Mask Monday:: Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask

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Ahhh, what this you’re sharing with us today Lara, a brownie recipe? Smell like a brownie? Yes.  Look like brownie batter? Yes.  Taste good?  Um No!

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This is is a Fresh Face Mask from Lush called ‘Cupcake’.  If you are not familiar with the fresh face mask line from Lush, they are facial masks made from fresh, perishable ingredients that you can only buy in a Lush store.  This is what Lush has to say about this mask…

Cupcake is our one Fresh Face Mask that was created for a bit of fun. At the time, our inventor’s daughter was a young girl having slumber parties with her girlfriends every weekend, so he whipped up a chocolate mint mask for young, oily skin (officially solidifying him as the coolest dad ever). If you suffer from oily or spotty skin, slather it in this cocoa concoction. With spearmint oil to cool, vanilla absolute to calm redness and Rhassoul mud to deeply cleanse- Cupcake is a sweet savior for young faces. Smothering yourself in chocolate for clearer skin? Every teenage girl’s dream…

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While I am many years removed from being a teenager, my skin hasn’t seemed to realize that yet.  I still suffer from extremely oily acne prone skin, so this mask is a favorite.  It smells yummy and after rinsed off my skin feels clarified and fresh.

Products Mentioned :

Lush Fresh Face Mask “Cupcake” $6.95

Lush Haul!

Its a good thing Lush is a fair distance from my house.  Otherwise my wallet would be empty!  I was over that way last week and I did “need” to restock on two items that I keep in my skincare rotation.  So lets dive into what I got/needed! 🙂

 

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Up first is something that I “needed” it is Ocean Salt. Here is what Lush has to say…

Washing with Ocean Salt is like taking your face on a trip to the seaside for an invigorating splash in the water. The minerals in sea salt soften as it scrubs away dirt, dead skin and blockages for a bright, fresh face. We mix in fresh avocado and coconut to hydrate thirsty skin, leaving it balanced and soft. The cleansing effects of lime and vodka are ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes and leave skin visibly brightened. It’s no wonder Ocean Salt is so enormously popular!

Bottom Line:: This is a must have for me in my scrub collection.  If I could only have one scrub for the rest of my life this would be it. If you can’t tell, I like it, no I love it.

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Next is a sample of Let The Good Times Roll.  Lush says…

A luxuriously soft and sweetly-scented cleanser, Let The Good Times Roll has quickly become a huge fan favorite. Maize flour, corn meal and a dash of cinnamon powder gently exfoliate and leave you with a vibrant glow, and lightly hydrating corn oil helps skin to retain its moisture and elasticity. With its rich butter-caramel fragrance and velvety texture, no wonder this one is so popular!

Bottom Line:: This was a limited cleanser only out at holidays (it smells like a sugar cookie!) but due to high demand it was made a part of the permanent collection this year.  Because of its popularity I knew I needed to give it a try and asked for a sample.  My skin is oily so I use this at night as it is made for those with drier skin.

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Dark Angels is the other thing I “needed” at Lush.

Black sugar and charcoal gently exfoliate and absorb excess oils to leave dull, oily or acne-prone skin feeling fresh and matte. Even oily skin can be sensitive, so we’ve made this one soft and soothing to calm redness and irritation, too. Its rhassoul mud base deep-cleanses to help prevent breakouts while vitamin rich cold-pressed organic avocado oil nourishes skin to leave it soft and lightly hydrated. Use all over for perfectly smooth, bright skin. An angel indeed!

Bottom Line::  I use this as a cleanser once or twice a week and it really helps clarify and tighten the skin.

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I’ve used up all of my regular size bottles of shampoo so I decided to give two of Lush Shampoo Bars New! and Jumping Juniper a try.  I’ve used it before (just not the two I bought) and I liked it.

There’s nothing exactly new about our stimulating cinnamon and clove shampoo bar, we call it that because it’s made for people who want NEW! hair! When stress or life goes to your head and your hair starts thinning, motivate those tired scalps with spice and mint oils. It’s intense, (in the best possible way), but works wonders on irritated scalps or hair that’s thinning. Rosemary and nettle herbs rejuvenate, and make your hair shiny and soft as a feather. All of this, in one beautifully spicey bar; are you ready for a NEW! shampoo?

Our purple shampoo bar jumps into action to sort out oil problems on top. It cleans away grease and balances sebum production for soft, shiny (in the good way) hair. Fruity juniperberry oil sorts out your oily, congested scalp, while lemon and lime make your hair clean and shiny and give it an extra fresh scent. The incredible herbal duo, lavender and rosemary are superpowers if you’re having troubles in the oil department. Rosemary has been used for hundreds of years for its anti-bacterial capabilities, while lavender is known for its ability to balance and soothe the scalp. You’ll be jumping for joy in no time!

