I thought it was time to actually sit down and write about it. No magazine sales or power outages. According to the Dew of the Gods Website…

We are alive. Our skin moves, breathes, and craves a sense of purity and detoxification as it endures the profound experience of a life well-lived. Alive is Iceland, and Iceland is alive. Three rare mineral-rich ingredients bind in perfect harmony to create a rich, luxurious and natural detoxification for your skin that truly brings us back to Iceland.

Natural Icelandic silica, crushed ancient lava rock and glacier water pulsate the skin’s surface to extract impurities and harmful free radicals while leaving skin in an ethereal state of detoxification. Alive is blessed to inspire profound introspection.

Main Ingredients: Icelandic Silica for flushing toxins, Crushed Lava Rock for stimulating blood flow, Hyaluronic Acid for deep moisture, Coconut & Jojoba Oil for collagen production

Full Ingredients: Aluminum Silica, Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Green Tea, Kaolin Clay, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Arnica Oil, Organic Peppermint Essential Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfume
Dew of the Gods

There are two main reasons that I purchased this mask. The first is that I received the Vitamin whip Mask from the brand in a BoxyCharm box and loved it so much that I wanted to try out something else from Dew of the Gods. It is an absolutely fantastic mask. the second is that I really enjoy detox masks. I find them a great way to bring deeply buried clogged pores to the surface. For me I have a problem with those more than I do regular breakouts. I will have a bump under the surface for a really long time and it will hurt and need to be coaxed to the surface in order to be cleared away. So since I Loved the other mask from Dew of the Gods i thought I’d give this one a try.

I must say while I didn’t enjoy the interruptions to my scheduled Friday Mask Postings, with this mask I am rather pleased that i did try it more than once before offering my thoughts.

First off, the mask is a gray black color, which you would expect from the ingredients list. It goes onto the skin smoothly and there are no inclusions in it, it is a thick paste. I went full face with the mask, but it is also a product that works well with spot masking if you have just a part of your face you want to detox. (i.e. one stubborn buried clogged pore). The scent is a bit earthy and charcoal-ly. I find this a pleasant scent. After a few moments of wear though the scent fades into the background. what does remain is the feeling of cold. Somehow this mask starts to feel colder the longer you wear it. I wore it for fifteen minutes. and it felt refreshingly icy when I went to wash it off. It wasn’t unbearably cold, but I somehow wasn’t expecting it. I am guessing it was the peppermint oil.

When I went to wash it off I was pleased to see that it never really dried down. To remove I simply wet a wash cloth with warm water and wiped my face clean. There was no chipping or scrubbing. I had a few grayish water splatters that were easy to wipe up but that was it. After my face was rinsed and patted dry, the cool tingling sensation returned. I have to say Alive is a good name for this mask as I felt more awake and alive as I finished up than I did before using ti. If you are looking for an instant wake up and refresh this mask will do wonders for you.

I was happy with this effect, but I was hoping for some more detox. But somethings take time. Any detox or pore clearing mask I have tried (except for a few painful peel off masks) have delayed responses. They tend to have ingredients that cause clogged pores to rise a little while after the mask is removed. And this was no different. The tingling cooling sensation remained and a few hours after I removed I noticed that I had a few bumps rise to the surface. They were small and few. A quick use of my elemis Black Currant Jelly Exfoliator took care of them and my face felt lovely. I generally find that with pore clearing masks it is best to have an exfoliator on hand to clear out the results that rise. I did try to get pictures of the breakouts but they were really small clogs and my camera blurred out the image when I tried to get close enough to capture.

The effects were minimal but they were there. If you are looking for a dramatically clearing mask, this might not be one your would reach for. Will it bring some clogged pores to the surface? Yes. Is it the one I will reach for to clear out the deeper clogged pores? No. What it will do is give you a nice clean, fresh feeling face. It will wake you up and make you feel like your skin got it’s own triple espresso when you weren’t looking. My skin looks fresh and clean and it is a good mask and deals with the surface of the skin well. It just isn’t going to go much deeper. And that is alright. This mask has a place in my masking drawer and I will happily continue to use it. I might use it again, but when I order from The Dew of the Gods again, I will probably lean more into the Vitamin Whip than I will the Alive.

