Mary Kay Clarifying Mask 3 $14 Review

For some reason I always go back to this particular clarifying mask. I first tried this in high school and it was something my mom wanted me to try (mostly because her boss was a Mary Kay representative at the time and she had to suck up and buy something from her - LOL).


This mask is part of the Mary Kay classic skincare regimen for blemish-prone skin.

"Clarifying Mask, a velvety clay-based formula, gentle exfoliates and clears excess surface oils, leaving skin with a soft matte finish. Refines skin's texture and deep cleans to help control surface sebum. Recommended for blemish prone skin because Clarifying Mask does not contain scrubbing grains which can irritate blemishes. Avoid use in eye and mouth areas." ~from the project package.

Directions
I usually apply the mask after cleansing, focusing mainly on my T-zone. The official directions say to leave it on for 10 minutes but I leave it on for as long as it takes the mask to dry (probably closer to 15 minutes). As it dries, the mask will start to harden so be careful not to make any facial expressions less you covet a face full of wrinkles. After is dries, it rinses off easily with warm water and then I follow with a toner and moisturizer.

Product Packaging
The mask is housed your average plastic tube which is perfect for squeezing out every last bit of product. It also stands on it's head so there's the advantage of gravity pulling all the product to the opening of the tube.


Here's a blob of the mask. The consistency is pretty thick and it's got a light lavender tinge.

The Verdict: A
The result from the mask are wonderful. My skin is soft, matte and feels clean. But what I really love is that I can see the mask working. As the mask dries, it pulls out sebum from pores. I can actually see little oily spots on top of the mask where it's extracted all the excess sebum and this visual confirmation gives me a sense of victory over my acne issues.

Kinerase Clear Skin Regulating Mask $56 Review

I got to try a sample of this a while back but never got around to posting a review. So here it is!

The Kinerase Clear Skin Regulating Mask ($56 for 2.8 oz) is a clay mask that treats acne-prone skin. It contains botanical extracts that draw out extra sebum and soothe the skin to minimize break outs. The mask is applied for only 5 minutes once a week and regular use will improve blemishes and conditions of acne-prone skin.

The Verdict: A-
The sample size I had only allowed me to use the mask once but I could feel immediate changes. All traces of oil and sebum were absorbed by the mask and some of my older acne scars were diminished and less discolored.

Even though I loved the results of the mask, it's meant for oilier skin than mine. I had to slather on moisturizer in order to rehydrate the skin on my cheeks/temples but for my T-zone this mask worked wonderfully.

I really am not doing justice to how impressed I was by this mask. Just go try a sample from Nordstrom and you'll see what I mean :)

Caudalie VinoPerfect Radiance Revealing Mask $42

Caudalie is a relatively young company that was launched in 1995. Their products originate from the benefits found in grapeseeds and they are all-natural. They extract and stabilize polyphenols which have been shown in laboratory tests to be 10,000x more effective than Vitamin E in fighting free radicals. Caudalie holds the patent for the extraction of polyphenols. From these roots, the company has since patented Resveratol (grape vine stalk extract #uno) to address cell renewal and Viniferine (grape vine stalk extract #dos) to treat dark spots and enhance radiance.

**Warning** The following is copied directly from the product itself and it's box (I got lazy :P)

The extraordinary combination of an ultra-soft brush applicator with a super-active formula. This fresh peeling mask renews the appearance of the skin, tightens the appearance of pores and provides an immediate burst of radiance to your complexion.

Apply twice a week on clean skin. Then the applicator to the ON position Press lightly. Apply avoiding the area around the eye. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse. Theun the applicator to the OFF position, then rinse and wipe the applicator.


Applicator in OFF position.


Applicator in ON position - with a bit of the mask squeezed out.

The Verdict: A-
This mask feels cool when applied and I think it's a good mask to try if you have sensitive skin. It's completely non-irritating and it makes skin brighter and more radiant. There's no smell to the product and the consistency is quite thick and creamy. It's a peeling mask that is rinsed off so it never hardens or dries out.


Close-up of the brush. It's soft and feels just like a foundation brush.

At first I was excited to try out the brush applicator becuase I thought it would be like a mini-spa experience! Unfortunately, the product is only squeezed out from the very middle of the brush and it was hard to spread over my skin evenly. I'm thinking(hoping) this is just a learning curve and I just need a couple of tries to get the hang of it.


Shot of how the product is dipensed from the middle of the brush only.

I really enjoyed this product and I will definitely continute to use this. I like the cool feeling it has and how gentle it is. Also, since you use the brush applicator to apply it, a little goes a long way.


