I haven’t finished many products over the past few months, so I combined three months’ worth of empties. I haven’t really touched my makeup in a long time, so I only have body, skin and hair care empties.
Rael Miracle Acne Patches (read my review) – I love these and I will continue to buy them. I like that there are only 2 sizes of patches and the plastic they’re attached to is perforated so it’s easy to peel them off nicely.
Repurchase? Yes.
Skinceuticals Phlorectin CF* – I didn’t like the smell of this one (it smells like brown sugar or coffee?). It made my face feel tacky the whole day and I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin either. Even if this was a more reasonable price (it’s $190 CAD for 30 mL), I wouldn’t purchase because of the scent.
Repurchase? No.
Neogen Pore Tight Aqua Mask – I don’t really use sheet masks anymore. I’d prefer to just use moisturizers, serums or sleeping masks. This mask didn’t really align with my face well. The eye holes were really high up, so part of my forehead wasn’t covered and a lot of the sheet mask was under my chin. It doesn’t have a scent, but for some reason, it gave me a headache. It dries down tacky which I didn’t like.
Repurchase? No.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream – I like this cream. It keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day.
Repurchase? Yes
Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo – I like cucumber-scented shampoos. They’re refreshing.
Repurchase? Yes
Dove Nourishing Rituals Energize Shampoo – I like the refreshing scent of the grapefruit and lemongrass.
Repurchase? Yes.
Australian Bodycare Intim Shave Gel* – I didn’t really notice if this helped with ingrowns or any redness/razor bumps.
Repurchase? No.
Pixi Glycolic Body Wash* – I was using this on my legs mostly. I am prone to ingrown hairs, so I think the exfoliating qualities of the body wash were helping my legs.
It was my first time trying a glove mask. My fingers were really dry after taking off my nail polish, so I thought I’d try it out to see how well it worked. They’re plastic gloves with an inner lining (that’s like a face sheet mask) soaked in serum. The most saturated parts of the glove were probably the fingers. After 20 minutes, it does kind of feel like when you’re in a bath/swimming pool too long. Any longer than 30 minutes, and my fingers would definitely feel pruny/wrinkly. Since there was an inner lining, the outer part of the glove wasn’t wet at all and I was able use my phone with the gloves on (bonus!). It definitely made my hands feel softer and not as dry. It’s been a few days and my hands still feel pretty soft and smooth. It would definitely be nice to put these glove masks on while doing a face mask, then you can just sit back and relax. I would definitely consider buying this one. It’s definitely on the pricey side, but they have a 4 pack available where you can get 4 for the price of 3.
RATING: 5/5
On the Skimono website, they have other sheet masks for your face and they also sell foot masks. I’ve only tried a peeling foot mask, but their foot mask sounds like it would be very nice!
Have you tried hand/foot masks?
Love,
*The Look Fantastic US box was gifted to me, but all opinions are my own.
This post is sponsored by XOLuxe.com, a Canadian-owned and operated company that sells a variety of different Korean Beauty sheet masks.
Our philosophy? Beautiful skin begins with great skincare. Our ultimate goal? BARE SKIN CONFIDENCE. Because we believe that beautiful skin is the secret to beauty.
I love their ultimate goal. I would love to be able to go out of the house without makeup on. My skin has been getting better lately and I’ve been wearing less makeup when I go out.
XOLUXE has sorted all of their sheets masks into categories to help you choose which one will best suit your needs. They categorize their sheet masks by skin type, skin concern and by brand. You can also buy one of their kits or subscription boxes.
I think the kits or subscription boxes are great to try out new masks and save some money. Their masks have a price range of $4-6 with most masks in the $5 category.
So, let’s get onto the reviews for the two masks I received. They were beautifully packaged in tissue paper and came with a little instruction sheet
How to use sheet masks like a pro:
Wash and tone your beautiful face first – a good cleanse will assure that your skin soaps up every bit of the mask’s serum. (If your pack includes essence apply it to face now)
Place the sheet on your face making sure to align the perforations with your nose, eyes, and moth.
Smooth the mask out to make sure there are no wrinkles for best fit.
