Unmasking the Mask

Very often masks are overlooked in the everyday skincare routine. I am not going to lie, I often forget to use them myself. Even if I have several masks in rotation I rarely see the results which make me want to comeback to a certain mask. What am I looking for in a mask? My main concern is to keep those pesky breakouts at bay and nourish my skin with good ingredients. Easier said than done. However, there has been one mask that hasn't left my skincare cupboard in a while and I doubt that this will change anytime soon. Of course, I am always thinking that maybe there is something better out there, but for the time being I am happy with what I have. This mysterious mask is the Lush's Mask of Magnaminty. Besides the tongue twisting name, it is a fantastic mask and here is why.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty

All Lush products are cruelty free and handmade. The self-preserving Mask of Magnaminty is also 100% natural. It is a new formula that they have brought out recently, which is great. This means that it is free from preservatives. They have managed to do so without altering the look, the feel and reducing the shelf life of the product. For instance, I have used an original formula that contained Mathylparaben and the self-preserving one that is paraben free. They have performed equally good and both have a shelf life of 4 months. The key ingredients are peppermint oil, african marigold oil, evening primrose seeds, fair trade vanilla and honey.

Consistency and Colour of Mask of Magnaminty

Let's talk about the consistency for a minute. It is pretty thick but you can easily scoop it out with your fingers. You can feel that it has been handmade as the texture is grainy, unlike with mass produced ones. As the name suggests, you can without fail distinguish the pepperminty scent and the colour supports the theme as well. I personally love both features. I find that peppermint is very refreshing and cooling to the skin. It says to leave this mask on for five to ten minutes, I usually keep it for 20 or 30 min. I am not too precise when it comes to timing my masks, unless it is a very strong one. The mask dries in about ten minutes and you can wash it off with warm water. It doubles up as a scrub due to its texture. The results are noticeable right away. You are left with more brighter and fresh looking skin. The inflammation and redness is reduced. It soothes the skin and you don't have that nasty feeling like your skin has been drained of all its moisture. I always bring this bad boy out when my skin is feeling dull, congested and needs a little bit of a pick me up. The only concern I have is that the big pot contains 315g of product and it is very difficult to use it all up in 4 months. Especially if you are using other masks in conjunction. Therefore, I would recommend starting with a smaller size (125g) and see how you get along. 

Tip: If you are unsure how your skin will react to this mask, you can ask for a sample. At Lush they can easily decant a little bit of product and give it to you to try at home. I advice doing this if you have sensitive skin. 

Overall I am very pleased with this mask. I have gone through numerous tubs of it. I like how it makes my skin feel, it is cruelty free, 100% natural and reasonably priced. The bigger pot retails for 17,65€ and smaller one for 10,50€. You can get it at your nearest Lush counter or online. 

Do you have any recommendations for what I should try next from Lush?

Cheers,
Muffy

Healthy Deodorant Lavanila

If you have been searching high and low for a healthy deodorant that does not contain alcohol, aluminium and other nasties, I might have just the right one for you! Lavanila Healthy Deodorant is an all- natural deodorant that is free from Parabens, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Silicones, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oils, Synthetic Dyes, Sulfates, Chemical Sunscreens and Aluminum.

Lavanila Healthy Deodorant, Pure Vanilla

Traditional deodorants can contain aluminium, Propylene Glycol and Parabens that could potentially absorb into the delicate underarm area and be harmful for you. As a result of this awareness, more people are turning towards more natural alternatives, including myself. I have discovered Lavanila Healthy Deodorant after having read a few reviews myself. Previously I haven't had the best luck with natural deodorants (I am looking at you Lush Aromaco Solid deodorant and Lavera Neutral deodorant roll-on). I am not gonna lie, I went on a spree to find a reliable source from where I can order this product and have it shipped to Finland. More on that at the end of this post! Lavanila Laboratories specialise in all natural body care products and fragrances. They have a pretty good deodorant range targeted at different concerns (e.g fragrance free, extreme protection for sports etc). I picked an original which is Pure Vanilla. What impressed me when it arrived was the size. It is larger than your average deodorant. It comes with 57g of product while your standard deodorant would be around 50g. I personally like the scent of vanilla and don't find it too overpowering, but I can imagine that someone people might. It is by no means a lightly scented product. This deodorant may not be the best solution for heavy duty exercising, but for everyday use it is fantastic. If you want an option for an effective sports deodorant I can recommend Vichy 48h Anti-Persperant Treatment, Intense Perspiration. It does however contain aluminium, but it is free from alcohol and parabens nevertheless.

Do not expect immediate results, I noticed that it takes time for it to do the trick. You need to use it consistently for a couple of weeks or up to a month, until your body adjusts to it. Remember you need to be persistent, do not give up after using it handful of times. And I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Shop for Lavanila Healthy Deodorant

Net-a-Porter - provides worldwide shipping, with a flat rate of 15,00€. However, Net-a-Porter offers free shipping a few times a year, usually around Christmas time. Lavanila Healthy Deodorant retails for 12,00€.

I hope you found this post useful. Let me know if you have converted to the healthy deodorant side!

Cheers,
Muffy