Lumene // Nordic-C Glow Reveal Peeling Mask Review

Lumene // Nordic-C Glow Reveal Peeling Mask
RRP £16.90 for 75ml

This is a 15ml Sample that I received in the Birchbox 2018 Advent Calendar. Yes, it's taken me a long time to get round to using this.

First Use

Smells wonderful; the entire Nordic-C range does. It's light and fruity with a hint of orange and rose blossoms. I was expecting this to be a msk that dries and then you peel off but it's a slightly cloudy gel that sits on the skin for 10 minutes and doesn't dry. After washing it off my skin looked youthful and fresh and my skincare products applied well. It also made my skin slightly matte looking but not in a dry way. My skin felt super soft as well.

Usage

First Use - 4th April 2020
Last use - 19th June 2020

I used it once a week...or at least I tried to.

The instructions say to use a good amount each time; so I did. I'd say about 2ml (which doesn't sound much but when it comes to face products it really is).

Would I Buy It: No.

Overall Impressions

It's annoying because I like this product; my skin just doesn't like it. I'm convinced this made me break in tiny whiteheads and spots; as have other Vitamin C heavy products. It's become one of those ingredients that I'm having to avoid now or make sure that it's not the main 'star' ingredient of a product. It's a shame because I really like Lumene as a whole but they have many other ranges for me to try out and this hasn't put me off them.

Caudalie // Instant Detox Mask Review

Caudalie // Instant Detox Mask
RRP £22 for 75ml

This is a 15ml sample that I received a beauty box. I think it was either a Birchbox or Look Fantastic. I've used another 15ml sample that I got in a Latest in Beauty box way back in 2018 but this tube was definitely more recent.

First Impressions:

I thought I would have problems with this as my skin doesn't particularly rose ingredients but I had no breakouts after use. The product is a salmon colour that dries to a light pink. I like how it doesn't feel extremely tight when it's fully dry and it rinses off easily with cold water.

Usage
First use - No idea
Last use - No idea

This has been sat in pile of "items to write about" that I've forgotten when I used it. For new items in my routine I've got into a habit of starting a draft post with the date and my first impressions and then I update it as I use the product but I'm pretty sure I finished this sometime last year. Based on other 15ml face masks, I'd say this would last around 7-8 uses.

Would I buy it: Maybe.

Overall Impressions:

This is a nice face mask. It's much better than the Mudmasky one I'm currently using that is double the price of this one. I've found that this mask is particularly good for my T-Zone. I remember the first time I used this product I especially liked how my pores appeared to be smaller. I have a few more face mask samples to get through but I think this is one that I would buy as it's not too expensive and it's great for sensitive skin.

Origins // Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

Origins // Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
RRP £22 for 75ml

This is a 15ml sample that I received as a sample when I ordered some items from Origins on Black Friday. I've used several more 15ml samples over the past few years though.

First Impressions:
It has a lovely sweet apricot scent. It kind of reminds me of apricot yoghurts. The product itself is thick and creamy and only slightly oily but I don't mind that at night.

Usage

I can't remember the exact details anymore as I was using this on and off in-between the Grown Alchemist night cream. I know that this product doesn't cause me any spots so it was used as a "back-up" inbetween creams to let my skin calm down.

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

I know this is a mask and it says to use it twice a week but I actually use it every night as a regular night cream and it works better than more expensive products I've tried (like the Grown Alchemist which is £86). I think this sample was the old formula though as the new one uses Avocado & Glacier water. Either that or they couldn't fit all that text on the tiny sample tube...probably that. 

I've used at least 4 of these 15ml tubes now and it's always been great with my skin. I wake up in the morning with visibly softer and plumper skin that feels hydrated. It is slightly greasy but it absorbs fully after about 10 minutes.

I love that this is only £22 for a large 75ml size; if I bought this it would last me a good 6 months which is great because night creams can get expensive. I only have a couple more night products to use up in my stash so one they run out I will be purchasing one of these as I feel it's on par with the Origins Night-A-Mins but that is more expensive and you get less.

