The month of Mitomo masks

As I already announced a couple of days ago on Facebook, for the next week I am preparing many reviews of the Mitomo masks, a leader in the beauty products, with a presence of over 10 years in more than 60 countries. My offer of collaboration generously accepted by the company will include a couple of product tests of the best skin care products available right now on the market. 

I am a big supporter of the Asian masks, first and foremosts because they offer a perfect face coverage. The unique ingredients used are also exquisite, many of them innovative compositions completely unknown in Europe. 

What I noticed in the case of Mimoto masks is the attention for the smallest details, from the list of ingredients till the exquisite design of some of the products. My first experiences started with a category of masks using lithospermum essence, to which is added hyaluronic, Q10, respectively colagen. The covers reproduce episodes from the daily life in the old Japan, and for me are one of the most interesting choice of packaging for a beauty product. It looks like you are invited to imagine a traditional story while waiting for the masks to do their work. 

Each of the masks are soaked in liquid, which you have to leave to rest on your face for around 20-30 minutes. After you take it out, massage the skin with the liquid left to maintain the effects for a longer period of time. I haven't experienced any allergic reaction, but as usual in such situations, if you have a history in this respect, you better consult your dermatologist before applying it. The smell is very discrete and does not stay on the skin for longer. 

Lithospermum is a very popular ingredient of skin care products in Japan, made popular on local TV shows many years ago. A root belonging to the Boraginaceae family, it is considered to keep the skin looking fresh, young, healthy and beautiful. After each application of the masks, my skin indeed looked smoothy, fresh and healthy. 

The instructions - including visual directions - for applying the mask, as well as the comprehensive list of the ingredients is available on the package. 

My first experiences with Mitomo masks were very good, with satisfactory results. Every evening, I saved 30 minutes for my skin, which was a great change into my daily me-schedule, which I insist to keep on for the time being. 

Looking forward to sharing more beauty Mitomo reviews in my next posts! Stay tunned!

Disclaimer: The products were offered for review by Mitomo, but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Your 15 minutes of skin care: Garnier Skinactive Hydrabomb

Busy people tend to set low priorities for the time spent for themselves only, and for us, women, the skincare routines seem to be the first victims of full schedules and never ending merry-go-round of children care, meetings and house chores. However, the modern beauty industry created many incentives to challenge dramatically such a perspective. Smart and highly efficient products were created, that don't need more than 15 minutes of your time the week. I agree that it is important to take care of your skin every day, but at least for now, it can be a good beginning and the good results are an incentive to keep up the good work of respecting yourself.

In the last three weeks, I tested every week one of the Garnier Skinactive Korean skin masks, each of them promising a full hydration after 15 minutes of use for at least one week. It sounds a bit miraculous, but after I used the first well soaked mask, I was convinced that this could last even more than that. Each of the products were available at the local drugstore chain - Rossmann or DM in Germany - for 2 EUR. each (actually Rossmann may have some even cheaper discounted rates). Given the results, it is also a more than smart investment.

Each of the masks has a special ingredient, besides the hyaluron. The first I used has chamomile extract, which is recommended for sensitive and very dry skin. It works slowly, without even noticing what happened in the last 15 minutes. You will only see when you look yourself in the mirror, at your shining skin. The next one has green tea extract, one of my favorite cosmetic - and food too - ingredients. It has a soothing and relaxing effect - as in the case of all skin masks, my advice is to keep it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours before using it, as it has also a very refreshing effect. During every of the 15 minutes, I felt as my skin was under permanent water and was a very healthy sensation. The skin was so smooth thereafter, that I felt that I don't need to apply any makeup for the next days. The last mask, with pomegranate essence. Compared to the others, it also has a pleasant smell, as it contains special fragrance. Due to the high percentage of hyaluron, I was able to feel how it was working on my skin. It is very recommended particularly if your face is too tired and dehydrated. In the case of the previous two masks I prefer to clean the liquid from the face, but in this case, I just left it on the skin to work further on.

The conclusion: those products are high quality, with good effects on the skin, that last for at least a couple of days. You can easily take with you in your travel bag too. It is about time to start taking more care about yourself, but take it easy. You can start with just 15 minutes the week. 

