Skincare Lineup

My struggle with my skin has been a rollercoaster of different products and different outcomes. My cleansers, toners and moisturizers may come and go but there are a few things that stay the same. I've previously done a post all about my favorite Masks and, while most of my masks are featured in this post, I thought I would show you guys the skincare regime I'm doing tonight.

Since everyone is out getting candy and/or getting drunk, I decided to treat myself to a mini spa night! 

Tonight's lineup goes as follows:

Philosophy Micro-delivery Purifying Peel is a gel mask that really gets deep down into your pores and gets rid of the dead skin cells. I picked up a sample of this mask from Sephora and I've been loving it! While it's really nice, I don't know if I can shell out almost $40 for a mask, but we'll see.

Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask is a lifesaver for acne prone skin. This mask contains Zinc Oxide (whatever that is), Sulfur, and Salicylic Acid so this little guy is preeetty powerful. While it doesn't clear my skin 100% overnight, I definitely do see improvements in the morning. 

Origins Clear Improvement Mask is awesome for blackheads. While I put the 10 Minute Mask almost all over my face, I put this mask on my chin and nose where I'm prone to blackheads. Like the previous mask, you don't see immediate results. However if you use this mask for a while, you definitely see less and less blackheads so it gets an A+ in my book.

*A bit out of order here, my apologies!*

I remove my masks with the DevitaRx Rc Pre-Treatment Clarifier. This is a toner that my mum gave me because she has a little left and wanted me to try it. It's okay, not great. Definitely not worth the hefty price tag. My neutrogena toner will do just fine, thank you!

Next I slather on the DevitaRx C-Pro Plus Serum. This little guy is packed with vitamin C which is amazing for your skin. While you're supposed to put this on in the morning, I put it on at night because I'm not a fan of wearing serums under my makeup. Unless it's sunscreen, but sunscreen doesn't really count as a serum.

I'll then treat my spots with the Origins Super Spot Remover which I've gone on and on about (read this post if you'd like to hear more about it) Pair this spot treatment with the 10 minute mask and you're golden, pony boy (10 points for you if you get the reference!)

I'll wrap up the night with putting on a bit of the Neutrogena Light Night Cream on some dry spots (ie: around my nose) and then put on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask which is the best hydrating mask I've ever used. I've spoken about it briefly in this post and I'm planning on doing an entire post about it too.

After all that, I'm going to curl up with a cuppa and my snuggie and watch some American Horror Story!

Hope you all have an amazing night!

Until next time,

Ashley

Monday Questionnaire

Since today's blog post wasn't my best, and I've hit the post limit on tumblr for the night (Story of my life), I decided to start doing Monday Questionnaires! Allison does these basically every week and they're really quick and sweet, so I thought I would jump the bandwagon! Let's jump right in!

1.) Mood:

Happy! School's cancelled tomorrow due to Sandy, so I have an extra day to study and hang out!

2.) On the topic of Hurricane Sandy, are any natural disasters common where you live?

Nope! Boston doesn't get much except rain, but I don't think that counts as a natural disaster? 

3.) What is your favorite song at the moment?

Little Things by One Direction has been on repeat since 7am and I regret absolutely nothing.

4.) Current nail polish:

Stiletto by Revlon :) 

5.) If you could only use one makeup product, what would it be?

Meeeeep! I have no clue! Probably foundation/tinted moisturizer? Or maybe mascara? Or eyebrow pencil? One of those, definitely.

6.) Current outfit:

Butter sweatpants + a tie-dye tee shirt that I made at camp a few years back.

7.) Are you good at keeping in touch with friends and family?

I'd like to think so! Most of my friends are from out of state, or they don't live close by if they are in state, so I'm pretty good at keeping in touch and staying up to date :)

8.) Are you excited about any holiday makeup collections this year?

I'm more excited for the holiday gift sets that come out. Josie Maran did one that I'm dying to get my hands on, and Tarte has an amazing lip set this year. Sephora always does the best little sets, so I'm anxious to see what they come out with this year! I've also heard that the MAC christmas collection is to die for, so we'll see!

9.) The world's most wonderful chef is at your home ready to fix any meal you desire-- what do you order?

