The Muse Drop: Skincare

Showing posts with label Skincare. Show all posts

Korean skincare (K-beauty)

For all those K-beauty lovers who are paying an arm and a leg (and sometimes a kidney) for K-beauty products from local suppliers, here’s a little plug:

(It’s K-beauty man, not LaMer. I don’t know why I have to pay so much for it!)

YESSTYLE

YESSTYLE is an authorised retailer that specialises in Asian fashion and beauty. Warehouses are based in Hong Kong and Korea.

In my experience, many beauty products are significantly cheaper than what local resellers charge — sometimes less than half the price, especially when sales and discount codes are running.

All products are authentic. However, the following should be noted:

- Shipping can take long (up to 3 weeks, and sometimes longer)

- You may have to pay customs (usually not a lot — you can claim it back though!)

- If an item is out of stock, delivery times can increase significantly

- All items are priced in USD so please do your conversions before paying

But is K-beauty even halaal?

Just like with any skincare product, it's important to do your research. Not all K-beauty products are automatically halaal-friendly, and some may contain animal derived ingredients or ingredients sourced from questionable origins.

Because as much as I love good skincare, I’m not trading beautiful skin in Jannah for glass skin in this dunya.

That said, I've compiled a list of brands that I've either researched myself or contacted directly regarding animal derived ingredients [Disclaimer: Please do your own due diligence as well. Ingredients can change.]

Korean skincare that does not contain porcine/pig derived ingredients:

1. Medicube — marine collagen or plant collagen

2. Abib (if stated vegan)

3. Biodance — marine collagen

4. CosRX — marine collagen

5. Beauty of Joseon (be wary of Raina’s cleansing balm, as this contains animal derived ingredients: could not identify which animal)

6. Anua — certain products. Company should be emailed on specific product

7. Mary&May — marine collagen

Fully vegan

1. Dr Althea

2. Purito

3. Haru haru

4. Dear, klairs

5. Axis-y

6. Tocobo

7. Bonajour

8. Kaine

9. Torriden

10. Aromatica

11. Benton

12. House of Dohwa

13. Plodiga

14. Skin1004

Hope this helps!

You can use this code for a small discount: WPUSSW

So my nighttime routine used to be exactly the same as my morning routine but a few months ago, I changed it. Now it's not as long as it used to be, except when I start masking and sheet masking. Then it takes really long.

Nighttime routine

1. Makeup remover
For my makeup removal routine, you can read this post. However, since I only wear makeup on weekends, I don't have to do this every day.

2. Cleanser
I use the Givenchy cleanser at night and every two or three nights, I'll use the Givenchy exfoliater which has 5% glycolic acid in it.

3. Toner
I then tone my skin with Pixi Glow Tonic. I don't have to say much about that. You probably already know how much I love it. If not, read my review here.

4. Facial Oil
Then I rub the famous 'curry oil' into my skin. For my full review on the Farsali Volcanic Elixir, go here.

5. Moisturiser
Next, I use the Aveeno Eczema Cream which I gushed about in my morning skin care routine.

5. Eye Cream

Under my eyes, I use the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Cream. I can't say that it miraculously fixes all my under eye problems but it is pretty hydrating.

This skincare routine works wonders for me. I wake up with plump, hydrated skin. Also, if I follow this routine, my foundation applies flawlessly the next morning.

Remember, what works for me may not necessarily work for you. Visit a skincare therapist or a dermatologist for serious skin concerns. I found this skincare routine to agree with me through trial and error. I'm pretty sure that I'll change it up again sometime in the future.

I used to have great skin at a stage. It wasn't oily or dry. I didn't have to worry about sensitivity and I didn't have to spend a fortune on skincare. Apart from the odd pimple or two and the occasional blackheads, there wasn't much I had to do about my skin.

And then, after years of laser, something went wrong. One of the ladies used a current that was way too high for my face, and it completely destroyed my skin. Initially, I broke out into these huge, completely ugly hives. Then my face started to scab, a lot. Then my skin started peeling and I had terrible dry patches. To make matters worse, the intense dryness caused premature wrinkles. I was only twenty one! I wasn't supposed to have wrinkles. My dry, sensitive skin became a nightmare to work with. I could barely use any product on my skin and EVERYTHING burned. The salon offered me various skincare treatments for free but none of them helped. So I started to experiment with various different facial products and eventually, my skin became better. Initially, any product that I tried to fix my skin with, just burned. Suddenly, my skin had turned super sensitive.

