Say hello to the biggest skin care product of the season!
Summer Fridays’ Jet Lag Mask became a Sephora Best Seller in its first week. The brainchild of mega beauty influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland, Jet Lag Mask is not only the traveling girl’s best friend, but is also the perfect remedy for any tired, stressed or just in need of love skin!
This post contains Sephora affiliate links
I love masks and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Whether you are flying somewhere fabulous this summer, or just staying home this is summer’s biggest product and you need it! Sephora can’t keep it on the shelves and both Sephora and Summer Fridays have told me to get on the email list to get notified when it is in stock. I have one tube now, but am on the list to get more.
10 Things To Love About Summer Fridays’ Jet Lag Mask.
It has a velvety texture. Jet Lag Mask isn’t slimey or gooey.
It disappears into your skin. The mask goes on white but then disappears into your skin, so you can wear it on a plane or any other public place.
It smooths your complexion. Chestnut extract exfoliates to smooth out rough or uneven patches, Vitamin C and niacinamide brighten the complexion and ceramides hydrate your skin making it gorgeously glowy and selfie-sensational.
You can use it as a primer! Helloooo?? Seriously this multi use product actually doubles up as a beautiful primer. Just apply a thin coat and give it a moment to sink in before applying your makeup.
No Animal Testing. Jet Lag Mask is both vegan and cruelty free – no animals were tested on to make this product.
Jet Lag Mask is paraben free, sulphate free, fragrance free and contains no synthetic dyes. Now wonder your skin loves it!
This is a no rinse mask. It takes 10 minutes, then you simply blot it with a tissue.
You can leave in on overnight. If your skin want some extra special loving, just leave Jet Lag Mask on overnight, and you will wake up with plumped up, radiant skin.
At just under 3 oz you can take this mask on the plane with you – something this traveler is thrilled about!
It keeps selling out! The best way to get your hands on a tube is to go to Summer Fridays’ website or to Sephora.com. You may need to get on a wait list, but it’s worth it!
What Is Micellar Water? Have you ever tried this fabulous skin cleanser? For years it has been a makeup artist secret but now anyone can get it. If you look inside almost any pro-makeup artist’s makeup kit you will find a bottle of micellar water and cotton pads. Prior to it being readily available in the United States I would bring back bottles of micellaire water every time I went to Paris, then once it was available at the pro makeup artist supply stores such as Naimies in Los Angeles, I would add bottles to every makeup order I placed.
This is a facial cleanser you need to know about.
This post contains affiliate links.
What Is Micellar Water?
Originally developed for Parisian women as an alternative to cleansing their skin with Paris’ harsh water, micellar (micellair ) water is a highly effective and efficient skin cleanser. It removes all makeup, oil, and other gunk from your pores while toning your skin. It also works as a makeup remover on the toughest kinds of makeup – from lipstick to waterproof mascara. This fantastically dynamic cleanser is all thanks to tiny cleansing micelles that cling to debris on the skin, while purifying and softening the skin
How does it work? The way micellar water works is that a mild surfactant, the natural chemical that gets rid of dirt and makeup, clusters up into tiny balls called micelles. Once you pump it onto a cotton round, the micelles rearrange themselves for optimal cleansing. All you need to do is saturate a cotton round with the micellar water, and swipe over the skin. You can see all the grime and dirt sweep away!
The two main ingredients in micellar water are soft water and surfactants. These are cool little molecules that have a hydrophilic head at one end, that is attracted to water and repels oils, and a lipophilic tail at the other end that is attracted to oil and grease and repels water. Oil and water naturally repel one another, so it is difficult for water to cleanse away oil on the skin without help. Surfactants in micellar water surround the oils on the surface of our skin and “hide” them from the water, allowing the lipophilic tail to scoop them up and take them away, leaving no residue on the surface of the skin.
Who Should Use Micellar Water?
For makeup artists these cleansers are fantastic because we can do a quick sweep of the skin with micellar water on a cotton pad, and not only remove makeup and cleanse the skin, but also leave it ready to take a new makeup application without any slime or residue gunking up the complexion and making makeup slip off.
