The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Face Mask Review

This is not a pretty face mask. It doesn't have a cute character printed on a sheet nor does it have a thick, luxurious texture. Made with "tingling charcoal clay" that "is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves and organic tea tree oil," this mask has a thin texture, a dark colour and pieces of black... something in it. Maybe the pieces are the green tea leaves? Whatever they are, they contribute greatly to creating a product that when on, makes you look like you just took a swim in a swamp.

The Body Shop Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask Review

I received my sample of The Body Shop's Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask in my October Topbox. While I used to be a Body Shop regular, it's been awhile since I've shopped there so I pleased to see this new offering from that brand in my Topbox.

Like most Body Shop products, this one comes with a story about its ingredients. A completely vegan product, the mask is made with "...matcha green tea from Kakegawa, Japan, dandelion extract and soul-soothing Community Trade aloe vera from Mexico." Along with a few other ingredients—but not "silicones, mineral oil or paraffins"—these items create a mask that, "deeply purifies, gently exfoliates and liberates your skin from the weekly build-up of city pollutants and everyday impurities." The end result is supposed to be, "radiant, younger-looking skin."

GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment Review

I really, really wanted to love SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment. According to GLAMGLOW, its "most advanced clearing treatment" is my ticket to "super clear super poreless skin." I want that!

And I also want to experience this, "Visibly see your pore congestion pull-out and encapsulate within the mask." I've yet to try one of those crazy Korean peel-off masks and while this technically is a mud mask that you wash off, its product description makes it sound like might produce the same kind of intense results.

In a perfect world you're supposed to use this mask three times a week for five to 20 minutes at a time. I initially doubted I would have enough free time to do that but then I found an even better reason not to: It burns. Now, I have the opposite of sensitive skin and I like to think that I have a fairly high pain tolerance. But despite that, I found this mask to be physically painful to use.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask Review

I received this new-ish Garnier product in my April Topbox but I only busted it out at the end of May. I had a wedding to attend and, wanting to look my best, I decided to test this mask's claim that it "...replumps the skin with moisture, enhances radiance and reduces the appearance of fine lines."

According to Garnier, this mask does this by containing the, "equivalent to the concentration of hydrating glycerin in Moisture Bomb Day Cream used daily for 1 week." It also contains hyaluronic acid and pomegranate, which when combined with the glycerin create, "A hydrating bomb of efficacy for dehydrated skin." And according to the 54 women who participated in Garnier's self-reporting study on this product, the vast majority of them found that his mask left them with fresh, radiant skin that wasn't wasn't oily looking or feeling.

TheFaceShop Character Mask (Brightening) Review

Today's post is about another product from TheFaceShop, a Korean chain of stores that recently entered the Canadian marketplace and that's still working on its English online presence. Despite my stellar Googling abilities, I can't find anything from TheFaceShop on its Character Mask, and that includes searching the company's main Korean site.

I received this sheet mask in my November Topbox. Based on that, and on the various beauty blog posts I found about this product, it appears that this item is available in TheFaceShop's North American outlets. It's essentially a fun spin on TheFaceShop's existing single-use, sheet mask; that spin being to decorate the mask with a cartoon-like "character" design.

THEFACESHOP Real Nature Mask Kelp

As someone who's nine months pregnant, I don't really need a mask that promises to make skin look brighter or healthier. But one that's focused on removing impurities? That has my interest.

I received THEFACESHOP's Real Nature Mask Kelp a few months ago, when I attended a THEFACESHOP event. So yes, this product is a freebie. It's also the first THEFACESHOP product that I've found actual details about online.

According to the company, this mask, "...purifies skin, leaving it soft to the touch." It supposedly does this thanks to its inclusion of kelp extract, which "...help(s) eliminate impurities and protect skin from pollution." Kelp extract, a type of algae, is actually known for its moisturizing/anti-inflammatory agents/antioxidants properties so there is something to these claims.

Boscia Bright White Mask

I reviewed a mask on Monday and today, I'm reviewing another mask but no, it's not mask week here on Stuff Lindsay Bought (Friday's review will be something completely different). Instead, it's more like reviewing products that I've had kicking around for awhile and need to use up.