Spanakopita with rice pilaf, a side of black beans and creme brule for dessert! 

10.) Weekly goals:

Study for the 3 tests I have this week (so far)

Get back into the routine of blogging

Eat healthier

Brainstorm video ideas!

Feel free to leave your responses down below!

1.) Mood:

2.) On the topic of Hurricane Sandy, are any natural disasters common where you live?

3.) What is your favorite song at the moment?

4.) Current nail polish:

5.) If you could only use one makeup product, what would it be?

6.) Current outfit:

7.) Are you good at keeping in touch with friends and family?

8.) Are you excited about any holiday makeup collections this year?

9.) The world's most wonderful chef is at your home ready to fix any meal you desire-- what do you order?

10.) Weekly goals:

I'd LOVE to read them!

Until next time,

Ashley

October Favorites!

Well hello there! I'm so sorry for my lack of postage last week! I've been so overwhelmed with school and some other personal stuff going on so I didn't have the motivation to post, however I'm back and better than ever!

Regular posts will resume tomorrow or wednesday, depending on how bad Sandy will hit Massachusetts, so for today I'm going to redirect you to my most recent youtube video!

I hope you're all staying safe in the storm and have an amazing day!

Until next time,

Ashley

October 2012 Empties

I'm not having the best of days today, so I don't really have the motivation to write a complete blog post and whatnot. However, I definitely want to get something out today for you guys, so I'm going to redirect you to my most recent video: My October 2012 Empties

Empties videos are quite common on my channel as I apparently finish products at a rapid race, which is good I guess! I'm definitely getting my moneys worth out of these products and loving (most of) them!

Anyway, enjoy the video!
While you're there, please click the LIKE button as it really helps me out!
Also, please click the ads on the side of the blog as that helps me out as well!

Thank you guys for reading, I hope you had an amazing week and an amazing weekend!

Until next time,

Ashley

Candle Collection

Like most Youtubers, I'm terribly obsessed with the candles from Bath and Body Works. Their 2 for $20 is just way too good to pass up and I usually take full advantage of it. I don't burn candles often, but I thought I would show you what I have!

I keep my candles on my lower book shelf, with the larger candles stacked on top of each other and the smaller ones all bunched together!

From top to bottom:

Eucalyptus Mint A bright and invigorating as cool mountain air- an uplifting blend of fresh eucalyptus, green mint, and citrus with a touch of ginger. This candle is definitely one of my favorites. It makes the room smell so fresh and clean, but the scent isn't super strong so it doesn't give me a headache, I've mentioned this bad boy many a time on my Youtube Channel, and it's a personal favorite of mine!

Flower Shop The delightful scent of fresh cut spring flowers - sweet lilac, pink freesia, and hyacinth layered with cooling greens. Floral fragrances and scents are my favorite of all of the scents! Well floral scents and clean scents, which is why this is my next favorite candle. It makes the room smell like - you guessed it- a flower shop, which warms the cackles of my heart!

Mahogany Teakwood The scent of fine woods- mahogany, cedarwood and oak- highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes conjure up an escape to a cozy library on a chilly fall day. It smells like mens deodorant and that makes me so happy. This is a really nice candle if you're a man who enjoys candles, because it's still a very pleasant smelling smell (what?) but it's also quite masculine. I just love mens deodorant, what can I say?

Autumn On the brink of sweater weather- this inviting fragrance blends dark pomegranate with red apple and notes of fir balsam. This is definitely the sweetest of all of the candles I have, but it's absolutely gorgeous. Apple is one of my favorite scents and you can definitely smell it in this candle. The scent really fills up the room and lasts for a while which is a definite plus!

Onto the smaller candles! 

From top to bottom:

Pink Tulip As sweet as Spring's first bouquet, fresh cut tulips, soft lilac and hyacinth blend perfectly with watery violet and a touch of sandalwood. While this scent is slightly sweeter than flower shop, it's still very floral. I absolutely adore this little guy! 

Winter A festive holiday blend of shimmering pine, orange clove, crisp bay leaf and warm winter woods. The only way I can accurately describe this candle is that it smells like Christmas. 

And there's another little flower shop on the bottom!

