I Tried This Dry Mask (Charlotte Tilbury INSTANT MAGIC FACIAL DRY SHEET MASK)

Y'all.

We need to talk about this mask. 

It's the new Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask.

I'm serious.

So, I think y'all know by now that I am obsessed with masks.

Give me all the masks! Paper masks, diy masks, I don't care, I am drawn to them. 

And today's mask is dry. 

Yes, you read that right. 

Daily readers might remember this post, where I talked about the latest products that you're going to have to try. This mask was on the list.

It was just released this month, and I had to order a mask the second the email hit.

Let's get into the details on this mask:

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial 

DRY Sheet Face Mask

$22 for one ($80 pack for 4, but um, I passed on that)

Can be used THREE TIMES

Claims:

--hydrated, brighter, smoother, wrinkle-reduced skin

Why it's fancy:

--It's DRY (no mess). It has an in-built technological 5 Skin Solution IQ which tailors to your skin, feeding it exactly what it needs.

--Bio-mimetic revolutionary system gives a prolonged release of the ingredients, giving it time to immerse into your complexion for up to 8 hours.

And now, for scary mask pics.

You were warned.

I told you. CREEPY. After several attempts (smile with teeth not recommended) this was the best I could do. Anyway...

So basically you open this very soft, dry, and durable mask. It's in two segments, but it's connected, and you join the loops from each section over your ears.

Y'all, this is the best-fitting mask I've ever, ever tried. It wasn't uncomfortable at all.

How do you use it:

--Apply the mask and massage it for a few minutes to activate the ingredients.

--Wait 15 minutes and remove. No need to wash your face. You can use it up to three times.

Thoughts:

I could sort of tell something was on my face after, but it wasn't oily or greasy. I don't know how to explain it. I definitely had my wrinkles reduced, but the effect wasn't 8 hours. I did feel hydrated and my skin looked glowy. 

The mask doesn't harbor bacteria, so it is fine to use it 3 times. It really is dry! It's crazy. While $22 is pretty steep, I definitely would buy it again for a special occasion.

Have you tried this mask before or heard of it?

Yes, You Need to Try Lip Gel Masks

Happy Monday, y'all! I took a blog break for a few days last week and traveled this past weekend back home for my niece's 2nd birthday. I had a great time and gave the kids all my sugar--that's what we call kisses! ;) Speaking of kisses, since Valentine's Day is tomorrow, I had to share current obsession: lip gel masks--have you heard of these before? Y'all! You need to try these!! I actually shared one around three years ago here (see also: Asian Beauty Haul), but they've recently been popping up on the faces of celebs.

So what is a lip gel? It's a jelly-like mask that you put on your lips. Most soften and hydrate. Some plump the lips. They're a super-easy way to get kissable lips. No lip scrubs or DIYs required. Just leave them on for a certain amount of time and discard. Here are 4 you'll want to check out:

Patchology FlashPatch Lip Renewal

$15, Ulta

5 minutes

clear hydrogel

--these come in travel sizes, too and are a great quick fix in 5 minutes.

Skyn Iceland Plumping Lip Gel

$35 for 5, ULTA, online

clear

They actually did plump my lips, as in I had fewer lines in them.

Miss Spa Deep Wrinkle Hydrogel Lip Treatment

$6.99, Ulta

Gold

45 min

You have to leave on for 45 minutes, but if your lips are super dry and cracked, it's worth it.

KNC BEAUTY ALL NATURAL 
COLLAGEN INFUSED LIP MASK

$24.99, 5, Violet Grey.com

15-20 min

These are made with natural ingredients, and are supposed to be the best.
Emma Stone wore them recently getting ready for the Golden Globes.

Yes, you look ridiculous for a few minutes.

But in the cooler months, or for instant kissable lips, lip gel masks are awesome!

 I've tried making my own version, like I do with my DIY Lush shower gels, but this is a case of easier, faster, and more convenient. 

Have you ever tried lip gel masks or heard of them?

PS: Happy 2nd birthday to my niece Emmalyn. Aunt Nanny loves you!