I was looking all over for a little instruction pamphlet but then realized the instructions were printed directly on the inside of the box. In fact, Caudalie uses every surface of their outter packaging for printing. I loved how it was eco-friendly! I gripe I have with Caudalie in general is that they package their products for the English, French, German and Italian speaking populationg. Because of this, it looks like a lot of detail is printed but it's actually only a 1 sentence description. Also, with all the extraneous information it's like a "Where's Waldo" hunt for the English text - haha!

Kose Sekkisei and Seikisho

I purchased these 2 items from Bath&Body Works recently and finally got a chance to post them! I really like Kose's products but unfortunately they are a bit hit-and-miss for me. Some of the products are bleh and some give fairly good results. Either way there is a strange hold all Japanese products have on me and I can never ignore their siren song.

Kose is one of Japan's top cosmetic and skincare manufacturers. In Japan they have several drugstore skincare lines and a cosmetic line (Softymo is a very popular one). They also have 3 higher-end lines that they distribute in Japan and in U.S. department stores: Sekkisei, Seikisho and Junkisui. All 3 lines rely on plant-based herbs and oils. To me Kose has an excellent brand but I don't think it's widely known because it's hard to find and if you do come across it the printed (English) directions and descriptions are minimal at best. Half the time I don't know if there is any additonal benefit to the product other than the fact that it's used a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, etc.

Sekkisei and Seikisho are VERY similar looking and housed in navy packaging. They also have the same scent added in their products that I can only describe as a pleasant "asian makeup" smell (takes me back to my childhood for some reason). Based on the concept of white snow, products from both lines have a whitening effect. The difference is that Sekkisei is the original product line and Seikisho is an offshoot that has an additional focus on clarifying and purifying the skin.

Junkisui is housed in distinctively forest green packaging and it's products have a "grassy" smell to me. I don't really care for this smell but it's light and not overwhelming. Junkisui is also derived from plants and herbs to address and treat adult acne specfically.

Kose Seikisho Perfect Cleansing Oil $28


When I spotted this, I knew I had to get it! I'm addicted to trying out cleansing oils. I've seen it many times before but did not have the motivation to try it out. My mother swears by baby mineral oil and that's about the only thing she uses but not me. I like variety cuase that's the spice of life!

This cleansing oil also has mineral oil as it's top ingredient and it feels a lot like baby oil but a bit more runny in consistency. Only the bottle is blue the oil itself is crystal clear. Apply this to a dry face. I put about 2-3 pumps in my palm and then rub it all over my face where I have makeup. And I should mention that I keep my eyes tightly closed during this whole process. If you peek, you end up with oil getting into your eyes. I just keep smoothing the oil over my face to give it ample time to dissolve all the eye makeup. Then I wet my palms just a little bit and rub some of the water on my face too - this turns the oil milky and gives a double-cleanse. To finish just rinse off with warm water.

The Verdict: Kose Seikisho Perfect Cleansing Oil
To me this oil is a bit on the oily side. After this my skin is not greasy but it does have a slight slippery feel to it. The box clearly states that this is "For rinse-off use only" so it must be followed with a cleanser. I just use my regular cleanser after this and my skin is squeaky clean! I will definitely re-purchase this! It is very comparable to SK-II and gives pretty much the same effect. I put a drop of each on the back of my hand to compare and the SK-II is a bit runnier than the Kose which is probably why I felt the Kose is more oily. Both spread easily over the face and both emulsify with the addition of water and rinse off cleanly. I do like the shape of the Kose bottle (not aethestically but functionally) better. The rectangle shape and taller pump makes it easy to dispense right in the center of my palm. With the SK-II one I find I have to pick up the whole bottle and hold it at an angle or else I can't get the oil to dispense in the middle of my palm.

Kose Seikisho Mask White $24


Another beauty item I just can't say no to - masks. This looked interesting enough so I picked this up too. This is a clarifying peel mask that removes dirt and skin impurities to cleanse skin and enhance clarity and radiance.


I apply this after cleansing and steaming my face for about 5 minutes. You can see from the picture above that the mask is quit goopy. I knew I would end up making a mess if I used my hands so instead I used a small concealer brush as an applicator. **WARNING** Do NOT let this touch any hair! It will adhere to hair and will become an all-in-one peel and wax session. Once it is applied it will start to dry (but fairly slowly) and you will not be able to form expressions (unless you want wrinkles!). Even when dry the mask looks shiny. It's looks and I suspect feels just like latex body paint (not that I know anything about latex body paint, but I imagine that's what it'd be like). Leave it on for 20 minutes to dry completly and then peel off.

