The Body Shop Cruelty Free Face Masks

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So last year and this year so far I've hardly blogged, which is why I bought these face masks in DECEMBER 2018 (Christ) and have been meaning to write a little something about them ever since then. Lockdown is doing wonders for me attempting to do all these things I haven't got around to yet, apart from any kind of long-standing cleaning projects I'm avoiding. Cleaning my oven is just too much of a commitment, okay?

Cosmetic Warrior LUSH Fresh Facemask

Fresh face masks from LUSH are kinda my own personal skin saviour. I've noticed a massive (downhill) difference in the state of my skin now that I've been using them less frequently over the past few months, and I definitely need to get back into the swing of things. But, for now, we're chatting all about LUSH's Cosmetic Warrior face mask. I did a big roundup of all the LUSH face masks I'd used (which is scarily almost all of them) a few months back, but I hadn't picked this up before, so it escaped the post, which you can read here. 
This wasn't the nicest smelling LUSH mask I've ever used - I think Oatifix wins that category - but, the effects of it outweighed the slightly strange odour. It smelt very fresh with a little tang, which I can only assume is a combination of the tea tree and garlic in the mask. The mask also contains honey and egg, so it's one of the few LUSH products that isn't suitable for vegans. 
I've got super sensitive skin, and one of the main properties of this mask is its cooling effect. It worked as a little bit of a gentle scrub as well as helping to calm my skin, which made my skin feel as though it had a deep clean without being irritated. 
I loved this mask, and will be repurchasing it in the future when I feel as though my pores need a good ol' clean out without using something too abrasive. 
What's your go-to face mask? Have you tried any of the new LUSH jelly masks yet?
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Chin Up Masks - The Non-Surgical Facelift

This is one of those (many) blog posts that I've just ended up pushing back and back and back because I've had so many others that I've been more excited to write. I actually picked this trial pack of chin up masks at the Bloggers Ball way back in June, and tried it out in July. Whoops. 
This trial pack retails at £29.95 and in it you get the strap that holds the mask to your face as well as two of the masks themselves. 
Now, I've done a lot of face masks in the past - they're my ultimate go-to for when I want a bit of a pamper - but nothing I've ever tried has been anything like this.
You start off by cleansing your neck. Then you open the mask pack and place the mask on the underneath of your chin. The mask itself is very very wet, and the only other mask that I've tried that is similar in this way is Garnier's hydra-bomb sheet mask. It's a rectangular mask, and slightly sticky, so that once you put it on your chin it will stay there for a few seconds whilst you manoeuvre the strap on.
This mask is definitely something I would do with a friend, just because this strap makes you honestly look hilarious. It sits on your chin and goes slightly up and around your cheeks so that you can fasten it at the back of your head. You have to fasten it quite tight (assumedly to make the mask work), and end up looking slightly hamsterish. I've already got pretty chubby cheeks and couldn't help but laughing at myself in the mirror.
Once you've had it on for thirty minutes you get to remove everything, and massage the excess moisture into your chin. I've got really sensitive skin, so I was honestly quite worried that I would have a reaction to this, but thankfully none of the ingredients were harsh enough. My one warning is that the packet does tell you that the mask will have a warming effect on your chin, and it definitely does!
Both me and my sister did it and were pleasantly surprised when we looked in the mirror. Our double chins had actually noticeably reduced, as the package had promised! I was so disappointed to find that the effects would only last for a week or so, but it was such a nice confidence boost to have for that week.

Have you ever tried a face mask like this?

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Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial Mask Review*

I'm all over face masks usually - but a sleeping facial mask? I've never tried one. I've been through phases of attempting to moisturise overnight, believe me, but I've always just ended up with greasy, sticky skin in the morning as a result. Grim, I know. I always just thought that my skin simply wasn't compatible with this kind of thing.
So, when Korres sent me their sleeping mask as a surprise my heart sank a little - how was I going to let them know that my skin doesn't like overnight creams? But, they sent me a challenge to see if using it for just one night could make a difference to my skin. There's no harm in trying, right? 
So, I did my normal nightly cleanse, and then massaged a pea-sized amount of this into my skin. I was honestly astounded by what happened - it actually worked! I've been waiting years (seriously) to find a product that suits my sensitive, combination skin and finally I've found my perfect fit. Every time I woke up in the night (I'm a very restless sleeper), I touched my face because it felt so soft. I only just about restrained myself from waking the boyfriend up at three am to feel too. Only just though.
Since then, it's become a firm part of my nightly skin care routine that I never want to do without again. It totally evens out my skin, making sure that it's soft, moisturised and not greasy. Another plus I found is that my 'worry lines' (I'm 22, I'm not calling them blaady wrinkles) on my forehead have basically disappeared since using it! I am honestly so impressed, and love using it. Finally, it smells absolutely divine - rose isn't usually my thang, but this is subtle and I've fallen head over heels.
Have you tried the Korres sleeping facial mask?
*Although products in this post have been sent for review, all opinions are as always my own*
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LUSH Cup O' Coffee Face and Body Mask