GLOSSIER: Haul + Demo + Review

Have y'all heard of the brand GLOSSIER? It was created by blogger Emily Weiss of Into the Gloss plus beauty editors, with the philosophy of Skin first, Makeup second. This high-end brand features skincare with a few makeup items.

Think of Glossier as easy-to-use basics. Since I know many of you want a simple routine made with good ingredients, I thought I would give Glossier a try.

Um...blogger confession, I purchased the products in November, but wasn't able to try them out until almost the new year. But I think it was worth the wait. I've got a Glossier haul, with a demo in the video at the end! Please watch :)

Glossier Coconut Balm DotCom--$12--Skin salve that comes in 4 scents. Very thick and perfect for a nighttime treatment on lips, chapped skin.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer--$25--A light moisturizer that is great to apply before makeup. It didn't blur any pores or hide redness as described, but it definitely left my skin hydrated.

Glossier Stretch Concealer--$18--This has elastic micro waxes that move with your face instead of caking on top of it, and nourishing oils that give a dewy, glowing finish. The buildable formula covers everything from dark circles to redness and zits. I did not have this experience at all--you've got to check out the video to see--and found this really slippery and it settled into fine lines.

Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask--$22--Sweet almond oil, plant-based squalane, and hyaluronic acid do a deep dive beneath the surface to instantly plump skin up with hydration, helping to smooth fine lines and restore elasticity. Licorice root and lemon fruit extract work quietly behind the scenes to gently brighten and even out your complexion, while honey and aloe act as soothing agents. It takes a lot to impress this DIY mask-maker, but I really, really liked this mask. It's so soothing and a great way to wake you up in the morning.

Glossier Generation G--$18--Gives the look and finish of just-blotted lipstick, without the blot. I got Cake, which really, just looked like my lips already, so I'd want to try another shade, as they have 6.

Glossier Boy Brow--$16--3 shades. The creamy wax formula is inspired by traditional hair pomade for soft, flexible hold that doesn’t stiffen or flake. A sheer pigment load gives a natural oomph of color so brows look fuller and more even, and the tiny tapered brush allows for precise application. I love the formula and the small wand on this brow mascara.

I created this look using the products mentioned above, plus a few extras.

Would I recommend Glossier? If you're looking for high-end, quality, skincare with basics in makeup, then YES! There are also masks and cleansers for oily skin, plus serums that I hear good things about.

Here's Charlie helping me out (he's in the video too) with pics. I cannot say he is the best assistant, but he is the cutest. 

Have you tried Glossier?

Which items caught your eye?


or try here: https://youtu.be/sbJMP7VJrN0

NEW Makeup And MORE!

And I'm off for my birthday celebration! All the cool kids will be keeping up with me on Instagram and Snapchat. But let's not comment on that, because before I go, I wanted to share some NEW makeup and MORE!

I've been using up so many products, so here's what's new that's been taking up space on my makeup counter. Some of it I bought, some, pr samples, all are FUN! I'm going to be giving the highlights, so if you want more details on something, let me know! ONTO THE NEW MAKEUP:

LORAC Mega Pro 3-- This year's offering has gorgeous white and gold packaging (prone to makeup fignerprints though) with 2 rows of mattes and 2 rows of shimmer. Mostly neutrals with some surprises thrown in, like the burgundy color. Excellent quality.

Hard Candy Metallic Mousse Lip--Get the matte metallic liquid lip trend for an affordable $6. Comes in 7 shades and fun to try. Try Walmart or hardcandy.com

Kokie Cosmetics--This is a new-to-me brand and I've loved trying out a sample of the wide offering of products they have. Bold packaging, beautiful colors, inspired by the runway, but at an affordable price. I really liked the matte lipsticks ($6) and polishes. BONUS: the bottoms of the lips pop off for extra lip balm, like ELF ones. You can find them at select Bed Bath & Beyond, Harmon, and Christmas Tree stores or Kokiecosmetics.com. This is just a little bit of what they have, so please check them out!