It was a total nightmare. I actually cried over it.

After I got over the initial anger, I started to look for ways to improve my skin. Over the years, with my sister's advice and through experimenting, I found skincare that actually works wonders for me.

Last year, people would go on about how flawless and glowy my makeup free skin looked. I was ecstatic!

And then I went on vacation and I got such terrible sunburn (even though I always used sun screen), that my skin was an absolute disaster.

So although I had started a ten step skincare routine last year, that skincare all of a sudden just wasn't working. The sun burn was so bad that the texture on my skin refused to disappear. After my sister suggested glycolic acid, my skin has improved. A lot. Also, my dry skin has almost completely disappeared.

Skin type: Dry

Skin problems: Dryness, flakiness, occasional pimple

Morning routine

1. Cleanser
I don't always wash my face with a cleanser in the morning. However, I do use the Eucerin DermatoCLEAN cleansing milk and then I wipe it off with a muslin cloth. When I do decide to cleanse my face, I use the Givenchy facial wash.

2. Mineral water
I'll spray some Vichy mineral water all over my face so that my skin has a little bit of natural moisture.

3. Rose water
I use rose water as a toner in the mornings. After soaking a cotton pad in rose water, I swipe it all over my face and neck (you'd be surprised at how effective rose water is! It attracts the dirt that you didn't think you had).

4. Toner 2
I use the Givenchy Tone it Tender toner next. However, I simply squeeze out some on my fingers and then I pat it all over my face (instead of using a cotton pad since the formula is thicker than the average toner).

5. Essence Water - I use The Body Shop Oils of Life Essence Lotion. Essences are known to be in between a toner and a serum and another prep step for moisturizing. This one is infused with oil and water. After a good shake, I pour 2 or 3 drops in my hands and then pat it all over my face.

6. Facial oil - I use The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil. Since my skin had been so insanely dry, my love affair with facial oils began. I dab about 2 drops on my face and my skin soaks it right up without feeling too greasy.

7. Serum - I use the Givenchy High Moisturising Sap-Serum and gently pat it into my skin. This serum is quite thin and almost has a greasy feel before it soaks right into the skin.

8. Under eye cream. To be honest, I don't use an eye cream during the day. BUT, I do use coconut oil for my under eye since I have yet to find a daytime eye cream that I swear by.

9. Beauty lotion - I use the Givenchy Instant Beauty lotion which promises to make you look amazing. Side note: it doesn't work as a miracle lotion but it does work as a moisturiser.

9. Moisturiser 1 - Since my skin was so incredibly dry and itchy after the sunburn, I used Aveeno Eczema Cream and it worked wonders! After winter settled in, I noticed that my skin was super dry so I used this moisturiser again and it worked perfectly! This is the one moisturiser that I swear by, especially for very dry skin.

10. Moisturiser 2 - To be even more extra than I already am, I slather the Givenchy Rich Luminescence Moisturising Cream for dry skin all over my face to ensure that dryness will not creep up on me.

11. Sun screen - I do not have to stress how important sun screen is. Everyone and their mother's should be using it religiously. I use the Bioderma sun screen with SPF 50.

12. Hydrating mist - After all of the above, I spritz on the Pixi Glow Mist all over my face for a naturally glowy look.

So that's my ten step skincare routine that I do every morning. It doesn't take as long as it sounds because I'm so used to it. And because I'm using so many products, I use a little of each product and they tend to last me ages. I know, it sounds very extra and it probably is.

Now before you start wondering how on earth I purchase all these products without going bankrupt, the answer is simple: SALES! I only buy the above products (with the exception of some of them) on sale. Throughout the year, I won't spend a lot on skincare but when there are sales, I'll stock up.

Please note that just because it works on me, it may not work on you. Also you do not have to buy all the expensive products that I bought. There are cheaper, drugstore alternatives that provide the same benefits. Sometimes you'll only know what works for you through trial and error.

Pixi. As in pixie dust. As in magical, fairy dust.