I then have 4 of the baby baby candles in the scents Spring and First Bloom. I wanted to try these candles but BBW wasn't having their 2/$20 so I bought these to try.

Spring Like a dream of walking in a lush garden with tulips in full bloom, sweet apple blossoms, yellow daisies and daffodils. I'm quite terrible at describing scents, luckily Bath and Body works is spot on with their scent descriptions, but this really does smell like spring. All floral and clean and apple, gah!

First Bloom Like the first tender blossoms in the garden, a delicate blend dewy pear, peony petals, and water lotus with sweet apple blossoms. Smells like flowers, basically.

As you can tell, I may be obsessed with floral scents but that's okay.

The big candles retail for $19.50 each (I recommend waiting for 2/$20, they have them quite often) , the medium candles retail for $9.50 each, and the baby candles retail for $3.50 a pop.

These candles burn beautifully and the scents are really accurately described, which makes everyones lives a lot easier.

What is/are your favorite candle(s)?

Until next time,

Ashley

Purple Punch

Let the outfit posts begin! I'm sorry about my lack of postage yesterday, I wasn't feeling 100% and took the evening to rest and catch up on some YouTube videos! But, I'm back today with an outfit post! I'm so excited to start doing these, they're so much fun to shoot! Huge thank you to my mom for taking these photos, you're the best!

On with the show!

Shirt: Gap

Leggings: As old as the wars, I have no idea where I got them

Shoes: Giorgio Armani

Scarf: Gap? Can't remember exactly

Headband: Forever 21

Today was just one of those days when I wanted to be comfortable but look put together at the same time. This button down from Gap is one of my favorites, the color is so light and feminine, it fits a bit big (which you know I like!), but it's just thick enough that it can keep me warm in the 50-60 degree weather.

I've just started getting into wearing scarves and this one is one of my favorites. Although I can't exactly remember where it's from, the dark purple goes really well with the lilac pastel shirt, but still adds a pop of color.

Basic black leggings are, well, basics. These I've had for absolutely ages and the little skull detailing on the side keeps things interesting. Paired with some black oxfords and we're all good!

I added the gold headband for a pop of something other than purple, and I really like the way it all came together!

That's todays outfit! Prepare to see a lot more fashion posts on the blog. Oh yes!

Until next time,

Ashley

Skincare Shutdown

Well hello everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend! Mine was stressful, but nothing I couldn't handle. I also went to a Body Pump exercise class with my cousin yesterday, now a weekly routine, and I can't feel my legs. But, we're here to talk about skincare, not my exercising adventures!

Like most beauty bloggers and youtubers, I'm a bit obsessed with skincare. I love switching up my routine every so often, but the influx of new products may not always be the best for my skin. My skin has been quite terrible since July and, after many months of trying new routines to figure out what the heck will work, I've shut it all down.

Yes, you heard me. I haven't been using anything on my skin except for two things, Bioderma and the Origins Super Spot Remover. But more on those in a minute.

Last Tuesday I decided to go on a "skincare shutdown" and take my skin off of every single skincare product I've been using. Shockingly, my skin cleared up almost instantly. I haven't gotten a new spot since then and my old spots have either gone away or are slowly dying down, which is a significant difference from the new-pimple-a-day lifestyle I've been living.

Another added bonus of this skincare shutdown is my lack of oiliness. For those of you who don't know, I have combination-oily acne prone skin and, since tuesday, I haven't been needing to powder my makeup! Shock horror! But yes, my skin isn't as oily or shiny anymore and the only thing I've changed is the lack of product use.

Now for products I have been using. If you don't commonly read beauty blogs or watch YouTube videos then I don't know if you would have heard of this cult favorite, Bioderma. Bioderma is a cleansing water that is marketed towards sensitive skin. It's commonly used as a makeup remover, but can also be used as your basic day-to-day cleanser. Just put some on a cotton pad, rub it on your face and you're good to go!  It's a french skincare product and, because of that, it isn't regularly sold in the states. The only place you can get it is through amazon (click here for the seller I use). Through that seller, these sell for between 12.99-26.73 + shipping. I get the 500ml for 26.73+3.95 shipping which is honestly a steal.