                                                                                                                    

Everyone™ 3-in-1 Lotion--3-in1 lotions are light enough for your face and moisturizing enough for your hands and body. They're formulated with a blend of Coconut Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Vitamin E, Rice Proteins and aroma therapeutic essential oils. The scents include Apricot + Vanilla, Lavender + Aloe, Mint + Coconut, Cedar + Citrus, Coconut + Lemon and Unscented. I had mint+coconut. It was very minty at first but then faded to a soft coconut and I didn't smell like sunscreen, so it was a nice change.

Available at Whole Foods and www.eoproducts.com, $5.99

NYX Lip Creme Vault--Y'ALL!! This made me crazy excited. Inside of this vault, you get 36 lip creams that aren't full size, but they are NOT half size, but slightly bigger. So while $64.99 is a large price, it's a $110 value. I'm thinking stocking stuffers for girlfriends at Christmas, Secret Santa, building your makeup kit, and more! Online at ULTA now or in stores 10-23      

Glov On-the-Go Makeup Remover--Its advanced micro-fiber technology to easily remove makeup, cleanse and tone skin with just water. Small and compact, great for travel too. It works. $12.99 at ULTA

Ashley Tisdale Illuminate Palette in Beach Goddess--12 Eye and Cheek Colors from Ashley's collection for BH Cosmetics. I was really impressed with this palette and will be taking it traveling with me. It's so pretty on too. Online only at ULTA for $14.50. There is another palette and some lip colors as well. Definitely worth checking out.

FACE INC by NAILS INC Sheet Masks--I'm a huge fan of sheet masks, and these are among some of the cutest ones! Each mask addresses a different skin care type (dry, normal, dehydrated, detox, anti-aging).  $6 each

Paul & Joe Makeup-Have you heard of or tried this brand? This is a French beauty (and clothing) brand that features retro packaging of some really awesome products. In the upper left-hand corner, you'll see their Gel Foundation (80% water) and their PROTECTING FOUNDATION PRIMER. The primer was a little light for me, but really good, as was the gel foundation.  Next up is the powder and then the blush. How cute is the limited edition packaging with Bugs and Tweety? Try beautyhabit.com for this luxury brand.

Which of these caught your eye?
Tell me in the comments!

DIY Mask for Soft Skin

First off, thanks so much to those who responded on this post. You said such kind things about my friend A, even though I think she exaggerated a bit. Maybe one day I'll post a Snap of me singing, since that's what most of you commented on!

This weekend it was rainy in Atlanta, and all I wanted to do was curl up with my pup and watch movies. But my trip to Cancun is almost here (seriously, at the rate this year has flown by it will be) and I needed some clothes. I went shopping with one of my friends (she's a very good sport) and we were talking about what all I was bringing with me. Of course, the talk turned to makeup:

"What's that stuff you always bring in your makeup bag? That mask thing?" she asked.
It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about, because I'm always using different things.

She was talking about my DIY mask that I make to get soft skin--I make it at home and always have some for traveling. It's the easiest thing and takes only a few seconds. Here's how to make it:

You'll need:

1/c powdered milk
a little water

This is for ALL skin types. 

Milk has lactic acid, which is wonderful for softening skin, so think of it more as an exfoliator than a hydrator, meaning all skin types can use this. Powdered milk is a more manageable and travel-friendly option, than using regular plain Greek yogurt, another suggestion.

What's great about this recipe is that you can mix it in your hand (great for travel) or use a bowl.

Simply add a little water to the powdered milk to make a paste.

Apply to face using clean fingers or a clean foundation brush.

Allow to dry for 10 minutes and use a warm wash cloth to clean the face. I prefer to moisturize after.

--Not a fan of milk? Don't worry, this doesn't smell nor look like milk.
--Alternatives: powdered coconut, powdered almond, powdered buttermilk, powdered soy, or rice powder.

--I suggest using regular powdered milk as opposed to non-fat. The lactic acid content is higher in regular and higher in powdered.

--Check the packaging if allergic to nuts, as many of these are processed in the same facility as those.

--Discard any left over mask after using.

Would you try a mask like this?

Don't forget my $200 SEPHORA giveaway!

4 Ways to Pamper Your Hair for Spring

“This post was sponsored by Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture, all thoughts and opinions are my own”

Okay, y'all--it is high time that we get our hair back on track from the winter months. Winter is always so harsh on hair. I'm talking super dry, frizzy, and dull hair. Spring is the perfect time to give hair just a little more TLC to bring it back to life. 

