Hydrating Masks

Alert the press and ring the alarm – today’s post features hair products! *applause break* I know, I know, I very rarely if ever review hair products because there are not many that move me enough to blog about. However, I was finally moved enough to share my thoughts with you and figured I would throw in a few other items I have been loving (and eating!) to round out this post. 

1. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner – If we are being perfectly honest, I have never been extremely loyal to a shampoo or conditioner. I tend to just buy whatever and rarely see a major difference in my hair. Then about a year ago, I developed a really bad case of dry/flaky scalp. It’s been awful and I could not seem to get a hold on it. I tried homeopathic remedies, T-gel shampoo and other treatments, but it never went away. Fast forward to the present day – I’ve been using the Living Proof system for a few months and the flakiness has reduced significantly. The only challenge I have with this hair regimen is that it doesn’t do a great job at detangling. It’s something I can live with, but I really have to be gentle with how I apply it because my hair can get knotted quickly in the shower. But the end results are so worth it. My hair is healthier and shinier than it has been in a long time. 

2. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Protective Primer – I am going to say something that may shock you, but I promise you will get over it. I rarely if ever use daily styling products in my hair. *cue shock and awe* Are you still with me? Have I lost you? I know, it’s alarming but I just hate the way anything feels in my hair. I have thick but fine hair that is extremely oily so even the slightest amount of product will weigh it down and make it look piece-y and dirty. I received this Bumble and Bumble Oil Primer sample in a Nordstrom order and for whatever reason decided to try it (and I RARELY try hair products). I fell in love immediately. I spray it on while my hair is still damp and then finish with my blow dry. After using it now for a few weeks, my hair is soft, shiny and much smoother. I still suffer from frizz, but this cuts down on it drastically. I have already purchased a full size and it’s on it’s way to me as we speak. *flips hair*

3. Beautyblender – I know I’m super late to the Beautyblender party but I’ve finally arrived. I have been using this sponge non-stop to apply my makeup and simply adore it. It does tend to give any foundation I use with it a more dewy finish so a setting powder is necessary for me. Other than that, I find it gives a flawless application each and every time. And while I have tried a few of the other Beautyblender sponges, in my opinion the pink performs the best.

4. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask – A true cult classic, Sisley’s Black Rose Cream Mask is as good as everyone says. It’s incredibly nourishing and hydrating and my skin always looks stunning after using. My interest in this mask was piqued after falling in love with Sisley’s Black Rose Face Oil, and I am happy to find the results of the mask just as noteworthy as the oil. For those looking for a decadent, hydrating and super rich mask to splurge on, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s truly worth the money.

5. Fatty Sundays Chocolate Covered Pretzels – No this is not a beauty product, but since this post is about things I am loving recently, I had to include these pretzel sticks. I discovered them during a recent trip to the Union Square farmer’s market, and while I have tried a million chocolate covered pretzels before, the quality of these are simply superb. The pretzel is not flaky and the chocolate is so smooth that when you bite into the stick, surprisingly everything manages to stay together and not fall apart in your hands. They have a ton of different sprinkle and flavor combinations and in addition to being delicious, they are adorable to look at! Who doesn’t want to receive a brightly colored box of chocolate covered pretzels? It’s like the new bouquet of flowers, yes?

Face masks are an important part of my skincare routine. They help treat specific concerns I have and deliver almost immediate results. It’s been important for me to have a balanced mask wardrobe, so to speak, and here is a  look at the types of masks I keep in my routine to treat any and every skin ailment and condition I could have pop up.

1. Pore Purifying Mask – No matter how well I cleanse my skin, I still need to use a pore purifying mask to really deliver the results I want – which is clear skin and clean pores! I’ve been using the NUDE Purify Deep Cleansing Mask to help remove impurities from my skin thus preventing future breakouts. It’s a delicate clay mousse that feels great as soon as its applied. Often with some pore cleansing masks skin is left dry and flaky, however that is not the case with this NUDE mask which is why I adore it so much. Not only does it help me prevent and treat breakouts, my skin stays balanced throughout the whole process.

