 Greetings all! I thought I would break up the "shopping your stash" posts and bring you this one today about what I've been doing during quarantine. Maybe it will give you some ideas of what you could do, or something you've forgotten about that you used to love.
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Recently I got sent some of Neutrogena's HydroGel masks and also a sleeping mask to try out. The one that you'll be seeing is the HydroBoost gel mask which is my favorite line from Neutrogena. I use their HydroBoost cleanser all the time. It's in constant rotation in my routine. I think the line is especially good if you're dehydrated. I tend to put a difference between having dry skin and having actual dehydrated skin. I won't get into all the reasoning in this but dry skin might be flaky or areas of dryness and it might just mainly be on the epidermis and effected by certain things like weather, or a product that's very drying and so on. Dehydrated is the dry and tight feeling along with the skin literally drinking up product very fast, the skin isn't plump, it may look quite dull, so on. I think there is far more skin that is dehydrated than most people realize and it's typically the first thing that any facialist or professional would treat during a facial or session.
 Exciting announcement! Allure has decided to give 4 of my followers the July Allure Beauty Box. The giveaway is up now on my Instagram which I will link here. Rules are: you have to follow me and follow Allure and leave a comment on the Instagram post about what product you'd like to try! Super easy, super fun. Inside the box you get:
So there's the run down. You also get a booklet with tips from Allures Beauty Experts, promo codes exclusive to Allure, and where you can buy these products. The promo codes are awesome. If you want to sign up for a monthly beauty box from Allure you can go here: www.allure.com/thebeautybox Go to Instagram enter the giveaway and win one of the July boxes! Goodluck!  
For about the 4 years that I've been reviewing and working in the beauty community I've heard about When Masks but I've never had the pleasure of trying them. My friend Rheannon has told me about them several times. I'm happy to say though that nowwww they are available online at Sephora. Well done guys! Sephora is stepping it up lately and getting so many new skincare brands and I have never been so happy.
So When was so kind and sent me 5 masks. I'll insert what they are and the description. "All When masks contain hyaluronic acid and ginseng extracts to help keep skin moisturized and healthy. *10:00 PM - Anti-Aging Contains watermelon extract and collagen to protect skin and help improve skin conditions *Glamour Base - Primer (previously called Makeup Base) Contains adenosine, collagen and peptides to help improve skin elasticity *Snow Magic - Brightening Contains niacinamide (vitamin B3) and aloe vera leaf extract for brighter, glowing skin *The Last Choice- Hydrating Contains sodium hyaluronate and saccharide isomerate to help keep skin moisturized *Travel Mate - Rejuvenating Contains chamomile flower water and Swiss Alpine herb extracts to gently hydrate and soothe skin" I must say the names are intriguing enough lol. I am working my way through them and so far my favorite is Travelmate closely followed by 10 PM which is formulated to help boost the skins regeneration process that naturally occurs between 10 pm and 2 am. I love and appreciate sheet masks that are specifically soothing and calming to the skin or very nourishing and beneficial. I don't know if you've met me but I love to do treatments and am no stranger to Retinols, AHA/BHA, and high strength Vitamin C (not all at once, calm down). You use these for 30 minutes (I may or may not have left mine on a bit longer cause I enjoyed it), they're made in Korea and the ingredient deck isn't super long and nothing in there that alarms me. No it's not "green" but it's still a very good product. It's one of the best made masks I've ever used as far as the sheet. It fits much better than most and it's a lovely material. It's an all natural sheet mask that is their "When Skin to Skin" Bio-Cellulose Sheet. It's gentle enough to treat burn patients actually which is amazing, it's made from coconuts, eco friendly and bio-degradeable. The sheet will hold "100 times it's dry weight and 10 times more than fabric or paper sheet masks". It adheres to the skin like a dream, not really any tugging, sliding, adjusting, etc that you need to do. By far the best fitting sheet mask I've ever used. All of them have the "Bio Craft Serum" but each mask has a different version of that but each of them contain Sodium Hyaluronate, which is the salt version of the skins natural Hyaluronic Acid and also considered more effective to some than pure HA, and Ginseng Extract I see. Those ingredients along with other ingredients depending on which one you use obviously gives you the Bio Craft Serum they are known for. I do think they are a great choice for sheet masks, I definitely feel like my skin has benefited from using them. So in