I've been using Bioderma to take off my makeup when I get home from school and it really does get every single bit of everything off. It's like holy water! I couldn't be more in love with this product and it will forever be a staple in my skincare routine.

The other thing I've been using along with Bioderma is the Origins Super Spot Remover. I've spoken of this many a time on my Youtube Channel so I won't go into too much detail here, but all in all it is my absolute favorite, holy grail spot remover. You put it on your spots at night with a Q-Tip and they're visibly reduced the next day.

Put these two bad boys together and BAM!

After almost a week of nothing, I'm slowly adding things back into my skincare routine. Last night I added a tretinoin cream that my dermatologist gave me and so far so good. No new break outs or anything, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Basically the point of this post was to give you guys a quick little update on what I've been doing with my skincare routine, or lack thereof. I'll update you all when I repurchase the cleanser + exfoliant I know work for my skin, but haven't been using lately.

That's all for now!

Until next time,

Ashley

Shoe Unboxing: Jeffery Campbell 99 Tie!

This is the first time I've done a shoe unboxing on the blog, and I have to admit I'm excited! It seems to be much easier to type out my thoughts than to speak them on camera, so I think this will go well! Anyway, I was going to film my shoe unboxing for my Youtube Channel today, but one thing led to another and I didn't. So, here we are! Let's jump right in!

Jeffery Campbell has to be one of my favorite shoe designers in the entire world and Solestruck.com is my favorite shoe retailer. Solestruck really sells quirky shoes and, since I'm quite quirky, it all peaks my fancy. Originally, my mum offered to buy me some Doc Martens, but things got really complicated and I ended up getting these shoes instead!

                                                                      The Shoes

These shoes are the 99 Tie by Jeffery Campbell in black. I chose these over other Jeff's because I don't own a black shoe, and wedges are typically very comfortable. Since I am a student, comfortable yet fashionable shoes are almost impossible to find. 

I wore these shoes all day today and I have to say that the quality is outstanding. The quality of the leather is very very rich. It's durable enough to be worn around my school (and my school is giant, mind you), so it won't scuff easily. I don't know how water resistant it is, but I'll be spraying them with some leather spray just to be safe. 

The heel is a 3 3/4 inch with a 1 inch platform, making it extremely easy to walk around in. My feet didn't feel cramped, uncomfortable, or sore, which is a plus since I had worn them from 6:45-3. 

The shoe fits, like most Jeffs, true to size. One of the really nice things about these shoes is that the ankles have a bit of give, meaning that in I could wear them with tights or socks and they would still fit well. 

These shoes are amazing for students who have the guts to wear heels to school, for people who work in a bit more of a formal environment, yet want to look chic. The only person/profession I wouldn't recommend these shoes for is probably a doctor because, lets face it, that job ain't pretty. No sir.

Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled with these shoes and will definitely consider buying more versions in the future.

The Packaging

Jeffery Campbell boxes are a thing of art, really. The box for my Litas is different than the box for my 99 ties, which makes things interesting. Regardless, the art work on both boxes is lovely. Feminine enough to have on display, yet it isn't too loud. 

I also really like how everything is displayed on the side of the box, making picking out your shoe a lot easier and more time efficient. 

Each shoe comes as shown above, wrapped in a mesh-baggie-type thing and arranged neatly. You can't see, but there's a small cardboard divider between the shoes, making it really easy for clumsy people like me to figure out what shoe goes where.

I'm also really happy about how stackable these boxes are. Yes, that all depends on your shelving, but that still made me happy nonetheless.

All in all: Fantastic shoes. Absolutely perfect. I couldn't say a bad thing about them if I wanted to.

Until next time,

Ashley

Fashion Wishlist: Nasty Gal

It has been a few days since we've last spoken, hasn't it? My apologies for lack of postage this week, I haven't been in the best of moods, nor have I had much time. But, I thought I would do a fashion wishlist post today because, honestly, they're one of my favorite things to do and you all seem to like them.
Unlike my other wishlists, I intend to purchase at least one thing from this list. It may not be now, but I will. Mark my words.

On with the show!

It's getting very cold here in Massachusetts, so coats and sweaters and cardigans are a staple in my wardrobe. Paired with leggings, a cute top, and some killer shoes and you're good to go. So you'll be seeing more outwear in this post than others, just a heads up.

