Product Review: Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #powerofplants

Things are still quiet, though they’ve started to perk up a little bit. Which was what happened last March if I remember correctly. Maybe January and February are the slow months of the year? Either way, I’m planning on doing a regular update this weekend, but right now I’m hitting you with another product review from my Influenster J’Adore VoxBox (still getting some mileage out of this one). Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions are my own. 

Before testing this product, the last time I used a face mask was back in high school. It was an apricot one that peeled off after it stiffened up on my face. It seemed like a lot of work, but I may have been even lazier in high school than I am now.

While I probably wouldn’t have bought a facial mask on my own, the sample reminded me that masks really are another viable skin care option. I was bad about skin care when I was young, so even though I try to keep it up now that I’m older, it’s hard to get into a regular routine. Since I’ve been sprucing things up a little bit lately (makeup, pierced ears, etc), I thought this might be another step in my quest to pamper myself a bit more. 

The first time I tried the mask, I wasn’t prepared for the texture, the consistency, or how fast it was going to come out of the bottle. I ended up with a dark gray mess on the floor. Once I finally started applying it, I really wasn’t sure how much to use, or how thick it needed to be to do the trick. I tried to apply liberally, but it didn’t feel like enough, and my application was pretty elementary.

This is my swamp thing face.

As you can see, I left a lot of areas blank, but I was nervous about eating it or getting it in my eyes. The first time was a little iffy, but the next few uses got easier. There seems to be a learning curve for facial mask application.

1. Apply over the sink and be prepared to rinse the sink after use. It comes out of the bottle quickly.

2. What feels like a thin layer is actually a lot of clay. A thin layer seems to do things just as well as a thick layer.

3. It definitely dries and tightens in the ten minutes you leave it on. It might also make sensitive skin tingle.

4. Pair the mask experience with a good cleaner and moisturizer. I need to use face lotion after each application, but the combination makes for clean, smooth skin.

The burn I felt the first time I used it made me nervous, so I would definitely recommend spot testing this before just slathering it on. The burn/tingle went away after a few minutes, but I still used the lotion and have been pretty careful with each subsequent use.

As for long term clean, I feel a difference for several days afterwards. My face feels less oily. As far as looking better, I don’t honestly see a difference. Somedays are better than others when it comes to my complexion, and a lot of other factors seem to affect what my face does from day to day. For me, though, a lot of my confidence comes from how I feel, and not how I look.

Overall, I really like this mask, and I plan on continuing to use it. When it’s time to restock, I I may look into some of the other products by Boots. I’m kind of digging all this pampering.

A.

 

Product Review: Vaseline Men Spray Lotion (from Influenster)

If you’re following me on various social media outlets, you’ve already seen my mini-reviews on the Vaseline Men Spray Lotion I received complimentary from Influenster. Besides the fact that I’m not a man, I’m still digging on this lotion, and I wanted to give it the full review it deserves. 

Sure, it says “Men,” but I’m an equal opportunity lotion user.

I currently have a whole basket of lotion (go ahead and make a Silence of the Lambs joke…I’ll wait), but a lot of it is just girly and smelly, and only some of it is actually good at handling dry skin, especially in the winter. I’m a very itchy person, so finding a lotion that smells good and takes care of the itchy skin is kind of a big deal. 

I used this before Jon did, and I was sold right off the bat. The first thing I liked was the even spray. Ever went to spray something and you can’t get anything at first, and then all of a sudden you get way too much? I didn’t have that problem with this one. It sprayed evenly, and though it says it’s “fast absorbing,” I still had time to rub it in to the areas the spray didn’t hit. 

The second thing I liked was the smell. It has a potent cologne smell, which isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Men’s scents tend to be stronger than women’s scents, and I like both. However, I have a lot of friends who can’t do strong scents, so while I want to recommend this to everyone, I can’t recommend to anyone who has a scent sensitivity. In fact, I always forget that Jon has a sensitivity, and it wasn’t until the second night of applying the Men Spray liberally that he mentioned it gave him a headache. 

Finally, I liked that it did what it promised to do. It moisturized and kept my skin hydrated through the next day. Itchy skin was replaced with soft skin (and the smell mostly wore off overnight) . I’ve been a fan of the Vaseline hand lotion (I keep a big bottle on my desk at work) for awhile now, and I think I would have been surprised if this hadn’t met my standards. 

Influenster also suggested I review Jon’s reaction to the product. I already mentioned that the smell bothered him when the product was over-applied, but when a light spray was used, it wasn’t as bad. He also found that the benefits were delivered as promised. In the future, I think he’ll want to find an unscented version. 

I anticipate having a few more reviews from this VoxBox coming soon. I’ve been trying most of the products, though a few are still waiting for friend assistance. Just to reiterate, I did receive these for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own. 

A.