Letters to Blogdorf:
From Alexis: I was wondering if you could do a review on clay masks that are affordable. I recently got a facial treatment at a spa and loved the stuff they used, but it was way too expensive for my wallet. I'm not a fan of homemade masks so I would rather buy it. I went to a drug store to see if there are any good ones. I noticed that Alba Organics, Olay, Lumene and Be Fine Food Skin Care makes them, but I can't find any reviews on their effectivness by any bloggers. Are there any you could recommend?
From Alexis: I was wondering if you could do a review on clay masks that are affordable. I recently got a facial treatment at a spa and loved the stuff they used, but it was way too expensive for my wallet. I'm not a fan of homemade masks so I would rather buy it. I went to a drug store to see if there are any good ones. I noticed that Alba Organics, Olay, Lumene and Be Fine Food Skin Care makes them, but I can't find any reviews on their effectivness by any bloggers. Are there any you could recommend?
Readers: Do you have any suggestions for Alexis?
posted by Annieytown @ 5:28 AM
21 Inspired Comments
21 Inspired Comments:
I absolutely love the Olay Deep Cleansing Clay Mask (here's the link on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Olay-Facials-Intensives-Cleansing-4-Ounce/dp/B000FKLCR0), it works wonders on my acne-prone, oily skin. It can be drying, so I'd be careful if you have any dry areas on your face, but if you want to soak up excess oil or get rid of zits, it's fantastic. Also a great spot treatment!
I actually wrote a full review of it on my blog, which you're happy to check out here:
http://fakinggoodbreeding.blogspot.com/2007/01/review-olay-daily-facials-deep.html
Good luck in your mask search!
I really like C.O. Bigelow's Purifying Cleansing Mask...it's great for clearing out your pores. My skin is combo - and it doesn't dry it out. I think it's about $18 for a tub but you only need a small amount each time for your face.
Totally agree with Meg (super review, btw!), the Olay mask is great (and cheap!). It smells really nice and fresh too.
I used to use the Body Shop's warming mineral mask. It felt very luxurious (esp. in the winter) and was a teeeny bit less drying, but it didn't really work any better than the Olay. (Which is to say it was a good mask, but unless you're wanting to splurge for the warming effect, you might as well go with the cheaper one)
TBS' tea tree mask is pretty good if you want a hard core acne treatment, but I find it a tad too drying for use all over the face, plus it smells like tea tree oil. It did clear up acne (for me) better than the Olay though, and I mostly use it as a spot treatment.
I'm an Alba Organics girl. I have the Alba Hawaiian Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask. It's a gel mask with papaya and pineapple. It increases circulation on my face, only slightly. It leaves my skin taut and refreshed, yet not moisturized. Not good if I already have dry skin. I love the fruity smell of the product. It says it is good for all skin types, and it is good for me, but I was ready to try something new.
I bought the self-warming clay mask from Be Fine Food Skin Care a couple months ago. It heats on contact with your skin. Like many clay masks it detoxes your skin and absorbs oil. What attracted me to it was that it used pomegranate which helps stabilize free radicals, so it prevents aging. It's a powerful antioxidant. (Drinking POM juice is good too!). Also, there is Arnica in it to keep your skin from from inflammed. I love the way it makes my skin feel and leaves it actually glowing. It also stimulates circulation in my face and leaves my cheeks a pretty pink color-like I just went for a brisk hike. It leaves a moisturized sheen on my face. The draw back is that it is hard to wash off because it is so thick, but is recommends putting a thin layer on the face. It is about 20 bucks, which to me is reasonable. Plus it is paraben free (so no harmful preservatives), vegetarian (its made from food) and not treated on animals, which for me is a plus. their website is kinda funky looking but looks very mom and popsy, which is different from any leading brands. www.befine.com You can find them at CVS and I found them in my hometown, San Antonio Texas at H.E. Butt. I look forward to trying their other skincare products and maybe be a Be Fine girl too.