The Final Friday Face Mask of 2022

This is it my darlings. The final Friday Face mask of 2022. It is the Honey Potion by Farmacy. I chose this for a couple of reasons. The first is that there was only one use left in the jar and at the moment i am concentrating on using up the face masks that are in my collection with only one use left in them. So this fit the bill. I am actually quite proud of myself for whittling down the open containers in my face mask drawer.

I love having a variety of masks to choose from, but I hate that I can’t see them all because they have multiplied. I have quite a few masks that I love but forget i have and several that I have yet to get around to trying out. And so the almost empties have to go.

The other reason I chose this mask is that this weekend is not a collapse at home weekend. It is New Year’s Eve Weekend. With Friday Face masks I often choose the face mask to start the weekend stay at home and purge the skin a thon. I know, if we ever get bands and sponsors and banners I’ll get a better name. While sounding like a failed music festival, it is generally how I let my skin breath while I try to undo any damage I may have caused during the week.

It is great for weekends when there is nothing planned outside of the house. except that this weekend, there is a lot on. And I didn’t want my skin erupting. So I chose a mask that always leaves my skin looking great and hydrated but doesn’t tend to bring clogged pores to the surface. Next weekend will be a skin clearing Extravaganza.

But not this weekend.

This Honey potion goes on like, well honey. it is somewhat sticky so I have to really be in the mood to use it. Which is why it lasted so long, it is good but you have to be willing to get a little messy. Sometimes I am, sometimes I am not. I am amazed that I didn’t manage to lose th metal spatula. the fact that the lid is magnetic helps but I was certain it would get knocked off at some point. it hasn’t which is kind of a miracle.

the mask goes on like a clear jelly and then you massage it so it turns white. When it turns white it heats up, which i actually kind of like. And I do like this mask it is just the stickiness that has me choosing other masks. Although that is mostly a pre use consideration. Once i;ve committed to using this I am fine and I really like the look of it on the skin.

While I do like this and would consider repurchasing it, this mask is one of those face masks that I know i will only use once in a while. it will not be an everyday mask. So while i will repurchase it, I find there is no rush to do so. I suspect i will pick it up when i see it on sale and am reminded I like it.

Which I am oaky with. While I have been making an effot to clear out some of the older masks I still have quite a collection to go through and having a good mask that I can pick up whenever is not really a problem. And that is where this mask falls for me. Good enough to repurchase but not something i feel i need to have on hand all of the time.

It is however a nice way to wrap up the year’s masking. It is warm on a cold winter’s day and my skin looks great as I start thinking about my New Year’s Makeup. Honey Potion by Farmacy is not a bad way to end the year. And a great start to new Year’s eve skin.

The Last Use of the Blue Butterfly from Lovinah

Fir this Blue Butterfly Stem Cell Face Mask from Lovinah I really had to scrape the bottom of the jar. I had just enough product in the jar to apply it to my face and call it a use. In fact when I pulled it out of the drawer and opened the jar I actually wondered if there was enough for one last use I also wondered why i saved a mask jar with so little product in it. Still I figured I out to see about using up the last dregs and so I applied it.

The scent is glorious. No butterflies were actually harmed in the mask. Thee are sea minerals and plant stem cells. In the ingredients list Blue Spirulina and Butterfly bush are both listed It smells a little like spirulina and a little like the flower of the Butterfly Bush.

It is also a bright blue mask.

There was just enough to cover my face and now the jar is wiped clean and empty. As it is glass I will probably use it for starting some seeds in my green house. Soon it will be time to get them started. I like to start them early and then gradually transfer them into larger containers until it is time for them to start spending some time outside. I find it lets them have a better chance of survival and small glass jars like this are great for starting the seeds. Eventually it will go into the recycling bin, but it will have a few seasons in the garden before then,

Which I think is a nice afterlife for a skincare container.

But not exactly the point.

It has been a while since i used this mask I think it has actually been hanging around since last January. So I had to look it up.

Experience true marine beauty, with this signature deep sea and plant-stem cell facial suitable for all skin types. A luxurious mask of pure natural deep-sea minerals, known for its beauty-enhancing properties, plant stem cell proteins help to boost the skin’s regeneration cycle and pre/probiotics help to protect, hydrate, repair and nourish the skin.

