Skincare Routine Part 2 (Night): Skin Food Black Sugar Mask

And the series is back up after a long wait. I know this kinda fell off a major hole, but the show is back on.

Here's a quick recap of the products I use at night (click for complete post here):
1. Mandom Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion Sebum
2. shu uemura Brightening Cleansing Oil 15.2 oz

3. After cleansing my face, at least once a week, I exfoliate my skin to remove any dead skin or debris that might be clogging my pores. I've noticed that I do tend to get bigger pimples if I don't exfoliate. Since I'm still breaking the bad habit of sleeping without washing my face, for me exfoliating is pretty crucial just to make sure my pores are unclogged.

Product Blurb: Moisturizing and exfoliating wash off scrub mask with minerals, vitamins and glycolic acid. Cleanses and revitalizes the skin.

Price: $25.50

I picked up this Black Sugar Mask on my last trip to the Philippines. I know I mentioned that a scrub is probably the only skincare product I'm not willing to pay money for, but this one piqued my interest enough for me to shell the dough.

Prior to the Black Sugar Mask, I was pretty much making my own scrub. And if I have to compare this to my usual honey and sugar scrub, I would much really prefer the the former just because it was cheap yet effective.

Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask probably only trumps over it because of it's convenience. I don't have to mix my sugar and honey and there's no hassle of cleaning up the sticky mess of honey on your hand (or anywhere for that matter).

However, I did notice a difference that my problematic blackheads are almost gone (or at least they're not as noticeable or as bad as before). But... I wouldn't exactly hold this scrub entirely responsible for the improvement because of the other slew of products that I use to maintain my skin.

Just like any other store bought scrub that I've used, this one is no different when it comes to texture. I found that the exfoliating sugars are too big that it can be pretty harsh on your skin when you're using it. Although the sugar tends to dissolve after massaging it on your face, so it's crucial that you do it gently when you're massaging it on your face. The scrub also has a citrusy smell that might put off some people who don't like any fragrance on their skincare products. I wouldn't recommend this scrub for people who might have acne because it might irritate or pop your pimple which might lead to scarring. I would only use this if your breakouts are mild to none.




Ingredients


Overall: I would probably stick to the cheaper alternative of making my own scrub after I've gone through the whole tub.

Rating: 2 out of 5

NARIS UP Natural Facial Pack Green Tea Extract + AHA (Review)

Product Blurb: NARIS UP Natural Facial Pack (Green Tea Extract + AHA)is a skin care pack to remove dirt, oil, and blackheads deep inside the pores while making the skin smoother and softer with restored moisture. This skin pack contains green tea extract and AHA to restore the natural moisture of the skin. With repaired elasticity, the AHA and job's tears will help protect your skin from the inside to prevent damage from the outside. skin friendly3.5 oz.(100g) tube

Direction: *This is fluid type pack, so open with the cap facing upwards.

1. After washing face, condition skin with a lotion or milk lotion, apply an appropriate amount evenly all over face. Avoid around eyes, eyebrow, hairline and lips.*Apply cream lotion before use so mask can be taken off gently.
2. When the pack has dried completely (about 10 minutes), peel off gradually from the forehead downward.
3. Finish with creme if it is necessary.* Recommended using once or twice a week.

(Source: OhayoUSA.com)

Price: $6.99

Available at: Ohayo store, OhayoUSA.com, Marukai, Mitsuwa

Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5




Quick Rundown

PROS

leaves skin soft and smooth

gets rid of whiteheads on your face

CONS

not for people who have low pain tolerance

might irritate a blemish, if there's any

a bit messy

doesn't get the stubborn blackheads out

will tug your skin

More Product Images






I picked up this mask during my previous trip to the Ohayo Store in Puente Hills. Since the text on the product is in Japanese, I had consulted with the lady working at the moment which was more suitable for oily, combo, or acne-prone skin, and she had recommended this one as opposed to the egg version (probably because of the green tea).

I was a bit eager to try the product out since it's practically a "Biore" strip for your whole face. Could this have been the answer for clogged pores?

So, I went ahead and looked up the instruction online on the Ohayo website and as well as asked Yumeko of a second opinion on the translation xP.

I got started and washed my face prior to application. It mentioned that I have to moisturize my face first before putting the goop on my face. And, I just thought it was a bit odd since you are trying to clear out your pores first. Anyway, I proceeded with the procedure and applied the facial pack on my face.
Because of its thick and sticky consistency (very tacky), I ended up tugging my skin as I spread the product out. At this point I'm getting a bit worried since I don't like putting too much pressure or let alone tugging my face.