And I've got a plan!

This year I wanted to mix it up a little as far as my hair treatment routine goes--I got a chance to try the newly-released Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture. This is launching in select Sephora stores (and online) to help nourish, condition and restore the appearance of hair.

The Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture line consists of 4 collections that address the cleansing, treatment and styling needs of all hair textures:

• Brassica Seed & Shea Oils Collection (Smoothing/Style-Extending)
• Coconut & Moringa Oils Collection (Frizz Fighting/Humidity-Blocking) 
• Jamaican Black Castor & Murumuru Oils Collection (Curl-Defining/Moisture- Sealing)
• Dream Come True Collection (Scalp & Strand Nourishing)

A little more about the ingredients:

1. Dual Encapsulation Oil Technology – Our Dual Encapsulation Technology infuses hair with two natural oils – one reparative, the other, style-enhancing – delivering nourishment exactly where hair needs it most. These tiny microspheres infuse hair with targeted, time-released nutrients to rapidly boost conditioning benefits.

2. Natural Silicone Alternative – Brassica Seed Oil’s excellent antioxidant profile results in a natural shine, smoothness and silky softness without the potential for buildup.

The problem: very dry hair

The solution: Deep Conditioning Masque

I got to try some of two of the collections. First up is the Wonderful Deep Conditioning Masque. You only need to use it once a week, for just 15 minutes for hydrated hair. If you color your hair, you'll love this. Sometimes I'll apply it and leave it on for longer while I'm cleaning the house, for example. No parabens or sulfates. It has a lovely vanilla and white flower scent.

The problem: rough-textured hair

The Solution: Brassica Seed & Shea Oils

Next up are three items from the Smoothing/Style Extending line. Let's go from your left to right:

The Silkening Leave-In does just what it says--a liquid leave-in treatment. This liquid leave-in doubles as a nutrient-rich conditioner and is the perfect prep for smooth heat styling without buildup. Hair is left nourished, detangled, and soft. Dual encapsulation technology ensures a smooth finish as tiny microspheres deliver fast-absorbing brassica seed oil, a natural alternative to silicone!

The Silkening Blow Out Creme is what I use before blow drying my hair. It's protected from heat without buildup. 

The problem: dull hair

The solution: Brassica Seed Oil

Finally, the Brassica Seed Oil--Scent and shine in a bottle. No more dull hair! I add just a drop or two in my palm, rub my hands together, and run it through my hair. Instant shine. By the way, all of the products from this line smell like spun sugar and red velvet cream. YASSSS!

Hair problems solved! Now, WHERE TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS: The line is NOT available at all Sephora stores (I have seen it in Atlanta though!), so please use the store locator found HERE: http://mcjwbeautyculture.com/ as well as Sephora.com.

Have you tried Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture yet?

Odd & Unusual Beauty Masks You've Got to Try!

I'm a beauty mask junkie. I love making them, something that started when I was little. I remember making a sunburn mask with aloe vera and whatever else I could find. I would put it on my sleeping sister's shoulders, since she was prone to sunburn. 

And I'm always learning about new ingredients and concoctions, like when I had a bad injury while visiting Costa Rica years ago. I wasn't taken to a hospital, but instead the local women covered me diy treatments that I still use today. You can find my DIYs here.

Check out: DIY Sheet Mask Recipes

But I also love buying them too--to see what's the latest "it" ingredient or treatment, and to separate the good stuff from the gimmicks. I've reviewed masks plenty of times on here before, but these I've tested over the past year are different. They have odd, unusual, or fun ingredients to them. After all, this should be a treat! I tried to find expensive and affordable options for as many as I could! I hope you find one you'd like to try:

Snail Mask--Snail extracts provide skin rejuvenation.

• Mizon $14
• Tony Moly $8

Egg Mask--Instantly hydrates and brightens skin

• Egg Cream Mask $24
• Egg Pore Pack $12 (this didn't really do anything for me)

Wine Mask--Retinol is supposed to help with wrinkles.

