REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask Review

FYI: Many of you mentioned yesterday, that masks can be messy. Well I thought it would be helpful to mention, that there are now MASK APPLICATORS/BRUSHES such as THIS ONE AT SEPHORA (not sure you were aware) that you can purchase to apply your masks. I think in the future, brands will start including or offering these applicators with the purchase of their masks (let's hope).

Yesterday, I reviewed Fresh's Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask. It's great for normal to oily skin types, but over time I felt it would be a bit too much for dry skin types (like me). I really like REN Skincare. I really like clay. So a couple of months ago I saw that REN had a clay Invisible Pores Detox Mask (for Combination to Oily Skin Types). Even though this says it's for Combination to Oily skin types, this works great on my Dry Skin. To use it everyday? NO. But I can use this safely, once a week for a deep clean (that's more than I could with the Fresh clay). This is "a purifying clay mask that draws out impurities, visibly reduces and refines pores, combats the appearance of oiliness and breakouts". Purify & Detox!!! Yes, please! I love that clean feeling! I mentioned yesterday, that since using REN's Clay Clarifying Cleanser along with REN's Gentle Cleansing Milk, my breakouts and skin flair ups have really calmed down. It's due to clay! But clay can be drying! I've decided to replace the REN Clay Clarifying Cleanser (which I was using daily) with REN's Invisible Pores Detox Mask (once a week). I feel I only need clay once a week & not daily! I love REN products because they understand sensitive skin. They undergo rigorous British environmental/organic standards (NO parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance/colors, T.E.A., D.E.A, glycols, silicones). Nearly all of their products are Vegan. It's truly CLEAN Skincare! I love the packaging! The clay is housed in a bag INSIDE a pump! That is to keep the clay supple & germ free! All of their products are packaged this way! You start with CLEAN SKIN, before applying this mask. You pump out enough product to cover your entire face. Apply in sections. Let dry! This mask tightened but didn't harden or crack. It felt cool on the skin. I rinsed with warm water & a face cloth. My skin felt clean and supple. It didn't feel as stripped as with the Fresh. I wouldn't use this everyday, but definitely once a week! You're not running for your moisturizer afterwards! My pores looked clean. Did they look smaller? No, but they didn't look smaller with the Fresh mask either. This did a better job with blackheads. I never experienced any redness or dry patches with this mask. So if you have fickle skin like me and can't use charcoal or harsh masks, definitely give this a try. It's gentle, calming & soothing. If you have normal, combination or oily skin and want a mask that is not so powerful, I think you will like this as well. Attached to the pump/nozzle is a "mini-cap" to cover the pump opening. This is to prevent the pump from being blocked. It worked for me. Overall, I was very impressed with this mask and will incorporate it into my skincare regime until something else comes along.

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 

  REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask is Sweet

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Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask Review

Fresh's Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask is a multi-functional (purifying mask, deep cleanser, reduces the appearances of pores, mattifies the skin, softer & smoother skin) treatment for NORMAL to OILY SKIN! It is REALLY GOOD, but let me break this review down by skin types.

IF YOU HAVE DRY SKIN: I have both dry & sensitive skin! Even though Fresh states this is only for normal to oily skin types, I purchased it because I had SO MUCH success with REN's Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser when used in conjunction with REN's Gentle Cleansing Milk Cleanser. CLAY has kept my skin breakouts in check and keeps my skin calm. I love it! So I still wanted to give the Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask a try despite the warning. I've used this three times! It looks like a mud. It's very cool to the skin when applied. It's refreshing. Fresh says to leave this on for 3-5 minutes. You will want to leave it on longer! DO NOT!!! 3-5 minutes is enough! Within that time frame, it dries down and tightens but doesn't crack. Wash it off with warm water & a face cloth. NOW! Every time I tried this, my face felt super clean! My pores looked & felt clean! My skin was super soft! I NEVER TURNED REMOTELY RED! BUT YOUR SKIN WILL FEEL DRY AFTERWARDS. YOU WILL NEED A MOISTURIZER. This mask sucks all the oil from your skin. I NEVER EXPERIENCED DRY PATCHES, but I knew if I used this often I would. I can only see DRY SKIN TYPES using this once a month or twice a month WITH A MOISTURIZER. To use it more will just deplete your skin. This jar is good for 12 months, so it would probably last you all year. You could use this for spot treatment of acne. But to use every week, I just don't see it. I have tried another clay detox mask from REN, that I like and it is more suitable for DRY SKIN. Stop by A Very Sweet Blog tomorrow and I'll tell you about it.

IF YOU HAVE NORMAL, COMBINATION or OILY SKIN: This purifying mask is for YOU! The oilier your skin, the better this mask will work. I asked my mom to test this mask. She has NORMAL SKIN. She loved it! As I explained above, the mask looks like a mud. When you apply it, apply it in sections. To your cheeks. To your chin. To your forehead. It goes on cool. It's very refreshing. Fresh recommends that you keep the mask on for 3-5 minutes. You will be tempted to leave it on longer (with how good it feels), BUT DON'T DO IT! 5 minutes is enough! The clay smooths & tightens on your face, but during the recommended time never cracks. If you leave it on longer, it will. Use water & a face cloth to wash it off. I prefer warm water. Your face should feel clean, smooth & fresh! My mom (who has normal skin) did require a moisturizer afterwards (it depleted any oil on her face) but she didn't experience any dry patches, irritation or redness. She mentioned to me, the more oil you have on your face the better (so that is why this would work for combination/oily types the best). Two things kept me from giving it a Supersweet rating, IT DOESN"T EFFECTIVELY REMOVE BLACKHEADS. Most detox masks are supposed to, but this one didn't. And Fresh, states this mask can be used daily... ummm.... I wouldn't recommend that unless you're truly dripping oil! LOL It depletes oil and everyone needs some oil on their skin. To use it daily would go overboard.