So I applied it all over my face, and obviously avoiding the eye area. At this point, I'm just tugging all over my face and it's getting quite messy. I tried my best to avoid getting any of the product on my hairline and eyebrows.

After I have let sit on my face for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, I was a bit anxious to pull it out. The very first time I've tried it, I only put a thin layer on my face which made it harder to take it off. Around the second time around, I've piled it on thick which made it a bit easier to take off. After it has dried out, it'll look like a film on your face as if you've smothered Elmer's glue on your face (Remember when you were a kid? And you'd smother glue all over your palm so you can peel it off once it dries? It's like that! Or was it just me who did that in art class??).

It was quite a challenge peeling the film off your face not unless you kinda wrinkle your nose or make some sort of movements on your forehead to loosen it up a bit. This facial mask is not recommended for those who can't handle nose pore strips, because this will hurt even. Even with the lotion prior to putting the facial mask on your face. I mean I have a pretty high pain tolerance when it comes to my face. I do pluck my eyebrows with tweezers, and for some reason I do find that relaxing in a way. I've used pore strips and that doesn't really bother me at all.

But with this thing, I ended up with tears on my eyes. It seriously took at least 30 minutes before I got this off my skin. I was doing it in portions, and just stopping and going, just being careful. It feels as if you have duct tape your face and now you're pulling it out. It's even worse when you get below your eye area cuz it seems as if your skin is more sensitive there. And just the whole peeling process itself is also messy since the film will break at some point and it's not really going to peel as a whole off your face.

When I first tried it, I also had a pimple somewhere on my face. Again, not recommended for people with breakouts because it just might irritate your blemish even more. And once you're towards the part you're trying to peel it off there, it is going to hurt even more! My pimple ended up flaring red afterwards. I'm surprise it didn't pop in the process. And be careful when you get to your eyebrows, because it can pull off your hair if you force it. I suggest to just wash off that part if you didn't get it out.

The pack did get some of my whiteheads out, but the stubborn blackheads are still ever present. It didn't do so much on the blackhead department. It did leave my skin feeling soft and smooth after it was all said and done. However, the whole entire process was just too messy for me.
I also tried putting the facial pack WITHOUT putting lotion on first. And trust me it's even worse without it.

Final Verdict: Although it sounds like a good idea to have a "Biore" strip for face, this product just didn't cut it for me. For one, I didn't like how I have to tug and pull just to get the product on my face. And for something tacky like this, you would think it'll get your blackheads in a cinch, but it'll only to leave you disappointed when you check and see that it's still there hanging out on your nose.

And as far as putting lotion on first, I don't really like the idea, but it does minimize the pain when it's time to take it off. But if you think about it, it seems like you're just taking off the layer of moisturizer you just put and not so much for the dirt or oil on your face.

Even though this is a pretty neat idea, you'll probably get better results of unclogging your pores and getting rid of dirt with a good scrub (link: honey and sugar scrub).

NARIS UP Skin Moisturizing Point Mask/Lotion (Review)

Product Blurb:
NARIS UP Skin Moisturizing Point Mask/Lotion is a natural skin pack that comes with a tube of pre-essence that grabs and treats blackheads while the point pack mask helps remove dirt, oil, and blackheads in stubborn, difficult to reach areas. The natural packs are added with egg shell membrane extract and charcoal for an absolutely clean and moisturized finish. Your skin will look visibly cleaner and more beautiful.

Directions: After washing face, apply a small amount of pre-esssence onto your finger tips and apply onto nose, chin, and other bothersome areas where blackheads are present. Before the pre-essence dries, apply a small amount of the point pack onto your finger tips and cover the skin area where you applied the pre-essence. After the pack dries in 10 minutes, peel off the mask upward. Use toner and facial lotion after use. Use 1~2 times a week.

(Source)
Price: $7.99

Available at: Ohayo, Ohayousa.com, Marukai, Mitsuwa

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

The Good Stuff: What's good about this nose "strip" is it conforms to the shape of your nose regardless of the shape and size unlike the infamous Pore Strips. You just lay the the black goo (step 2) which binds on top of the clear gel (step 1) and once it dries, you can pull the suckers out of your pores even the ones on the side of your nose that regular pore strips tend to miss. It also doesn't form any air bubbles (which usually happens with pore strips when you don't smooth it out your nose properly) that can leave certain sections of your nose out with black or white heads.