Keep mask on for 15-20 minutes, then remove and discard. Rub any remaining serum into the skin. (If your pack includes an eye mask apply it now)
Refresh and Rejuvenate – Tightening, Soothing, Moisturizing, Cooling
Suitable for All Skin Types
A concentrated essence created using the natural and effective ingredients of the Tea Tree that efficiently rebuilds, repairs, and soothes irritated skin. It leaves your skin cool refreshed.
My face was a little red on the day I tried this sheet mask. I usually have redness on my nose, under the nose and on my chin. I washed my face and put on this sheet mask. The mask was nicely soaked in the serum (it wasn’t dripping wet, but it was saturated). I was walking around while I was wearing it and it didn’t slide off my face at all.
It smelled faintly of tea tree. I’ve used The Body Shop tea tree oil products which definitely have a strong tea tree scent. I couldn’t smell the mask when I was wearing it. I wore it for 15 minutes and then massaged the remaining essence onto my face. It does stay a little tacky, but it doesn’t feel greasy or oily. My face looked a little less red afterwards. I love tea tree oil products because they help dry out those painful underground pimples.
Calms and moisturizes the skin aiding in blemish relief by providing a heavy dose of moisture and essence with a rich blend of 8 indigenous botanical ingredients that help treat areas of concern and a blend of 13 indigenous botanical ingredients that protect against skin barrier build up.
The sheet mask was very thick. The tea tree scent was stronger than the other mask, but it wasn’t overpowering. When I used this sheet mask, I had an angry pimple on my chin – It was red, but still underground and hadn’t reared its ugly whitehead. After removing the sheet mask, the mask felt warm because it’s so thick, it trapped the heat under it. I massaged the remaining essence onto my face. The essence from this mask felt a bit more oily than other ones I’ve tried. It stayed tacky and it also felt like I had product on my face. My chin pimple looked a little bit calmer. My chin was still a bit pink, but it didn’t look as bad.
I would definitely consider buying one of the kits that XOLuxe offers. It would be a good way to try different brands. I don’t use sheet masks that frequently, so the kits or buying them individually would be the best option for me.
I received some products from KOODING.com by Ariul Beauty. Today, I will be reviewing the Mood Maker products! They generously sent me the Chic, Glam and Cute sheet masks and mists.
All Ariul products, the Mood Maker Mist is formulated without artificial coloring, mineral oil, benzophenone, talc, or sulfates.
They have different ‘moods’ depending on what you want:
“Glam” is designed to vitalize the skin while protecting its natural moisture barrier.
“Chic” is designed to tighten pores, calm, and soothe the skin.
“Cute” is designed to give ultimate hydration while protecting your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
The sheet masks are fragranced, but it’s not too strong. They use the hydrogel material which I really like. There is a lot of essence in the masks which is great because it won’t dry out too fast when you’re wearing it.
These are quick, easy sheet masks that provide skin-loving benefits in only *5 minutes*! These are perfect right before events, parties, or just a good ol’ lazy day. The light-as-air Lyocell sheet allows for quick essence absorption, making these a breeze to use.
I liked the Cute masks because I have dry skin and I need some moisture. The Cute mask has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and a proprietary berry complex that’s packed with vitamin C. After using the cute mask, my face looked brighter, felt smoother and refreshed.
RATING: 4/5
The masks are great. They have a lot more by Ariul beauty on the Kooding website.
Consider these your new secret weapon! These adorably packaged facial mists provide relief in just a few sprays and work perfectly in between skincare steps, as well as before and after makeup. Their compact size make them perfect for makeup bags, travel, and portability — hello, glow on-the-go!
How To Use: Spritz in between skincare steps or before or after makeup. Can be used daily.
Like the sheet masks, there are three different Mood Maker mists: Chic, Glam and Cute. Ariul also has 3 Jeju Lava Water Mists. The mists come in cute, compact packaging (like a card case) which makes it easy to pop into your bag. I’ve never seen facial mists come in this type of packaging, so they get points for being so innovative! They’re not scented which is great. You can use it like any other facial mist: apply before makeup, apply after makeup, refresh your face if it’s feeling dry, wet brushes to get more pigment out of your highlighter or eyeshadow.