Pixi glow tonic

Apart from being called Pixi (will pixie dust give me amazing, flawless skin?), the name of this toner also includes the word glow. And when a product has the word 'glow' in it, it's hard to resist. Who doesn't want to have that 'glow-from-within' look? Besides, if it sounds like a magical glow toner, I'm all for it! Let me bath in that magical potion please!

I heard that the Pixi Glow Tonic was a good toner but when a product is so overhyped, you wonder if it's as good as they say - or just another overrated, completely exaggerated, absolutely disappointing product.

Anyway, after my sister noticed the texture on my face (which just popped up and absolutely nothing wanted to get rid of it) she suggested that I find a toner with glycolic acid.

When Cult Beauty had their quarterly special (which comes with an amazing goody bag - read here), I immediately grabbed the opportunity to purchase some skincare and makeup. And sure enough, Pixi was on that list!

What is Pixi Glow Tonic?

It is a 5% glycolic acid, exfoliating toner. It is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) toner and this type of toner generally claims to assist in dead skin removal. The product promises to dissolve the dead skin, leaving you with brighter, healthier skin. The product also soothes, tones and improves the complexion. A saturated cotton pad of this tonic should result in diminished signs of sun damage (gradually), fine lines, scarring and other imperfections

Can I use it?

The product claims to be suitable for all skin types. I have super dry skin and I'm still able to use this without feeling any sort of irritation.

However, it should be noted that it is extremely important to use sunscreen after using this product as glycolic acid tends to leave you with fresh, newer skin which is more prone to sun damage.

Short answer: Yes, anyone should be able to use it but always remember to do a test patch first!

Verdict?

If you've read reviews about this toner, it pretty much sounds like a transformative, magic product. I don't think I've read negative reviews about it and honestly? There's a good reason why!

I use this product every night before going in with the Farsali Volcanic Elixir Oil (aka curry oil - You can read about that here) and a moisturising cream.

Within a few days of trying out the Pixi Glow Tonic, I noticed that my texture was virtually completely gone and my pores were almost none existent!

I know that sounds completely over the top but I'm not kidding.

Okay, so before I continue let me explain a little about the type of skin I have. I have super dry skin, not really acne prone (although I do get pesky blackheads and whiteheads often). I do not have a lot of pores and they aren't as huge as boulders. My pores mainly feature around my nose area (on the upper cheeks).

Without any makeup on, my pores aren't THAT visible. However, some foundations accentuate my pores and make them look bigger than they actually are. After I started using this product, I see little to no pores with foundation usage and that's freaking amazing!

With regards to looking glowy, I can't really say I've noticed much of a difference. Some mornings I wake up with great looking skin and some mornings I look completely dull.

Also, I don't know if its the toner, oil or moisturiser, but my skin feels really soft lately!

Will I purchase it again?

Hell yeah! And again and again and again.

Where can I purchase it from? Try a third party reseller within South Africa or purchase it from Cultbeauty.co.uk (sometimes they offer free shipping on certain products so keep an eye out on those deals)

How much is it? £15.00

That's R260 (excluding customs and duty if purchased from the above mentioned site) and approximately R490 with customs

How many stars will I give this product?

★★★★★

Are the Farsali oils worth the hype?

Over the past few years, Farsali has been featured in almost every second makeup video. From their stunning 24k gold speckled oil to their pretty pink drops, they're pretty much everywhere.

No wonder people all over the world are intrigued by these products, they're pretty much the first of its kind.

Farsali is a husband and wife duo that has created some pretty boujie skincare and makeup products. Their products are known to be revolutionary and pretty damn interesting.

Besides, Farah from Farsali is from my birth place so of course I'm going to be supporting her all the way. Except, her products are way too expensive. I do not want to sell a kidney just to look bomb all the time. #SorryNotSorry

Anyway, I ended up purchasing all three of her elixirs. I love it when oils and drops are called elixirs, they just sound so fancy.

*Stands in front of the mirror and pretends to have a Youtube channel*

"Hey guys! Welcome back to my channel. Today I'll be reviewing these Farsali Elixirs."

Excuse me while I continue to pretend that I have a Youtube channel and that I'm an amazing Youtuber.