my opinion, they're aces. As always I'm going to insert a bit about the company: When® was created by Jin Han Lee, a healthcare specialist. Mr Lee used the latest skincare innovation and research to create this breakthrough bio-cellulose skincare range that addresses the visible signs of aging, skin firmness, tone, texture and radiance. Launched in Korea, When aims at using advanced bio-cellulose technology to create innovative face masks with superior adhesion and hydrating effect. The all-natural bio-cellulose sheet that When uses is made from coconuts, which is gentle enough to treat burn patients. Despite its light weight, the bio-cellulose sheet can hold essence 100 times its weight, that is 10 times more than fabric or paper mask sheets. As much essence as it holds, the bio-cellulose sheet delivers essence to skin with minimum wastage by maintaining exceptional dermal contact. Natural, hydration, adhesion - the elements you demand in a mask, When has them all at their best. As I said earlier you can find this on Sephora now, http://seph.me/2poOkfS you can learn more about them here at: http://whenmask.com/ ** This post was Powered by Brand Backer** 
 So it's Saturday Night....I always think of that song Jimmy Buffet covered: "another Saturday Night and I ain't got no body, I got some money cause I just got paid. How I wish I had someone to talk to, I'm in an awful way....". Fun fact: it was released by Sam Cooke (which is quite different to what we're used to), then re-done by Cat Stevens and then Jimmy Buffet. It is Saturday night but none of the rest of the lyrics pertain to me. lol Anyway, it's usually Saturday Night Sheet Mask. However, this time it's just Saturday Night Skincare with a mud mask. This mask I'm using is the Apsara Papaya and Sugar Exfoliating Mask. This is a finely milled powder mask that you add water to, which is really my favorite way to do mud masks. It's also a natural AHA due to the raw sugar which is a natural source of Glycolic Acid. When you see sugar in the name though, you think it'll be a scrub. Not the case here. I love Apsara, I genuinely do. I'm a huge fan of there Neem Cleanser and Rose facial sprays. This mask is no different I really love it. I think this is more mild than Aztec Healing Clay as far as how it feels on the skin, but I feel like it has better/more instant results. So it's like "less reaction more benefits" My skin is so soft. Yet it's matte, but not to be confused with dull. My skin is not shiny like it is with peels, vitamin c, and so on. Not to say that it takes away a glow. It just leaves the skin feeling so soft and instant results as far as blemishes being either gone or unnoticeable (small ones, let's not get dramatic). The skin is not stripped as it can be with masks that "detox" or "purify" the skin which leave the skin feeling tight and dry as the Sahara like, "PLEASE GOD SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME OIL, MIST, CREAM, ANYTHING!!!" to put on the skin. This leaves the skin looking great, as well as feeling great. Soft people, soft skin. I just wanted to add that in there again. Soft. Soft skin. Ok I think you got it. The ingredients are as follows: "Kaolin, bentonite, Carica papaya (papaya) extract, Saccharum officinarum (unprocessed raw sugar), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Azadirachta indica (neem)." No wonder I love it, because it houses 2 of my favorite ingredients which are Neem and Turmeric. You mix one tbsp. with water or rosewater and mix into a paste. I don't find that it's a smell I love but I don't use skincare for smells, I mixed mine with water and not rosewater but I'm curious to see what that would be like. I think it'd be very useful added benefit for the skin. This is $22 for 3.3 oz.  It kinda looks like baby diarrhea on my face....but I'm cool with it.
 Sephora's Spring VIB Sale is coming up. So per usual I'd like to provide you with a buying guide of things I think would be good choices to pick up. I prefer to buy more expensive items during these sales to take the sting off the price a little bit. Keep in mind you can return stuff to Sephora even if you've used it, they have a wonderful return possibility. It's also a great time to pick up things you use constantly or that you know you love and will use. These are the only sales that I actually "plan out" to get the most bang for your buck and to buy smart and use it to your advantage. I feel like skincare is the biggest expense and also the bigger concern so I prefer buying skincare during these. So I will have a skincare suggestions list, and a makeup suggestions list, and some honorable mentions at the end. Starting with skincare, I like buying value sets. You get to try more stuff for a better price and for things you aren't positive if you'll like, you get to sample it first kinda. Skincare Suggestions:
Also it's a great time to buy skincare tools. I recommend the PMD Personal Micro-dermabrasion set, a Clarisonic, or a Foreo Luna. All of those especially the cleansing devices make a huge difference in your skin and hardly ever need to be replaced. 