Here are August’s favourites! I was a little behind the game trying the Real Techniques sponges, but I am loving them. I got a 4 pack on sale at Winners.
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (read my review) – This little guy is going in the favourites for this month!! I picked up a pack of 4 for $20 at Winners!!
elf Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose – I got this free for review and I liked the pencil, but the shade wasn’t me.
LANEIGE BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50 (read my review) – This is a really nice cushion foundation if you have nice skin already since it’s sheer coverage. I wish it came in more shades though.
Soo’Ae Juicy Mango Glow Mask (read my review) – This one is a light orange-coloured microfiber one and it’s so soft. It smells like mangoes, but not too overpowering. There was a lot of essence in the pack (definitely juicy), I used it on my arms and legs- It is a bit tacky after using it though. Most of the other masks say what they’re meant to do, i.e. nourish, hydrate, brighten. This one is just called the juicy mango glow mask, so you assume it just makes you glow, but it made my face feel soft and plump too.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I use this on my chin, nose and around the nose to hydrate my dry skin. It prevents my foundation from showing the dry, flaky skin on my nose. It looks beautiful with both powder and liquid foundations. I will definitely be purchasing a full-sized bottle.
Morning Glamour Aqua Satin Pillowcase – I’ve heard that you should switch to a silk/satin pillowcase because cotton ones damage your hair and cause wrinkles. Since silk ones seem a bit expensive and I didn’t want to splurge on something that doesn’t actually make a difference, I picked this satin one up at Winners for $10. In the description of the pillowcase, it says that cotton absorbs your skincare products. I have noticed that I don’t wake up with bed head (usually my hair sticks up at the back or something) and my face does feel more hydrated. I was worried that my head would slide around, but it didn’t. The one thing about this particular pillowcase is that you don’t slide it in like a regular pillowcase, it has flaps so that it stays put. Therefore, you can only use one side of the pillowcase because the other side has a line/seam down the middle. So, if you like flipping your pillow over, find one that doesn’t have the flaps. I would consider getting a silk one in the future.
I was contacted by b.liv skin to write a review for their bio-cellulose sheet masks. I was sent three masks: Hydrate Away, Age Eraser and Soothe Me Now.
The masks retail for $35 US for a pack of 4 masks.
Bio-cellulose is a specialized nano scale fiber structure that fits perfectly like your second skin. It serves as a high volume serum reservoir i.e. holds moisture while allowing air to transfer freely and skin can breathe better. Its 30 nanometers fiber increases extra contact surface area for crevices and wrinkles ; maximizing the absorption of effective essence.
The masks were folded between two pieces of net-like material to make it easier to unfold. The bio-cellulose material was very soft and although it was thin, it’s strong.
I loved these masks! They made my skin feel hydrated and it didn’t leave that tacky feeling after I took it off. It also didn’t have a strong smell. I loved that the remaining essence in the pouch was thicker than the usual watery liquid that I get from other sheet masks. I used it on my legs and arms and my skin feels so smooth. Sometimes sheet masks dry out after wearing them for the 15-20 minutes, but this one was still hydrated. I used the excess essence on the mask on my arms. My face feels incredibly smooth (except for one dry patch I have, but the rest of my face feels really soft after using it).
The first mask I tried was the Hydrate Away. It didn’t really have a scent. The Soothe Me Now mask had a slightly medicinal scent. I used the remaining essence after my shower and it was great.
Hydrate Away
Refresh yourself with an instant infusion of moisture and revitalizing nutrients. Made from Organic Spirulina, a deep sea blue-green algae, this moisturizing bio-cellulose mask is power-packed with minerals and amino acids to hydrate, repair amd clarify skin. In addition, it helps protect skin from free radical damage.
Benefits: Moisturizing + Revitalizing + Hydrating
Age Eraser
Turn back the clock and restore skin to its original youthful radiance. Thanks to a unique formulation of Multipeptide, this youth preserving bio-cellulose mask reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while preventing premature skin aging. The result is maximum skin regeneration and a firming effect.