Bottom Line:: I haven’t used these yet so I will keep you updated on my thoughts!

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If you buy shampoo you also have to buy conditioner to go with it…

Vegans and fine haired folks around the world rejoice! Veganese is our lightest, conditioner that takes hair without volume and makes it go va-va-VOOM! The majority of LUSH products are vegan, but making a vegan conditioner without lanolin took us a few years to perfect. It was worth the wait. We use agar seaweed gel as a natural hair softener instead of lanolin, and blend in generous helpings of lemon oil to create the perfect vegan conditioner to leave you with tons of gloss and shine. We also added in the scalp soothing effects of lavender and rosemary to keep you sorted on top

Bottom Line:: I haven’t used this yet either but I will let you know!

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Lastly I got a Fresh Face Mask.  I have used these before (they only sell in store because they must be kept rerefrigerated) but Cupcake is a new one for me.

Cupcake is our one Fresh Face Mask that was created for a bit of fun. At the time, our inventor’s daughter was a young girl having slumber parties with her girlfriends every weekend, so he whipped up a chocolate mint mask for young, oily skin (officially solidifying him as the coolest dad ever). If you suffer from oily or spotty skin, slather it in this cocoa concoction. With spearmint oil to cool, vanilla absolute to calm redness and Rhassoul mud to deeply cleanse- Cupcake is a sweet savior for young faces. Smothering yourself in chocolate for clearer skin? Every teenage girl’s dream. 

Bottom Line:: Used this Sunday night and loved it!  I will need to use it a few more times but expect to see a Mask Monday in the near future.

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Products Mentioned::

Ocean Salt $21.95-$35.95

Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser $12.95

Dark Angels Cleanser $12.95-$31.95

New! Shampoo Bar $11.95

Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar $10.95 

Veganese Conditioner  $9.95-$32.95

Cupcake Fresh Face Mask $6.95 

 

Let Me Know What Your Favorites Are From Lush Or What You Want To Try! 

Mask Monday: Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty

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Mask of Magniminty is probably one of my all time favorite facial masks and I think I am on my third jar (that should tell you how much I like it!).  If you have been a reader of my blog for any length of time you know how much I love Lush.  And this fresh minty mask is no exception to my Lush love.  This refreshing mask contains both of the clay’s that I mentioned in my initial post about masks, Bentonite and Kaolin clay.  You can read about the benefits of these two clay’s here.

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I try and use a mask twice a week and since I have started this routine I believe my skin has showed an improvement.  I like to keep this mask in the refrigerator and really take advantage of the minty coolness  effect it has when applied to your skin.  I find the best way to use this mask is to steam my face before applying and I feel like it really penetrates my pores and gets the gunk out of them.

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This mask also has ground aduki beans which exfoliate your skin as you take off the mask.  So really its a two in one product; a mask and scrub and hey I like to use multi-tasking products to save time!

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You can buy Mask of Magnaminty online or in a Lush Shop.

4.4oz  retails for $12.95

11.1oz reatials for $24.95

Masks, Masks, Masks….

Since I recently posted about my favorite facial scrubs it only seemed fair to post about my favorite masks.  I like to use a mask once or twice a week and the ones I am sharing with you are what I keep coming back to and have bought more than once. So, they are Lara tested and approved!  And again, I have oily, acne prone skin so most of these are targeted towards that skin type.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask     $3.79 for 8oz

This mask has a cult following and has been around for years.  I just discovered and started using this mask a little over a year ago.  At under $4 this is a steal for a mask that refreshes and tightens your skin.  Like all masks (or beauty products for that matter) it makes outrageous claims. The packaging says it “helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores”.  I agree that it helps dry up pimples, but rinsing away blackheads?!  Don’t know about you but it would take more than a green clay mask to ‘rinse away’ my blackheads, I need full on extraction! But ridiculous claims on beauty products will be a post for another day (don’t get me started on BB, CC and DD creams!)

While this mask does make your skin feel clean and tight when it is drying; it does not get super tight so that you are unable to move  your face.  I bought mine on Amazon, but you can probably find this one in your local drugstore quite easily.

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Avon Clearskin Professional Clear Pore Thermal Mask     $12.00 for 2.5oz

According to the Avon website, this mask will open your pores and you will feel like it is melting away dirt and oil…. Again, it tightens and tones, but what I really like about this mask is that as you apply it the mixture heats up.  Avon is good about having fantastic sales and I am pretty sure I got this for about half price.

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Yes to Carrots Softening Facial Mask     $14.99 for 1.7oz

This mask is formulated for normal to dry skin; which if you have read my blog you know I am anything but dry, and normal is a setting on the washing machine.  BUT…. I love this mask! It really does soften your skin, it feels baby smooth after you rinse it off.  I found mine at Ross for around $7.  One of my dear friends who has excessively  dry skin says that she loves the Yes to Tomatoes Clearing Facial Mask which is for combination to oily skin. We joked that we should trade masks as we seem to be using one that was made for the other but we both have found great results in using masks not  made for our skin type. Just goes to show to give things a try, you never know if it will work for you!

