myfaceworks Paper Face Masks : Review

I've been saving these for a day when I would need them the most. And when you want something so much, getting it as a reward for good behavior makes you savor it a lot more.

Paper Facial Masks 101

If you've never tried paper facial mask , I highly recommend ones from myfaceworks! They have 12 different types of paper masks , each with its own purpose like brightening, healing, detox-ing and plenty others. The paper facial masks come individually packed. Each one is in the shape of a face with holes cut out around eyes , mouth and flap over the nose. This paper comes soaked in a viscous gel filled with ingredients that are good for your skin. You simple tear open the pack, pull the paper mask over your face and go about doing what you do !

Or you could do what I do :
Pick out a quiet, dark spot in your house.
Play some soothing music.
Cleanse your face
Pull the mask on and relax for 20 minutes.

While you are at it, clear your mind and enjoy the few minutes of alone time. I like to tap my fingers on my forehead, temples and between my brows where we store our stress. I've heard this also helps disperse fluid that get retained around the eyes.

Relaxing & Stress Diffusing Y'all !

The mask has a soothing , cooling effect on my skin which continues for 20 - 30 minutes. After 30 - 40 minutes it slowly starts drying. But before than five minutes into the "experience" you will feel all the stressed muscles on your face relax . I didn't know that my muscles were so tight and so stressed out. It took a relaxing 30 minutes to pull those muscles out and place em where they belong in their non stressed state.

Relaxing and stress diffusing apart - it is a wonderful moisturizer. Even if it does not replace my regular moisturizer on my dry skin I think folks with all kinds of skin will love the way it drenches your skin with a fountain of supple soft skin nourishing goodness ! And bonus - it smells divine !

You & Me - We Need It

After a long day at work with a nagging boss or a coworker who steals your ideas or after a day at the library trying to catch up on classes - you need this to make you feel calm and prepare you to go through with it all over again tomorrow. It never ends, i tell ya !

Or if you are a mother with tiny (or grown up) kids running around trying your patience - you need this to give you a moment of piece. And if that moment comes only at night just before you hit the bed - take it. I swear the mask is truly the most relaxing experience a paper can bring.

MOM Needs It The Most

Mother's day is coming up soon and I am putting together a " Love You, Maa" package for my mom with my sister. This one is on top of my list ! We all know how moms are - stressed out is one word that almost always applies to them !

Coffee Body Scrub

Lets just drop it and call our selves the recyclers , shall we ?

Yesterday it was used tea bags and today its left over ground coffee.

Why do I get the feeling, the next one will have something to do with left over curry ?

This Wake Up Coffee Scrub recipe comes to us from Queen recycler Martha Stewart and body + soul magazine.

This is a skin-softening body scrub made from coffee grounds and aromatic plant essences - a traditional treatment that's used in Thai and Balinese spas !

This recipe couples a rich, smoky coffee aroma with the sweet scent of peppermint -- known in aromatherapy for its mentally stimulating, energizing properties. Thanks to raw sugar crystals and olive oil, which exfoliate and moisturize, your body gets a pick-me-up, too. It makes enough for two to three applications.

Things Needed

1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup pure turbinado sugar
15 drops peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
1/2 cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot

How-To

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; using a fork, thoroughly blend. Transfer the scrub to a wide mouthed jar, and store in a cool place until ready to use. The scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refrigerated.

2. While showering, apply handfuls of the coffee scrub to wet skin in circular motions, starting at the feet and working up. The scrub contains oil, so it's best to do this over a rubber mat to avoid slipping. Pay particular attention to rough spots such as heels, ankles, knees, and elbows.

3. After scrubbing, cleanse skin as usual using a mild natural soap or body wash. Pat skin dry with a fluffy towel, and follow with lotion to seal in the moisture.

I haven't tried the scrub yet. Remember the coffee story ? Yup still out. But will once I get my hands on that aromatic stuff I plan on trying this. Of course a few creative liberties will be taken...

I ain't got no mentha oil, man. So that stuff wont be in.
I got brown sugar - it'll have to do.
Vanilla extract - will buy that one tonight.

Find more similar recipes here

Love,
Indian Girl

Biore Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator : Review - Its The Refinery !

I have forever, for oh so long, for years together been a big fan of Apricot Scrubs. More specifically The St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It has been my in-shower, twice a week exfoliation guru. A couple of weeks back, I finished another tube of it . So I did what I always do and got my a$$ to the drugstore to replace the irreplaceable Apricot Scrub.

Stop here. When did the Apricot Scrub start costing $7. Where the days when I bought my scrub for $3 or $5 ? I want those days back.