Okay, okay, okay. Let me get back to this post before I start rambling about my short attention span.

Where was I? The elixirs... There are three elixirs that are available in the brand:

The ultra cool Farsali Rose Gold Elixir - A radiating moisturiser with 24k golden flakes
The fancy Farsali Unicorn Essence - A pretty pink antioxidant serum and primer
The precious Farsali Volcanic Elixir - A hydrating moisturiser

So let’s break this down for you.

Farsali Rose Gold Elixir

Apart from just being a really pretty oil and allowing you to feel super luxurious by applying ACTUAL gold on your face, this product is a great multitasker.

It has a citrus scent and it works great with or without makeup. It's a lightweight moisturiser which includes anti aging properties for all skin types. The gold flecks allegedly absorb into the skin, leaving you with radiating, glowy skin. The base of the oil is rosehip seed oil which claim to "regenerate tissue and reduce the appearance of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and stretch marks."

You can use this oil as a daily moisturiser or apply it onto your skin before going in with foundation to make yourself glow. It can also be used to revive cream products that have dried out.

I like to use it before I go in with foundation and as a quick fix hydrater (especially during winter). I also love slathering it under my eyes for that extra bit of hydration before applying concealer. When my foundation looks dry, I add a few drops to my beauty blender/brush and dab it onto my face.

Verdict? I absolutely love this oil. It moisturises my skin and soaks in pretty well without making me look like gross and sweaty.

I literally noticed the massive difference in my foundation when I used this oil. It prevented my foundation from having those gross dry patches and overall, gave me a dewy look. Even if I want to look all matte, I'll still use this oil and then matify my face with a setting powder.

Stars: ★★★★★

Price: $54.00 or R950.00 (30ml) from third party resllers

Farsali Unicorn Essence

I'm sure by now you've seen those videos of the beauty gurus dropping pink liquid drops all over their faces. If you haven't, where have you been?

The product has a slight shimmer to it and can be used as a oil free, daily serum. It claims to protect the skin from radical damage and preps the skin for moisturiser or makeup. It has a cotton candy scent which is really fun.

The essence contains "four superfruit extracts, rich in antioxidants; known for their anti-aging & free radical fighting properties: acai berry, goji berry, elderberry & blueberry."

Although the above sounds fabulous, there have been many people out there who have complained about the compilation of ingredients. Apparently there are way too many dyes in the product and already, that just doesn't look great.

Verdict? My skin soaks this up immediately. The oil is quite thin and lightweight and does not leave your face looking like a grease ball. I've used this under my eyes but I can't say that I've noticed less creasing under my eyes (as the product claims) - Maybe I need to test this theory out again.

However, I can't really say that this is life changing. I liked the fact that my makeup applied smoothly over this serum but other than that, I haven't been completely blown away.

It's a nice oil to have and to use. I might even purchase it again because I'm just that extra.

Stars: ★★★

Price: $54.00 or R950.00 (30ml) from third party resllers

Farsali Volcanic Elixir

This oil literally only has one ingredient. Yes, ONE INGREDIENT! It's "Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil". Basically, (because let's get real, you probably didn't even try to pronounce that - and neither have I) it's an extract from the nut kernels of the Tamanu fruit (Tbh, I don't even know what the Tamanu fruit is). Many people wonder why bother getting the Farsali oil when there are other brands that keep this oil. Well apparently, this is great quality. I can't attest to this though. I need to test out a cheaper brand with the same oil before making such proclamations.

The oil alleges to regenerate new skin and can be used to combat acne scars, dry, flaky skin and stretch marks.

The oil claims to have an earthy scent and it has a thick, greenish brown consistency.

Verdict? I love how sleek the packaging for this oil looks. I've been using it for well over a month now and I can confidently say that my marks have lightened (I've also been using the Pixi Glow Tonic so this could have also contributed).

When I read that it has an earth scent, I expected it to smell like soil or earth or grass or something like that. What I didn't expect was the pungent smell of curry. Freaking CURRY! Many people claimed that the scent goes away after a while but honestly, it seems to last forever. My husband complains about the scent every night because it really really stinks. I absolutely hate the curry like scent.