Deliver a surge of intense healing hydration and extra energy to skin for a hydrated, plump, supple skin with the Blue Butterfly Mask.

the devil is in the details but if you take a look at the stress crack on my forehead, it does look just a little less deeply set.

I have to say, it really delivers. After wearing this mask for the recommended 15 minutes my skin feels fantastic and I feel a bit more energized. I think the reason that i kept this jar was actually so that I could remember to repurchase it when the big sales arrived. The Mask is $65 and while I often use masks that are as expensive if not more so, I do like to get them on sale when possible. The fact that there was still enough mask in there to let me try it and to remind me of why i wanted to pick up a full sized jar was just an added bonus.

While the mask was very primary blue, it came off the skin well and aside from a few blueish drips that were easy to wipe off, didn’;t stain anything. I thought it might be like the charcoal based masks that tend to leave a gray residue, but nope, the sink was clean and I just wiped off the few splashes left from removing the mask.

While I took this mask out to make space and to use up the last of it, I am really glad I was reminded of this mask. It really needs to go on the list so i don’t forget that it is one I would love to try out this Blue Butterfly Mask in the full sized version. it did so well with a minimal amount of product i imagine repeated use would product fantastic results.

Acing the Friday Face Mask

Yes it is that time of year again. It is the time i break out all of the face masks that I tried and now have only a little left. I have no idea why I end up with masks that have only one use left in them. Sometimes I get it, like with the samples, like this Rose Petal Mask from Aceology. I tried it, Liked it and even used it a second time. But it is a small tube and somehow slipped through the cracks. Somehow I get that. i don’t understand why i have some full sized jars that somehow I have used all but one use out of. Clearly I liked it enough to use most of it. I have no idea why I save the last use.

But for the past month or so those are the containers i have been emptying out and slowly they are disappearing making room for all of next year’s products. Today i chose this mask because I really like it. It is rose colored and when applied it looks my skin look shiny and vaguely sunburned. It is a gel base so it is a bit like putting jelly on the skin, but far less sticky. And with better skincare benefits.

Until I tried this mask i thought Aceology specialized in peel off masks because that was all i had ever seen from them. Admittedly they make really good peel off masks. I have several in my collection and I will repurchase them. I will also be repurchasing this. It is a fantastically soothing mask. This small tube had three uses and after each use I find myself thinking wow my skin feels like a rose petal. This may be a clearing out of the last uses of face masks but it is certainly not a hardship.

Tonight I will be going out to the first of the holiday gatherings. i wanted something that would make my skin look great and that I knew would not cause any sort of break outs. This was a good mask to reach for. it is gentle and hydrating, which at this time of year I can always use. Plus this week i had some eye issues and ended up rinsing my eye out with saline solution a lot trying to make sure it was flushed clean. While the saline was good for my eyeball there is always skin spillage and saline is not good for the skin. So the little bit of extra moisture was a good thing. Now my skin feels rose petal soft and I am more than ready to get ready for my night out.

While i am saying goodbye to this tube, the full size of Aceology’s Rose Petal Mask is definitely on my new Year’s shopping list.

It’s Face Mask Friday with Dew of the Gods

I know, this Dew of the Gods Fijifuji Collagen Whip Mask is not a new to me mask,. I reviewed it a few weeks ago when I used and opened it for the first time. You can see that post here if you are interested. I have used this mask several times since then. I have to say there was something about the mask that made me think that it would dry out in the container rather quickly. Thus far that hasn’t happened. I know it has been open less than a month, so it really shouldn’t have dried out by now.

And it hasn’t.

However There was something about this clay mask that just looked as though it needed to be used in a timely manner. I suppose that applies to all skin care but when clay masks dry out you realize that clay is what they use to make pottery and old school mud bricks. I suppose technically they use mud for mud bricks, but i have had several dried out clay masks that make me think of bricks.

I have used this mask a number of times since my first use, so the container has been opened and closed several times. Which I think is important. It means that the mass has been exposed, at least as long as it takes to apply the mask and put the lid back on. So it hasn’t simply been sitting sealed on the shelf. Admittedly I have had masks dry out while still sitting sealed on the shelf. Which is why I try to go through them in an timely manner these days.