The first one is the Loopy Knit Coat which retails for $98

As I previously stated, cardigans and coats are necessities if you're planning on surviving in Boston, and this coat looks like a happy mix between the two. As lovely as this looks, it's sure to get dirty due to the color and, honestly, $98? But it's still gorgeous nonetheless.

Next is the Star Spangled Banner Army Jacket, which retails for $78.

This is one of the trendier pieces I'm putting on this wishlist because of the studding at the collar. Army jackets in general are, in my opinion, timeless and amazing transition pieces. The studding at the collar, while trendy, is really unique and eyecatching which is what drew me to the piece. I've been looking for a good transition jacket for a while and this one looks just right. Imagine this with a light sweater underneath and some red jeans? Perfect!

This is called the X Ray Leggings and they retail for $45

DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THESE I HAVE LOST MY ABILITY CAN. 

I've been obsessed with skulls and skeletons recently and these leggings make me drool. They look like the Black Milk leggings, but considerably cheaper. Can we just discuss how sick these are? I can see myself wearing them with my newest Jeffery Campbells (video on my YouTube Channel tomorrow), with a simple tee shirt, a black cardigan or leather jacket and my mouth is actually watering this is ridiculous. Can you tell I'm in love, or...?

This is the Skull Scarf and it retails for $20

Are you starting to see a trend yet? Anyway, I like this scarf because it's quite big, which makes it versatile. Also, it's skulled which is a check for me. Also, it's neutral enough that it can be paired with most things and not be too overwhelming. I say most. Animal prints + skulls = um no.

I don't know how lightweight this scarf is but it has the potential to warm me up just a bit now that it's cooler and, added with layers, it should be the perfect touch!

This is the two tone Anorak and it retails for $68

I'm drawn to this jacket because it reminds me a bit of an army jacket (olive, anyone?), but it's versatile enough that I can wear it in the fall and in the spring. It also isn't too "trendy" because, while the two-tone thing is very on trend, the colors are neutral enough that I can still get away with it in years to come. I also really like that it's a baggier fit, as opposed to the army jacket which seems a bit more fitting. I'm drawn to baggier things because form fitting things make me feel like I'm naked, unless paired with something baggy. See what I did there?

This is the Incognito Anorak and it retails for $58

Another Anorak jacket, similar to the previous, but in black. Like most people, black is my go-to color. I would add the pop of color in either jewelry or lipstick, so wearing all black doesn't particularly bother me. I'm drawn to this jacket because it seems it would make me feel "comfortable". The color is a comfort color of mine and the cut is baggy, some of my favorite things! Regardless, this jacket, like the previous, would be perfect for fall and spring and maybe even some cool summer nights? Who knows. All I know is that I want it because reasons. Yes.

Last but not least is the Skull Chiffon Blouse and it retails for $48

Raise your hand if you're not surprised! 

I like this shirt because skulls, duh. I also like how lightweight it looks, which would make it a really nice layering piece for fall + winter. While I'm not too particularly drawn to the almost-completely-see through aspect of it, I could get a black bustier-like-bandeau top and chuck that on. Imagine with disco pants, the black anorak jacket, and some litas. *sigh*

Hope you all enjoyed! I'll update you if I end up purchasing some of these pieces (fingers crossed!)

Until next time,

Ashley

Inside my vanity drawer

I've been on a role lately, haven't I? Anyway, today I'm going to share with you all how I store things in my vanity drawer. Most beauty gurus have these elaborate storage systems and insane amounts of makeup. 

While I do have more makeup than your average gal, my storage system is pretty simple. 

Mind you, this isn't going to be a post about my everyday makeup or how I store my entire makeup collection, as I'm planning on doing that for my 200th video on my channel. 

Let's jump right in!

If you couldn't tell by the brown boxes, I use my Birchbox boxes to store my makeup and skincare bits. They're sleek, small, and they hold a good amounts of products. Definitely an A in my book!

Anyway, my storage system goes as such.

My drawer could never hold a lot, but using this storage system I can actually fit a lot.

Let me take you through where, and what, is stored in my boxes.

