Face Masks To Renew & Hydrate

I have to admit I'm not a big lover of face masks, I have to be super careful because of my sensitive skin and I always find that I'm forever being let down by them. Never the less I'm a sucker for good publicity and these guys have had nothing but. I don't have a great deal of specific skin problems so all I really need for a good pamper sesh is a hydrating mask when my skin is a little dehydrated, and a good exfoliating mask to rejuvenate.

What I love the most about these two is that I haven't been disappointed by them, they've served me well and for that I bow down to them. The Origins Drink Up-Intensive Overnight Mask is a thick and luxurious treat. I tend to stick with this in the winter when my skin is really dry and needs a little help, but occasionally I'll whack it out in the summer for a little pampering (that whole sentence didn't sound appropriate, I apologise). It continuously gives me plump and hydrated skin the morning after and in the colder months it's an essential in the nighttime routine. 

The REN F10 Smooth and Renew Mask is a great way to get exfoliating if you have very sensitive skin and find scrubs a bit harsh. This gel mask is extremely thick and sticky but leaves the skin looking brighter and renewed after use. It has a strange citrus smell to it, which some people may love but I'm not overly keen. But in the cases of facemasks it's how they work not how they smell that is the main factor. 

What face masks are a must have in your skincare routine? Do you care about the smell of masks or is it substance over style? 

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed

I am currently on a mission to find the best product for fighting the little pore clogging evils that are blackheads. I have always had a massive amount of blackheads, especially around my nose, but over the past few months they seem to be completely taking over. I cleanse twice a day and always make sure I take my makeup off, but alas I have pores bigger than the grand canyon, and nothing seems to be keeping them clog free. 

I've got a lot of love for Soap & Glory products, and I've found their skincare products to be pretty impressive, so I thought I'd try their No Clogs Allowed mask. This is a self heating mask that claims to clean deep down into the pores (don't they all). It contains teeny tiny beads to give a light exfoliation and is aimed at Oily/Combination skin. Then once you wet your hands and have given it another scrub, it will turn blue, you then leave it on for 5 minutes and wash off.

After using this the first time, I noticed that my skin looked a lot brighter and cleaner, I haven't noticed a decrease in my blackheads though. After using it once a week for a good couple of weeks now, I have noticed that my sensitive skin is starting to dislike it. I find that around my nose, the skin becomes red and irritated. It does state on the packaging however that it should not be used on sensitive skin, which I obviously ignored because I'm too lazy to read the packaging, my own fault.

The smell is very chemically, it has a slight menthol scent with a hint of fruity tang. I know, a very strange description, but it's the best I've got. The actual product is pretty thick and slightly gritty, it's very easy to apply though and doesn't go everywhere like some clay masks. 

In the past the No Clogs Allowed has come with a facial sponge, however with the new packaging re-vamp by Soap & Glory, I've found that you no longer get one. The new packaging, much like with my Peaches and Clean, is unbelievably plain and boring. One of my friends described this as looking like a supermarkets own brand of toothpaste, and she's not wrong. I don't know what's going on with Soap & Glory packaging lately, but it seems to be a pretty strange direction to go in. 

I think if you have normal skin that isn't prone to sensitivity, this could be a great exfoliating, brightening mask for you. But those of us with very sensitive skin and masses of blackheads, we will have to keep on the hunt. 

RRP: £7.67

What products do you love for combating blackheads?