Mybeautywaxstash

Tag: skincare

  • Oh K Bamboo Water Sheet Mask

    Although most people in the UK are loving this sudden burst of warm weather, I am not. I have nothing to wear that’s appropriate for the weather. I definitely am NOT body ready and the thought of the oncoming storm aka hay fever, sends me in a spin. And my face is not feeling this change either. So I felt this was the ideal time to grab a sheet mask to prep and pamper my face at home. Oh K Hydrating Bamboo Water Sheet Mask came to mind straight away for this task. Bought direct from their website last year when they had a sale on, it cost me a massive £1.00.

    Oh K Hydrating Bamboo Water Sheet Mask

    Why did I buy this one? There are LOADS of sheet masks on the market, but I had never tried one from this range. I read some good comments about the brand online which perked my interest. So when they had a sale last year I grabbed a mix products to try and also to gift to others. But why I chose to use this mask was it sounded like it would give me what my skin needed most right now which is MOISTURE!

    The current state of my face. No massive problems as such. Relatively smooth, spot free. A little dull in tone. But I feel although it doesn’t look dry it feels it. Possibly more dehydrated than dry, and I feel I need to use my facial products e.g oil/moisturiser straight away after cleansing or I can feel my skin yelling for it asap.

    What is this supposed to do? This sheet mask is designed to give your skin a natural glow, keep the moisture in your skin and is ideal to actually use daily apparently.

    Instructions. Cleanse skin. Pop face mask on for 10-20 minutes and remove. Rub in remainder solution into the skin from mask and off you go!

    Packaging. Like most sheet masks it comes in a packet. Pictures of bamboo all over it and a peeping panda at the top, seriously cute and reflects the type of mask this is. Doesn’t take itself too seriously in look but doesn’t look like a cheap mask either. Instructions and ingredients are listed on the back .

    Fragrance. I didn’t expect it to be as fragranced as it was. When I opened the packet I thought I would give it a quick sniff before application. It was quite a sweet floral and plant like smell. Not too strong but I thought if there was a fragrance it would be more neutral and clean in scent.

    The Mask & Application. This was folded up when I removed it from the packet. First thing I noticed was this white, semi transparent sheet mask was heavily soaked in a gel like solution. The makers did not skimp on this at all! When I unfolded this clearly you could see the eyes, nose and mouth area had holes in it ready to wear.

    It was very easy to put on my face, although it required some smoothing out. Immediately I felt a cold sensation, which was obviously the solution making contact with my face. It was soothing and enjoyable and provided instant relief. The fact the mask stayed still and I could go on about my evening was added bonus as it felt so comfortable and not restrictive.

    For removal I simply peeled it off. My face had some residue from the mask left on it, so I gently patted it into my skin. Skin had a slight shine to it and it took about 5 minutes for the last of the mask to be absorbed. It looked more matt like in appearance although touching my face it felt slightly tacky.The mask itself was still very damp so I used it’s excess and rubbed it into my neck. My face felt hydrated although a few hours later I did pop on a moisturiser to give me more.

    The morning after the night before. Skin looked and felt smooth and well rested. Didn’t feel dry, in fact quite hydrated. Overall very happy with the state of my face following the previous application of this mask.

    Issues? When I applied this at first it came too close to the under of my eye. This area didn’t like it. I don’t blame the mask, its called the start of hay fever. And rubbing of this area and general soreness means naturally its more sensitive. Not a massive problem but I felt it. As much as I was going to rub some of the excess of the mask into the skin under my eyes, I decided not to because of this.

    Recommended? Yes. It did the job which it promised to which was to give my face a moisture hit! A great product to use if your skin is feeling tired, dry, or dehydrated. And the cooling is so satisfying which makes this ideal for Summer use, or even after wearing a face mask covering for long periods of time would be great. But if your skin still needs a bit more, follow it up with a moisturiser like I did. Layering is a great way to custom make your skincare routine.

    You can pick one of these up from various stores online for around £4.00/4.50. Stockists include Look Fantastic and ASOS. But the cheapest place I found that sold this at time of writing this post is good old Amazon at a cost of £2.42. Happy masking!

  • Superdrug’s Vitamin E Nourishing Eye Cream

    Gratitude is a word that I try to think about everyday. Being grateful for what I have, who I have and where I am in this crazy thing called life is always in the back of my mind. And this extends to the physical side of myself. Accepting the good and the bad bits ( literally! ) of how I appear is something that perhaps with age is now easier. But by the grace of all that is holy if I can improve on those irritating things I don’t like I WILL! My personal annoying part of my face is my eyes. So I bought Superdrug’s Vitamin E Nourishing Eye Cream to give them a boost. Normally £3.99 for 15ml, I purchased it on a buy one get one half price deal around month ago.

