Glam with all the Glow
Glam with all the Glow
I'm a mask hoarder. Seriously, I cannot seem to get enough of masks. The moment I get my hands on a new mask, I'm itching to try it. And after the novelty of owning it passes, I do get lazy. It's not the greatest of habits but I guess it is what it is.
Nonethless, I used to own every single one of the GlamGlow masks up until they started coming out with the newer ones. Initially, I used to purchase them from Sephora (when I traveled oversees) but thankfully, now i just purchase them from one of the large retail stores we are blessed with.
Let's get real for a second. GlamGlow is expensive. We can't always justify dropping R850.00 ($69) on a mask which only contains 50ml/g of product. So I generally wait for skincare sales and then I pounce, purchasing a few of them instead of just one. That way you end up saving good coin and you get the benefit of trying amazing skincare.
At the moment, I'm sitting with seven of their masks and one or two unopened masks. Why do I have such a masking problem? It's an expensive struggle. My love for good skincare and makeup is going to end up making me bankrupt one day. I blame the love for skincare on my sister. She's always introducing me to new and interesting skincare.
So let's jump into it.
GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 4/5
After months of doing research, this was the first GlamGlow product I decided to splurge on. At the time, I was oversees and Sephora had the holiday value set. I was super excited because I'd be paying the price of one mask and I'd be getting a smaller sample, as well as an application brush for free.
The reason I felt that this would be my best bet was because my skin is super dry. It's as if my skin suffers from a horrible drought unless I moisturize it correctly.
Anyway, the Thirstymud mask claims to deeply hydrate the skin by using advanced hydration active technologies. It also claims to moisturize, restore, replenish and calm the skin leaving you with a hydrated glow.
It has a great coconut scent but if you'e not a fan of coconut, you probably won't like the scent. I find it somewhat refreshing and it kind of gives me island vibes.
I used it as an overnight treatment and the next day I was gleefully pleased by the results. My skin looked noticeably hydrated and less parched than usual. My skin also felt smoother and softer.
However, recently my skin has decided to act up again and even when I use the mask, the difference is not really great. I don't know why this is happening but I think I may need to change up my skincare routine.
GlamGlow Youthmud Tingfoliate Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 4/5
The Youthmud was originally designed as a 10-minute professional 'facial in a jar' for the actor friends of the creators of GlamGlow. It claims to gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it smoother, bright, soft, glowy, and camera ready.
It has a minty mud, fresh scent which is not too overbearing. There are tea tree chunks in the mask and they can fall all over the place once it dries.
The first time I smeared this all over my face, I was tempted to wash it right off. It burned to such an extent that I was sure that my skin was screaming in hatred. I decided to grit my teeth and wait it out. After a few minutes, the stinging sensation became so much more bearable.
When I finally washed it off, I did notice that my skin looked brighter and radiant. After a few more uses, I got used to the tingling sensation and now I kind of enjoy it. I know, it's weird! I just feel that when a product burns, it's working. But remember, that's not always the case. Sometimes, your skin is reacting to the product because it doesn't agree with you.
GlamGlow Gravitymud Firming Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 4/5
The Gravitymud is a peel off mud treatment that claims to leave the skin firmer and more lifted. It has a slight licorice scent which actually smells quite calming. Now for someone who hates licorice and the scent, this is a big deal coming from me (Don't hate me for hating licorice, I also don't understand why!)
After seeing social media erupt with this mask, I just felt that I needed to get my hands on it. It looked so damn cool! Initially, when applied, it's white and as it dries, it turns into a banging chrome. You may be mistaken for the tin foil man but it is so cool!
The first time I tried this, I had a small sample. Unfortunately, the sample was not enough to cover my entire face but I made sure to spread it so most of my face was covered. When it came to peeling it off, it was a royal mess. Since I liked the results, I decided to purchase the full size. This time, I used enough to cover my face (which was quite a lot). Since you have to use a lot of this product for an easy peel and to ensure that it doesn't turn into a hot mess, you do have to use quite a lot of the product.
Every time I peel off this mask, I try to peel it off perfectly. Who doesn't like a perfect peel? It is mask goals after all!
I noticed that with this mask, my skin looked firmer and my pores appeared to have shrunk. Also, I feel that the Gravitymud makes my skin feel so much softer.
Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 3.8/5
This is probably the most loved Glamglow mask by Instagram. It claims to address common skin concerns and it leaves the skin clear and poreless. Initially when applied, it is charcoal in colour. As it starts to dry, it becomes a lighter grey shade. However, you will see specks of dark grey around the large pore areas as the mask claims to be drawing the dirt out of the skin. It has a peppermint and eucalyptus scent which is quite refreshing. It tingles slightly when applied but it's nothing too intense.
After washing this mask off, my skin felt softer and it looked brighter. However, shortly after, my skin felt super dry so I had to moisturize well.
Another great trick that my sister-in-law taught me is to apply the mask all over the nose area and then use a blackhead strip. Honestly, this works amazingly! Pesky blackheads are cleared and your nose ends up looking so much smoother.
It can also be used as a spot treatment for pimples. I usually apply it over the pimple and I'll leave it overnight. The pimple usually ends up drying out by the next day.
GlamGlow Powermud Dualcleanse Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 3.8/5
I was intrigued when I first saw this mask. It changes from mud to oil and claims to deep clean your skin leaving it velvety. It has an almost apple-y, refreshing scent which smells really really good.
The product spreads on as a mud and dries down completely. When you rinse it out, you're supposed to gently rub the mask with water in circular motions. As you do this, you will notice the formula changing into a cleansing oil.
It leaves the skin feeling soft but not completely velvety (When a product claims to leave the skin velvety, I kind of do expect my skin to be velvety). However, I really can't complain because my skin looks fresh and radiant and it definitely feels cleansed!
GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment
Price: R850 - $69
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 3.8/5
The Flashmud claims to leave the skin looking luminous and bright, leaving you with an even, younger looking skin. It contains something called Reflectrum which is a blend of brightening ingredients that are boosted with diamond photoluminescence which increases the reflecting level of the skin so that it looks more radiant. That sounds revolutionary, doesn't it?
As you apply this mask to your skin, you rub it in circular motions so as to pre-exfoliate. Thereafter, leave it for 20 minutes and wash it off.
I expected to beam with a blinding brightness (I expect a lot from the claims made). Sadly, I did not shine bright like a diamond but my skin did appear brighter than normal. My skin looked a tad bit more radiant and it felt pretty soft.
Final verdict on the GlamGlow masks
Do you need each of the masks? Absolutely not! The products are expensive and there are dupes (not as great though) out there. You just need the mask that will suit your skin the best and the mask that will address your skin concerns.
However, I've noticed that when I use a mask a day for a week, my skin looks amazing! It's brighter, softer and it has a wonderful glow. The few times that I did this, people told me that my skin looked amazing and glowy. Can I get a hell yeah?
Unfortunately, as my skin appears to be in a rut at the moment, the results aren't as amazing as usual. I think I just need to get my skin back in order (and stop being so lazy) so I can start my intense mask treatments again.
Glamglow Dreamduo Overnight Transforming Treatment
Price: R850 - $59
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 4/5
The Dreamduo comes in a container that is split into two. On one side, there is a pearl, melt-in serum and on the other side, there's a grey, nourishing moisture boost. It claims to plump and hydrate the skin overnight so that you wake up to a smooth, soft skin.
I find that the Dreamduo is a great prepping product for makeup. I usually apply this the night before I'm going to wear heavy makeup and I notice that my makeup applies so much smoother. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and nourished.
GlamGlow Glowsetter Makeup Setting Spray
Price: R400 - $32
Available: Edgars, Red Square, Woolworths, Foschini, GlamGlow, Sephora
My rating: 4/5
The setting spray claims to leave you glowy and not shiny. It is meant to brighten dull skin by giving it a boost of radiance so your skin feels hydrated, smoothed and soothed. It finishes your makeup with a soft mist of mineral-charged waters
I love the smell of the Glowsetter, it has a sugary type of scent - almost like a delicious candy. The spray bottle is okay, I would prefer a continuous mist rather than a brief spritz so that my face can get coated in the spray.
I noticed that my makeup lasts longer and looks more refreshed with the setting spray, about a good five hours. It also melts powders into the skin so you don't end up looking like a child who ate donuts that had too much powder... or a drug addict.
Quite honestly, I've fallen into this GlamGlow hype. Their products work well for me and I enjoy the way it makes my skin feel. I suggest that before you run off to purchase any of their products, try to test it out first. You should be able to grab a sample or two at any of the major retailers or test out the spray in store. It won't be worth the money if you end up buying the product and then you find that it just doesn't gel well with you.
Disclaimer: Please note that this post is not sponsored by GlamGlow. I have no affiliation with GlamGlow. All reviews are my own and they are not belied in any way, shape or form.
