face mask – Lush Upon A Time

Rose Eye Pads from Lush

After falling in love with Lush’s Cucumber eye pads, I was over the moon to see that yet another type of Eye Pad had been created. The Rose Eye Pads are Sold in packs of 2 and just like the Cucumber ones make at-home, DIY-spa-days quick and easy.

FRESH IS BEST and Lush’s eye pads are all best kept in the fridge until you use them. The Rose eye pads have a very short and simple ingredients list that includes; rose water, fresh aloe gel and carrageenan extract.

To use the Rose eye pads all you have to do is take them out of the fridge, unwrap them from their fully compostable wrapping paper, then place them on each eye for approximately 15 minutes. I often wear them for a lot longer as I just love how soothing they feel after a long day, even more so during this current heat wave!

The Rose eye pads are a pale rosé-red colour and decorated with an imprint of an eye with thick lashes on one side of each.

Rose water has many benefits for your skin and is a fairly gentle ingredient that has both antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. That alongside the aloe gel in the Rose eye pads makes the eye pads super soothing around your eyes. Soothing tired and/or puffy eyes at home has never been so easy.

Used along side a cooling face mask you can’t go wrong no matter the time of year. Some people use the whole of the eye pad at once, covering the whole of their eye with each, while others cut their eye pads in half to spread their use out, placing each half just under the eye instead.

15 minutes with the Rose eye pads on really does make a difference. Once I have taken them off, the eye area feels a lot less tired, I also noticed that the under-eye area appeared somewhat brighter after use too. The puffiness is also slightly reduced but most of all I would say that the Rose eye pads left my eyes feeling refreshed. It’s a hard sensation to describe but the heavy pull of tiredness that your eyes get when you’re in need of a pick-me-up just seems to melt away thanks to these eye pads.

Lush’s eye pads are said to stay fresh for approximately 3 weeks, this time frame can however be stretched somewhat as long as you haven’t handled them without the compostable wrapper too much and (most importantly) have kept them in the fridge.

Would I recommend using them more than once? I want to say no as the eye area is a really delicate part of your body BUT as long as your eye is clean before using it (and you are comfortable using it on yourself again) then I don’t see why not. As I mentioned earlier, cutting them in half is a great way to make the product go further IF you did want to play it safe and use the eye pads just the once.

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Watermelon Fresh Face Mask from Lush

At the time of writing this review, the Watermelon Fresh Face Mask has only been available through Lush’s July 2021, Fresh and Flowers subscription box making it super exclusive!

As you can see in the above photo, the Watermelon fresh face masks label is decorated just like the Watermelon Sugar lip scrub label is, if you like the lip scrub you’re sure to like the Watermelon fresh face mask just as much.

Sadly I haven’t heard any rumours about the Watermelon fresh face mask ever becoming a mainline product BUT anything is possible with Lush… so far everyone I know who has had the pleasure of trying the Watermelon face mask has had nothing but positive things to say about it so I am sure it would sell well, should Lush decide to make it a permanent fixture.

The Watermelon face mask has a relatively small list of refreshing ingredients; it includes fresh aloe gel, davana oil, chia seeds, fresh mint and of course, plenty of fresh watermelon.

Its scent is just like a bowl of freshly sliced watermelon (the really mouthwatering-type that you simply just can’t stop eating!) It’s difficult for me to put into words but its scent smells just like a watermelon tastes when you first bite into an extra juicy slice. I’m aware that sounds a little crazy but it just really does!?!.

The Watermelon fresh face masks label says ‘USE IMMEDIATELY’ so I bumped it up the list of Lush face masks that I have waiting to try, using it the day I received it. A little of the Watermelon fresh face mask goes a really long way, the furthest I think any Lush face mask has gone for me before.

I used it on myself (see photo above – Eeek! me with no makeup, lucky you) as well as my husband and it didn’t even make a dent in the pot, it doesn’t even look like it’s actually been used yet. I’m not sure how long it will last due to its ‘USE IMMEDIATELY’ instruction but I plan on using it all up over the next week or so.

I find if you apply Lush’s face masks with a face-mask-brush or metal spoon (basically anything sterile that isn’t your fingers please), it cuts down on any cross contamination – the product lasts longer as no bacteria from your hands get into it leaving it open to mould.

I will update this review if (before I can use it all up over the next week) it does go off but from previous Lush fresh-face-mask experiences I find that the masks do last after their use-by-date if you’re careful (application wise) as well as keeping it in the fridge.

