How To Look Awake Without Concealer or Makeup In Twenty Minutes Flat

Photo Courtesy of: MichellePhan.com

An eye mask is a skincare essential for any girl that has dark circles because they temporarily brighten, awaken and moisturize your delicate eye area. In other words, your eyes will look extra perky right after using them. My current favorite are from a brand called Masquelogy. The product is called Revitalizing Eye Gel. They are like a cup of coffee for my eyes.

P.S: In case you're wondering, Michelle Phan swears by these eye patches by Biore. You can purchase them online at Amazon.com

Masquelogy's Revitalizing Eye Gel With Pearl Powder

Pros:
These eye masks have strong staying power which means you don't have to lay down while wearing them. You could probably walk out in public with these on (beware: people might give you strange looks), and they wouldn't fall off.
These masks contain tons of good for your skin ingredients such as collagen, algae and caviar.
After 20 minutes, your under eye area will look brighter and more awake which means you might not even need any concealer.

Cons:
Expensive.
Not a long-term solution to dark circles. I still have to wear eye cream twice a day.

Verdict: These are amazing for those times in your life when you want to look extra awake and put together. A first date, a girls night out, the prom, a fancy dinner or for those days when you don't want to show up to work looking like a zombie.

Price:$30.00 USD for a pack of 3 masks.

Key Ingredients: 
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Caviar
Pearl Powder
Algae
Adenosine

Ingredients: Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Offinalis Extract, Caviar Extract, Human Oligopedtide-1, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Arbutin, Niacinamide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Collagen, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Salmon Egg Extract, Xanthan Gum, Mannan, Disodium EDTA, Pearl Powder, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sea Water, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifere Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hizika Fusiforme Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Propylparafen, Methylparaben, Phenoxygthanol.

Have you ever tried an eye mask? More importantly, would you walk out in public with one of these?

Etsy: The Most Underrated Place To Find Amazing Soap

Photo Credits: davismain.com

Etsy is an amazing place to find natural skincare and body products. Case in point, Davis Main, an Etsy shop that sells handmade soaps, body creams and lip balms. These soaps have natural good for your skin ingredients like Shea Butter and Coconut Oil. The best part? Their small size and sophisticated packaging make them great gifts, stocking stuffers and wedding/party favors. Or, you could just pop one into your gym bag whenever you're in the mood for a lovely smelling soap (blood orange champagne, anyone?).

Here's a rundown of the soaps I received:
Chamomile Almond

Blackberry Cabernet

Warm Fig

Bare Butter

Coffee Scrub

Earl Grey

Sweet Cream

Tuberose

Price: $12.00 USD dollars for eight sample size soaps. You can purchase these soaps on etsy.com.

Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil and Shea Butter. Shea Butter is particularly known for protecting, healing and moisturizing the skin.

Ingredients(Key Ingredients Italicized):
Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (kosher, of vegetable origin), Shea Butter (refined naturally crushed), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soy bean protein (conditioner), Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener used in opaque soaps)

Verdict: I'm in love with these soaps. These are a must try! These unique scents are hard to find (I can't remember the last time I saw a Sweet Cream or Tuberose scented soap at the drugstore).

Have you tried any soaps from Etsy before?

Sana Soy Milk Face Mask Review

I'm a huge, huge fan of soy milk. I'm lactose intolerant, so soy milk is my go to choice for milk. It's really good for you, too. It has tons of protein, no cholesterol and very little amounts of saturated fat. The best part? I don't have to suffer from uncomfortable bloating and cramps that I tend to get with dairy products. But did you know that soy is really good for you skin as well? That's why I wanted to try these face masks by Sana. I was hoping they would help even out my skintone.

Key Ingredient:
Soy: Soy has been widely known as an ingredient that may help reverse sun damage, moisturize skin in the right places (dry areas) and even skin tone.

Price: You can purchase these masks on sasa.com for $10.60 USD for a pack of four.

Ingredients:
key ingredient italicized.
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Betaine, Peg-75, Dimethicone, Peg-49, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Diphenysiloxy Phenyl, Trimethicone (Phenyl Trimethicone), Styrene/VP Copolymer, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Lactobacillus/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract

Verdict: These masks were incredibly moisturizing and my skin looked plump afterwards. However, this mask did not even out my skin tone or lighten my acne scars. The one drawback of this mask is that the key ingredient(soy) is on the bottom of the ingredient list which means that these masks only contain a little bit of soy. These masks also contain alcohol (read the ingredient list above), which may irritate sensitive skin.

Have you tried any face masks from Sana? What did you think of them?

Hello Kitty's Limited Edition Rose Whitening and Moisturizing Mask Is Something Your Skin Will Love

The most adorable packaging ever.

Claim: Promises to give you brighter and dewier skin in just 20 minutes.