This mask comes in a jar. It's also now available in a tube. It really makes your skin feel CLEAN. But you have to be aware of your skin type and how it affects your skin. This will tell you how often you can use it. Again, for my DRY/SENSITIVE skin types, I'll have a review of REN's Detox Clay Cleanser for you tomorrow. Detox masks are very popular right now! Have you tried this one or any others? Let me know in the comments.

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 

  Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask is Sweet

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Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit (Now On Sale) Review & Swatches

I was looking at ULTA's website (as usual) and noticed Smashbox's Step by Step Contour Kit was on sale (regularly $45 / now $22.50). I was like whaaaa! I have that palette! I purchased it when it when it first came out and never opened it :P Let me review it for my blog buddies readers and see if it's worth it! Contouring really intimidated & scared me when it first became popular several years ago, but I've really warmed up to it. Once I saw how it slimmed down my nose & forehead, chiseled my cheeks & chin I was all for it. It's all about shading some areas & brightening others! This palette (which is small and fits into the palm of your hand) gives you a contour shade, bronzer & highlighter. Smashbox also gives you a brush! There's a mirror inside the palette and a guide that shows you how to shade based on the shape of your face. This palette comes in light/medium (which I have) and medium/dark. When I swatched the shades (these are powder), I was like ok ... I don't know how these will work with my skin-tone. The highlight looked kind of powdery & dry on my hand. But when I started applying it and blending everything in I was impressed.

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 

  Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit is Sweet

Contouring Step-by-Step

Step One: I applied my primer, foundation, concealer and lipstick (I don't apply lipstick until the end, but for the sake of pictures LOL)

Step Two: I applied the contour shade around the perimeter of my face, down both sides of my nose UP TO MY EYEBROWS and underneath the tip of my nose, chiseled my cheek bones and applied underneath my chin/face). The bronzer worked better as a blush for me. So I applied it to the apples of my cheeks.

Step Three: I blended the contour into my skin using the same beauty blender I applied my foundation with. I applied the highlighter to my nose, to the center of my forehead, over my eyebrows, underneath my eyebrows, underneath my eyes and to my chin.

Step Four: Using my used beauty blender I kept blending! See the difference from photo one & four?

Final Thoughts: I must say this is a solid contour palette! I really like how it made me look! If you want it, get it ON SALE. I can see, it will last me forever! Everything is super pigmented and you don't need much product. If your nose is sleek and you already have chiseled cheeks, then contouring might not be for you. But if you want to narrow your nose (without cosmetic surgery) and really define your face TRY contouring. Play around with it in your spare time (nobody can see you LOL). I did and it's helped me. Here are some of my other contour blog posts: here, here, here, here

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Pixi Mists: Hydrating Milky Mist, Makeup Fixing Mist, Vitamin Wakeup Mist and Glow Mist Review

Sponsored: Last week, Pixi Beauty sent me their new collection of facial mists. I was very excited to receive these, because I was very impressed with their Glow Mist. Below are my thoughts on each.

Despite the different colors, ALL OF THESE SPRAY ON CLEAR!

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)

Pixi by Petra: Vitamin Wakeup Mist - Sweet

I love this Vitamin Wakeup Mist ($15)! It's funny, I love drinking orange juice & citrus-y things. But my skin usually detests them when it comes to skincare. When I first saw the orange color, I was like um ... I don't know about this. HaHaHa But I was pleasantly surprised! And you will be too! In a nutshell, this mist is REFRESHING & INVIGORATING! It has a VERY SOFT orange scent (nothing offensive whatsoever). When applied, my skin felt hydrated, refreshed & very soft. To me, this mist would be great for use in the AM (after your shower or bath for a perk me up) or after a workout. It's uplifting to the senses. It perks you up. It's non-sticky. It feels great to the skin. I really like it. This mist makes me feel uplifted, just like Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush. This mist provides light hydration, so you will still need a moisturizer. It doesn't replace it.

Pixi by Petra: Hydrating Milky Mist - Bittersweet

I expected a little more from this Hydrating Milky Mist ($15). The only thing milky is the color. Is it hydrating? Not so much. You mist it on your face! You initially get the hydration, it evaporates and your left with the same kind of skin you began with before spraying. LOL I have DRY SKIN, so my skin just sucked this up leaving nothing behind. It just EVAPORATED. Maybe this would work well for other skin types, but I wasn't very impressed. This mist is scentless.

Pixi by Petra: Glow Mist - Sweet

You  may remember my intial review of Glow Mist ($15) (reviewed here) and I feel the same way about it now. This mist gives your skin a very natural GLOW (not SHINE LOL). Spritz! Apply your makeup! It's very natural looking. I highly recommend this mist, for anyone that wants a healthy glow to their skin without HIGHLIGHTERS or ILLUMINATORS. It's a nice option for work or on the weekends.

Pixi by Petra: Makeup Fixing Mist - Bittersweet

I haven't dabbled with makeup fixing sprays. I should, with this New Orleans heat & humidity. This Makeup Fixing Mist ($15) is ok. Spray as far from your face as possible! This has a harder spray than I would like, so it goes on really wet. However, it dries pretty fast ... <5 minutes. So that's good. Once dried, it didn't alter the color of my foundation, blush, eyeliner or foundation. All my makeup was set in place. Lightly rubbing my face, my makeup didn't move. Briskly rubbing my face, some makeup appeared on my hands, but there was no smearing. Is this UD All Nighter? Naw But if you're looking for something lightweight, inexpensive and don't plan on touching your face a lot this may work for you. I like that it's non-sticky and non-heavy.

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