The Watermelon face mask goes on easily and isn’t at all thick or gloopy. Apart from the chia seeds it’s almost invisible to see once it has been evenly spread on to your skin. When you first start applying it though, it really does look just like strawberry jam…

As I said earlier a little goes a very long way and using it fresh-out-of-the-fridge during this current heatwave was a real treat for me as it’s such a cooling mask; With a little going such a long way I was tempted to try it like a body mask too but decided against it at the very last minute because I wanted to use it on my face a few more times instead.

After wearing it for 10 minutes I took it off with a hot, wet flannel. It really helped soothe my skin and left my face appearing brighter and less red. I’d love to see the Watermelon fresh face mask become a main line product but I’m not sure how it would work freshness-wise, especially if Lush really do insist on you using it immediately.

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Cucumber Eye Pads from Lush

Immediately after using Lush’s Cucumber Eye Pads for the very first time, I knew straight away that it was a product I always wanted a packet or 2 of at my disposal. Sold in packs of 2, the Cucumber eye pads make at-home, DIY-spa-days quick and easy.

Best stored in your fridge, (fresh is best!) the Cucumber eye pads have a very short and simple ingredients list; Cucumber and carrageenan seaweed.

To use the Cucumber eye pads all you have to do is take them out of your fridge, unwrap them from their fully compostable wrapping paper, then place them on each eye for approximately 15 minutes. I often wear them for a lot longer as I just love how soothing they feel after a long day.

Cucumber is packed with vitamin c and is an incredibly gentle ingredient making it perfect for the delicate skin around your eyes. As well as cucumber being loaded with vitamin c, it also has both hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties making the Cucumber eye pads perfect for soothing tired and/or puffy eyes.

Used along side a cooling face mask such as the Mask of Magnaminty, you can’t go wrong, especially during a Summer heatwave. Some people use the whole of the eye pad, covering the whole of their eye with each, while others cut their eye pads in half, placing each half under the eye masking their unwelcome eye bags!

I’d love to tell you that the Cucumber eye pads banish away eye bags forever, leaving you looking and feeling 10 years younger but that would be a very unrealistic expectation and any product claiming to do this sadly doesn’t exist. 15 minutes with them on does however leave my under-eye area appearing brighter and really does reduce puffiness.

Fortunately I don’t suffer with my eyes in hay fever season, hay fever instead attacks just my nose and throat. I therefore can’t personally claim that the Cucumber eye pads help with itchy-hay-fever eyes but I’ve heard from several reliable sources that they work a treat for eye-related hay-fever-issues.

The Cucumber eye pads are said to stay fresh for 3 weeks, this time frame can however be stretched somewhat as long as you haven’t handled them without the compostable wrapper too much and have kept them in the fridge.

Would I recommend using them more than once? I want to say no as the eye area is a really delicate part of your body BUT as long as your eye is clean before using it and you are comfortable using it on yourself again then I don’t see why not. As I mentioned earlier, cutting them in half is a great way to make the product go further IF you did want to play it safe and use the eye pads just the once.

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Beauty Sleep Face and Body Mask from Lush

The Beauty Sleep Face and Body Mask is the latest Lush product to take the Lush world by storm and is yet another extension to Lush’s best selling Sleepy range. Set to fly off of the shelves at the same velocity as Lush’s Sleepy body lotion I couldn’t help but grab a large pot of it as soon as it became available.

As someone who struggles with bouts of insomnia the promise of a product that could help you get a good nights sleep is right up my street. Beauty Sleep has a long list of ingredients known for their calming and relaxing qualities; Neroli, lavender and ylang ylang oils to name just a few.

There is honestly no other clay face mask quite as luxurious as Beauty Sleep currently available on the market. Each ingredient has been carefully selected to not only soothe, buff, hydrate and replenish your skin but also to relax and calm your mind.

The biggest surprise Beauty Sleep offers is that it contains a spoonful of one of Lush’s most decadent and very expensive, Gorgeous moisturiser. The first thing I noticed about Beauty Sleep was its fragrance. Considering how many ingredients it has, I really wasn’t expecting it to smell so close to Lush’s Sleepy scent, it’s not exactly the same, for example I can really smell the honey in it giving the Sleepy-like-fragrance a sweeter edge. For a full list of Beauty Sleeps ingredients please check Lush’s website as they keep it up to date.

Beauty Sleep must be applied to clean skin, I like to use a spatula or tea spoon to apply mine purely for hygiene reasons, I find if I don’t use my fingers to scoop out Lush’s face masks they always last a lot longer. A thin layer applied over the patches of skin that you feel need some tender loving care is all you need.