A few months ago, I received a deluxe-sized sample of Boscia's Bright White Mask from Sephora and was able to get three masks out of what I was given. According to Boscia this item is, "A brightening, peel-off mask that helps to visibly even skin tone and diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Instantly moisturizes and plumps dull, dehydrated skin while helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

Fruits & Passion Aloe Face Mask

As I've mentioned before, my skin has been dry lately. While the dry patches have disappeared (I think because I'm no longer using Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream), my face could still do with a good dose of hydration. So the inclusion of Fruits & Passion's Aloe Face Mask, which claims to have "hydrating and soothing properties," in my June Topbox was perfect timing.

 This is a fabric mask, which is not my favourite kind of mask as I find they never fully cover my face. This one is no exception to the rule though unlike some fabric masks, it wasn't drippy or too awkward to use. The solution on the mask had a refreshing feeling that wasn't at all intense and didn't feel greasy or gross.

NeoStrata Canada Skin Renewal Peel Solution

I received by deluxe sample of NeoStrata Canada's Skin Renewal Peel Solution in last month's TopBox. I was immediately intrigued by this item as it "...contains 10 per cent glycolic acid and 10 per cent gluconolactone, the highest potency available of AHA" in a non-prescription product. That means it should work, right?

NeoStrata Canada claims that all that AHA results in the "ideal quick fix for uneven and dull skin" by "remov(ing) build-up of dead cells on the surface of the skin," "even(ing) out complexion" and "revealing radiant, younger-looking skin after just one treatment." I did one treatment and, over the past few weeks, I used it a few more times, just make sure that I was fully testing out the solution.

THEFACESHOP Face Mask Mung Bean

A mung bean? What’s that? Those were my first thoughts when I was introduced to this product at last week’s launch party for THEFACESHOP (so yes, I received this mask for free).

It turns out that a mung bean is a type of legume that’s more commonly used in cooking that as a beauty product. However, THE FACESHOP has decided that it’s just the ingredient to use in this clarifying face mask that’s designed to “purify and smooth skin.”

As per the instructions, I wore this mask for roughly 12 minutes. The serum contained on it was quite cooling, resulting in a smoothing, relaxing sensation. While I’m not sure if this is also true of mung beans in their natural state, the mask had a light, fresh scent to it that didn’t linger. It complemented the overall experience nicely and really added to that spa-feel.

St. Ives Nourished And Smooth Oatmeal Scrub + Mask

Back in February, I headed to Fiji with a number of new products in my bag including this two-in-one face/mask scrub by St. Ives (which is supposedly "America's #1 scrub brand"). It made the cut for two reasons:

1. It has a "...dual purpose formula combines oatmeal extract with 100% Natural Exfoliants" that lets it be both an exfoliant and a face mask;
2. St. Ives rates in as a "gentle" exfoliant, making it ideal for skin that would like be a bit on the burned and sensitive side.

Eslor Botanical Peeling Gel

One of the reasons why I love my Topbox is because it introduces me to new brands like Eslor. This US brand uses the tagline, “The Art of Beauty” and “…blend(s) cutting edge science and the power of natural resources to create the most advanced, results oriented skin care.” Sounds promising so far.

My December Topbox contained several Eslor samples, including one for the Botanical Peeling Gel. According to Eslor, this product will, “Peel away the years for smoother, more radiant skin.”“Combined with dynamic rich natural botanical extracts,” says Eslor, “This gentle exfoliant helps reduce unwanted shine, while refining pores and brightening skin tone.”

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

One of the free samples I recently received from Sephora was REN's Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial. I've enjoyed some of REN's other products so I had high hopes for this one, which promises to, "Reduces the appearance of lines, imperfections and photo-ageing. Tones, firms and banishes urban grey." (I don't know what "urban grey" is but it sounds like something that you don't want.)

This "transforming treatment" works like this: First you apply this somewhat smelly liquid to your clean face and then, with wet finger tips, you massage the product into your skin. The water is supposed to activate the Vitamin C contained in this serum and should leave you with, "Skin (that) instantly looks and feels re-energised, re-awakened."

I followed the product's instructions while in the shower and my first thought upon rinsing it off was that my skin only felt a touch softer. Then I walked out of the shower and as soon as the non-humid air hit my face my skin actually stung a bit.

Glamglow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

Perhaps a better name for this product would be YouthMud Burnexfolitate Treatment because a strong burning sensation is my biggest take-away from this product.