Micellar water is also great for everyday use for you and me. It is a lovely cleanser that not only cleans our skin but also leaves our complexion balanced. My pet skin care peeve is cleansers that strip the skin, creating a cycle of oil and dryness problems. Great skin begins with a cleanser that cleans skin while leaving it soft and supple and ready to accept skincare products. Micellar water is good for everyone.
Six Reasons You Should Use Micellar Water
1. It Removes Makeup
Micellar water removes makeup, even longwear and waterproof makeup, and cleanses the skin. It picks up excess oils and cleans away dirt leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean. There is no rinse cycle and your skin doesn’t feel oily or tight or tingly.
2. It’s Good For All Skin Types, Even Sensitive Skin
Micellar water is mild and non irritating and is perfect for even the most sensitive skin. It works for those with oily complexions too – the surfactants lift away excess oil leaving the skin clean and clear.
3. Micellar Water Helps Keep Skin Clear
The cleansing agents in micellar water naturally clear the skin not only of sebum but also of the wax based substances that cause breakouts. Also, because you don’t need a washcloth there is no rubbing to further irritate the skin or cause redness.
4. Micellar Water Protects Your Skin From Harsh Water
Most big cities have harsh, hard water, full of chemicals and heaven only knows what else. Do your faucets get calcium deposits? Do your kettles and coffee makers get a build up of scales? If so you have hard water. It is no doubt drying out the skin on your arms and legs, requiring you to use lotions and body oils after you shower, and is also stripping the skin on your face. Micellar water was originally created to be an alternative to using harsh water that strips your skin and leaves it feeling tight and pulled.
5. It Leaves Your Skin Feeling Soft.
With no soaps, alcohol, detergents or chemicals to dry your skin out after cleansing, micellar water leaves your skin feeling soft and dewy.
6. Micellar Water Is Ideal For Travel
The only thing micellar water requires to cleanse your skin is a cotton pad. You don’t need a wash cloth, water, toner or additional cleansers. This makes it the ideal cleanser to keep in your gym bag, to take on a road trip or camping, and makes it perfect for airline travel and overseas trips!
You can find micellar water everywhere now, from Ulta to Sephora to Target. One of my favorite skin care lines, Skyn Iceland, also has their own micellar water. Skyn Iceland has been one of my favorite skincare brands for years. Using spectacular ingredients from Iceland they provide solutions for stressed skin. I first learned about the line from celebrities asking for their Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. These are the best eye gels I have ever used, and are a staple in my personal skincare travel products as well as my pro makeup artist kit. They depuff, hydrate, cool and soothe and breathe life back into the delicate skin under the eyes. If you have ever not had enough sleep, been on a long flight, woken up with a hangover or allergies or just felt tired and run down, the Skyn Iceland eye gels are perfect for you – they provide instant relief!
Skyn Iceland Micellar Water contains Icelandic Glacial Water which protects, nurtures and fights free radicals, Arctic Algae Extract which detoxifies the skin, Nordic Birch Sap to boost collagen production and Aloe Leaf Juice to soothe. Plus, it comes in an easy to use pump package!
Check out Skyn Iceland Micellar Water here and also look at the Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels here.
In case you are interested I also found this info on Skyn Iceland:
Skyn ICELAND offers skincare solutions to combat and treat the damage caused by stress. Its high performance skincare system of products brings instant relief, immediate results and long term benefits addressing the five symptoms of stressed skin: accelerated aging, adult acne, irritation, dryness, and dullness. Skyn’s inspiration comes from nature, in the pure unspoiled natural resources of Iceland – with its mineral rich waters, antioxidant powered berries, soothing algaes, replenishing mosses and immunity boosting Angelica Archangelica. With these potent naturals, products soothe, stabilize, fortify and nourish skin, bringing it back into balance and returning it to a glowing, youthful state. All Skyn ICELAND products are certified cruelty free by PETA, 100% healthy and vegan.
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I wrote an article about facial masks in the latest issue of Luca Magazine. Face masks are the greatest addition to any skin care regimen. You can use masks to treat any skin concerns you have. Today on the blog instead of looking at masks you can buy in the store, lets look at DIY masks, all natural masks that you can make at home!
