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Masks

2 Mud Masks I’m Loving This Summer

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 As an oily skinned gal, I love a good mud mask. Anything to help decongest, detoxify and keep my skin from breaking out is something I want to keep in my routine regularly. Some mud masks however can strip my skin horribly, leaving it dry and uncomfortable – only exacerbating the issue and making my skin more oily and prone to breakouts. I have been using two mud masks religiously this summer and love how they manage to clear out my skin while still keeping it balanced and hydrated.
1. NIOD Flavanone Mud – There are mud masks, and then there is the NIOD Flavanone Mud. It’s more advanced than any other mask in my collection mainly because it continues to work days after it has been removed helping to protect the skin from environmental damage. It removes surface impurities, leaves my skin less oily immediately after and the day following and gives a slight exfoliation. Because of it’s formulation, it is not designed to irritate or disrupt the skin leading to little or no inflammation after. Initially I used it every night for 5 nights as suggested and found that my skin looked better as the week went on. I had a particularly uncomfortable blemish on my chin and it cleared up quicker than usual, with little to no surrounding redness of the area. I now use it in my routine once a week for maintenance and my skin has stayed balanced and my pores look cleaner and less congested. The only downside is the color – I prefer removing it in the shower because it stains very easily. But for these results I’ll take the risk.
2. Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask – While most mud masks are designed to help deep cleanse the pores, I got quite a lot moor (haha) with this mask than expected. After leaving it on for 10-15 minutes, my pores looked minimized and my skin felt tighter and firmer almost immediately. Exfoliation is often an added benefit of using a mud mask, but this left my skin smooth yet incredibly hydrated and radiant. This mask experience is a mini facial in a jar! It’s a great product to use when you need a quick boost for the skin and want instant results. I went on to apply my makeup right after to see how it would wear and it glided on my skin like I had airbrushed it on. It’s true that good skin can truly enhance the look of makeup, and this mask’s results proves that completely.
*pr samples included

Shop more of my favorite mud and clarifying masks:

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My All-Time Favorite Mattifying Products

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Sandals, Bag, Sunglasses, Hat
While I’m thrilled the warmer weather is here and I don’t have to suffer through snow and freezing temperatures anymore, the tradeoff is the oil slick that my face becomes because of the heat. I already have oily skin, so add humidity and heat and it’s a recipe for a makeup meltdown. Thankfully however, I have a few products that help me manage. Almost all of these products with the exception of one new discovery have been my favorites for years. I have reviewed most of them multiple times over, but felt it was necessary to compile them in one post for reference.
1. Murad Oil-Control Mask – This is my newest discovery, but since it comes from the Murad Oil-Control line, I knew I was in good hands. Like with most mattifying or oil-control masks, I need to use them sparingly so as not to dry out my skin which in turn makes it more oily. I love using this mask 1-2x/wk and find that it does wonders for me if I use it in the morning. Rather than putting it over my entire face, I apply it only on my t-zone and my skin stays much less oily throughout the day.
2. Murad Oil-Control Mattifier – I’m sure this one is no surprise to any of you following my blog for the past few years – I swear by this stuff! I love it as a makeup primer before I apply foundation and it does wonders to help me stay matte for 8-10+ hours. What makes this better than other mattifying priming products is that my skin still looks fresh and healthy after it’s applied, instead of flat and dry. I will never be without this in my summer skin routine.
3. Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen – I discovered this last year when it launched and was immediately blown away by how it looked on my skin. Not only does it provide sun protection, but it helps my foundation last longer, mattifies my skin and blurs imperfections. But to be honest, I have yet to try a Tatcha product that didn’t blow me away. The entire line is perfection. (Currently loving this serum and eye serum from them).
4. Shiseido Urban Environment Sunscreen – Before I discovered the Tatcha SPF, I was crazy for (and still am) this sunscreen. Initially because of its runny texture, I was afraid it would be greasy and do the complete opposite of what I wanted. But thankfully, I didn’t let my first impressions stop me from trying it. My skin looks beautiful after applying, and any makeup I put on top lasts all day long. It is a bit more matte than the Tatcha so if it’s going to be super humid out, I will reach for this SPF first.
5. Laura Mercier Universal Invisible Loose Powder – If you are a Laura Mercier lover, than you know this powder. It is a staple of her collection because of it’s ability to mattify the skin and set makeup, but it also made a name for itself because of how invisible it is on the skin. For being such a stark white powder, it disappears into any skin tone from very fair to deep. I use it with the corresponding powder puff and find that pressing it into the skin makes all the difference.
6. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder – I was happy with my Laura Mercier powder and was not looking for anything to replace it. Then I had the opportunity to try the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder and it was game over. My Laura Mercier had some serious competition. While the Laura Mercier was amazing at mattifying the skin and making my makeup last all day, the By Terry powder did both of those things and blurred imperfections. After pressing this into my skin, I find that pores appear minimized and my face looks like velvety perfection. And just like the Laura Mercier powder, this looks great on any skin tone without leaving an ashy finish.

Let me know what are some of your favorite mattifying products?! I am always looking for new ones to try.

Past Posts

6 Skincare Products My Mom Is Loving Right Now

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It’s been awhile since my mom’s last post on here, but I challenged her with the task of writing about any products that might be new to

6 Products To Help Hydrate the Skin

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I can use all the heavy duty anti-aging products that I want, but if my skin is still dehydrated I will not get the results that I

Introduction to Herbivore Botanicals

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Though I don’t use all natural skincare products exclusively, I have discovered more and more brands that I really enjoy and have put into regular rotation in

Review: Kiehl’s Pollutant Defending Masque and Energizing Radiance Masque

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I don’t know if it was the bright packaging or intriguing names of these masques that piqued my interest. I have been a long time Kiehl’s fan

A Few of My Favorite Sheet Masks

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Sheets masks have exploded over the past few years, and so many more brands are offering them now. Not only do they provide great benefits to the

3 Masks for Glowing Skin

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After cleansers, masks are my favorite skincare items to use. The results are often instant, I can use one after another, I can treat different parts of

New In and Loving from Guerlain, Peach & Lily, Oskia, Omorovicza and Belif

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So many new skincare items have landed on my desk recently and I thought I would share with you the ones that have stood out the most

Face Masks You Mix

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I have quite a good number of masks in my skincare collection, but surprisingly I do not have any that I mix. And then in a matter

SHOP MY INSTAGRAMs