Well, that and mild disappointment. I say “mild” because I was just using a sample that I’d received for free as part of a Sephora bonus. Had I actually paid for this self-described “10-minute professional ‘facial in a jar’,” “mild” would be replaced with “extreme” as this mud mask runs $70 a jar. For that price, I want to truly be wowed. But I wasn’t, not in the slightest.

It’s not that this is a bad product. While it did make my face feel like it was on fire for a few minutes, it didn’t damage or irritate it. And once this mask was wash off, my skin did feel and look better. It was undisputedly softer and smoother feeling, and it also looked brighter and healthier.

Balea Deep Cleansing Face Masl

Slowly but steadily, I’m depleting the face mask stash that I accumulated from Christmas. This week I tried out another Balea mask, one that’s supposed to “deeply cleanse and soften skin.”

With a not-quite-thick-enough-to-be-mud texture, this mask didn’t feel as luxurious as say, Balea’s Detoxifying mud mask. And after a couple of minutes, it actually started to deliver a bit of a burning sensation though once I washed it off, my face looked and felt fine.

No, that’s not quite right, my face felt better than fine, it felt, as the packaging promised, “silky soft.” Balea explains that that feeling is the result of this mask’s use of seaweed, which “helps nourish your skin to leave it looking incredibly clean and silky soft.”

Balea Detoxifying Face Mask

This week’s face mask was a traditional one made by Shoppers Drug Mart’s Balea brand. It’s got some pretty big claims attached to it, my favourite being “Pamper parched, worn skin with this blissful detoxifying remedy.” While my skin isn’t exactly worn, it could certainly do with some detoxifying.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find this product to be very “blissful” feeling. Texture-wise it’s sort of mud-like but it’s not quite thick enough to be called a mud mask. It’s also nowhere near as refreshing or relaxing feeling as Balea’s actual mud mask. In fact, this product actually had a bit of a burning sensation though once I washed off, my face wasn’t at all red or irritated.

Balea Detoxifying Mud Face Mask

Another week, another face mask. But this time we’re going old-school with a traditional mud mask, made by Shoppers Drug Mart’s Balea brand.

According to Balea, this “detoxifying face mask” is “infused with activated charcoal and ivy extract,” which create a “deep cleansing formula (that) will help protect the skin’s moisture barrier by removing unwanted impurities from your skin, leaving your skin looking great and feeling soft and smooth.”

I think charcoal might be the new coconut oil and why not since it is pretty amazing at absorbing crap. It’s also an effective disinfect. But does it actually do anything in this mask? Well, kind of.

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask

For Christmas I received eight new one-time use face masks. But this review isn’t about one of those products. Instead, it’s about the face mask that I got in my Influenster #MapleVoxBox: The Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa mask.

This new product is a “mud infused” fabric face mask that contains “intensely invigorating and revitalizing Dead Sea minerals” and “nutrient rich seaweed and kelp.” Along with a few other ingredients, these are supposed to deliver “a satisfying boost for thirsty skin and then some!”

Masker Aide All Nighter

I’ve wanted to try out a Masker Aide facial sheet mask ever since I first read about the innovative (for North America) brand sometime last year.  I was hoping that one might turn up in one of my beauty box subscriptions but no luck. So I was quite happy to discover one of these masks inside my Spark Sessions swag bag.

Masker Aide offers six versions of these masks and the one I received is called All Nighter. As you might have guessed from the name, it’s designed to, “awaken, refresh and replenish your skin.” To do this, it relies on such ingredients as, “aloe, argan oil, heartleaf (a powerful detoxifier), honey, super fruit and cactus extracts.” What is super fruit? No idea; perhaps that’s the result of some kind of translation issue (the masks are made in Korea, where sheet masks have been popular for several years now).

Balea Purifying Face Mask

I picked this mask up because I was hoping that it would unclog some pores as well as remove the dry
skin that was a result of my manual efforts to clean out those pores. While it did a great job at cleaning up my flaking nose, it had no visible impact on my gross pores. But despite that, I still love this product because it took care of an issue that I thought I was going to have to take to a professional.

And what’s that issue? A brown spot! When I returned from the Caribbean at the end of February, I brought back a souvenir in the form of a small brown spot, which was actually more like a stripe, across the bridge of my nose. I hoped it would disappear on its own but sadly it didn’t and I was convinced that the only way to get rid of it was some kind of in-clinic treatment. But then I used this mask and after just one use, the lighter end of the brown stripe was gone. And there was no redness or irritation or anything like that, just smooth, normal-coloured skin.