From left to right:

The top and bottom boxes hold most of my everyday makeup. The top holds my bronzers and highlighters, whereas the bottom holds my bases, such as foundation/tinted moisturizer, primer, concealer, and brow stuff.

The middle box is my treatment box. I have my Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream (a definite holy grail product), a tretinoin cream from my dermatologist, Origins Brigher by Nature pads, nivea chapstick, and a facial oil that I'm still on the fence about. Above that box I keep my makeup remover wipes and tweezers.

Onto the last 2 boxes! The bottom one on the right holds all of my mascaras, eyeliners, my eyelid bases/primers, and eyelash curlers and eyebrow trimmers.

You don't necessarily have to subscribe to Birchbox to get these boxes (the service itself is amazing- but I digress), you can probably find things like these at your local Container Store or Bed Bath and Beyond.

I just wanted to share with you guys a sneak peak of a section of my storage to show that you don't have to have an elaborate storage system, a simple one is just as effective. 

Until next time,

Ashley

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

Red lipstick is something that will make you look, and feel, super sexy. Look at Marilyn Monroe and her famous crimson pout, if that doesn't scream sexy I don't know what does. However, finding shade of red that suits you is quite the difficult task. You have to take color, formula, brand, and finish all into consideration. Lucky for me, red lipstick of any shade is something that suits me quite well, so today I'm going to share with you my favorite shades of red. 

If you can't tell my the photos above, I tend to go for matte lipsticks because they last an insanely long time, look classic, and they're so easy to maintain, it's lovely. 

The photo above goes as follows:

Tarte Lip Pencil in Firey ($24)

Revlon Matte Lipstick in In the Red (007) (Under $10)

Mac Lipstick in Chili ($14.50)

Mac Lipstick in Russian Red ($14.50)

Lancome Rouge in Love #146. ($24-26)

The swatches in the photos go as follows:

#146

Russian Red

Chili

In the Red

Firey

Let me start this review off by saying that most, if not all, of these colors suit all skintones, which is definitely an added bonus.

Tarte is one of my favorite lipstick brands because they have an amazing color, and finish, selection, the lipsticks wear really well, they're extremely pigmented, and the packaging reminds me of a crayola crayon. The color is the closest thing I have to a "true red" out of all of the lipsticks shown, and it's definitely one of my favorites. Well, they're all my favorites. But still. It is a bit more expensive than the Mac or Revlon lipsticks, but the longevity of this lipstick is absolutely amazing. It truly doesn't dry out your lips, it wears all day, and you can build it up if needed. This color, and brand, has an A+ in my book.

The Revlon lipstick in In the Red is a really nice drugstore lipstick. Revlon in general makes my favorite lipsticks and this one isn't an exception the the rule. It's just as pigmented as the higher-end ones which is a plus. The only downside to this product is that it can dry out your lips after a bit, but I don't particularly mind that. It's cheap, affordable, and has good color payoff. 

Mac lipsticks are definitely one of my favorite lipsticks overall. The color and finish selection is so intensive and selective and wowza I literally have no words. There's something for everyone at the Mac counter, to say the least. Chili and Russian Red are actually very similar colors. Russian Red is described on the mac website as an "intense bluish-red", which is pretty accurate. It's not disgustingly bluish, but enough so that it makes your teeth appear whiter. I've had this lipstick for years and it's definitely one of my holy grail lipsticks overall. Chili is described as a "brownish orange-red" which is, again, very accurate. This lipstick, as I said in my giveaway video, is the perfect fall lipstick. It's red enough to classify as a red lipstick, but it has that brownish undertone that reminds me of the fallen leaves here in Massachusetts. I don't know if I'll wear this lipstick in the spring, but I've never been one to follow such rules so I probably will.

Last but not least is the Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick in #146. The Rouge in Love line is a really interesting line. In the bullets, the colors look matte, but when you swatch them they come out glossy. They're still really pigmented though, which is what makes those lipsticks my favorite everyday lipsticks. Anyway, this lipstick isn't exactly a red, per-say, it's more of a pinky-red. This "red" is a good color to pick up if you're experimenting with reds, but you're a bit too afraid to go all full-out like the others I've shown. I still get a lot of wear out of this one, though. It's a nice pick me up! 