Benefits: Youth preserving + firming + fine line reducing
Soothe Me Now
Allow the power of flower to bless your skin with a calming touch. Deeply infused with Organic Immortelle Flower Extract which has wonderful restorative properties, this soothing bio-cellulose mask effectively helps repair and rejuvenate skin.
Benefits: Soothing + Repair + Rejuvenating
RATING: 5/5
I would definitely repurchase these and I’m interested in trying other products b.liv sells. Since these are bio-cellulose masks and are on the more expensive side of sheet masks, I would probably use them once a month at the most.
I got my first Topbox in the mail and enough time has passed that everyone should have received theirs, so I wouldn’t be ruining what’s inside for anyone. Topbox sends a spoiler alert email anyway saying what’s inside the box, but since Canada Post was possibly going on strike and the delivery of the boxes may have been delayed, Topbox was sweet enough to include a bonus item as a thank you for waiting. I must say, the container that the makeup comes in is so cute. I even like the pattern. As soon as I opened the box, I could smell the hand cream’s scent.
The contents of July’s box were:
The Face Shop Character Face mask (Pig-moisturizing)
Be Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream (coconut and cream)
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (Sea Buckthorn Berry- Obliphica)
I’ve used TheFaceShop’s character face masks (pig- moisturizing) before, so that one wasn’t a big deal for me. They’re moisturizing and my face feels soft after using them.
The hand cream has shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera. I’ve used shea butter hand cream before and I find that it smells really nice in the bottle, but once I use it, it smells different. Maybe because my body oils and chemicals are changing the smell, or it’s just how it smells once it’s outside of the bottle, but either way, it always smells nicer in the bottle.
I’ve heard of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, but I never pay more than $15 for mascara because I would prefer to have multiple mascaras for different uses (lengthening, volumizing, etc.) than only have one mascara. Since I usually stick to drug store brand mascaras like Maybelline and L’Oreal, this mascara was a treat for me, even if it is a travel size one. I compared it with another mascara I have (right now, I actually have about 6 mascaras and most of them were free- I got them from Sephora promos and Beauty Insider points). I believe I used Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Extravagant mascara on one eye and the Better Than Sex Mascara on the other. What a difference! I liked the Too Faced Mascara much better because 1) it didn’t look clumpy 2) my lashes felt super soft 3) When I used my finger to feel the lashes, no mascara came off on my finger (it did for the Make Up For Ever mascara). I probably wouldn’t splurge on the Too Faced mascara, but I definitely see why people love it.
This was my first time trying dry shampoo, so I read up on how to use it. I absolutely love the smell of the shampoo and the little can it came in is adorable. It’s great for travelling and you want to freshen up a bit after a long drive or something. Given the normal price tag, I would never buy it, but, similar to the Too Faced mascara, I see why it’s popular.
I got a bonus eyeliner in ultra turquoise. It has a bit of sparkle to it. It’s really pretty on and great for a night out. It’s not waterproof, so the colour smudges easily, but the sparkles stay on your skin. I was cleaning the swatch off my hand and the colour smudged off easily, but the sparkles went all over my hand where I had rubbed it off. There’s still a few sparkles that I missed with the soap on my wrist right now.
Korean face masks and make up products have become increasingly popular in the past couple years. I haven’t tried a lot of Korean make up products yet, but I absolutely love the charcoal sheet masks which I bought from a kiosk and cleansers from The Face Shop: Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam, Herb Day Cleanser 365 Spearmint Cleanser (for Men) and Phyto Powder Foam Cleanser- Charcoal.
I alternate between the two cleansers everyday with a facial brush and my skin feels refreshed and squeaky clean after. As for the sheet masks, you look like Hannibal Lecter for about 20 minutes, but they are great in bringing out impurities and cleansing pores. They are affordable and good for my skin because I get break outs every now and then. I like to use the charcoal sheet masks every couple weeks. The character (animal) ones from the Face Shop creep me out, I scared myself in the mirror when using the pig one. Even though they creep me out and I got it for free, it did a good job moisturizing my skin.
