MV Skincare

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 of a few weeks, I had two different ones arrive for me to test and I wondered how I managed without one in my arsenal all this time.

1. May Lindstrom Skin The Problem Solver – This mask means business! Holy cow. Formulated with charcoal, soil nutrients, cacao and exotic warming spices, it is really going to make you feel like it’s working on your skin. Mix equal parts water and powder to form a light mousse texture and then use the brush to paint it on the skin (that is my favorite part – so luxurious). You can leave it on for up to 45 minutes, but be warned it will definitely tingle and has a slight warming sensation. I would patch test this if you have sensitive skin. Luckily, my skin is not sensitive so I was happy to feel it working. After almost an hour, I went to rinse it off and in addition to the purifying properties of the mask, it gives an amazing exfoliation as you remove it. My skin looked clean, radiant and felt like I had just had the facial of my life. It is clear that May only puts the best into her products just based on how the skin looks after using her products. Next on my list to try is this cult classic and this face oil. Both sound like heaven for the upcoming cold weather!

2. MV Skincare Signature Mineral Mask – This was the first mask I tried out of the two, and it gave a real “wow” effect from the first use. The texture of the powder and subsequent mask is a bit more gentle then the one from May Lindstrom. It is so finely milled that I took a deep breath while scooping it out and it went all over my bathroom sink. Whoops. Once I got the hang of mixing it (once again equal parts water and powder), this really gives a deep clean but without any tingling. But don’t let the gentle nature of this mask fool you, it is like a hoover vacuum for your pores. In fact, the first time I used it, I stared at my pores in the mirror for 2-3 minutes after because they looked as if I had had extractions done. THAT is how clean they were. But surprisingly, that is not even the mask’s intended purpose. It’s designed to help calm, nourish and soothe the skin, but I found that an added bonus was the clarifying effects it had on my pores. Add a few drops of one of their boosters (I love this one) to give the mask an extra oomph. And if you purchase the mixing bowl and brush with it, you can have your own spa day without ever leaving your house. YAS! Living that robe life while masking all day. There is nothing better.

*pr samples included

While I love my retinol and glycolic acid for coming through on the anti-aging front, I still stand by the idea that hydration is one of the biggest ways to keep skin looking young. If the skin is dehydrated, it is more prone to wrinkles, loss of firmness – I could go on and on. So while my skincare routine does have its fair share of powerful anti-aging ingredients, the biggest issue I tackle regularly is keeping my skin well hydrated. I have always love the ideas of boosters that you can add into your routine and I have found two that are specifically designed to help hydration. Each one is good for any skin type so everyone can benefit from adding a bit more moisture into their regimen (even us gals that have oily skin). And now that we are moving into the colder seasons, I couldn’t have discovered these at a better time.

1. Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster – I am new to the Paula’s Choice line, but after declaring this a holy grail product (and finishing an entire bottle in less than 2 months) for helping keep my skin blemish-free, I was open to try all of the things. I have always like using Hyaluronic Acid in my skincare routine because not only does it help hydrate the skin immediately, but it helps the skin retain moisture longer. This immediately went into my day AND night routine before I apply my serums. It’s a bit thicker than I imagined, but I only need two drops to cover my entire face and it soaks in before I can finish applying it! The first thing I notice when my skin is well hydrated is how supple and “bouncy” it becomes. While I try to remind myself to drink enough water each day, I sadly fall short many days and with the multitude of other factors (space heater at work, stress, lack of sleep, etc) trying to rob my face of its moisture #rude, I need something like this to help me hold on to every last bit of moisture in my skin that I can.

2. MV Skincare Rose Plus Booster – I knew immediately from looking at these ingredients that this would be a magical product. The list reads: Camellia Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil, Rose Oil, Geranium Oil, Vitamin E and Rosemary extract. That’s it. Simple, yet so effective. While this is technically an oil, it is much thinner than my other oils and takes less time to absorb into the skin. However, it is one of the most nourishing and hydrating products I have ever tried! I don’t use this daily, but rather just when things are bleak regarding hydration. I have been feeling run down the past two weeks and fighting off a cold, so it was the perfect time to begin testing this because I got to see how well it really does work. I use it before I apply serum or moisturizer because I like it to get right onto my damp skin. My skin felt better almost immediately and by the next morning, my skin looked plump and firm even though my overall self was still feeling icky. I like to have a few products in my arsenal for when my skin needs the utmost in pampering and TLC and this will definitely be added to that list.