    Superdrug’s Vitamin E Nourishing Eye Cream

    Why did I buy this? In all honesty I didn’t want this product! I wanted something else but it wasn’t available. So I opted for this for a few reasons. I just needed an eye product because my last one had ran out, so something was better than nothing. It was priced well so very affordable. Plus I’ve never used anything from this subrange before so thought I would give it a whirl!

    What is this supposed to do? This eye cream is designed for normal to dry skin. Its supposed to improve the overall look of the eye area by nourishing it ( not my wording it’s Superdrug’s ). Personally, I think its purpose is to keep the eye area moisturised therefore making it look better.

    My eye concerns. The skin under my eyes generally is normal but can have their dry days. But my main concerns at the moment are the fact they can look very tired, lifeless and suffer from dark circles from time to time.

    Packaging. Like a lot of eye creams this comes in a tube. Neutral in colour, screw top lid and to release the product you simply squeeze it out.

    Texture. Definitely cream like in texture but not runny, so holds its shape when its released from the tube. Has a slightly waxy feel to it but not greasy. Off white in colour.

    How to use. With fingertips, gently apply to around the eye area.

    In use. I use a small dot placed on the tip of my finger and gently pat it around my eyes and then softly massage it in. You really don’t need much of this and with all eye products less is more. It feels very light weight but still moisturising, and doesn’t give a greasy look to under and around the eyes. It hasn’t caused puffiness either which is good. This area looks normal in appearance but they feel hydrated. This is my current eye cream so this is my general routine morning and evening after a cleansed skin, and I’ve been using this for a few weeks now.

    Top tip. Leave this in the fridge to provide a cooling effect if your eyes really have gone through the ringer.

    Would I buy this again? I would but not regularly. It wouldn’t be a product I would need to use all the time, just at certain time periods. Wearing a face mask can make this area dry for me. Not drinking enough water or lack of sleep does the same. And dare I say with hay fever season coming up this is a good product for me to have on stand by. But for everyday use I need something else. I think my eyes have felt in good condition using this but I need a product to make them look more alive which I don’t think this has done for me. No change with the appearance of dark circles. But bare in mind, this is not what this product promises to do, this is just what my own concerns are.

    Recommended? If under your eyes looks and feel dry then its a yes! This eye cream will not only give the feeling of light relief but will keep them moisturised. Easy to use, sinks into the skin quickly and if needed could be layered with a lighter textured eye product such as a serum. Not a product I personally think will make your eyes pop with energy and vibrancy, but will stop them drying out so a great maintenance product. Ideal if you are on a small beauty budget so easy to keep repeat purchasing.

    Are you thinking of adding this to your skincare collection? Visit Superdrug here to grab this tube to help those thirsty eyes. get drink. *At the time of writing this post this product is on a buy one get one half price deal again. Perfect time to stock up on some goodies!

  • Tesco’s Kind & Pure Refreshing Face Scrub

    I love skincare. It’s not something everyone is interested in but I am. I’m not a make up wearer, it’s too much faffing about for me. But in the same way people drool over eyeshadows and mascaras, I gasp over cleansers and eye creams. I want my skin to look good, and spending a little time and a little money on it won’t kill me in fact it brings me joy. So my current face scrub I’ve been using in my routine, along with trying out their cleanser, is Tesco’s Kind & Pure Face Scrub. It costs £1.50 for 150ml.

    Why did I buy this one? I picked up the Tesco Cleansing Face Wash and realised for a total of £3.00 I could get the scrub to match it too! I actually needed a face scrub at the time and needed something affordable so thought I would see what this was like.

    Tesco Kind & Pure Refreshing Face Scrub

    What is this supposed to do? This range from Tesco focuses on sensitive skin. So this is designed to be kind and gentle. It helps to soften and smooth the skin thanks to it’s exfoliating action without causing irritation.

    Packaging. Ties in nicely with the rest of the Kind & Pure range. Colourings are the same which is mint green, white and silver detailing. Scrub comes in the same flip top lidded tube as the wash, with all details on the back e.g ingredients.

    Texture. It would be easy to mistake this for a body lotion. It’s white, opaque and came out of the tube with a little hold to it. A decent thickness consistency wise but not solid. You can’t see visible grains or pieces in this, but only when you spread it out do you feel and see the smallest white specks.

    Fragrance. After using the co ordinating face wash, I expected there to be no scent to this, but there is one! It’s not highly fragranced and quite delicate, but there it is. This has a slight plant like base to it. I won’t say floral as it’s not that, but plant with the smallest sweetness to it. Fresh, clean, neutral. It’s quite unisex, not age specific and non offensive.