This raise in cost pissed me off and I went about looking for other alternatives. And then my eyes fell on the Biore Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator. I grabbed it and ran.

Ran before the Apricot scrub could see me and give me the sad look. A look of betrayal.

The Biore Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator wasn't any cheaper at $ 14.99 but I told myself - I'd rather pay double the double for a new thing than pay double the old for the same old thing.

Or something like that.

What The New Boy Did

The Microderm exfoliator refines your skin. Trust me. It does not just exfoliate. It eliminates dead skin and leaves your skin feeling shiny. Not the oily shiny but the shine that comes from silky soft skin. I was flabbergasted at the results. My skin is almost reflecting light. Its that smooth ! Where has this been ? Why hasn't anybody told me about it. Why arnt the blogs buzzing about this drugstore gem ??

Why ? Why ? Why ?

Is it worth the $14.99 ? Was it a good substitution for my Apricot Scrub ?

Yes and yes ! Though I terribly miss the lovely scent of the apricot scrub, I love the change. I think it is good to change up your routine once in a while. Even if it is once in a long while. We are talking four years or more, people.

However I do have a couple of things to add. The Biore exfoliator has really teeny tiny micro beads and plenty of them. So I'd be gentle with the scrubbing. Even more so if you have sensitive skin. Something about scratching the surface of the skin.

On my nose however I gave it a good scrub to get rid of black heads, white heads and gunk in general. It worked very well ! I needed very little for one use so I am sure it will last a while. Also I plan on using it only twice a week in the shower given the refining effect. I don't want to peel off way too much.

Price - $14.99
Purchase - CVS, Walgreens
Purpose - Exfoliating and Refining Face Scrub with Micro beads
Position

In Other News...

Hilarious Story !

So remember when I showed you how I keep my shower product free and instead keep them in a product bin next to the shower ?

The closet in my bathroom suddenly got infested with ants . So, the pest control guy came over to destroy the ants and clean up the mess. After he sprayed the pesticide, killed the pests, he gathered the ants onto a pan and dumped it into - you guessed it - into my PRODUCT BIN !!!!!!!!!

Hahaha. I was too shocked and too overcome with laughter to say anything. I am still smiling thing about it....

Love,
Indian Girl

DIY : A Creamy Almond , Walnut Moisturizing & Exfoliating Face Mask

This is *so* good ! Its beyond *so* good.

Modesty aside, its the best.

Help Me

Somebody Help Me.


Last evening, I let my wild imagination run wild and wild it did run. I decided on making an almond walnut mask and soaked a few almonds and walnuts in milk. And then I went out for a mild mini workout. Don't ask me what that is. Got back home and ran wild.

Wild in my mind.

I threw in the soaked walnuts and almonds into the blender . Gave it one good mix. It was chunky and not face mask-ish. I needed to rescue my mask.

So, I did what I always do and took a deep long look at my pantry. Pulled out a pack of powdered flax seeds and threw in two huge table spoons of it into the blender.

Next, I took one long look at my refrigerator. Pulled out a box of creamy yogurt and added two tablespoons of it into the blender.

And then I let the blender run wild.

Result : A creamy delicious hunk of a face mask. I saved the hunk up in a container and let it cool in the refrigerator.

Late last night I decided to give my face mask a try. And man, I cant stop talking about it. I need help. I almost wanna say, I will never buy another face mask. I will make my own - for always, always and always.

Almost.


The natural oils in flax seed, almonds and walnuts gave me a whole lotta natural moisture. I can almost throw my moisturizer outta the window. Almost. The milk and creamy yogurt - a healthy glow. Moisture and glow apart, my face was beautifully exfoliated. It wasn't harsh. Neither was it was mild and useless. It was right. *So* right !

And, you know that tightening effect you get with egg whites ? You'll get the same tightening of pores, with this one ! After having it on my face for 30 minutes, I washed it off but not before a bit of massage. The upward massage strokes got my blood circulating and we all know good blood circulation is very important ! Its a really good thing to often massage your face. Especially with this mask.

Overall, I got it all - tightening, softening, smoothening, invigorating, exfoliating, glowing - everything !

Try this one today.
Scratch that. Now. Try it now.

IG's Creamy Almond & Walnut Face Mask Recipe

1 handful - Raw Almonds
1 handful - Raw Walnuts
2 tbsp - Ground Flax seeds
2 tbsp - Creamy plain yogurt
2 tbsp - milk

Soak the almonds and walnuts in milk for a couple of hours. Whip these in the blender. Then add in the ground flax seeds and yogurt into the mix. Continue blending until a creamy consistent mixture forms. Store it in a container and refrigerate until time of use ! This should stay good in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. Use it as a mask or as a cleanser !