• BioBelle Happy Hour $4.99
• Wilma Schuman Hydra Red Wine Mask $39 (for 4)

Bee Venom Mask--Plumps and tightens

• Miss Spa Bee Venom Mask $7.99

Animal Face Mask--These are regular sheet masks with animal faces on them. I've seen them in K Beauty for years, and they are finally Stateside. They come in other funny faces too. $5

Did you miss this? Face Masques 101

Baby Foot Mask--Fruit extracts cause feet over time to peel, revealing soft feet. Totally gross, but I've been doing these bi-annually for years.

• Baby Foot $20
• Etude House $9.41

Lip Masks--A fancy phrase for either a scrub or moisturizing treatment.

• GlamGlow PoutMud--$24 (but I diy my own version that is a pretty much a dupe. The Lip balm that comes with it is one of my FAVES).
• Nug Lip Mask--$7.99 (This dried on my lips instead of moisturizing them and then I had to rip it off my lips. It was torture, but a friend of mine had the opposite experience).

Lip Peel Off Mask--I first tried this last fall, but have been seeing them pop up on blogs recently. They come in peel off form for eyebrows too. You essentially apply it like a lip gloss and then peel it off for color, as seen below:

Scary picture alert! This is me first thing in the morning with no makeup, so be kind! :) Behind the scenes blogging, right here!

1--It is impossible to apply neatly.
2--After I let it dry, I peeled it off.
3--Here's the after. It stays for hours!

• Long Lasting Lip Tattoo Peel Off Mask $3.99

Check this out: I tried 10 Sleeping Masks So You Don't Have To

24 K Mask--Get hydrated and glowing skin with gold.

• Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle $68
• Passport to Beauty Gold Radiance $65 for 2 (I got this in a FabFitFun box in Fall 2015)
• Miss Spa 24k Gold Creme Mask $6.99

Bubble Mask--These turn from cream to bubbles on the face.

• ELF Hydrating Bubble Mask (originally reviewed here) $14
• Dr. Brandt Hydrating $70 (more on this tomorrow)

GlamGlow Gravity Mud Mask--This silver peel off mask leaves skin tighter. It has a strong scent, not bad, just too strong for me, and was fun to peel off, as pictured below. $69

Modeling Mask--One of the MOST unusual masks concoctions I've ever tried. It's a powder that you mix into something like pancake batter. Apply to face and it dries into a plaster-like shell. Bizarre! They have many different types, depending on needs. I tried two.

Vitamin C Modeling Mask $20 (great for brightening/moisturizing)

Collagen Modeling Mask $20 (anti-aging/firming)

Which of these would you try?

Extra Elle:

• Super fast weekend, mainly since I spent so much of Saturday out and about before the cooler temps hit yesterday. So much for that first day of spring! I actually don't mind it, but wish that pollen would go away.
• See also: Sheet Mask Reviews--Everything you need to know

Sheet Mask Reviews--Everything You Need To Know

pic source

I'm a bit of a mask fanatic--gel masks, clay masks, cream masks, masks that peel, masks that dry, and sheet masks. I love 'em all. And on a recent Sephora shopping trip (I just went in to browse, I swear! #lies) I ended up buying several sheet masks to try out. Keep reading to see which I liked with my sheet masks reviews.

Info:
A sheet mask is a cotton mask (also called a paper mask, but they are comfortable and form to the face) that is usually disposable. Unlike traditional cream masks, there is nothing to wash or peel away. Just remove the mask. It is saturated in liquid, cream, or gel (on one side). They come in one piece for the face, two pieces, halves, and even for eyes. They cover a variety of skin issues and are usually worn for an average of 20 minutes. They range in price from every inexpensive to pricey. My reviews will be quick, but feel free to ask for more info in the comments.