Makeup is often times more exciting and fun for people. I felt the very same way. Where I like to buy skincare sets in these sales I don't like to buy makeup sets because I'd rather buy full size of something I know I'd use. I generally go for foundation, which is what I will do this time as well. A nice eye shadow palette, not gimmicky. Something that blends beautifully and gets the job done. I often buy palettes a lot come to think of it. I also buy stuff that I use constantly that I need to stock up on.
Makeup Suggestions:
So for some honorable mentions: Brush sets, especially the Natasha Denona one. Dyson Hair Dryer that is ridiculously expensive. Too Faced Natural Love Ultimate Neutral Eye Shadow Palette. Lots of neutrals and in matte and shimmer formulas. Becca Shimmer Skin Perfector Pressed Primers, ie: Smashbox, Hourglass Veil, Dr Brandt Pore Minimizing, Becca Ever Matte. MUFE Star Lit loose powders Stila Magnificent Metal Glitters Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizer If you wanted to try LaMer now would be a good time but so far I don't care for much of it but they do have some sets available. So those are just some things that I suggest. Of course it's not the Gospel people, you're free to buy whatever you want. **I hear that the sale is the 7th of April but I haven't had that confirmed and usually the spring sale is 10%-15% depending on what tier your on with the Beauty Insider**  I think I missed Saturday Night Sheet Mask last week. I was in the hospital and got out last Friday so pretty sure I missed it. This week I did a very extensive skin routine tonight. I used my PMD Beauty Personal Microderm that I hadn't used in about 3 weeks and I prefer to use it once a week. That was sent to me for free but since then I've bought my own replacement discs and so on because I love it that much. So since I was doing something that was quite abrasive, I wanted more of a fiber sheet mask.
So I tried a Hydro Gel Mask from Miss Spa. Specifically it was the Youth Renewal mask. This is a two piece mask, that fits the face soooooo good. It has to be left on for 45 minutes. Which depending on how you look at it and how much you enjoy it, that might sound great to you or it may get on your nerves after 15 minutes. I find it super comfortable and soothing though so I loved it. In truth I wouldn't want to go past 45 minutes though and I'd prefer it be a 30 minute mask. It also has a golden luster in the actual mask part and I'm not mad about that. I noticed my skin looked more even in pigmentation, smoother and brighter. In fairness most masks make my skin brighter. The redness from my PMD was completely gone and I do feel like that was from the mask. So perhaps if you have some temporary redness or sensitivity from something that is harsh it may help in that area. I don't feel like it was life changing but the mask it self felt so nice that I want tons of them on backup. I love this and I need a life time supply because they feel amazing and I love them. I got mine from Ulta and it was $10 which I don't feel is bad plus you can use the $3.50 off coupon as well. Sometimes it's $3.50 off $10 and sometimes it's off $15. So that can help. The other Hydrogel Mask they have is for Deep Wrinkles. The other are golden masks that you paint on or gel eye treatments or peel off masks. So they have quite a few products. I have one of the paint on gold masks that I'm excited to try sometime soon. Hope you enjoyed, if you want to par-take in SNSM then use the hashtag #SaturdayNightSheetMask so I can find you or just tag me @lovemascara on Instagram.  It's Saturday Night Sheet Mask. So this week we're trying the Whamisa Organic Facial Mask Green Essence Lifting Real Kelp Sheet. This is a two piece real kelp mask that is soaked in one bottle of fermented Sea Kelp and bamboo serum. Yes. Fermented. It's quite different. I don't really like 2 piece sheet masks. However, my skin did feel wonderful after using this. You leave this on for 15 minutes. Definitely lay down or the bottom part is going to slide off cause it's thicker and heavier. I did like how it was easier to match it up with the contours of my face. The top part anyway. Which I recommend you put on first and enjoy the fact that you look a bit like batman. I did some facial massage after I took it off to really work in the serum. Which makes all the difference (obviously). This claims to be "organic" but on the back it says 90.37% Organic. I can't read the ingredients it's all in Korean it also says "Pure Natural Ingredients". **Whamisa actually commented on my Instagram picture and said that the reason for the 90.37% Organic statement on the back was because some natural ingredients haven't yet been certified Organic. So they like to be completely transparent with their customers but they wanted to make sure that their customers know it is 100% Natural ingredients. As you know in my skincare whenever possible I prefer to not have "fragrance/parfum" when I can, and that is super hard to find in sheet masks. So I love that there is no question about ALL the ingredients being Natural. Which it does say on the package as I stated above so I didn't really worry about that. My thoughts on this is I really appreciate the honesty with that. I found it somewhat confusing when it said that but not in the sense that I didn't know whether or not it was truly "organic" rather because I couldn't read the ingredients myself on the