After the black goo has dried, peeling it is not as painful as the Biore nose strips. I don't know if it's just me, but the Biore really hurt that no matter how slowly I pull the strip,. It will still bring tears to my eyes. However, with the NARIS UP Skin Moisturizing Point Mask/Lotion is practically painless compared to the Biore strip (well it depends on your pain tolerance too). You can feel your whiteheads being lifted away from your pores minus the tears. If anything it actually tickles my nose (for some weird reason), or it's just like taking gift wrapping tape off your skin (without the hair of course).


The Bad Stuff: As much as it gets the whiteheads on my nose, its grip to your nose is not strong enough to get the blackheads out. I still have some blackheads remaining that I've attempted so many times to get rid of it, and it still stayed there. I've tried it by leaving it as short as the moment it dried to as long as leaving the nose strip overnight on my nose, and still to no avail. My stubborn blackheads are still camping out on my nose. It doesn't penetrate deep and strong enough to get all the gunk out.

And for obvious reasons, this can get really messy. The black goo tends to be runny, and if you dont tilt the bottle upside up, the black goo can go all over the place or even drip (and it will), so you have to be careful.

More product pictures:



You only need a thin layer of the clear gel hence why it's smaller. You have to put a pretty thick glob of the black goo so it's easier to peel off your nose once it dries.




Don't mind the peeling finger. Anyway, you can tell that the black goop is pretty runny. It can get pretty sticky too when it's still wet.


And here's my nose. This was the first time that I did it and I had the hardest time taking it off my nose because I didn't put enough of the black gel. You can tell that I didn't since you can see my skin through it. Just slathered it on your nose and make sure your skin is not peeking out. You can actually see it in action the the tip of my nose.

The Verdict: It's good for the mean time. It's not really something that I'm too ecstatic about or "OMG-YOU-HAVE-TO-TRY-THIS!" kind of deal. It's something fun but messy to use. It does the job of getting the whiteheads out, but not so much with blackheads. If you want a less painful route of nose strips, you might want to try this out though.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (Review)

What it claims it does: Deep cleans and gently exfoliates the dull surface layers of your skin.

Helps dry up acne pimples
Rinses away blackheads
Helps shrink large pores

The original natural home treatment, developed by a dermatologist, that will actually dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and even help shrink enlarged pores.

Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your face and neck. Within minutes it firms and hardens, as its suction action draws out waste matter from the pores. Minutes later, rinse the masque away with warm water and a washcloth. After the masque is removed your skin will feel clean...refreshed and smooth.

Even for people who are fortunately free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that relaxes tired muscles and eases tension lines on the face and neck.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Sulfur, Chromium Oxide Greens, Fragrance, Methylparaben

*Source (drugstore.com)


Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque Report Card:
Quality: 4 out 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 3 out 5

Overall: 4 out of 5


What I like about the product: It's a great mask for a cheap price. For less than $4, you're doing your face a big favor (mainly if your oily/combination/acne-prone). Your face really feels refreshed and clean afterwards. It really dries up my pimple like what it claim it does. See, I get these monsterous pimples once in a while. They're red and angry, but after using this, my pimples have been reduced in size. Please don't expect a miracle that it'll completely vanish it, but by using this, I found that it reduces my chances of getting acne scars where the blemish is and redness. Also, you will definitely feel your pores tightening after slapping this on. I only use this once or twice a week, depending on how my skin feels. If I know there's a pimple waiting to happen, I slather this thing on my face and I know it'll work its magic. The blackheads in my nose are also gone thanks to this product. It's very easy to use. Put it on after cleansing your face, and then leave it on for a few minutes while doing other things and rinse it after the mask hardens. And you're left with a soft, smooth, and glowing face.

What I didn't like about the product: Because the masque comes in a tube, sometimes I have difficulties getting the product out. The masque smells like toothpaste, so sometimes I feel I have toothpaste on my face. I probably wouldn't recommend this for people with dry skin since it might get too drying. The packaging could be better, and it can make people iffy because of its appearance. Since the mask is minty, people with sensitive skin might not like the tingling sensation or how it feels when the mask hardens (your pores will feel really tight). I didn't really experience any burning sensation after using this product, but I've read that some people have.

Overall: This product has become a staple item in my skin routine. It definitely delivers great results and very affordable.