Pros:
Ridiculously adorable packaging.
Affordable and reasonably priced.
This mask has a lovely, light floral scent.
Incredibly moisturizing mask, your skin will instantly look soft and plump.

Cons:
You might want to avoid using this mask if you have sensitive skin because it has fragrance in it.
Contains potentially irritating ingredients like hydrogenated castor oil, glycerin and methyparaben.



Price: $3.49(USD) for one mask. You can purchase them from prettyandcute.com

Verdict: Go try it!

Ingredients: Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Myrclaria, Dubia Fruit Extract, Gigawhite (Malva Sylvestris Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract), Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Perfume, Glycerin, 1.3Butylene Glycol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Deionised Water, Propylene Glycol

How To Get Smaller Pores In 10 Minutes

Mario Badescu's Silver Powder is like a vacumn for your pores. In ten minutes, it will suck all the gunk in your pores and bring them to the surface.

Claim: "Remedy blackheads, stubborn clogged pores and excessive t-zone oiliness with our super-absorbent Silver Powder. Once or twice a week, dip a water-dampened cotton ball into the powder and press on nose, chin or other clogged areas. Remove after 10 minutes with toner or astringent".

Pros:
Affordable. $12.00
Temporarily tightens your pores.
Brings your blackheads to the surface which can make extractions/pimple popping much easier. This is great to use before putting on a nose pore strip.
Only takes 10 minutes of your time.
Great for oily skin. This product will remove any excess oil.
You can use this several times a week, or as a weekly treatment.
Great to use before a big event or date if you want your pores to instantly look tighter.
Your skin will look better in only ten minutes.
You can use this a spot treatment, focusing only the areas where your pores are clogged.


Cons:
The powder can be difficult to wipe off. If some good ol' toner doesn't work, use a facial wash or makeup-removing wipes.
You need to use a moisturizer right after wiping this product off, because it can make your skin feel super dry.
You can't really move, talk or sneeze while the powder is on your face, because it falls off easily. Try to stand or sit still (this is difficult for me).
This product doesn't contain any ingredients that can have a long-term effect on your pores, this product will only work temporarily. So remember to continue using products that will exfoliate your pores.
Not a miracle, cure-all, I-never-have-to-look-for-another-blackhead-removing product, type of product. The search still continues but for now, this powder is pretty good.

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide

Verdict: This product will not completely remove all your blackheads in one use. What it will do is bring your blackheads to the surface, so you can easily extract them. I would recommend this product to anyone who is trying to clear their pores.

How To Get Skincare Advice From a Dermatologist On Twitter

Many of the world's leading dermatologists and doctors have flocked to Twitter to share their best skincare tips with us everyday gals. Take a minute to check out these Twitter accounts for some serious skincare tips and tricks.
Can a tweet help you get clearer, glowing skin? Follow these dermatologists on Twitter to find out!

@DrAmyWechsler
Dr. Amy Wechsler is one of only two doctors in America who is both board certified in dermatology and psychiatry (pretty impressive). Given her dual background, her skin care philosophy is holistic and she believes that they way we think has a big impact on how our skin looks.
Notable Tweet:

@DrOz
I know, Dr. Oz isn't exactly a dermatologist. However, he is one of America's leading doctors who gives great advice on general health, well being and of course, skincare. He tweets about super skin foods, weight loss tips and DIY face mask ideas.
Notable Tweet:

@DrMurad
Dr. Murad is probably most well known for his skincare line, Murad. He tweets about emotional wellness, exercise and interesting skincare facts.
Notable Tweet:

@drjessicawu
Dr. Jessica Wu is a hollywood dermatologist who is best known for helping celebrities get red carpet ready skin. She tweets about the latest skincare gadgets, her favorite makeup and skincare products and her fashion obsessions.
Notable Tweet:





Follow skincaregirl (me!) on Twitter.
Where do you find skincare advice on Twitter? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

The Lip Scrub That Tastes Like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Claim: "Just like the scrumptious cocktail served in hot southern summers, Mint Julips is packed full of fresh peppermint and sweet castor sugar. Peppermint is responsible for that ‘tingly feeling’ you get after brushing your teeth or using lip balm, so we thought it would make a perfect addition to our lip scrub! Plus, it makes Mint Julips tastes like a big, creamy bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream."

Texture:  The main ingredient here is sugar which gives this lip scrub a grainy, exfoliating texture.

 Pros:
Definitely tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Really exfoliates your lips.
Makes your mouth smell fresh and minty.

Cons:
Expensive.
I ran out of the scrub really fast. If you use it on a daily basis, you will need to buy a new one every two weeks.

Verdict: This scrub smells sweet and lovely while giving your lips an amazing exfoliation. It's a must try!


Need a cheaper DIY alternative to a lip scrub? No problem! Just try one of recipes below using items you probably already have in your kitchen.