The Verdict: Kose Seikisho Mask White
LOVE this mask! When I peeled off the mask it came off in ONE PIECE! Not every peel mask can do this. Sometimes they tear and it's removed in sections. Of course I inspected what gross gunk were stuck on the mask and there were definitely blackheads (woot! woot!). My pores were super clear! I was super impressed with the results. I was kinda at a lost what to do with the little mask bits that were left on my face. Finally decided to peel off what I could to let my regular toner take the rest off. I then followed with my regular night moisturizer and treaments.

Although I normally cannot stand any tightening effect the tightening of this mask is not that drastic. It dries slowly so the mask slowly transforms from a runny gel to a solid lining and the tightening and itching are minimal and gradual. I will definitely go back for a LOT more of this stuff (meaning whatever is in left the store inventory) before the Bath & Body Works BOGO sale runs out! It makes my skin really really clean, smooth, radiant and best of all CLEAR!

Freebies

The SA saw offered me some Kose samples that she'd tried and liked. Clockwise from top: Kose Sekkisei Emulsion, Kose Junkisui Toner, Kose Sekkisei Powder Wash, Kose Sekkisei Cream.

The Kose Sekkisei Powder Wash was something I was looking forward to. I've tried drugstore powder washes in the past and never saw any results. This one powder wash gave me a good scrub and my skin felt super clean! Unfortunately, I have sensitive nasal tissues and the powder fumes made me cough as I was trying to cleanse. I won't pick up another one as I've no complaints about my regular cleanser.

The Kose Sekkisei Emulsion is a bit milky in color and is somewhere between a gel and a serum consistent-wise. It's fairly rich and doesn't need to be followed by a lotion.

The Kose Sekkisei Cream is not really a cream at all. It's clear and is more of a runny gel but when you apply it - wow! It's so rich! Maybe that's why they call it a cream anyways? I felt it was too greasy for me but I think this would be great for mature skin or for winter use.

The Kose Junkishi Toner is alcohol-free so no stinging or drying but there was a disctinct Chinese-Herb smell. It is a nice toner but I personally wouldn't re-purchase cause of the smell.

REN Skincare Review

Recently there was an online promotion from REN to receive a free Intro Kit with any order over $80 plus you automatically get free shipping with any order over $60. I picked up a couple of items to try out since I just LOVED the REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask so much! On the website, REN has already grouped skincare products they recommend for combination skin so I made my choices from this pool of products.

REN Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask $30.73

This mask is a deep cleansing clay mask that draws out skin impurities such as sebum and dead skin cells. It also has an ingredient (Spirulina) to encourage cell renewal. The mask also claims to reduce pore size which is something that I'm always interested in.

You apply this mask to clean and toned skin and let it dry. It dries and hardens fairly quick, so I have to apply this in sections to my face. Once it is dry you're supposed to gently rub off as much as you can and then rinse the rest off with warm water. I did not like the "rubbing" part of this. I think it's supposed to help stimulate your skin in some way but I find it frustrating to scrape off a mask that is pretty much caked-on.

I don't think I would re-purchase this because although it is a good product, I'm just not WoWed by the results. For now, I'll be sticking to my Shiseido The Skincare Purifying Mask. It gives me relatively the same results if not better, feels more comfortable when applied, does not harden or dry out and it's slightly less expensive.

REN Matte Balancing Fluid $52

This mattifying fluid claims to reduce shine and restore balance to leave skin clear and beautifully healthy. It contains a smorgasbord ingredient list that you can look up on their website.

Let's cut to the chase: I was disappointed in this product. I have a history of being disappointed with anti-shine lotions. They always end up adding shine and this one was no exception. I would not re-purchase this or any other anti-shine lotion again. I put this on after cleansing and toning at 8am and by 9:30am I was already a mirror. I don't know why I continue try these things. In my teens I was very oily but I'm no longer super oily. I've now got combination skin and an oily T-zone but it's nothing a few oil-blotting sheets can't handle. For the most part my face stays pretty matte except for my nose. Cheeks matte, temples matte, forehead matte, nose oily, chin slightly oily.

Freebies
Along with my order, I was given a free REN Intro Kit $40. The Intro Kit included sample sizes of:

1. Rosa Centifolia Facial Cleansing Gel
2. Glycolatic Skin Renewal Peel Mask (love this!)
3. Vita Mineral Radiant Day Cream
4. Omega 3 Overnight Lipid Renewal Serum (wanted to try this)
5. Frankincense and Boswellia Serrata Revitalising Repair Cream (wanted to try this) 6. Active 7 Radiant Eye Maintenance Cream

I haven't had a chance to properly try out all these products as I'm too happy with my Shiseido skincare regimen. As soon as I give these a fair trial, I will provide a sufficient review.