Good luck and a happy healthy skin glowing 2017!

Golden mask from Schaebens

Gold is a valuable product not only for the fashion and design industry, or even for the high-end cuisine, but also a valuable ingredient for the beauty products. In general such products are automatically expensive, but as I had the occasion to see in the case of other products created by the German company Schaebens, an affordable price can deliver good quality, although for a short term.

The Luxus Maske is available in a package of two, recommended to be used every two days. I tried once in the evening and once in the morning, and in both situations, I was happy with the results for the skin. All you need is to put aside some ten minutes for yourself and close your eyes and relax while the mask is doing its job. Quite a good job, as after applying it, at least in the first hours thereafter, the skin looks smooth and full of life, not the usual tired look.

Besides gold - which, by the way, is never available in its pure form, but always part of different compositions - the mask contains champagne, caviar and pearls. It really looks as a beauty feast, isn't it? Other ingredients are urea, sodium hyalunorate, water, glycerin. The mask looks as a yellowish gel paste that feels very cold against the skin - in both cases I did not put the mask in the fridge, although it may be recommended, so it was the natural effect of the mask. The first seconds, my face was wrapped in a wave of warm, with some short-lived burning on the side in the last half of the time. After 10-15 minutes, I cleaned it with some clean napkins and warm water.

The skin felt very smooth, although in both situations, the irritation/a bit of rash feeling persisted for at least 10 minutes after. The skin was so fresh that I did not need to wear any more concealer or other cream. 

I was happy with the quality, the price and the effects so, most probably will keep trying more Schaebens products and for sure, at least every month a Luxus Maske mit Gold, because I really deserve it!

Tea tree face mask by Montagne Jeunesse

The Korean-style face masks are one of my favourites, as I am guaranteed a perfect coverage as well as a higher hydration as in the case of the usual skin products. The fashion of Korean masks entered also the German markets, with a variety of products and price ranges, from 2 Euro until 100 - for Shiseido, for instance. For the weekly and daily skin care, I am for low to medium average products and thus, I decided to try a tea tree mask by Montagne Jeunesse. This 30-year old Wales-based company offers cruelty free vegan products using natural ingredients packed in attractive colourful packages at affordable prices. Those are the kind of products to use at least twice the week.

My cloth mask has a mixture of natural ingredients, among which green mint, spearmint leaf oil, algae extract, birch leaf extract and of course, the tea tree oil. It covers perfectly the face and I recommend that before use, to keep it at least 3 hours in the fridge, the refreshing effect is even stronger than when you keep it at the room temperature. 

I tried to create a quiet and pleasant ambiance to spend for at least 10 minutes with the cloth mask on my face. I closed the eyes, deep breath and ready to give myself my personal quarter of an hour of home spa. Even the baby understood that something special is going on and after looking at my funny white covered face, he gave me a little break while playing with his stuffed toys. 

As for me, I went through a variety of sensations, not all of them relaxing. The smell is pleasant and refreshing, an oily mint that it awakes the senses while folding you in a cloud of relaxation. From minute 3, the skin went through moderate to hot fire, with sparkling pinches popping up all over the face covered by the cloth. You should take care to avoid any contact with the eyes, as the mixture is strong enough to burn a bit, although for a very short time. Somehow, the smell balances the strange sensations going on the skin, but I must confess that the last 2 minutes were quite hard, as every minute I wanted to take the mask off and get my 'freedom' back.

The effects on the skin were more than satisfying: the skin looks better and younger and cleaner, the pores are cleansed and the level of hydration was good enough for a couple of good coming days. 

As for now, I am considering to test other masks by Montagne Jeunesse, not only because are made in one of my favourite parts of the world, Wales.

Korean hydro mask from Rival de Loop

Keeping your skin hydrated enough during the hot summer days is one of the biggest challenges of the season. I am generally using special wet napkins every evening for cleaning the face, even if I am not using make-up, and I try to drink as much as possible.

However, I am also trying to find professional help and this affordable mask from Rival de Loop, available at any Rossmann store for under 1 EUR. Cheap doesn't mean not worthy this time. I'd used it several times already and was pleased with the result.