2. Exfoliating Mask – As soon as I began adding exfoliating masks into my routine, I saw the biggest changes in my skin. The Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask is an exfoliating mask I enjoy and it’s results prove why these masks are so vital to a healthy skincare routine. The PTR mask helps to remove dead skin cells using alpha hydroxy acids, while also exfoliating with pumpkin enzymes and polishing using aluminum oxides. This is when I see the biggest change in the texture of my skin as well as a reduction in hyper pigmentation and dark spots. Using exfoliating masks help to go deeper than just a granular scrub and really target rough texture, fine lines and uneven skin tone. These masks are always a guaranteed glow getter.

3. Hydrating Mask – One of the biggest keys in keeping skin looking its best is hydration. Skin that is hydrated often looks younger, fresher and more radiant. The Valmont Prime Renewing Pack is a mask I recently discovered that gave me one of the most intense moisture treatments I’ve had in a long time. While many hydration masks can deliver an instant burst of water to the skin, many can’t prolong that feeling of hydration for longer than a day. I found that when using the Valmont Prime Renewing Pack, which helps to rebalance the skin’s hydrolipidic film, my skin stayed hydrated for more than a week after using it just once.

4. Targeted Treatment Mask – I left this category open a bit more because there could be a number of concerns that people have that masks could address. Firming, lifting, brightening/whitening, calming, soothing – and it’s just a matter of adding in that mask which addresses your targeted concern. For me that is brightening or as some products call it “whitening”. Whitening products often work at brightening up dull complexions and making them a bit more even toned. I find that because I am so pale, I can suffer from a sallow and lackluster complexion and occasional bouts with hyper pigmentation so using the Mario Badescu Whitening Mask once or twice a month has been a real help. It has Kojic acid and licorice to help brighten and naturally lighten any dark areas, while still calming and soothing my skin. I do recommend using a muslin cloth to remove this mask as it can be a bit challenging to get off with just water, but the brighter skin afterwards is worth the extra step.

5. Overnight Mask – This is a newer mask category that has been gaining more and more popularity over the past year. These masks are often used in place of night creams or in some cases as an additional moisturizer and they are great at treating the skin while it sleeps. Since skin often replenishes itself throughout the night, overnight masks are a great way to really help deliver strong results at a time when the skin is its most receptive. The Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask (which will be out in stores in early 2015) is a great firming and contouring overnight treatment that I’ve been using recently. While I still see many of the benefits of other overnight masks I’ve tried such as increased hydration and radiant skin the next morning, the feature that sets this mask apart from the rest was the firming and tightening effects I felt. On the mornings I would wake up after using this mask, I found that my skin appeared more taut, smooth and oddly enough with little to no pillow marks on my face. That last result may seem a bit strange, but because I am a restless sleeper, I am constantly struggling with sheet and/or pillow lines on my face the next morning. After the first night of using this mask, I didn’t notice any lines and each use after resulted in the same thing – no pillow marks!

6. Eye Mask – Even though many of these above masks are used very close to the eye area, having a dedicated mask for that area specifically makes quite a difference. The SK-II Signs Eye Mask is one of the most decadent eye masks I’ve used in a long time and always delivers immediate results. Any puffiness, dark circles or dehydration I am suffering from virtually disappears after 10 minutes of using this mask. It’s like 8 hours of sleep in a mask.

7. The ‘Does Everything’ Mask – There are those few masks that come along and can target a ton of different ailments at once and are great for when you need to get your skin looking great in a pinch. The Eve Lom Rescue Mask is that mask that I can count on to throw on the night of an event or the morning of a big meeting to get my skin in immediate tip-top shape. It helps to reduce blotchy skin, decongest, minimize irritation, absorb excess oil and eliminate redness. Basically it’s a miracle in a mask. And a bonus is that it can be used under the eyes for an eye mask! I’ve heard that this mask was a skin saver but now after trying it, I can really attest to it’s powers. My skincare routine will never be without it going forward. It’s on the way to holy grail status as we speak.