That's it, that's the overview of my favorite red lipsticks. I'm not going to tell you which one is my #1, but I hope I gave you some good options!

What is your favorite red lipstick?

xxx,

Ashley

Face Masks of the Moment

 Lately, I haven't been that into buying makeup. I'm very satisfied with my collection and I'm, slowly but surely, trying to use it up. Yes, I may be a beauty blogger + youtuber, but that doesn't justify the crazy amounts of makeup that some people have! 

I am, however, very into skincare at the moment. I try to keep my day-to-day skincare routine very simple, just cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and spot treating when necessary. A video on the products I've been using will be coming up soon! But using, and splurging on, face masks and treatments is something that I've loved for a really long time. My skin hasn't been the best lately due to stress from school, and these face masks definitely have my seal of approval.  These masks range from drugstore to "higher end", so let's get on with it!

First up is the Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals Mask. This mask claims to purify and clear pores and I can honestly say that it does not do that. It does, however, cleanse the skin and leaves it feeling very clean and refreshed, which is why I use it. There's a funny story behind this mask, actually! Last year my friend Sophie and I used this mask, tugged our t-shirts over our knees, and walked around pretending to be Smurfs the entire night. It's one of those "had to be there" moments, but a moment I treasure nonetheless. So yes, this mask does make you look like a Smurf but it feels very nice on the skin and doesn't break me out. If you're looking for a simple mask to throw on occasionally, this one's great! You can get this for $4 at CVS.

Next is one of my favorite masks, the Freeman Facial Cucumber Peel-Off Mask. This mask comes out and goes on clear, then you dry and peel it off. Very simple, very effective. It definitely does clarify and renew skin, leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh. I personally use it when my skin is dry and peeling because it gets off all of the dead skin and is a lot gentler than an exfoliant. It doesn't work as well on blackheads nor on acne spots, but it doesn't claim to clear either of those. My friends and I used to use this mask a lot back in January/February. A nice thing about this mask is that the cucumber scent isn't super overwhelming, it fades as the mask dries which is definitely a plus. You can get this mask for $4 at CVS.

Onto the Origins masks! 

This mask is the Out of Trouble Mask by Origins. It's a new purchase and would have been seen in this post, but I have used a sample before and I really enjoyed it. The mask claims that it's a "10 minute mask to rescue problem skin". However, it won't clear your skin overnight and you shouldn't expect it to. It does definitely calm them down and reduce some of the redness, but my spots are still there the next day (pair this with the Super Spot Remover and you're golden!). This is a really nice mask because it can also double up as an overnight spot treatment. I have yet to try it as that, but when I'll do you'll either hear about it in a video or in a post. Anyway, you can get this product for $23 at Origins. 

This bad boy is the Clear Improvement mask from Origins. I used up the travel size of this product at a pretty good pace and absolutely loved it. This mask claims to clear pores and, while it doesn't do it in one use, it definitely does overtime. My nose had a lot of blackheads at the beginning of the summer so I used this mask religiously and they definitely cleared up by the end. That's only for surface blackheads, I don't think that it gets the deeper rooted ones easily. This mask is targeted and marketed towards people who struggle with blackheads more than acne. I think this is an absolutely lovely mask and it really does the job overtime. You can get this for $23 at Origins.

Last but not least is a sample of the Acne Ceuticals Acne Gel Masque. My mum got me a sample kit of the Acne Ceuticals products and I absolutely despised everything but this. The smell, texture, and results were horrific and I haven't touched that kit in months. While the smell and the texture of this mask isn't the greatest, it still works decently. Using this mask doesn't clear my acne immediately, but it does really cleanse the skin, give it a gentle exfoliation, and help to calm redness. It doesn't calm it completely, but there's a slight difference if you look closely enough. I actually call this mask my shrek mask because the color is a pea green color, but whatever. Out of all of the masks I've shown you today, this is the only one I'm not going to repurchase because I love my other masks a lot more. However, if you have oily, acne prone skin, definitely give this one a shot.  You can purchase this mask for $28 here.

Hope you enjoyed + have an amazing week!

xxx,

Ashley