I leave it on for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, to wash it off I fill my sink with hot water then soak a clean flannel in that hot water. Next I hold the flannel over the part of my face I am about to wipe clean for about 10 seconds before using it to sweep the mask off, rinsing the flannel through out. I find that using hot water works best as it opens up your pores helping the clay face mask drag out all of the impurities.

As I said earlier, the Beauty Sleep face and body mask really is the most luxurious clay face mask currently available. Its ingredients do a number of important jobs. After having it on my face for just 15 minutes my skin is perfectly hydrated, feels softer and appears brighter. Any redness I had also fades somewhat and I just feel incredibly relaxed.

After just a few uses of the Beauty Sleep face and body mask my skin is clearer; Any dry, dead skin on my face has gone and my pores appear smaller. If I had the time I’d honestly use it at least 3 times a week.

I am head over heels in love with the Beauty Sleep face and body mask, it’s so much more than just a face mask, it’s the ‘Sleepy’ product we’ve all needed for years. Paired with the Twilight bath bomb and Sleepy bubble bar will make for one truly relaxing evening.

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FOMO Jelly Face Mask from Lush

FOMO Jelly Face Mask is one of 5 brand new face masks that Lush released in July 2017. Face masks aren’t new to Lush but ones made into jellies are! To look at, the jelly face masks resemble an ordinary Lush shower jelly, however they are used very differently. I had seen pictures of the jelly masks from the Lush Summit 2017 back in February, unfortunately they weren’t however for sale and were simply there only as a display to show the world all of the things to come…

We however didn’t have to wait long as back in July the jelly face masks became available in all stores. I always use a clean tea spoon when it comes down to getting Lush face masks out of their pot. I use a spoon to apply the fresh face masks too, I feel it helps the product to last longer, so many people complain about the fresh face masks having such a short shelf life. My method for using a spoon is to stop any cross contamination happening, grabbing a chunk of it out of the pot with your fingers is quick and easy BUT it risks the chance of bacteria from your hands getting in to the rest of the product that you want to save for another time. Using your fingers even if washed well can leave the leftover product to go mouldy very quickly. Since I started using Lush face masks with a spoon my face masks last months and months passed their sell buy if kept in the fridge too.

Containing calamine powder, neroli oil and rose absolute, there are certain elements to FOMO that remind me ever so slightly of the Don’t Look at Me fresh face mask and the Rose Jam shower gel.

When it comes down to the application of the jelly masks it is completely different from how you would apply the fresh ones. Once you’ve spooned a grape sized amount of jelly from the pot you then work it in your hands to form a paste. This action is very similar to what you do when using the fresh face cleansers however you do not add water.

Unlike the fresh face masks the new jelly face masks do not need to be kept in a fridge, I however do store them in a fridge. Jelly masks also have a much longer shelf life than their fresh-face-mask equivalents. You can easily get 6 to 8 masks out of just the one pot. It forms up a paste very quickly and application is mess-free, quick and easy. After 15 minutes it is time to take the face mask off, I use a hot and wet flannel. It comes off easily and no residue is left on my face at all.

Once the face mask was off my face felt brand new, the redness had gone down and my face was super soft and perfectly hydrated.

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The Birth of Venus Jelly Face Mask from Lush

The Birth of Venus Jelly Face Mask

The Birth of Venus Jelly Face Mask is one of 5 brand new face masks that Lush released this July. Face masks aren’t new to Lush but ones made into jelly are… To look at, the jelly face masks resemble an ordinary Lush shower jelly they are however used very differently. I had seen pictures of them from the Lush Summit 2017 but unfortunately, they weren’t for sale. I just had to forget about them and hope that Lush made them available in the future and this July, they did!

I always use a clean tea spoon when it comes down to getting Lush face masks out of their pot. I use a spoon to apply the fresh face masks too, I feel it helps the product to last longer, so many people complain about the fresh face masks having such a short shelf life. My method for using a spoon is to stop any cross contamination happening, grabbing a chunk of it out of the pot with your fingers is quick and easy BUT it risks the chance of bacteria from your hands getting in to the rest of the product that you want to save for another time. Using your fingers even if washed well can leave the leftover product to go mouldy very quickly. Since I started using Lush face masks with a spoon my face masks last months and months passed their sell by if kept in the fridge too.

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Containing fresh sea water, lavender, chamomile, frankincense and myrrh, there are certain elements to Birth of Venus that remind me ever so slightly of the Blackberry and Big Blue bath bomb.