Love,
Indian Girl

Where Am I Today ?

Here on AIMB of course but also on A Girl's Gotto Spa. Today I am the contributor for their guest beauty post.

Hop on over here and show the love. The product I've written about is one the most relaxing face masks I've ever tried. And it costs only $3.37 ! And its made from several several natural ingredients !

Love,
Indian Girl
PS : Thank you to everybody who hit A Girl's Gotto Spa and left an encouraging comment. Love you guys. And those didn't - I love you too. Now go check out the post !

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque : Review

I bought this product purely based on the rating and reviews on MUA. I had actually never even noticed it at the drug stores until I went looking for it. Another big reason was the mint part. Your girl here loves anything and everything mint. Mint chocolates, mint ice creams, mint chutney, mint foot spray, mint chewing gum and much much more.

The product smells great ! I almost wanna eat it if I can manage to get the stuff outta the tube. I think its packed under high pressure and you'll need just as much pressure to get the product out. Its a thick thick paste. Because its so thick, applying the product is also a bit time taking. It cleaned my face thoroughly but it left me super dry. I think it helped clear a few tiny breakouts I had on my neck. Given how dry I felt I am guessing this would be better choice for girls with oily skin than for my normal - dry skin. Have you tried the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask ? Did it work any better on you ?

Lets Talk Ice Cream !
What is your favorite ice cream flavor ? High five if its mint chocolate chip ! The best mint chocolate chip ice cream is made by Braum's, just in case you wanted to know my favorite.

Love,
Indian Girl

Alaska Glacial Purifying Mineral Mud Mask : Review

What can I say, I love masks ! Been doing the mud mask since I was teenager and have had excellent results always. It did keep me from getting the dreaded teenage acne ! And then there were the chemical masks, the enzyme masks, the fruit masks and many more. Each did something good, some didn't do all that much. Through all this my favorite remained the classic mud mask. As Julia Roberts says in My best Friend's Wedding " The one constant thing in my life, is that he'll always be there". Well my "he" is the mud mask.

I am usually exhausted after an hour and half of cardio - EXHAUSTED. All I want at the end of it is relaxation and food. So, a couple of days back I got home from the gym and did just that. I washed my face with water and applied the Alaska Mud Mask in Lavender-Peppermint all over my face and neck with the brush. Seriously super refreshing mask. Most mud masks just do the cleaning but really relaxing with a mask is just as important. The cooling effect from the peppermint and the buttery nature of the mask are too good ! The rejuvenated soft face - way better !


The best part is that the mask is made from 100 % natural ingredients ! I highly recommend it for pore cleansing. On their site you'll a pic of the founder at the glacial mud site. Literally makes me wanna book a vacation to Alaska just so I could roll in that mud !

Read more on the Alaska Glacial Mud Company here

Love,
Indian Girl

Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial : Review

I hate the song - Hot and Cold by Katy Perry but if there is one thing that I'd sing the song to...it would be my skin this week. I started out feeling very oily and dirty so I used my stand by - make me dry cleanser. Except the cleanser made me too dry. Way too dry. Flaky, skin peeling off ugly dry. To remedy the dryness I used my stand by - make me fly ( makes no sense but hey it rhymes !) moisturizer. Though it removed the tightness of dry skin the flakes persisted and I sang...You change your mind, like a something I would know...


Enter Clinique Turnaround Facial ($36.50) - a five-minute pampering mask that combines physical and chemical exfoliation to offer skin the resurfacing results of a professional microdermabrasion treatment. Its not what I'm used to, I mean no chemical peel has touched my skin but I wanted to try it on. It is a grainy mask that you spread on your face and wait 5 minutes . I waited 30 minutes. Nothing to do with my discretion, I was simply loading the dishwasher. Later while washing off I massaged the masque on my face so the exfoliating beads could work their magic and because that's what good girls do. The flakes vanished but that's expected of a grainy mask, right. What's magical is that it restored my skin's balance. It is no longer dancing in between oily and dry. The masque even got rid of a couple of bumps between my brows ( imagine that horror). Its safe to say this masque has caught my attention, big time. My skin now is so soft, so smooth, so touchable . I mean I'm in love ....

You wont guess what I'm singing now. Oh no you wont. No ways. It's not what, I'm used to Just wanna try you on...I'm curious for you...Caught my attention...I liked it, I liked it.
What ??? You knew that ??? Shoot...Ain't no big deal, its innocent....

Love,
Indian Girl