package to figure out what was in it. I truly do not feel like it was "false advertising" I figured it was something technical but like with every review I give you the claims and exactly what the product says. Most companies don't bother to reach out or clear things up for you and most companies wouldn't be that forth coming with information. I take that into consideration when I'm buying a product. As do most people because in all honesty if I see something in store and I'm confused by it, I just won't buy it. I won't get my phone out and try to research the product unless it's extremely expensive or something that I really really want, it's just something I won't try simple as that. Companies, I feel, know that which is why I think a lot of them don't disclose that all their ingredients haven't been certified as fully organic yet or whatever else may be the question, so they won't miss out on sales. So that just wins my respect even more from Whamisa. Again I want to say I appreciate them for reaching out and clearing up the confusion for at least one customer, me lol.** I also will post the ingredient deck from the Ulta website for you as well: "Laminaria Japonica, *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, *Lactobacillus/Aloe Barbadensis Ferment Filtrate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, ****(-)-alpha-bisabolol, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Natto Gum, Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Dioscorea Opposita (Wild Yam) Root Extract, *Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, *Centella Asiatica Extract, *Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, *Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Chlorella Ferment, *Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, *Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly 0.05, **Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, **Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, **Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, ****Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil. *Certified Organically Grown **Natural Preservative ****Ecocer" It has a bit of a fermented scent to it. Not overpowering or disgusting but definitely has a scent. You also feel a bit like a Sushi Roll. I don't think I'm going to repurchase this. It worked well and I love the results, I just don't like the two parts and I prefer a gel or sheet mask. Also, it was $14 which I've had better masks for less. If those things don't bother you though, you can pick this up at Ulta. I would like to add that I do find this a soothing mask. Just not a relaxing mask lol.  Here I am looking like batman. Also, for some reason the color of this mask brings out a faint green shade in my eyes. Which is cool.  This is the after effect. I feel like my skin is brighter and definitely feels smoother.
 This week's Saturday Sheet Mask Is the Andalou Instant Lift and Firm Hydro Serum Sheet Mask. I got this at Ulta it was $5 but it's on sale right now for $4.24 right now. I really like Andalou skin care in general. I've used the Q10 Night Cream for quite a while, it's lovely, and I feel like their price range is always good. This mask is "certified Organic". It has fruit stem cell complex and Reversatrol Q10 in it. I'm going to leave some descriptions from the Ulta website as well as the ingredient deck: "Andalou Naturals Instant Age Defying Hydro Serum mask is formulated with: Resveratrol Q10: Resveratrol combined with Coenzyme Q10; super antioxidant complex that helps to defy wrinkle formation, inhibit cellular damage, stimulate skin-firming collagen and elastin to decrease fine lines and smooth skin. Goji Glycopeptide: Combines firming, lifting and strengthening of proteins, rich in Vitamin A & C, helps to hydrate and soothe the skin. Argan Oil (argania spinsosa): Deeply moisturizing, rich in fatty acids (oleic, linoleic), nourishing and protecting. Sodium Hyaluronate: Forms and regulates moisture on the skin. Non-GMO verified, Cruelty Free, Verified Gluten Free, Vegan Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vegetable Glycerin, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil*, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Glycopeptide, Biosaccaride Gum, Bisabolol, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Allantoin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*^, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium (Petitgrain) and Geranium Maculatum Oils* Non-GMO verified *Organic ^Fair Trade" My thoughts on the mask are that the sheet is super thin, I didn't like that at first because it didn't seem very "soft" on my skin like other masks. I feel like some people would prefer a thicker sheet, sometimes, because it tends to absorb and hold more serum in the cloth thus more product for your face. I quickly realized that it was very beneficial though because it easily contoured to my face and clung everywhere. It was actually so this and clung so much that it almost looked invisible on the skin. So I feel like my entire face was covered as good as it could be from any mask. It felt very cooling on the skin the entire time, almost cold. You can leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes. I left mine on for 10, as my skin was quite sensitive and the cold was a little uncomfortable at first. I hope they'll put out some more sheet masks because I really do like the thin mask that fits well, the price, and there's no artificial fragrance as an ingredient. As far as an "instant life and firm" I don't notice that all that much but I do feel like my skin looks brighter and definitely smoother both in texture and in appearance. So I guess since I can see that it's smoother you could say that it probably is more firm. My skin doesn't show terrible signs of wrinkles much so I don't know what it would do for that. My thought is: since it's not expensive and it's certified organic, I'd give it a go for sure. I've had some better masks but I really liked this and will probably buy more.   