Sephora Pomegranate Mask

• $6
• Claims: Awakens, energizes, and protects the skin with antioxidant-rich natural pomegranate extract
• Mask Quality: Very strong quilted mask--one of the best quality masks I've ever tried
• Overall: It smelled nice but I didn't notice any spectacular results. I ended up with a few pimples from it. Skip

Tony Moly

• $7.50 for 2 pack, Sephora and various stores online
• An Asian brand that I have featured here often
• Claims: Sheet masks that are formulated with aloe vera to deeply hydrate and transform dull, dry skin into a healthier-looking complexion in as little as 20 minutes.
• Mask Quality: This feels like the typical sheet mask quality. Unscented
• Overall: It did moisturize my skin as the mask indicated, but I feel a regular moisturizer or sleeping mask (reviews on those coming next week) would work the same. Skip
• FYI: There are several other masks offered.

Sephora Lingzhi Mask

• $6
• First of all, what the heck is lingzhi? It's an Asian mushroom that has tons of uses.
• Claims: Creates the appearance of smoother, plumper, and younger-looking skin
• Mask Quality: Excellent high-quality
• Overall: This really did get rid of my fine lines. Buy!
• FYI: Sephora offers more masks than these two for other skin types.

Dr. Jart + Water Replenishment

• $7.50
• Claims: Great for all skin types including sensitive skin, Water Replenishment Cotton Sheet Mask contains allantoin and witch hazel for continuous moisture. The soothing bio-cellulose sheet features an immediate cooling sensation, leaving skin feeling clean, hydrated, and completely refreshed.
• Mask Quality: Regular
• Overall: I really liked this mask. My skin felt hydrated and fine lines were gone. Buy!

Dr. Jart + All That Life & Firm

• $7.50
• Claims: The Hydrogel Expansion Stretch Mask brings facial contours through a plaster-type stretch mask that can expand to fit onto your face. It features clear contours, strengthened elasticity, and maximized penetration—making it the perfect tool for reducing the appearance of wrinkles, loss of elasticity, large pores, and sagging.
• Mask Quality: This was THE craziest mask I have ever tried. It was in 2 pieces and was hydrogel--it felt like slippery jelly. And the bottom piece (pictured below) was to stretch from one ear to the other. Um, that didn't happen for my face, so I did the best I could. I looked WEIRD.

• Overall: It definitely worked and tightened my skin. Wrinkles were gone. Buy it!

Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution

• $6
• Claims: A cellulose sheet mask that deeply hydrates, replenishes, and protects skin's own moisture.
• Mask Quality: Regular
• Overall: This worked and gave me hydrated skin. I'd use in a pinch for hydration but wouldn't repurchase.

Dr. Jart+ Firming Solution

• $6
• Claims: Thermosensitive gel is activated by body heat to release the beneficial ingredients infused within. The soft gel layer seals in the ingredients to maximize the effectiveness of the formula and recover from moisture loss. Bio-peptide restores the appearance of healthy skin structure by supporting natural collagen and elastin synthesis. A power firming complex—featuring coenzyme Q10 and beta-glucan—works synergistically to maintain and promote skin elasticity, lifting and firming the look of sagging skin
• Mask Quality: This was a 2 piece mask made of gel that was supposed to react to body heat. I didn't notice that. Slight scent
• Overall: My pores looked smaller and there was slight tightening, but since there are other masks I liked better, I'd Skip.

Dr. Jart+ Wrinkles Solution

• $6
• Claims: A body heat thermosensitive cellulose gel mask that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and improves skin texture.
• Mask Quality: This was a 2 piece mask made of gel and it was the biggest pain to apply (very slippery) and to get to stay on my face. One side was smooth and the other was textured. Once I took the mask off, I had imprints all over my face from the textured side! It was awful.
• Overall: This mask you had to leave on for up to 40 minutes. I tried this at 20 min and 40 min and had the same results. Based on the fact that was it practically impossible to keep on my face, I'd Skip.

What masks (any kind for skin) are your faves?

Check These Out:

• Masks 101
• DIY Sheet Mask Recipes

Extra Elle:

• Speaking of Sephora, don't even get me started on the #EpicRewards mess! I have been saving points for ages to get some of the amazing rewards offered and they ran out of them in under 2 minutes. 
• Speaking of Sephora AGAIN, I have a huge haul coming up if you're interested. Or I can only share what I loved the most. Or reviews on everything. Or all of the above, haha. I'd love your input.
• DON'T FORGET my giveaways here!