Sacred Truth Fresh Face Mask (with Oatfix mini review)

(Owed for Friday the 10^th December)

On the tenth week of Christmas my LUSH limited gave to me......

10 Sacred Truths,

9 Snowcake soaps,

8 Buffy body butters,

7 Sonic Death Monkeys,

6 Bearded Ladies,

5 CHRISTMAAAAS EEEEEEEEEVES!

4 Ghost shower gels,

3 Hottie bars,

2 Halloween specials,

and a Snow Fairy lip and cheek tint!

Sacred Truth

Requested by and dedicated to Alex Ward.

Price: £4.95/75g.

Product category: Fresh Face Mask.

Contains: (You might want to a make brew before you read this, as the fresh face masks are PACKED FULL of ingredients)

Ginkgo Leaf and Brown Linseed Infusion stimulates the skin and works as an antioxidant; Kaolin cleanses the skin and exfoliates dead skin cells and debris from the surface of the skin; Talc is an absorbent, bulking agent allowing the face mask to be easily applied to the skin; Honey for its antibacterial,  antiseptic and moisturising properties for the skin; Fresh Papaya for its powerful brightening properties for the skin; Glycerine is softening and moisturising and is also used to effectively carry oils allowing the skin to absorb them and benefit from their properties; Organic Yoghurt is soothing, cooling and moisturising on the skin; Fresh Free Range Eggs contain vitamin A which help maintain healthy skin by regulating sebum production;

Shea Butter for its moistening, emollient and softening properties on the skin. It also contains vitamin A which helps maintain a youthful appearance and healthy skin; Evening Primrose Oil cares for dry, irritated or troubled skin; Lanolin has a plumping effect on the skin. It is highly emollient and an effective moisturiser for dry skin, and leaves a protective barrier on the skin; Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for its moisturising and softening properties and balancing action on the skin; Ginseng Root Powder smoothes, conditions and stimulates the skin; Green Tea Powder for its powerful antioxidant properties; Fresh Wheatgrass for its antioxidant and moisturising properties;

Bee Pollen refreshes, nourishes and protects the skin; Ylang Ylang Oil for its uplifting aroma; Rose Absolute is moisturising (great for dry, rough, irritated and mature skin types) and improves the skins appearance.; Lavender Oil for its antiseptic, antibacterial and soothing properties; Rosewood Oil has antiseptic properties that ensure fresh, clean skin.

Other interesting facts:

·  Kolin is naturally occurring soft clay, first discovered at the Kao-Ling Mountain in South-East China.

·  Honey has been used successfully to treat problematic skin conditions such as infected acne spots.

·  Papaya is packed full of vitamins A, B, and C, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron; it also contains malic and pyruvic acids, two potent alpha hydroxy acids, and the enzyme papain. This ingredient is fantastic for the skin and breaks down dirt as the Kaolin cleanses.

·  Evening Primrose Oil has been evidenced to help psoriasis and eczema and acne.  

·  Bee pollen is full of beneficial elements for the skin. It is antibiotic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial, calmative and tonic, and its natural composition keeps the skin healthy.

How to use:

1. (Optional, but defiantly worth doing) Apply a layer of a LUSH serum bar to the face (Saving Face for oily, combination, normal, acne prone and breakouts, Full of Grace for dry, irritated, sensitive and normal skin types). Using the serum under the face mask will enhance its effects.

2. Apply a good amount of the face mask to the face (avoiding the eye area) on clean dry skin, massaging the product into the skin.

3. Leave for a minimum of 5mins (I usually leave on for 10-15 minutes).

4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.

Verdict:

LUSH have a fresh face for every skin need going. I generally have combo skin (slightly oily tzone, with dry patches on my cheeks), though its needs change like the weather. I tend to use BB Seaweed for a general face mask, then change to Catastrophe Cosmetic during hormonal breakouts (Cosmic Worrier is also great for this), and Sacred Truth when my skin is crying out for moisture.