REN Glycolatic Skin Renewal Peel Mask $55

I'm not usually a fan of peel masks. I find them annoying to remove and I hate how you have to pick at your face. I'm also not usually a big fan of natural cosmetic lines because they usually smell pretty funky and I don't find them as effective. I first saw a review of the REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask by Jen, my go-to beauty guru at http://www.abeautyfulsentiment.com/ (definitely check out her site because like I said - she's my beauty guru :) and I was finally motivated to try this out!

If you read the product description from the REN website there doesn't seem to be anything this mask can't do! This mask is part of the REN product recommendations for combination skin and mature skin. It claims to renew the complexion, reduce fine lines, improve skin tone, firmness and radiance. It also helps with post acne scarring, blemishes, blackheads and sun damaged skin. All concerns of mine! Can it get any better?

The Verdict
This mask is not a traditional peel mask but it gives the same effect and results. What I really love about it is the instant results. Your skin becomes so radiant and smooth and it only takes 10 minutes. This mask is a thick gel that looks, feels and smells like orange marmalade. When I apply it there is a bit of a tingly sensation. My cheeks are really sensitive to this mask and the sensation on my cheeks get to be unbearable after about 3-4 minutes so I just wipe off the mask from my cheeks but leave the rest on my T-zone. Due to this I definitely do not think this is suitable for people with sensitive or delicate skin. The good news is that once wiped off your skin doesn't continue to react (no redness, breakouts or peeling). After the full 10 minutes I just rinse the rest of it off. For now I'm using this mask once a week and I really love the results it's been giving me! I have noticed a huge reduction in blackheads and my skintone is extremely radiant!

Freebies
I also got these free samples from Sephora along with this purchase: Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel and Bliss Peeling Groovy Facial Serum.

**Update** I 've been using this every morning under my moisturizer on my forehead and neck - but honestly not really seeing any results. It's supposed to help with any fine lines/wrinkles. Since it's a gel, it is very fast absorbing but unfortuntately it has a weird smell that is a mix of old lotion and old flowers. This sample lasted me about 1 week and I really don't think that was enough time to see the effects.


**Update** This stuff rocks! I was interested in trying this out but did not have high hopes of it giving any sort of instant results. I was completely wrong! This serum really and truly delivers! I have started to notice some fine lines on my forehead and when I apply this I feel a slight tingling and 5 minutes later - smooth! Also I have not broken out once using this. The serum is clear and quite runny but is not one bit oily or greasy. There is no smell to it either! It also claims to help minimize dark spots but I have not noticed any dramatic difference. It does however give my skin an overall radiance. I just don't notice my old acne scars lightening.

Read the full review for Bliss Peeling Groovy Facial Serum.

Shiseido The Skincare Purifying Mask $29

I use this mask about once a week after cleansing and steaming. It's a Marine Mineral Clay mask that you smear onto your face for 5 minutes and it absorbs the impurities and sebum from your pores. After rinsing this off with warm water, I follow it with a toner and finally moisturizer.

The Verdict
I like how the mask does not harden or dry so you can still make expressions easily. My skin is a lot more supple after this and my pores look clearer too. I feel like this is gives a deep DEEP cleanse and I really like the results I get.

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Mask 6pc $68

I LOVE facial masks. I dunno why but it's this obsession I have. I think it's because since I was a little girl I watched my aunt (she's the girly girl of the family) put on masks as part of her beauty regimen.

Anyways I was given a sample of 2 of these by a Shiseido SA last spring. I really loved the results and I've been using them ever since. The mask has a pleasant calming scent (I dunno what it is) and it is soaked in the White Lucent brightening liquid. The liquid kinda reminds me of an emulsion lotion but richer. The liquid contains Asian plant extracts to help with moisture balance and a high dose of Vitamin C to brighten dark spots and even skin tone. I always cleanse and tone before putting this on. I like how the mask has little flaps so that you can use them on your eyes too. It feels cool when applied and you just let the liquid soak in for 10 minutes. After that just remove and you're done. You don't have to rinse off this mask and I never apply any additional moisturizer after this as my face gets super saturated from the mask.

The Verdict
I love love love this mask! It mask is so hydrating and it really diminishes any dark or dull areas and gives you a radiant look and even skintone. Since you don't wash off the mask, I feel like it leaves a bit of a dewy film that is a little bit sticky as it dries but I don't mind it. I treat myself to this once every 2 weeks and before any special event.