mrsjennyws

So I'll admit, up until the beginning of last year my skincare routine consisted of taking off my eyeliner and mascara with a face wipe and washing my face in the shower in the mornings. I always thought that as my skin is quite greasy that I shouldn't be using a moisturiser.

But once I started wearing more makeup and needing to get my skin wedding ready I realised that I needed to develop more of a skincare routine.

I have combination skin, probably more on the oily side as I don't get many dry patches, but in the winter I do find a few trouble areas cropping up. I tend to have quite large pores around my nose and it's blackhead heaven, I've never really seemed to shift them no matter what I've done.
I do get a few spots, usually reoccurring monthly, around my chin, between my brows and I have a recoccuring one that won't shift between my nose and my lip - it's a constant red mark that surfaces as a spot every now and then.
And finally, as a result of a burn, I have a raised patch of red skin on my forehead, that seems to become worse when I'm stressed and tired (pre-wedding it was an angry flare all of the time). It often seems to show up through foundation and can look a bit caked if I try to cover it more. Ideally I'd like to do something to make it less red and less 3D. (Also, just in case you wondered, you get a burn scar on your forehead when you make tempura and the oil explodes in your face - terrifying to say the least.)

Step 1: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I put this on a cotton pad and press it over my eye and hold it there for a few second and wipe off, then I hold it between my eyelashes (anyone know what I mean?) and do the same. Then the other eye. Then sometimes I'll do a fresh one and wipe it over my face.

I have very sensitive eyes and I find that a lot of eye makeup removers can make my eyes water and sting or leave them clogged with gunk if it's a thicker one. Once I was having my makeup done at the Benefit counter and the lady gave me something to take off the mascara I had on (I'm not sure what product it was) and my God, my eyes were streaming for the rest of the time I was there.

Touch wood, this hasn't made my eyes bad, so recommended if you have sensitive eyes.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Step 2: Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion

This is one of my favourites, I love that it has that tingly, almost burn-y feeling on my skin. If it does that, then something in my head tells me that it must be working! I use this on a cotton pad to get the rest of the makeup off my face. Obviously as it's a skin tingling one, keep it away from those sensitive peepers!

Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion

Step 3: Boots Essentials Cucumber Face Wipes

I usually find that I still have some makeup stuck on my lashes and waterline, so I use these to get in there and get that off and then give the rest of my face a once over.

Boots Essentials Cucumber Face Wipes

Step 4: Cleansing Pads

I've been using the Superdrug Deep Action Pore Cleansing Pads recently, although my husband decided that they didn't work and he's bought some other ones now, I think they might be Clearasil, but I'm still finishing off the Superdrug ones.

I like this as they're textured they feel like a good exfoliating scrub on your face. But this is probably the most likely step that I'd skip as I'm not sure if it's always needed.

Superdrug Deep Action Pore Cleansing Pads

Step 5: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

A pea sized blob (I probably use too much) all over my face.

So how many cleanses is that?

Face Wash

As previously mentioned, I wash my face in the shower (it's just easier that way) every morning. What I use does vary, but I do favour something that's quite a coarse exfoliating scrub or has charcoal or tea tree - or ideally all of the above. Sometimes I use more than one face wash per shower, excessive I know.

Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Facial Scrub

Masks

I do love a mask! I currently have the Superdrug Witch Hazel Mud Mask, Superdrug Dear Sea Mud Mask and the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask. Maybe some others knocking around. And I've just worked my way through a tub of Lush Cosmetic Warrior (review here). I probably don't use these as much as I should, but I always get them in my hair, so I have to do it before I have a shower.

Superdrug Dead Sea Mud Mask Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask, Superdrug Witch Hazel Mud Mask

I've come late to the party and have just spent some time reading up on the Pixi Glow Tonic and I've decided that I must have it.

Advice please?

My skin's been feeling a little greasy/tacky lately and I've been getting a few spots, so I'm open to mixing up my current skincare routine. I also wonder whether I should be using an eye cream or something similar. I'm not really up on this area!

