Out Of Trouble Mask Pods £5

Origins is a brand I see often featured in blog posts and reviews but I have never tried anything from them, seeing their face masks as a popular purchase I decided to start my journey with Origins with their Out Of Trouble face mask. 

Out Of Trouble is aimed at skin just like mine, oily, prone to blocked pores and breakouts, helping to absorb excess oiled slough off debris from pores. I decided to purchase their pack of four pods rather than fork out £23 for the full size product and not like it, at only £1.25 per treatment it's not only effective but incredibly affordable.

The mask is incredibly thick and luxurious feeling, it has a creamy yet almost mousse like texture to it which smooths over skin well and despite being thick doesn't dry uncomfortably like a regular clay mask. The product has an invigorating scent to it, you can almost smell how good it is for your skin!

After use my skin felt extremely clean and almost tingly, my current breakout felt more comfortable and a couple of smaller spots shrunk away overnight. I will certainly go on to buy the 100ml tube, I can see this as a regular treatment to keep my skin in check.

My Top 4 Masks For Problem Skin

Unless you're one of those absolutely blessed people (which I envy/hate for it) who rarely get spots then we're all from time-to-time going to experience congested skin leading to an outbreak. I only ever get the occasional hormonal break-out on my chin and jawline (thanks to PCOS) but I do struggle from quite oily skin which I have to keep in check, so here's the once-a-week treatments I use to keep congested skin at bay.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask £15.75

This is my favourite mask for helping to balance my skin and regulate oiliness. I tend to smooth this over my t-zone only as I don't suffer from oiliness all over my face and my skin really feels as though all the excess oils and impurities have been drawn out, leaving my skin smooth and mattified. This mask isn't advised to be used on sensitive skin so I don't tend to use this on a breakout.

Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask £11.99

Over the last couple of years this mask is the one I've reached for when I'm having a particularly troublesome breakout as it does an amazing job of getting those nasty inflamed spots down. As well as treating existing spots it help balance skin and absorb excess sebum, leaving skin feeling deeply cleansed and calmer.

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask £9.99

This one is fairly new to my collection but I can say after only three or four uses that it works, for me at least. As its name indicates it contains spot fighting Salicylic Acid to help clear out congested pores and Dead Sea Mud to absorb oil. I used this mask over the weekend as I had a corker of a spot on my chin and the next morning after using this mask it had shrunken in size quite considerably. The only thing I don't like about this mask is the scent, to me it smells quite overwhelmingly of burnt plastic, this will have to be the price to pay for something that works so efficiently.

Quick Fix Facials Exfoliating Scrub Mask £4.99

This little gem has quickly become my favourite mask. Aimed to treat stubborn blackheads and blocked pores and balance skin. Its recommended to massage the mask into skin to exfoliate and then leave it for 5-10 minutes before removing but I have found the best results doing the opposite. I leave the mask for 10 minutes and then with damp fingertips spend a couple of minutes massaging the scrub into my skin and then remove with a damp muslin cloth and all I can say is wow! My skin feels super clean, smooth and rid of any excess oil. You'll get 10+ masks from each 100ml tube, at less than 49p per mask and incredible results this is one I am sure to repurchase.

Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask Review

I seem to be on a roll with my posts on skincare this week, it's refreshing to talk about the basics instead of makeup I must admit. Today I'll be talking to you about this fabulous face mask from the quirky brand Yes To, Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask rrp £11.99. 

When I'm having a break out I like to alternate between this mask and Liz Earle's Deep Cleansing Mask as both have the outstanding ability to clear my skin. Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask is a total deep pore treatment that refines, purifies and moisturises your skin. The creamy clay mask is filled with anti-oxidants and powerful oil absorbers, perfect for oily skin like mine. 

I really love the freshness of this mask, it smells like baby wipes or talc, it just smells clean and fresh. Although this mask does an amazing job of treating any existing spots and really clears any oiliness on my skin it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or dry, it feels comfortable and extremely clean.

If you suffer from oily, combination skin like I do and are looking for a skin treat then I couldn't recommend this one enough!

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask Review

If like me you have some seriously combination skin you'll know it's a constant battle to keep it under check and those blemishes at bay, today I'm reviewing a product which helps me do just that.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask  (prices from £6) is a concentrated clay mask that specifically targets oily and combination skin and helps to draw out impurities and restore balance. When ever I suffer a break out this is one of the masks that I reach for as it does an amazing job of getting down any redness and leaves my skin feeling more comfortable.