You can apply it very easy: it contains a big face mask foil, with space for the eyes, but quite tight for the rest of the face. The advantage of using those masks is that you have guaranteed the coverage and thus, highest results. When I apply a mask by myself, I might be tired and absent minded and not all the face is covered properly. 

The mask contains avocado and cupuacu butter, both with benefic effects on the level of skin hydration. I kept the mask on my face for around 7 minutes, a good occasion to just think about myself and relax. You can use it as often as you want, as it has a good effect on skin and makes your face feel healthy and refreshed for the rest of the day. You can apply it either early in the morning or late in the evening. 

Beauty corner: Vitamin C Microdermabrasion by Body Shop

What's the best relaxing solution after a crazy week: a face mask. This time, I rather preferred to test something new, and the answer was a Vitamin C Microdermabrasion from Body Shop. Right now, there are a couple of small size pocket face masks, available for only 2 Euro, and I plan to test as many of them in the next weeks and at the end of the testing to purchase the one who's really the best.

I usually use extensively green tea-based masks with proved results over the years. This time, not sure why, I picked up this product, probably because I know also how good Vitamin C does for my skin. One of the main qualities of this vitamin is the production of collagen, which aids the regeneration of cells and the recovering of blood vessels. After using it on the skin, your face will look firm and generally strengthen. 

The application is relatively easy, and there is enough cream to use it for both face and neck. Applied with round movements, the fine exfoliating micro-particles. Keep it on the skin for around 5 minutes. During this short amount of time, I felt how the mask is producing effects on my skin: a little bit of irritation. 

I cleaned the mask with water and couldn't believe how fast the soft and smooth of my skin returned. It felt as a mask of dead cells left my face. It works efficiently and is strongly recommended for any type of skin. 

As in the case of any type of mask, it is recommended to clean the face previously from make up or other impurities that one usually got from the air.  

Beauty corner: home made face mask

My mother rarely used expensive cosmetics, but her face looked till her early 60s without wrinkles and always fresh. She haven't been to beauty parlours either, but still, taking care of her face was her daily priority and she taught us from an early age that for a woman, the face is a precious asset that we should take care of. 

I haven't followed her advice too often and I rather prefer to book an hour or professional cosmetics than to look for my own tips. After all, I am working all round the year and at least once in a while I should offer myself little beauty presents.

However, in the last months, I got more interest in more healthy and beauty tips and I am right now in process of trying various masks and easy wellness ideas that can be prepared at home.

Part of my resolution, I discovered in the December issue of Women's Day an interesting and extremely easy recipe of face mask that answers many of the challenges of the winter time.

First, I started by cleaning the face with my Rival de Loop wet napkins and let my skin to relax till I added the ingredients, as follows:

1 tbsp. honey

Honey is a valuable ingredient for many face care products. Among others, it slows down the process of ageing, it moistures and brings glow to the skin while it also opens the pores.

1 tbsp. coconut water  

I don't like the taste of it, but it has several important benefits for the skin, such as anti-ageing, moisturising, improves the oxygen circulation, counter the oily skin and contributes to the treatment of acne and blemishes.

1 tbsp. liquid glycerine

As my pharmacist clarified, it is highly recommended for improving the skin hydration.

1 egg

Eggs are commonly used as ingredients of various face masks, mostly for their strong concentration of derivatives of vitamin B and its contribution to strengthening of the skin tissue.

I mixed all the ingredients for 1 minute and started to apply it on the skin and neck (a part that I often forget to include on the checking-beauty list). Waited for 20-25 minutes and after rinsed with water. Be careful with cleaning, as the honey may insist to stay longer on your face. 

After a couple of minutes, the skin looked shining and relaxed and very smooth and it continues to be so two days after applying it.

The costs of one time mask is ridiculously cheap, as the price for the entire basket of ingredients is less than 10 EUR and most probably I can use them every week for at least 2 months.  

It suits every type of skin and can offer equally a good summer skin protection. Given the fast and long standing effects, I expect to include this mask as part of my Friday fix from a good time from now.