Any ideas to help with the greasy skin and the burn scar?
Suggestions more than welcome!

Guys...I gave in to the hype!
I'd heard good things and read lots of reviews about the Lush Masks. I've been wanting to try one for a while and so I did my research and looked at the different ones, what they do, what they're for.
The husband was away with work and I wanted something to pamper myself with. I had a bit of a greasy face with a few spots popping up (sounds. so. gross.) so I opted for the Cosmetic Warrior Mask.


Off I went to the Lush in Romford town, promptly loitered around the masks, swiped up the one I wanted from the ice tray and took it to the till. Here I must say that Lush failed me a bit, I feel like they create quite an expectation with all these fancy, handmade products and so you go in expecting an equivalent level of service to the effort they've put into their products. The staff didn't offer to help me once, or even greet me; and then I had to stand by the till waiting as the staff were too busy chatting to each other to come over and serve me. Then, only once they had finished their conversation, did the girl come over to the till to serve me. She seemed pretty uninterested, I'm not sure if she even said anything to me. I didn't get offered a bag, so had to ask for one - the pot had a smear of mask on the outside, I don't want to put that straight in my bag!
So all in all, pretty lacking in the customer services, in the Romford store anyway.

Definitely minus points for Lush there.
 

But back to the mask...

Lush says 'Combats troublesome spots, cleanses and cools the skin.'
'A gentle and balancing fresh face mask with antibacterial tea tree and fresh garlic working together to cleanse. Fresh green grapes clean and cool the skin, whilst free range eggs tighten its texture and antimicrobial honey leaves it soft and moisturised. Smooth a generous layer of this mask onto your face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.'



Ingredients
Kaolin
Fresh Green Grapes, cleansing
Fresh Organic Free Range Eggs
Honey, moisturising and antiseptic
Cornstarch
Glycerine
Fresh Garlic, deep skin cleansing
Tea Tree Oil, antibacterial and antiseptic
Limonene *occurs naturally in essential oils
Perfume



I got back home and basically I was super excited to get that stuff on my face.

Texture
My first opinion was that it's surprisingly thick and lumpy, more like a really think, lumpy moisturising cream. Quite different to the other masks I have (Superdrug Witch Hazel Mud Mask, Superdrug Dear Sea Mud Mask, Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask). But then again, that might just be a general first opinion of it being fresh mask. Considering the teeny, tiny tub I was thinking that there would be enough in there for like 2 masks, but I found that it went further than I thought. I probably got about 4 or 5 masks from it before I threw it out (the bits were going brown and it didn't seem as tempting to put it on my face anymore). I will also add that I am someone who likes to be generous with my masks, I like to put quite a lot on and get a good covering.
I do also like that it's cold, as it's a fresh mask you have to keep it int he fridge, and so it's quite refreshing to put on.


Smell
The smell, which is always mentioned in reviews, is actually something that I likes about the mask. It is quite strong and although I've read that people have said it doesn't stick around once you take the mask off, I found myself smelling it for ages after. Maybe that's just because it's probably crushed in my hair. But prolonged smelling of it wasn't so great.
The smell somehow reminds me of compost and it takes me back to my childhood (which apparently was compost filled).

Results and Final Verdict
I didn't really feel like it made much difference to my skin, it still feels quite greasy and spotty. And maybe because of the lumpiness and smell, it didn't really feel like a nice pampering treat.
I do feel disappointed, as looking at the ingredient list and description it sounds perfect for me, but this was not meant to be.
Sadly I don't think I'll be buying the Cosmetic Warrior mask again.


I know that a lot of people love this mask and it really works for them, so I don't want to put anyone off trying it. Everyone's skin is different and somethings work well for some people and not for others! So if you haven't tried it and you're interested, I'd still say to give it a go!


I'd still be interested in trying another Lush mask, any suggestions?


I also just realised that I threw away the tub. Stupid, stupid!


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