This mask is not advised for use on sensitive skin due to some of the ingredients. The main ingredients include green clay, rose-scented geranium and (the most prominent scent) manuka honey. The only let down for this mask is the formula, it's a lot more liquid than I have experienced with any other clay mask which means you can move it around your face quite easily, I have found the best way to apply it is with a brush. The sponges that come with the mask are great for effectively removing the mask and exfoliating it at the same time and really gives the whole process a spa feel to it.

Trial-Sized Tuesday - REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Masque

I was quite excited to see REN featured in January's Birchbox as it's a brand I still haven't tried very much of and I am drawn to anything that has that magic word glycol in it! I use and overnight Glycolic Peel twice a week and love the results so couldn't wait to try REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Masque.

This masque promises to be a potent bio active peel masque that is designed to renew the complexion and over time reduce the appearance of fine lines and even out skin tone. The texture of this masque is quite a sticky, thick gel and although the formula is quite sticky it applies well and doesn't roll off your skin as some gel masques do. It's relatively odourless and colourless which means you have to have good lighting to see where you're applying it. REN warn that slight tingling may be felt after application and it shouldn't be used on sensitive skin, I however didn't experience this.

Although I wasn't expecting huge results after one use I can tell it's not for me. Despite very thoroughly washing the masque off my skin felt greasy and oily after use and I broke out the next day! Luckily I barely squeezed one masque from the sample so there's no love loss there.

August's Beauty Favourites

With August coming and going in a flash and September now upon us, reviewing my favourite beauty products from last month makes me kind of feel like I'm mourning the summer! I discovered some fantastic products throughout August and I'm going to be clinging to those summery buys until those early nights start drawing in. So here's my best buys of August, the products I've been reaching for everyday...

Body Shop Honey Bronzer

This amazing bronzer was also in my July beauty favourites, I did a post a few weeks ago with some swatches if you fancy checking it out for yourself. I've literally worn this bronzer everyday since I bought it, the shade (shade 2) is perfect for my fair (NC15) complexion and just gives you a totally natural, sun kissed look. 

N4 Super Comb Prep & protect

I discovered this gorgeous smelling leave-in conditioner in August's Birchbox. I did a post a few weeks ago about that box and the contents and this was my star product. Not only does it smell amazing but it leaves your hair so soft and more manageable. I loved this sample so much I went on to buy the full-size product and I must admit I now couldn't be without it in my routine.

Bourjois Cream Blush (R) Pink Sunwear

When Bourjois released their Summer 2014 products including these gorgeous cream blushers the blogisphere went nuts! Pink Sunwear was another product that featured in my July beauty picks. This subtle shade gives you a gorgeous glow and completely compliments my bronzer. I'll be sad to see this go in a drawer until next summer!

Essie Sand Tropez

One polish I've been taking off and reapplying straight away is Essie's Sand Tropez. This shade is the perfect greige that I will be wearing well into the Autumn/Winter. As with all of Essie's polishes that I've tried its fantastic coverage and I get around 3 days of wear before any chips appear.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Glow Booster

I did a post on this gradual tan a couple of weeks ago and I still feel now how I did then. This amazing gradual tan allows you do totally tailor your tan by controlling how many drops of serum you use a day mixed in with your regular daytime/nighttime moisturiser. This is one skincare product I will be rocking all year round.

Bobbi Brown Blush In Pastel Peach

I let out a little shriek inside when I saw Bobbi Brown had released new shades of their cult blusher. I hastily purchased two of the shades (post coming soon on those) one of them being Pastel Peach. This gorgeous shade looks great on cheeks for a little pop of colour. This is another shade I will be sporting for as long as the sun stays.

Lush Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask

This face mask is the best spot fighting mask I have tried in a long while. Anyone that reads my blog regularly will know that I suffer from horrible hormonal break-outs from time to time and this mask calms angry skin down and clears up break-outs. This is one mask I will be repurchasing now I've run out.

As much as I will miss the summer and will relish in those last few sunny days we have left, I am really looking forward to Autumn/Winter as there are some great products lined up for release and I can't wait to be sporting my favourite vampy lip and nail colours.