Applying the jelly masks is completely different from how you would apply the fresh ones. Once you’ve spooned a grape sized amount of jelly from the pot you then work it in your hands to form a paste. This method left me feeling a little uneasy as I am a germ freak and don’t really like to man handle a product for my face with my fingers like that. I however always trust Lush and the results turned out okay.

Unlike the fresh face masks the new jelly face masks do not need to be kept in a fridge, they also have a much longer shelf life than their fresh-face-mask equivalents. Even with this in my mind, I still decided that I’d use a spoon to get the product out of the pot, with it being a jelly formula I thought this would prove a little difficult, it however worked just fine. I found that a very small amount of the, The Birth of Venus jelly in particular went a long way. You can easily get 6 masks out of just the one pot.

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Mashing the jelly mask up with my hands was a strange sensation at first, it however formed a paste very quickly, the application of a face mask has never gone on so smoothly for me, normally with the fresh face masks I get drops of it everywhere. After 15 minutes, I took the face mask off with a hot and wet flannel. It came off easily and no residue was left on my face at all.

After a couple of hours I found it had made my skin a little too oily, at first it felt amazing but after an hour or so my skin felt clammy, although my skin had become a little oily than I like, my skin still have a glow about it. Overall I am still impressed with this jelly face mask as it is so easy to apply, less mess than the alternative Lush face masks and it also smells delicious. The fact it makes my skin feel clammy hasn’t put me off of it entirely, I am just going to save it for when my face is in need of some extra hydration instead. I think it will be perfect after a day in the sun so I will be packing it in my suitcase to take on honeymoon with me.

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Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask from Lush

Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask.png Having skin like a hormonal teenager wasn’t any fun when I was actually a hormonal teenager. Zoom, zoom, zoom into the future (as in well over a decade) and you’ll find me as a 26 year old.

At almost 27, the awkward teenage stage we all hate to remember should be long forgotten. I however still get the odd angry break out of very noticeable spots. Even though my head now sits on wiser shoulders, spot breakouts still have a huge and negative impact on my life and self-confidence levels.

For over 15 years I have dabbled with and tried a lot of skincare products. I find some very good however none of them are efficient for long term use.

My skin becomes so familiar with a product that it goes from one extreme to another, my spotty and dry skin becomes oily and unmanageable and the battle with my skin changes course but not for the better.

I have been trapped in a vicious cycle with my skin ever since I was 11. After years and years of trial and error I thought I’d never find a product that would work for me all the time. That is until I came across Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask…

The Mask of Magnaminty has a carefully selected mixture of gentle, natural ingredients that all work in harmony together to clean, calm and clear your skin.

Used just once a week, the Mask of Magnaminty helps me maintain, bright healthy-looking, blemish-free skin.

The ingredient that is most prominent in the Mask of Magnaminty both from its name and its scent is peppermint oil. Peppermint oil has a cooling effect on your skin and as soon as you start to put the Mask on, you feel it working its skin-soothing-magic.

The cooling effect you feel on your face immediately after application always makes me feel so relieved. I can feel my skin relax ready for its weekly treat.

Peppermint oil, marigold oil, honey, evening primrose seeds and aduki beans is what makes up the Magnaminty mask.

The peppermint oil cools and soothes skin, while the marigold oil and honey, cleanse and moisturise the skin. Both marigold oil and honey have antibacterial properties so are very popular ingredients throughout the cosmetics industry.

The addition of primrose seeds and aduki beans adds texture to the Mask of Magnaminty, the face and body mask is not only a great cleanser but also a very gentle exfoliator too.

Primrose is used in cosmetic products all over the world for its natural, anti-inflammatory properties. It is a very suitable, gentle and natural ingredient to use on skin like mine.

When I apply any Lush face mask I do it with a teaspoon out of personal choice.

Lush face masks are often advised to be applied using just your fingers. I however use a spoon as it gets messy very quickly. I also prefer to use a teaspoon because I don’t want to add any unnecessary bacteria to the spare product left in the pot.

Using your fingers shortens the face masks shelf life and means that you have to throw it away sooner and before it is all finished. It makes sense to keep the ingredients as fresh as possible so that I can use the mask all up, wasting none.

Using a spoon not only helps my mask stay fresher for longer but it also helps me spread out the mask more evenly.

Once the mask is applied I leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.

As the 15 minutes tick away, if you look in the mirror you can see the mask working its magic. It drags out all of the nasty oils and impurities from your pores and it is so, so refreshing.