So I switch in between them and both twice a week. I use the Be fine for just my face and use Alba for my upper body (chest, back, neck). I hope that helps :-)
Alba Organics papaya mask is like a lighter version of a spa's glycolic acid treatment. If it was stronger, it would work as a chemical peel. I tried the papaya mask, but it made my face red and tingly. It was slightly discomforting. But left my face feeling clean and smooth.
i'm a fan of the oldy but goody, queen helene mint julep mask.
it really does clear my pours and this deep cystic spot that i had is GONE today.
one draw back is that it does dry my skin out (EW). just moisturize at the end!
Saint Yves or Queen Helene.
I have very oily skin but I usually put a moisturizer on after using.
I too have tried Be Fine Food Skin Care Warming Clay Mask and I highly recommend it. I just put it on every other morning to make my face look more awake and refreshed. I'm not a huge beauty nut, but this is a luxurious item in my bathroom cabinet. I like the message of the company and that it is not tested on animals. I read about them in their ads from Oprah mag. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on the clay mask, you can buy the travel size which is 4 dollars.
Queen Helene Mint Juelp mask is a great drug store find. It's $3 - you can't go wrong!
St. Ives makes a "Mineral Clay Firming Mask" that I absolutely love - it leaves my skin smooth, and can stop a breakout in its tracks. I highly recommend it!
Yet another yay for the Queen Helene mask - it's an incredible value at $3.00 - it works really well and one tube lasts forever.
I love the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, too. If I start to feel a cyst forming, I put a dab of this on overnight and nip it in the bud before it ever comes to a head.
Queen Helene Mint Julep is the best, affordable drugstore mask out there. My skin feels so refreshed after I use it.
If you go to bath and body works, they are having their semi-annual sale, and there are plenty of great brands to choose from up to 75% off! I bought a 12.00 cleanser for $3.00 - C.O. Bigelow is my fav :)
I know you don't prefer homemade masks, and I agree.
However, if I really crave a feeling of facial freshness and I don't have time to run out to the store, I tried a recipe I found online that basically involves mashing up aspirin pills and perhaps some vitamin E, and adding a bit of water. You leave it on your face until the water dries out, then you can rinse the remaining residue off.
The pills were easier to mash than I anticipated, and the mask left my face feeling taut and very clean. It was simple and useful, so I have used it a few times since then as well. It's an awesome backup anyway, if you've got one or both of those things in your medicine cabinet!
Good luck in your search!
origins has a great clay mask...actually i think all their masks work really well..
I don't mean to ruffle anyones feathers or come off being a know-it-all, but a lot of the skin care products mentioned all have either methylparaben or propylparaben/butylparaben/isobutylparaben. It's a cheap preservative to increase the shelf life of personal care products. Maybe some of the beauty bloggers already know this, but those of you who don't know is that parabens can cause skin irritation and that many reputable sources say parabens are linked to breast cancer.
St. Ives-Methylparaben
Body Shop Tea Tree Mask-Propylparaben & Methylparaben
Olay-Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben & Methylparaben
Queen Helen Mint Julep Mask- Methylparaben
Alba Organics mask- none
Be Fine Food mask-none
What is put on the skin is equally important as how it makes the skin feel. If health is a concern for you, check out Jurilique or Avalon Organics. With the tighter hazardous chemical restrictions in the EU and Japan, phasing out parabens may be one of the first steps to healthier skin care products. Personally, the Tea Tree Oil mask by TBS sounds wonderful, but I won't try it until parabens are out it. I just want you to have other options other than leading brands. Good luck in your search! What are everyone's thoughts on this?
WOw! thank you for so many recommendations everyone :-) The Mint Julep sounds really good and inexpensive-nice, I am going to get that and the Be Fine Food Skin Care for 4 dollars. I love Olay products too and will splurge a little and get all three of them and have a spa party with my friends :-) Thanks again everyone!
The Body Shop has great masks for all skin types.
Rachel Perry makes a wonderful clay mask that is deep cleaning but also really soothing. It smells great, exfoliates, and is not drying. It is called "clay and ginseng."
hey anniey, have you tried the nars mud mask? i heard its fabulous & does not dry out your skin.
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