How To Make Home Made Face Masks
Did you know that you already have most of the ingredients you need to make the very best skin care masks, sitting in your kitchen? High performance, beautiful skin care products don’t always have to come in a bottle or a tube on a shelf in a store. You can make them yourself with all natural ingredients, many of which are already sitting on your kitchen counter or in your pantry! Before using any mask all over your face, do a little test patch at the corner of your jawline. If your skin feels any adverse reaction, remove the mask immediately.
Here are some fabulous DIY skin care facial masks.
Exfoliating Mask
If you have been following my Corinna B’s World blog for more than 5 minutes then you will already know that I am not a fan of facial scrubs. I always think they scratch away the debris on the surface of the skin, but also scratch the baby skin underneath, keeping you in a perpetual cycle of rough, gritty skin.
I prefer to use enzyme masks to exfoliate my skin. An enzyme mask uses fruit acids or lactic acids to dissolve away dead skin cells and debris from the surface of the skin, without damaging the fresh skin underneath. They are super gentle and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Here is an easy to make DIY enzyme mask:
Papaya Enzyme Mask
image by Brad Olson for Luca Magazine
Slice a papaya in half, lengthways. Take one half of the papaya, scoop out the seeds and discard, then scoop the flesh of the papaya into a glass or ceramic bowl. Mash the papaya, apply it all over the face, avoiding the eye area.
Leave the mask on the skin for 15 minutes, then rinse off with luke-warm water and a washcloth.
Brightening Mask
If your complexion is looking dull and lifeless a DIY brightening mask could be the answer.
Apricot Brightening Mask
Apricots are rich with vitamins A, B1, B2, C and PP (a bacterial astringent). They also contain many important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, sulfur, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous). An apricot brightening mask is fabulous for normal to dry skins, and can be used once or twice per week.
Peel and halve 2 ripe apricots. In a ceramic or glass bowl mash apricots with a fork (use a food processor). Apply with a brush, avoiding the eye area. and leave on the skin for 30 minutes. Rinse off with luke warm water and a washcloth.
If you have an oily or combination skin a lemon Mask is a fabulous way to brighten your skin.
Lemon Mask
Lemons have vitamin A, C, B1, B2 and B3 (a strong astringent and bactericide). Lemons are great for oily complexions. You can use this mask daily if necessary, or just a couple of times per week.
Add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice to 1 stiffly beaten egg white. Apply to the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on the skin for 10 minutes and then rinse off with bottled water.
Strawberry Mask
Strawberries contain vitamins B, C, E and K as well as salicylic acid and silica. Its astringent and revitalizing properties make this mask good for all skin types, and it can be used twice per week.
Apply 2 tablespoons of mashed strawberries directly to the face, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off with bottled water.
When your skin needs some luscious nourishment just reach for an avocado.
Avocados are rich in vitamins and amino acids and make fabulous anti-aging masks for dry, combination and mature skin.
image by Brad Olson for Luca Magazine
Avocado Mask
Mash half a ripe avocado with a fork, (or put in a food processor) and apply immediately to the skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 30 minutes and then rinse off with bottled water.
For Angry Skin
If your skin is feeling angry or irritated one of the best masks you can make to soothe and smooth your skin is an oatmeal mask. Oatmeal contains anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories, which will reduce irritation and soothe itchy or irritated skin.
Oatmeal Mask
There are several variations on this mask.
Mask One: Add 2 tablespoons of honey to one serving of hot oatmeal. Let it cool to a warm temperature (never hot), and apply to the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with cool water.
Mask Two: Grind 4 tablespoons of oatmeal in a coffee grinder or food processor. In a ceramic or glass bowl add 1 tablespoon of honey and one egg yolk. Mix together and apply to the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 15 minutes, and the rinse with cool water.
Anytime your skin has had too much sun, too much wind, or just needs soothing, grate one cucumber that has been refrigerated cold. Apply to the skin and leave for as long as you want! The cold cucumber hydrates, soothes and refreshes the skin. (Note – it gets super messy, but its worth it!)
I hope you will try out some of these masks at home! Leave me a comment in the comment section below if you do! Also, if you have some favorite homemade masks that you would like to share, please tell us about them in the comment section below.