And actually that was one of the reasons I chose this mask today. Soon I will be taking out all of the partially used masks and I will go mask-tastic crazy in the run up to new year’s as I clear out the open and partially used sample sizes.

But I couldn’t resist using this again, as well as comparing it to the original opening use of the mask.

The container is a very lovely clear plastic that shows off the blue of the mask inside well. They contrasted it with the yellow of the lid. While attractive, it also seals really tightly which helps preserve the mask. Using it today, there has been no change since the first use. The Dew of the Gods Fijifuji Collagen Whip Mask applies smoothly and easily. It feels cool on the skin, smooths out with little effort and covers with not a lot of product.

At first the mask just feels cool, then it starts to tingle a little. I was worried that the tingling would grow more intense but it doesn’t. It does last though. The tingling remained at more or less the same level as it started. it was only as i was getting ready to wash it off that the tingling started to fade. I can’t actually decide if it is something in the mask that causes the tingling or if it is the mask drying out.

In the fifteen minutes that I wore the mask, it only partially dried out. And even then it wasn’t the intense chip me off with a stone chisel that some of the clay masks can get. I suppose that too argues for the longevity of the mask as well.

And I realize that this post seems intensely focused on the drying out of the mask. I’m sorry about that. I think I am so focused on that aspect because the container feels as though it is so much larger than my other clay masks and it seems to use so little with each use. While I love both of those factors, especially as i really like this face mask and how smooth it leaves my skin. I want it to last longer.

I also had to throw out two masks this morning when I went to look at my masks and plan my end of year clear out. So I suppose it is on my mind. I just hate wasting good product.

I’ll try to be less obsessive.

I do like this mask and my skin does feel great after using it. I won’t be using it for a while though as i descend into the land of clear outs. It was a good mask to use today though. It doesn’t dry all the way down but it also doesn’t drip, so I was able to lay back and sort of relax for the fifteen minutes that I wore the mask. Which was a nice change. Usually i do relax with the mask, however lately I have been reaching for masks that I can wear while either moving around the house or sitting at my desk. While this mask can be worn while in motion, even if it does look like a Meso-American death mask made of turquoise.

But today I took the fifteen minutes and used it to decompress. To be honest as much as I enjoyed the mask, having those 15 minutes to mentally relax and take a breather were worth far more than the skin benefits. Don’t get me wrong, I will always love the skin benefits and this Dew of the Gods Mask has them, but as far as self care goes, taking a little time to breath is priceless. And today, that’s what I got. Along with a does of whipped vitamins. I call that a win.

Hydro Gel Charcoal Eye Mask (1 Pair)

A little Milk Glaze for Face Mask Friday

That’s right my darlings, the Face mask Friday returns! However todays dinner prep is delayed. For November I have been putting up dinner recipes to get me through the holidays in between the feasting. This week’s is delayed because I am going out tonight. For those who don’t know, today is Veteran’s day. As a huge swath of my family (both living and deceased) are veterans, it is a big celebration. So my babydoll and I are going out to help out at what will no doubt be a very chilly Barbeque at the VFW Hall. Neither of us are involved in working the actual smokers as those have been running for several hours already. I am just involved with the passing out of plates. Its one of those things where the food is donated but then there is an auction that raises money for the local veterans association. Which is, in my opinion a very good thing.

It is also why I am not cooking today and why my face mask is just a little bit early.

And why I am moving around the house with it instead of sitting back and relaxing with a nice scented candle while I enjoy the pore purging benefits of the Milk Glaze Deep pore purging Lactic Acid Clay Mask. or at least what I hope will be the benefits. So alas no candles and fifteen minutes of mid day relaxation. So as I make sure my face is clean and ready for the mask, let’s see what this mask is supposed to do. (I received this in the Winter Subscription that arrived earlier this week and this is my first use of it, or any facemask from Beekman 1802. As always though I did open the tube and test it on my arm yesterday to make sure there were no reactions.)