Two beauty posts in two days? What the hell is going on over here, I know right?! Things are getting WILD. In all serious though, I am trying to get a lil' more beauty in here and there in this latter half of 2016 so watch out.
LUSH Cup O' Coffee has really become one of those cult beauty blogger favourites. It's not quite up there with Urban Decay's Naked 3, or Garnier's Micellar Water, but it's definitely there. It's LUSH's best selling face mask I believe, and rightly so. If you've read my LUSH face masks comparison post, then you'll know that there is a soft spot in my heart for the brand, and that Cup O' Coffee was one of the few I actually hadn't tried. 
Cup O' Coffee is, surprisingly, filled with ground coffee beans, making it an excellent exfoliator. But, where I really think it comes in strong is with the combination of this with agave syrup. This makes it nourishing, hydrating, and honestly I'm more than a little in love.
It may surprise you that I didn't actually buy this for my face. Cup O' Coffee is labelled a 'face and body mask' and it was recommended to me to help with my newfound stretch marks. My recent weight gain has meant that my upper thighs have suddenly seen a mass growth in stretch marks. Brill, I know right?! So, I've been using Cup O Coffee twice weekly as a little mini leg mask and I have to say it really is making a difference! It's noticeable to others that my stretch marks are going down, albeit slowly, and I couldn't be happier that a natural, vegan product is helping me do this!
I've gone through why I love this goodie from LUSH in a little more detail in this video: Please give it a watch! 

Have you tried this one? What did you think?

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LUSH Face Masks Comparison

I know, I know another LUSH-based blog post. We all know I have really sensitive skin, and LUSH face masks are simply something that I can come back to time and time again with the assurance that my skin won't flare up after using them. I've been thinking about it recently, and although they're not all pictured here, (I've spent forever scouring back through my archives to find pictures, but it turns out I'm pretty shit at taking pictures of the face masks!) I've used almost every face mask that LUSH has to offer. Whoops. 
Some of them I've done full review posts on (check out my BB seaweed one and my Oatifix one), but most have really fallen under the radar. So, here's a round-up of all the LUSH face masks that I've given a good go. Bear in mind that I have dry-combination skin, so all of my favourites are going to be ones that are good for that. However, I used to have really oily skin, so I should have you covered on that front too *insert wink face emoji*.
First up is BB Seaweed, which is particularly fab if you've got dry and dull skin. The rosemary oil and rose absolute in it help to hydrate your skin, whilst the millet seeds and ground almonds get rid of dead skin cells. This is one I come back to time and time again, particularly in the winter when my skin is likely to get chapped.
Next up is Oatifix. Obviously I've talked about this and BB Seaweed pretty extensively in their own posts, but I have to say that this is 100% my favourite face mask of all time, and that is a pretty darn large honour. It smells like banana-y oatmeal (NOM) and is incredibly nourishing for your face. If you've got dry skin and are heading to LUSH to give one of their masks a go, this is the one I would recommend. Again, this has ground almonds for some gentle exfoliation. 
Love Lettuce is another favourite of mine for dry skin. This was actually the first LUSH face mask I ever used, way back when I was still in school. I love the fact that this has a kind of classic face mask vibe - dark green, thick and would go perfectly with some cucumber eye circles. This one has lavender in, so almost creates an aura of aromatherapy whilst you use it. It also has honey to go that little extra mile in terms of moisturising your skin.
Although a lot of LUSH's products are vegan, Brazened Honey uses honey too, as well as eggs. SO, if you're looking to go cruelty free, this one isn't a mask you should be opting for. This is a pretty fab one for combination skin - it keeps your skin moisturised, without using oils, so it shouldn't make your skin too greasy. Indeed, the moisturising honey is combined with cleansing (and a little drying) lime juice. This is my go-to in the heat of summer when my T-Zone is getting a little cray cray and slippery (grim). 
Now let's move on to the ones a little more suitable for oily skin. Don't Look At Me was totally an impulse buy on my part. It's bright blue, and I wanted to give a bright blue mask a go #sorrynotsorry. However, it turned out to be my least favourite LUSH mask. I used it during winter, when my skin really needed a little extra moisture and gentleness. Don't Look at Me is a really drying mask, and was a little too harsh on my skin. It contains grapefruit and lemon, which are both fab at toning your skin, but also dry it out in the process. If you've got really oily skin, then this will be great for use once a week, but for me it was just too drying.
Finally we have Cupcake. This is one that I'd seen a tonne of other bloggers raving about, and it smells like chocolate muffins, so I obviously couldn't pass it up, right? If you've got super super sensitive skin, this is one that you might want to pass over, as it works on getting deep down into your pores, and excavating as much dirt as possible. This isn't as drying as Don't Look at Me - nowhere near - but it still won't do much for hydrating your face. Instead, this is one that you should look to if you want to soften the skin on your face. 
So there it is: my roundup of all the LUSH masks that I've given a go. Next up on my list is the Mask of Magnaminty as I've heard amazing things about it. What's on your list?
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LUSH Oatifix Face Mask

