Photo description: Cienna and Piper sit in a jacuzzi tub with face masks and a plant behind them. Cienna is wearing a white robe, has a towel over her hair, and has a face mask applied to her face. Piper is wearing a bath headband with a bow on it. They are both looking at the camera and Cienna is smiling.
Do you know what today is? It is Self-care Sunday and national face mask day! Is there a more perfect day, I’m not sure! Self care looks different for everyone, but I love taking the time to treat my body. My body and I fight hard everyday and I think it definitely deserves to be pampered and thanked. Ever since I was little I was the girl with ultra sensitive skin, add on top of that reactions from mast cell activation syndrome and it makes finding a safe face mask incredibly difficult. Despite trying loads of masks and wandering the isles of Sephora for what seemed like hours, I wondered if I would ever find a product that would end as the package says and not with itchy rashy skin. The skin care routine of dreams might be a process, but I thought I would share some day in and out favorites that have never let me down and have made my face as happy as a clam!
Photo description: A pot of Lush’s cream colored Bunny Moon jelly face mask is sitting on a marble counter open with the top leaning on it. There is a white starfish next to it.
Lush created national face mask day, so it feels only appropriate that my first pick goes to them. I have been a huge fan of Lush since the first store opened in my area. I am forever convinced that they hand pick the loveliest people on the planet to be their employees and never leave without a smile on my face(and a slightly emptier wallet). Bunny Moon was recommended to me by an employee and I have loved it ever since! It is extremely gentle, but also works hard to soothe, cleanse, moisturize, and calm your skin. Lush is an animal testing free, vegetarian, eco friendly brand. After you have 5 empty pots of theirs, you can trade in the empties for a free face mask! This mask not only feels nice, but has the added bonus of leaving you smelling like honey, vanilla, and roses! A mask that soothes my face, is eco friendly, and leaves me smelling like all my favorite things? I’m in!
Photo description: The Body Shop’s Aloe Soothing Rescue Cream Mask is open on a marble counter with the lid leaning on the jar. A white starfish is next to it.
The next mask is from one of my perennial favorites, The Body Shop! I discovered the body shop while trapped at the airport during a rainy 10 hour layover and have never looked back. It’s safe to say that this brand is single handedly responsible for my complexion being what it is today. I use their Aloe Soothing Rescue Creme Mask about once or twice every week. It is made to calm, restore, and nourish sensitive skin and lives up to those claims! Not only does it do that, but overtime it helps build up your skin’s defense to irritation. I love putting it on before bed and not having to take it off until I wash my face in the morning. On low spoon days it is my go to treat! It does not contain alcohol, fragrance, preservatives, or colourants that set off all my sensitive skin and mast cell pals(they also do not partake in animal testing). If you are looking for heaven in a pot, you’ve found it!
Photo description: BioMiracle’s Clarifying Peel Off Mask Treatment comes in a black tube with green writing. The tube sits on a marble counter next to a starfish with a white geometric plant pot behind it.
Peel off face masks may not be the gentlest, but they are my next pick. Nothing makes my face softer and my pores cleaner than a peel off face mask. I have bounced between brands and currently have a tube made by BioMiracle that I found at TJ Maxx. It is paraben free and like my last two picks it hasn’t been tested on animals(a cause very important to Opie, Piper, and myself). I use this mask between once or twice a week and even with the winces that may come while pulling it off, it is one of my favorites.
Photo description: The box of Biore Pore Strips is on a marble counter with a white starfish infant of it and a ceramic white geometric plant pot behind it.
My last store bought pick is Bioré Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. I use these on days that I want to use a charcoal mask, but don’t have the spoons to do a full face mask and peel it off. The tea tree and witch hazel do hard work unclogging pores. I’m always surprised by the amount of gunk on the strip when I rip it off. Unfortunately Biore is not animal cruelty free. If you have a suggestion of a similar strip that animal cruelty free, I’m all ears!
Photo description: The Pore Strip box, tube of peel off face mask, pot of Lush Bunny Moon jelly mask, and pot of Body Shop Aloe Cream Mask are arranged on a marble counter with white starfish amongst them and a ceramic geometric white plant pot behind them.
My next two masks are homemade! The first is the Bee Kind to Your Skin face mask. I started making this mask while away at university because it was fast, easy, and cheap! All you need to do is mix together 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, and squeeze in a wedge of fresh lemon. After you apply the mask to your face wash off and cleanse your face after 10-15 minutes and you’re golden! All natural, tasty, easy, and on top of that it relaxes your face while fighting acne!
If you’ve followed us for any length of time you probably know that Piper will only be happy in his kennel if his favorite show is playing: Queer Eye. What do my dog’s kennel habits have to do with face masks? Well let me tell you! Tan France from Queer Eye has a super simple recipe for a face mask that my skin and I love! All you need is a green tea bag that has steeped in boiling water for one minute and Greek yogurt. You tear open the sash, dump the contents into your Greek yogurt, apply to your face, wait ten minutes, clean your face, and your skin will thank you. Personally I can’t eat yogurt or I get sick, but the probiotics work wonders on my face. It leaves my face feeling refreshed, invigorated, and firm!
I hope you enjoyed my face mask suggestions! As with all things chronic illness related these are just my experiences, if you have any questions always ask your doctor! If you have any favorites that you think I should try, drop them in the comments and I will give it a go! Happy national face mask day/self-care Sunday!