Minus 417 // Time Control Firming Radiant Mud Mask Review

Minus 417 // Time Control Firming Radiant Mud Mask
RRP $39 for 100ml

This is a 20ml sample that I received in a Look Fantastic box last year sometime.

First Impressions

This is a clay mask. You put it on; it dries and then you wash it off...I wish I could write more about this however this has been lying in my "empties box" for quite sometime so everything in this post is going off memory. I've now started actually writing my first impressions after the first use but it's taken me a while to get into that routine.

Usage

I think this lasted me about 2 months with twice weekly use; I was using large amounts each time though because I have so many face masks that I need to get through.

Would I Buy It:  No.

Overall Impressions

This brand is so strange. They keep appearing in British beauty boxes but yet they are really hard to buy in the UK. They're an Israeli brand and I've had a few other products from them before but nothing has ever really stood out. I just don't get them.

This masl didn't really do anything for me; my skin looked exactly the same after use and there was no noticable improvements over the two month period...maybe I just wasn't paying much attention but I think that my lack of interest says it all really.

Sand & Sky // Australian Pink Clay Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment Review

Sand & Sky // Australian Pink Clay Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment
RRP £36.90 for 100g

This is a 10g that I received in the Birchbox August 2019 box.

First Impressions

This has a nice almond/marzipan smell to mask the clay smell with a nitty gritty texture that isn't too rough on the skin. You can leave it on for a couple of minutes as a mask as well and then scrub and wash off.

Usage

This took me about 5 months to use up but only because I kept forgetting to use it. That said, I did get a good 10 uses out of it as I used it as a scrub instead of piling it on my face as a mask. It has extremely fine grains like caster sugar as well as some darker, chunkier ones.

Would I Buy It: Yes actually. I really enjoyed using it.

Overall Impressions

This has been added to my wishlist for when I get a higher disposable income as Sand & Sky products are quite pricy. That said, I do feel it is worth £37; this is not your basic exfoliator. The grains are super fine and it really feels like dirt and debris is being lifted away.

Sand & Sky do have some before and after photos on their website (which I've linked above) but they do look proper sketch though as they're very low quality and to be honest, the skin looks exactly the same but with a blur filter applied.

This product also contains AHAs so I think it is a good thing I didn't use it too often; I tend to only use products containing the chemical once/twice a week so 100g will go a long way. Because I used it so inconsistently I can't say definitively if it did anything for me but I enjoyed the sample so much I'm will to shill out £40 on the full size.

Nuxe // Insta-Masque Exfoliant + Unifiant Review

Nuxe // Insta-Masque Exfoliant + Unifiant
RRP £19.50 for 50ml

This is a 15ml sample I received in the August Birchbox 2019...At least I think it was the August one.

First Impressions

It smells of rose...not good. My skin and rose do not do well. It kind of feels like spreading melted Turkish Delight on your face and leaving it for several minutes. 

Usage

I have a confession; I haven't fully used this. I just can't bring myself to finish it. I have another 15ml pot in my skincare drawer as well which I'm planning to take to work to see if someone wants to take it off me. I used around half the pot in the 5 months I had it but I just kept forgetting to use it as I'm not quite sure what it is. It doesn't seem to fit in with my sheet masks days where I focus on moisturising and it doesn't fit inw ith my clay mask days where I focus on cleansing/purifying.

Would I Buy It: No.

Overall Impressions

After some research I think this is supposed to be an exfoliator as it has tiny grains in it. I eventually tried using this before my clay masks but I don't think my skin enjoyed the rosewater ingredient. It always kind of felt a little bit itchy whilst I used it. I did like that this was 2 minute mask though as I could stick it on in the shower.

I do like the only review on the Nuxe website though which was clearly written by an employee:

This product isn't unique; it's an exfoliator.