If your skin, like mine is often angry and scattered with blemishes then I definitely recommend you try the Mask of Magnaminty face and body mask. It is suitable for delicate skin although as someone with easily irritated skin, I recommend doing a small patch test on your jaw line prior to using it in a bigger quantity.

Not all people’s spots appear on their face, I get quite a few on my shoulders and back too. The Mask of Magnaminty can be used all over the body and isn’t exclusively just for your face.

When it comes to taking it off I grab a clean flannel, wet it in hot, clean water and slowly wipe it off until all has been removed. The first time I used it I could really, really see a significant change in the size of my pores, some were now so small that if I didn’t know they were once there I wouldn’t know they ever existed.

The Mask of Magnaminty really is an amazing skincare product that I always make sure I have plenty of close by. I don’t think I could ever live without it!

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Don’t Look At Me Fresh Face Mask from Lush

Lush’s Don’t Look At Me Fresh Face Mask was one of my Oxford Street buys, luckily for the rest of the world, it’s now available in most Lush stores as well as online.

Don’t Look At Me has a rich, fine, exfoliating texture and is packed with murumuru butter and zingy lemon juice. The murumuru butter nourishes the skin while the lemon juice helps tone the complexion.

The substance is a lot lighter than other Lush face masks I have used before.

Comparing it to the face mask Cupcake, it has a completely different consistency. I’d describe Don’t Look At Me as being runny and icing-like where as the face mask Cupcake is more of a thick, porridge-like mix.

I really liked Don’t Look At Me, the fact it has lemon juice, grapefruit and neroli oil in gives it more of a zing than the other masks I have tried.

In my personal opinion I’m not overly keen on the scent, there’s something in there that makes the sharpness of the lemon juice have less of a kick. It masks what should be a pleasant smell making it a little too earthy for my liking.

I however didn’t let my dislike of its scent deter me, upon application I found my skin instantly soothed, it helped me slip into a well needed state of relaxation.

The application of Don’t Look At Me is really easy. When I am ready to put it on, I take it out of the fridge and apply a generous layer around my face with a tea spoon. (As shown below)

I use the back of a teaspoon to apply it as I don’t like to use my fingers. With fresh products I like to be as sterile as possible, no matter how clean your hands may be, I wouldn’t want to risk speeding up the process of mold growing.

You can get 2 to 3 face masks out of one pot so the less contact you have with the left over product the better. Obviously, fresh products don’t last forever. I find using a spoon prolongs their shelf-life.

After 15 minutes of wearing the face mask, I rinsed it off with warm water, followed by a splashing of cold.

My skin felt great and I will most certainly be using this product again.

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Cupcake Fresh Face Mask from Lush

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Cupcake was the very first fresh face mask from Lush that I tried.

There are several different fresh face masks to choose from in Lush, I decided on Cupcake as its ingredients were the best suited to my faces needs at the time. I am often surrounded by stress and my skin pays for it. Even at 25 I still get blemishes all over my face, something I am very self conscious about.

Cupcake face mask is an excellent choice if you are suffering with oily or blemish prone skin, the cocoa powder and rhassoul mud that is in it are both highly absorbent making it an excellent product for drawing out dirt and impurities from your skin.

Mixed in with the cocoa powder and rhassoul mud is fresh mint. Fresh mint is another great ingredient, it’s a herb that is used in thousands of cosmetic products as it is both antiseptic and cooling, it is the perfect ingredient to stimulate, soothe and tone angry skin.

Cupcake balances out my skin perfectly. It draws out all of the impurities while cleansing and soothing my skin all at the same time.

Application is easy, I like to keep mine in the fridge to keep its ingredients fresh. When you’re ready to put it on, take it out of the fridge and apply a generous layer around your face/your problem area. I like to use a teaspoon to apply mine, I prefer using a spoon as it doesn’t get all over your hands and also stops any bacteria from your fingers ending up in the left over product. Using this spoon method every single one of my face masks have lasted well past their sell by date.

Cupcake rinses off really easily, I like to leave it on my face for 15 minutes to about half an hour. Once the time is up I grab a clean flannel and rinse it in hot as I can stand it water. I then slowly wipe the mask off, sweeping it in downwards motions, I like to use hot as I can stand it water as I find this really helps to drag all of the dirt and impurities out of my pores.

There wasn’t much difference to my skin after the first use but after I had Cupcake twice my skin was noticeably in a much better condition. My pores had also shrunk in size which really impressed me.

I get 3 maybe 4 face masks out of one of the small pots from Lush, I therefore think Cupcake is a really cost effective, high end quality face mask. I am really pleased with this product and will certainly be buying it again when my skin decides to have another break out.

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