    How to use ( as stated on packaging ). Wet face with warm water. Use a small amount, massage into face using upwards and outwards movements. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

    In use. As per usual I probably used more than I should have which was a bit bigger than a 10p coin in size. But I did use this as suggested on the packaging. It felt very creamy on the skin, but I could also feel the grains and there was enough in the scrub for me to feel as if they were doing something. They didn’t hurt or irritate.

    Skin afterwards. My face felt very refreshed after use. Clean, smooth, not stripped away of vital moisture so not dry. My skin didn’t look dramatically different, pretty much the same as if I had just washed it as usual if I’m honest. But it did feel good.

    Tesco Kind & Pure Cleansing Face Wash and Refreshing Face Scrub

    Recommended? Definitely! It’s a great budget friendly product that is easy to use, doesn’t dry out the skin and leaves it feeling smooth to touch. Some people might find this very basic but for the price what more can you ask for? Again, like the wash, nice starter face scrub for a young person e.g pre teen. Someone who wants to get into skincare but unsure what to go for and wants something simple. Those with sensitive skin and of course those who want to go for something inexpensive! Would I buy and use this again? I actually would! It did what it was designed to do with a nice fragrance to it. I would happily slip this in and out of my routine and great if on a serious beauty budget!

    Want to cheaply scrub your face? Like the face wash this should be in stores ( possibly selected ones ) but definitely available online here.

  • L’Oreal’s Pure Clay Detox Mask

    Skincare face masks are products that I sometimes want to use all the time, and then have months of not using them at all. I have to be in the mood and set time to give use them. But when I do use them, I want to see an immediate improvement to my skin. After having a colony of spots inhabiting my face recently, I knew I needed to use something to try and help get rid of them. From my skincare stash I pulled out L’Oreal‘s Pure Clay Detox Mask to see if it would do the trick. Did this mask help fix my face?

    L’Oreal’s Pure Clay Detox Mask
    What does this do?

    L’Oreal’s Pure Clay Detox Mask is supposed to cleanse, unclog pores and brighten the skin. I think this mask is all about balancing the skin out and make it look and feel better.

    Packaging

    The mask comes in a glass jar with slightly rounded edges and a screw top lid. This comes in a small cardboard box, green in colour with black detailing. All of which ties in nicely with the idea of clay. How this is presented looks like a good quality skincare product.

    Fragrance

    I assumed it would either smell of nothing or have a plant like, earthy scent to it. Wrong! Very floral based, noticeable but not too strong. Very pleasant and nicely scented.

    Look & consistency

    This mask is grey in colour and looks very thick in the jar. When you take it out it still has a thickness and hold to it but its not solid. But its not liquid either. The texture of this should make application easy and quick on the face.

    How to use

    On clean skin, apply a thin layer. Leave to dry for 5 to 10 minutes while avoiding the eyes and the mouth. Use 2 to 3 times a week. To remove use a warm damp cloth and wipe off skin.

    In use

    I used this on a clean face. I applied a layer and it took no time at all for it to feel like it was drying out. Very easy to apply but I did feel I needed to put it on sooner rather than later. As it dried it began to look matt on the skin, and I could feel a tight sensation on my skin but it wasn’t uncomfortable. As the minutes progressed, I could see the smallest little dots pop out throughout the mask, almost air bubble like, around my forehead and nose. I left this on longer than the recommended time. By the time I got to removing this I couldn’t even crack a smile!

    Removal

    Removal was very easy! I soaked a muslin cloth in warm water and gently swept it over my face. I didn’t use a lot of pressure, but did go in a couple of times around areas such as side of nose, jaw etc. I thought this would be much harder and time consuming than it was and it really wasn’t.

    Skin after use

    My skin looked and felt clean. Very smooth to touch and in appearance. After just one application, my skin looked so good and less spotty! I had to go to the mirror a few times just to double check, but I was so impressed with what I saw. My skin did have that slight tightness you get when your skin is super clean, but it wasn’t bad.

    The morning after the night before

    Next morning my skin still felt smooth, rested in appearance and I was still happy with the results. No dryness, no issues, fabulous!

    Top tips

    Do use a thin layer. The thicker the layer the longer it will take to dry. Less is more! Don’t do what I did, thinking I could do multiple tasks while wearing this e.g eating. Just don’t! If you need to eat, drink, talk, anything like that, do it before or after using this mask. Also, you don’t have to apply this to the whole face. You may want to put it on specific areas that need it e.g nose, forehead, chin etc.

    Who would this be good for?

    Oily skin, rough looking and feeling skin and skin that suffers from breakouts.

    Recommended?

    This is easy to use, quite an enjoyable process and if you want an immediate result this is worth trying out. Out of one jar, you should have lots and lots of uses because you only need to apply a thin layer. Fragrance is nice, great packaging and not too expensive. You can find this available in many different retailers instore and online, including Superdrug, for roughly £7.00 plus.