Okay, okay, I know I promised you guys that I would be working on my photography in the latter half of this month and in coming months, BUT I took this a little while ago. So sozzles about that. I almost ended up not even posting this because let's face it, this picture is kind of spectacularly fail-worthy. However, LUSH's Oatifix mask is kind of becoming my absolute favourite mask of all time (I also promise I'll stop saying this about every new product I like!), so, you know, it needed to be done. 
If you've read my recent post about LUSH's BB Seaweed face mask, you'll already know how much of a fan of their facial products I am. Or any of their products really. And no, I'm not some kind of LUSH brand ambassador. But if that was a thing, I would totally be first in line to apply. I really just love the fact that everything is cruelty free and that they really do make genuine, sustained attempts to help the environment. 
So, as you'll all know from my hundreds of rants about it, my skin used to be oily - combination sensitive skin, and now has become dry-combination ultra sensitive skin. So, I've really needed to re-organise my skincare regime to fit in with my skin type. LUSH's Oatifix has honestly been a godsend. It specifically targets hydrating and exfoliating sensitive and dry skin, which is fab for me: not only does it get right into my pores to scrape out a fair few toxins, but it then ensures that that process doesn't leave my skin feeling raw or tight. YAY. There really is nothing to hate with this one. It smells good enough to eat as it's full of banana, oatmeal and vanilla. If you've got skin like mine I would 100% recommend this. I can't wait to pick up a new tub soon!
What's your favourite face mask at the moment?
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Homemade Avocado and Raw Honey Facemask

Face masks really are my thang, and my sensitive skin means that the more natural a face mask is, the better my skin reacts to it. As someone with combination to dry skin, this face mask works absolutely perfectly for me. The combination of the natural oils in the avocado, as well as the coconut oil and olive oil really make sure that your face is replenished in terms of its essential moisture. Obviously the face mask is quite oil-heavy, so it is one that I would only do once a week or once a fortnight, just to give my skin a chance to reach its optimum moisture levels without getting greasy. 
Ingredients (makes 3-4 masks):
- 1/2 avocado - 1 tablespoon raw honey - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
How to make:
- Ensure that the coconut oil is melted - Blend all of the ingredients (I only mashed them which is why I have yucky green lumps all over my face in the picture!).  - Smoosh onto your face and leave there for 15 minutes before washing off.
This is such a wonderful face mask for giving your skin a deep cleanse without using any chemicals. If you give it a go tweet or Instagram me your pictures - I'd love to see them!
What is your favourite homemade face mask?

Feeling Festive | LUSH Cranberry Facemask

I may or may not have already made my Christmas order to LUSH (whoops), and, having tried just a few of their face masks before, I had to pick up the cranberry one. With argan oil and rose clay in it, it's perfect for softening your skin at winter. So you can totally combat the slightly grim roughening of skin we all suffer from as we battle our way around in these gripping winds. And yes, I am looking out at the endless rain in England, thinking again how desperately I'm going to need this if I don't want to end up with rock-like tough skin!
Face mask night is my favourite night of the week. Me and my housemate/best friend get get together and try out a new product or go for an old favourite. On this particular occasion however, my other half got involved, and there were foam peanuts lying around. Hint for the future: avoid all male contact during face mask time Steph. In the end though, we had great fun taking some horrendous photos of ourselves with the peanuts and the face masks made our skin uber soft.
What's your face mask ritual?

LUSH Haul | Final Year Skincare

BB Seaweed Facemask 

H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment

Angels on Bare Skin Facewash

Eau Roma Water Toner

I've been meaning to put this piece up since, well, New Years (hence the Christmas tree in the background of me and my mum with the facemask). We all know that I'm a bit of a LUSH fan, and when i got given some vouchers for Christmas I couldn't help but have a bit of a skincare splurge. I'm going to review them in a bit more detail at some point, but on the whole I'm really impressed with everything I bought. For once I actually headed in and got the advice of all the LUSH specialists and they gave me some really great ideas, including advising me to buy the Angels on Bare Skin facewash!

As it's final year now, my stress levels are probably at their peak - juggling two part time jobs, two blogs, an exec position on a journal, reading manuscripts for a publishing company and actually doing my degree work/attempting to keep the 4 boys I live with in line means I have hardly any time to breathe, and have to keep my energy levels up. Your skin is something which really shows the world when you're down on nutrition and energy levels - it can get grey, you start getting more spots and you lose any sense of it being toned. This is why these LUSH products have saved me over the past few months - using the BB Seaweed facemask once a week and Angels on Bare Skin + toner at least every other day means that my skin hasn't lost all of its vivacity.

What are your skincare secrets during busy/stressful times?

Love and Light,

Steph 

**All photos are property of Sophie Hartley**

My first ever LUSH haul!

I've always had a soft spot for LUSH (and not only because it smells so good every time you walk past!) and the ethos they exhibit through all of their products and services. Unfortunately, there isn't one in the town I live in whilst at university, so I took the plunge whilst I was at home this summer and grabbed a few bits and bobs that I really wanted needed in my life.