Get your glow on with Beekman 1802’s Milk Glaze Lactic Acid Pore Purging Clay Mask! This multitasking milk clay mask is enriched with 10% lactic acid and creamy goat milk to unclog pores while gently exfoliating, polishing away oil and impurities to reveal a clearer, more radiant complexion.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Sea Silt Extract, Squalane, Caprae Lac (Goat Milk), Lactose, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Milk Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae) Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Jacaranda Mimosifolia Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Leaf Extract, Deoxyribonuclease, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-4 Cocoate, Glucose Oxidase, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Carbonate, Citric Acid, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride,Titanium Dioxide CI 77891 … and Kindness.
Beekman 1802

Okay on paper this looks like it is right up my alley. Pore purging and exfoliation? Yes and yes please. Actually it is kind of funny. Since I have been using the Glam Glow Clearing Cleanser things have been rising to the surface. this week I skipped the exfoliator so I have some tiny blackheads in the small pores under my eyes and a few deeper clogged pores that have almost but not quite risen to the surface. So taking the time to hopefully clear them out isn’t a bad thing. In fact my skin is more or less primed for this kind of mask.

I also don’t see any problems (or potential problems) with the ingredients list. There isn’t anything that would cause my skin concern. As the brand specializes in products for sensitive skin, that isn’t surprising but every now and then an ingredients list will have a hidden land mine so I like to check the fill list. I did also do the arm test just to be sure. Use the inner arm if you are doing this as it is more sensitive than the outer one.

And so to the face it goes.

The scent of this mask actually reminds me of the Korres Greek Yogurt Probiotic Mask. I like that mask as a moisturizing one, but as you all know at this point, I love my clay masks. Because of the scent though i was surprised as I applied it, and that really is because i have used the Korres one for years and so it was reminiscent. They aren’t alike at all in application.

This is a clay mask. Clay is actually the second ingredient on the list. The masks smoothed over the skin well. It is an easy clay mask to work with. I was able to get a thin layer of mask on my face with no issues. Sometimes clay masks cha stick a little and not spread as easily as I’d like, thus requiring more product. This applied well and I wa actually surprised by how little it took to cover my face. Small amount of product for each application, means more applications per tube. this application created only a thumbs size dent in the tube which gives me great hope that I will get to use it for a while. The mask is $38 so it isn’t outrageously expensive, but it is nice to know I will be able to use it quite a few times.

Well quite a few times if i like it.

After applying I left the mask to sit for 15 minutes. I set the timer and then ran around the house mostly doing laundry. Usually Thursday’s are laundry days but everything got out of whack this week so there is the grand rush to make sure no one runs out of anything important.

When the timer dinged I returned to the bathroom. I was very surprised that while the mask did look and feel a little drier than before it didn’t really dry down to the hard crackle sort of stage. and it didn’t look any different from my application fifteen minutes earlier. It remained movable. Which also meant i was able to move my face throughout which was nice as well. It made removal very easy. I ran the water until it was warm and massaged it off with a damp washcloth.

there was no sticking and nothing that needed hard rubbing.

As with all masks I dried my face and went away for a few minutes to let my skin settle before returning for a final photo. I was very impressed. I don’t know if you can zoom in close enough to the photos without them fuzzing out on you. I kind of looked in the magnification mirror to check things, especially the small sections of tiny black heads that were around my under eyes. They had been taken out. and one of the deep clogged pores by the side of my nose that was only a slight bump under the skin has also been removed. It has been lifting for days like a slow rising leviathan and this was the final push to get it out of my skin.

I don’t tend to have a lot of massive and visible break outs. I do have the small black heads in certain areas that are easy to cover up as well as the barely visible but painful clogged pores that often drive me a little mad. Mostly because they are sore spots that you can’t really do much about until they do something. I have been working to deal with them so this might feel more dramatic because everything was primed to go and this was just the final knock out punch. But in the end this was a knock out punch. The work I did earlier in the week lined up the pins and this mask took them down.

I enjoyed the process of using it. It wa easy to apply and easy to remove. I didn’t need loads of product so the tube will last me a while. It wasn’t over the top expensive and I think my skin looks great. Maybe it was the goat, or maybe it was that extra dollop of kindness they mixed in at the end, but for me this Beekman 1892 Milk Glaze Deep Pore Purging lactic acid clay mask was a winner.