Over the years, I've come to really enjoy sheet masks. They're my favorite. I love skincare, obviously, and I like all masks in general but sheet masks are my favorite because you typically don't have to deal with all the washing off like you do with mud masks. That can be even more time consuming. So I find when it's time for me to do a mask, I normally reach for a sheet mask. I like to do them at least twice a week but usually once a week. Normally after I've done micro dermabrasion with my PMD Microderm. So I thought maybe it would be cool if I started like a Saturday Night Sheet Mask post. I'll be honest I don't typically go out on the weekend. At least not much at night, except for the occasional movie or special date with my husband so normally we are home at night. So I thought for the rest of you that may have some low key weekends you might like this. Also sheet masks, tend to have this unspoken gneeralization that they're all kinda the same. It's cloth soaked in product and basically that's just a good form of hydration for you skin. I will say that I find most all sheet masks happen to do exactly that but sometimes they do live up to their claims. The sheet masks I usually buy are: Calming/Soothing, Brightening, Firming, or Intense Hydration. I have gotten several pore minimizing ones before I can't say I've ever really seen one do that. I don't really want to buy purifying ones because I feel like mud masks do a much better job in that department. So I stick to basics with sheet masks. Plus I rarely need a purifying or clarifying mask and I don't really think much of anything has a long term effect on the size of your pores. So tonight's sheet mask is new at Ulta from Leaders it was $6 (and excluded from coupons surprisingly enough). Called Caribbean Coconut Calming Mask and it's a one time use of course. I did my microderm last night and I don't feel well today so I figured that was the best choice. First let me say this think is kinda huge. The packet is quite big. When you pull out the mask it's also quite big. I won't lie I totally did this wrong at first. I didn't realize you had two sides of cloth to pull away. I thought you just separated one and it left like a silicone/gel base sheet and on the other side it was different so it was a very easy way to know what side went on you face. Well doing that makes it even bigger on your face and too heavy so it slides everywhere. Then I realized the other side comes off to and just the silicone/gel type sheet molds to your face and that part fit much better. I left this on for about 20 minutes. Sometimes they get on my nerves because no sheet mask ever fits correctly. So long story short here's what I like: I love the silicone/gel mask I think that works best as a sheet mask and it doesn't absorb the serums and such into itself. I liked how there wasn't way too much product on my face to be rubbed in afterwards. Usually I have to wipe my hands off and go back in trying to rub it in this was just enough and it dried quickly while keeping my skin feeling very hydrated but not greasy, heavy or smothered from too much product. I also love that it definitely is soothing and is quite cooling on the skin and my skin is noticeably softer. The few things I didn't care for were: it had "fragrance" as a listed ingredient and it was kinda in the middle of the ingredient deck so that means usually that there is more of that ingredient in the product the higher up it is listed. The fragrance was quite strong and I don't like strong fragrance in anything at all really. Really those were my only qualms with this mask. I wish fragrance wasn't in it at all but still it is a good mask. I'm going to show you my fail and then how the actual mask looked once I figured it out. Forgive me though because it was only a screenshot while I was snap chatting with my friend. So I have an odd look.  This is the first pic where I didn't read the directions and the other wasn't taken off. You can see how huge it looked initially. Which actually the silicone part isn't as big and over sized, I don't feel.  Here the snapchat screen shot. Sorry for my face lol. I was in the middle of talking. You can see it molds easily to the face and that's why I love it. Of course there is excess of it that is kinda pushed together or not adjusted properly. Again my fault, I was talking and not paying attention too much.
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ErinI'm from Tennessee. I'm a makeup and skincare lover. I have always enjoyed creating looks but I love to help people with product knowledge and application even more. I've been able to start blogging and do these things I love because God has seen fit to bless me with the opportunity. Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me! 
  
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