The reason I’m including Sacred Truth in my Christmas countdown, is that during the winter months my skin can get quite dry (due to the cold weather and central heating), and also appears duller. And for this very reason I always make sure there’s a tub of Sacred Truth in my fridge during the winter or just when my skin needs some extra moisture.

It’s absolutely packed full of beautiful natural ingredients that have great properties for the skin. The linseed, eggs, shea butter and lanolin leave the skin nourished, moisturised, soft and supple, while the powerful antioxidants in ginseng, wheatgrass, green tea and papaya, clear and brighten mature, sun-damaged or tired skin. The papaya works at breaking down the dirt while the kaolin clay gently exfoliates.  All skin types can benefit from this face mask, but mature, dry, sun damaged and dull looking skin in particular. The results are definitely noticeable, my skin looks and feels really hydrated, moisturised (without being greasy or too heavy for my slightly greasy tzone), supple, fresher and brighter. Used over time the results are even more impressive, it really improves the skins appearance and tone.

OK so onto the scent, texture and appearance. Sacred Truth has a lovely, fresh, clean, fruity scent, and a lovely smooth, creamy texture to it, making it easy to apply (with minimal mess). The colour isn’t the greatest; it’s sort of a sludgy green colour, though due to its amazing effects this doesn’t bother me at all.

When you apply it feels really cooling, nourishing and soothing on the skin, and I usually enjoy a lovely LUSH bath while I leave it to do its work as the steam also helps it effects. It stays quite moist on the skin (unlike some of the other masks that completely dry), so don’t be surprised if you decide to give it a try.

As with all the fresh face masks you need to store this in the fridge due to all the lovely fresh ingredients. I get about five or even 6 good uses out of the pots, but I think LUSH state three to four uses (maybe I have a small face). They also have a short shelf life (4 to 6 weeks), but I’ve found that they can last a little longer. The best thing is if you save 5 of your empty black pots (now including shower jelly pots), you can exchange them (after cleaning them out), for a free fresh face mask...YEY!

I’d highly recommend Sacred Truth for any of you whose face is feeling the effects of the cold, and is looking a little dull during the winter. It’s also great for those of you who have mature skin types and have sun damage to your skin.

Another fabulous fresh face mask to use during the winter if your skin is feeling a little tight and dry from the cold is Oatfix. I’ll do a mini review of this just because I like you all so much (hehe), and owe you for falling behind on my blog.

Oatfix

Contains:

Glycerine is softening and moisturising for the skin; Fine Oatmeal soothes the skin and relieves dry, irritated and itchy skin. They also gently exfoliate, removing dead skin cells and improving the skins tone and appearance; Fresh Organic Bananas act as an emollient and are highly moisturising and softening while leaving the skin more supple; Water cleanses the skin; Ground Almonds exfoliate and smooth the skin; Illipe Butter moisturises and softens the skin and restores the skins flexibility; Kaolin cleanses the skin and exfoliates dead skin cells and debris from the surface of the skin; Talc is an absorbent, bulking agent allowing the face mask to be easily applied to the skin; Vanilla Pod contains sugars which act as a humectants helping the skin to retain moisture and have antioxidant properties; Vanilla Absolute for its cosy/comforting scent and also its moisturising properties; Sandalwood Oil for its emollient, protective and moisture retaining properties; Benzoin Resinoid calms and soothes irritated, cracked, sore and dry skin conditions. It also leaves a protective film on the skin, which prevents it from loosing moisture; Gardenia Extract for its balancing effects on the skin.

Verdict:

Oatfix smells like deliciously sweet flapjacks and bananas. It’s super moisturising and leaves the skin, soft, hydrated and supple. It gently exfoliates the skin too, so when you’re ready to rinse, spend a little time massaging the product into the skin first, to get its full exfoliating effects. My only quibble with this product is that the consistency is very thick making it quite difficult and messy to apply and work with. Other than that a great face mask for dry skin, or skin that needs some extra TLC during the winter!

On the eleventh week of Christmas LUSH limited gave to me....tune in tomorrow to find out :)