So because of the nasty smell, I never ever wear it during the day. There is no ways that I will risk going out smelling like an Indian spice shop. No thank you. (I'm brown so the last thing I need is to smell like curry).

However, it's still a great oil and I will continue to use it because it works great on my skin.

Stars: ★★★★ (I'm torn here. I love the oil, I hate the smell. If I based the rating on the scent, I'd give it half a star but if I solely base it on the oil, it get's five stars)

Price: $39.00 or R650.00 (30ml) from third party resllers

Final verdict? think Farsali is a great brand and personally, I love her products. The one thing I hate about their products is the exorbitant price tags. Why does beauty have to be so expensive though?

When you can’t give some glam away, why not give the next best thing? Glamglow!

We all want perfect, flawless skin and apart from drinking water, there are other ways to achieve a healthy glow. So why not try some Glamglow?

One lucky winner will win the Glamglow Sexy Supermud set valued at R950!
The Sexy Supermud set contains:
- 50 ml Supermud Clearing Treatment
- 15 ml Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment
- 15 ml Gravitymud Firming Treatment
- 15 ml Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment

If you want to know more about Glamglow, click here

Disclaimer: This post and this competition is NOT sponsored by Glamglow.

You may enter through ANY of the avenues below. Please note that it is optional to enter through all of the available options.

Giveaway rules

This giveaway is open to South African residents only.
Only one winner will be chosen
The competition ends on 1 June 2018 at 11:59 PM (Central African Time)
The winner will be announced on my blog, Facebook and Instagram
Continuous unfollwers and spam accounts will be disqualified
In the event that the winner does not claim their prize within 7 days, a new winner will be selected
All entries will be verified and any false entries will be removed

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Household products that can change your beauty game

Grandmothers almost always have some remedy or another for virtually all of your problems! And all of their remedies can be whipped up with the ingredients you have on hand. But more often than not, we resort to expensive products that give us false promises instead of just heading to the kitchen and trying to sort out our beauty issues grandma's way.

And besides, have you ever noticed that your grandmother is still pretty much slaying at life?

These household products can take your beauty game from faulty to flawless.

1. Coconut oil
You almost always see those memes about how coconut oil can solve all of your problems, including your emotional state. Although coconut oil can’t possibly meet those dreaded deadlines or improve your grades, it does have a lot of awesome benefits.

Use it as a hair mask, to remove makeup or to simply hydrate your skin. Smear this all over and allow yourself to feel those island vibes!

If you're prone to acne, be careful and first test how your skin reacts to coconut oil.

Coconut oil also assists in weight loss, treats digestion and can even boost your immune system.

2. Turmeric
Apart from being a staple kitchen spice, turmeric not only flavours your food, but it can also flavour the skin.

Dull skin? Make a turmeric mask to brighten the face and create a natural glow.
Foundation too light/pink? Add a pinch or turmeric to give it a yellow undertone.

Turmeric can also lighten those acne scars and calm the skin. Since it has anti inflammatory properties, it’s sure to be great for your face!

3. Sugar
Use sugar for a body scrub or a lip scrub to exfoliate for super smooth skin and lips. To ensure your liquid lipstick doesn't look cracked, exfoliate your lips with some sugar and coconut oil.

Sugar is also known as a natural source of glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is great for generating fresh skin. So when you have a lot of texture and bumps on your skin, make yourself a good body scrub for a smooth finish!

Note: If you have sensitive skin, rather use brown sugar

4. Lemon
Although they may be extremely sour, they certainly hold a lot of power!

Lemon can be used on salads, in drinks and even your skin!

Lemon juice/lemon pulp can lighten dark marks, blemishes and even your hair! But be careful though, if your skin is extremely dry, mix lemon and honey before applying it to your problem areas.

5. Beetroot juice
Beetroot juice has awesome health benefits when you ingest in. Apart from being a source of the vitamins and minerals you need, it will also result in beautiful, glowy skin.

But what about using those beets externally? Beetroot juice, together with lemon juice, can be a wonderful, natural eraser for lightening scars.

Have bags under your eyes that are bigger than a Gucci tote bag? Apply some beetroot juice to lighten them.

Want your lips to look pink without applying any product to it? Simply dab on some beetroot juice for a naturally pink pucker!

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.

K-Beauty YESSTYLE

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