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Mary Kay Classic Basic Clarifying Mask 3     $14.00 for 4oz

I recently rediscovered this mask and remembered within seconds of putting it on why I liked it so much.  A lot of masks for problem skin can be harsh but Mary Kays is fragrance free and while it tightens and helps absorb surface oil it does it very gently.  If you have oily skin that is sensitive, give this mask a try.

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Lush Fresh Face Mask in Catastrophe Cosmetic     $6.95 for 2.1oz

Anyone who reads this blog knows I love Lush so you should not be surprised to see a Lush mask on this list.  Catastrophe Cosmetic  is also made for sensitive skin and formulated for all skin types.  It is made with Blueberries and it is purple! This mask also has calamine powder which is great for oily skin types.  If you are a lush-oholic like me when you bring in five empty tubs you can get a fresh face mask for free.  You can only buy fresh face masks in store, so when I have five empty tubs I make the hour long trek to my nearest Lush to pick up a few needed items (and let’s be honest a few wants) and make sure to turn in my five tubs to get a mask.

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Have you tried any of the masks that I have shared as my favorites? What were your results?  Do you have a favorite you think I should try? Please share with me on twitter or in the comments below! 

Favorite Lush Products

I love love love Lush, Did I mention I love Lush?!  I love that their products are natural and good for me but I also love that they work, it really is the best of both worlds.  So today I am going to share with you some of my fav products.

Ocean Salt $21.95 – $35.95 for either 4.2 or 8.8 oz

Using Ocean Salt is like taking your face and body on a trip to the beach. Sea Salt softens skin and is said to assist in scrubbing away dead skin for a bright complexion.  This scrub also has avocado and coconut both of which are known for their healing properties. I am not surprised Ocean Salt is a best seller for Lush, it is amazing!

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Herbaslism  $13.95 – $29.95 for either 3.5 or 8.8 oz

Herbalism is advertised as a cleanser for oily and acne prone skin (which is me). This cleanser contains ground rice bran which acts as a light exfoliate. Also in this green and earthy smelling manna from heaven is a blend of rosemary, nettle and chamomile which will help clear problematic skin.

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Schnuggle Body Butter $16.95 for 3.3 oz

The Lush website says “The absorbent powders in Schnuggle make your skin feel soft and not the slightest bit oily, as though you’ve been sprinkled with skin-smoothing fairy dust.”  Yes fairy dust it really is that amazing.  After taking relaxing shower or bath you simply massage this moisturizing bar which features cocoa butter into your skin. The scent of this body butter is a euphoric combination of lavender, chamomile, ginger and sandalwood.

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None of your Beeswax $7.25 for 10g

None of your Beeswax is a vegan lip balm.  This balm features a citrus blend of lemon and mandarin with a hint of vanilla. It also has extra virgin coconut oil, murumuru butter and carnauba wax (as an alternative to beeswax) to keep your lips oh so soft!

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April Favorites

Sorry for the long absence.  I have a job that I work like a crazy person for a few months out of the year  and barely have time to eat and sleep let alone keep up with a blog.  So moving on….

 Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Mudslide

Very pretty pinky nude color. While I am not sold on the “complete manicure” part , I like the color and the formula is good, but the brush is AMAZING!!  It is very wide and I can paint my nail in two swipes.  $6.50 at Wally World.

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Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

 I saw this at Ross and picked it up. First time I used it I was not really impressed and I thought it smelled weird, second time I used it I thought the smell was so bad there is no way I will use this again.  I am not the type of person to throw away something I bought so I held onto it with the thought that I would find someone to pawn the smelly spray off on.  Fast forward a month and I had rolled my hair to tightly and had Shirley Temple curls, not cool.  So I sprayed this on my hair to loosen the curl. Hmmm strange doesn’t stink like I remember… and I got complements on how nice my hair smelled.  So I don’t know why I suddenly did a 180 on this product, but I love this stuff! Retails at Ulta for around $17 (which is expensive for me) but I paid $6.50 at Ross.

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mark White Now Necklace

When I first got this necklace, I thought, “hmmm, well looks different then the picture but it’s cool.”  Seriously every time I wear it I get compliments , I loop mine like the picture so it is two strands.  $22.00 at mark.

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Mask of Magnaminty

I love lush and this mask is no exception.  Unlike their fresh face mask, that you can only buy in store,  you can buy this one online as it does not have to be kept in the fridge.  But I like to keep my mine cool as it feels even more refreshing.  I like when you are removing the mask  the aduki beans act as an exfoliate, so you have a mask and light scrub in one!

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