Review: Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque

Perhaps I'm the last to jump on the bandwagon with this product, but I recently discovered Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque. While I had heard plenty of rave reviews on it in the Youtube community, I could never seem to find it until recently, when I popped into Walgreens and it was there! It's certainly a low-price object (only $3.99) and was practically hidden on the bottom shelf below tons of more expensive drugstore skin care products.

However, this Masque needs to be more properly advertised. It is quite possibly the best facial mask I've used in years and I'm almost convinced it works on all skin types. The Masque was originally made for people with oily, acne-prone skin, but is not too harsh for those who have normal or even dry skin. Queen Helene (the manufacturer) claims that the Masque will dry up acne, pull out blackheads, and shrink pores (my BIGGEST skin problem). Another great thing about the Mint Julep Masque is that it's 100% Vegan, meaning it is not tested on animals nor does it contain any animal products. Vegan skin care can be outrageously expensive, but this Masque is reasonably priced and ethically made.

The Mint Julep Masque is your typical, classic facial mask with minty green coloring and all. After applying it, you need to let it sit until it dries (the bottle recommends 15 minutes. I sat for 20-25 minutes, but it had hardened in 10 minutes). The formula smells very minty (Vannesa said it reminded her of toothpaste, but not in an unpleasant way) and is extremely thick in consistency. Before applying the Masque, I washed my face with my favorite Neutrogena Oil-Free face wash to get rid of my makeup and any surface dirt.

A quick shot of the Masque before application.

Just after applying the masque.

The masque's packaging.

After applying the Masque, I experienced an intense cooling sensation and could literally feel my pores shrinking. As the Masque dried, it did become very stiff and at some points I felt like I couldn't really move my facial muscles because my skin was tight. I don't think this is a bad thing at all, but I could see how it might freak some people out.

The Masque is all dry! It only took about 10 minutes.

According to the Masque's packaging, you can remove it with warm water and a washcloth. I, however, removed it in the shower, and I think it came out just fine. Once I towel-dried my face, I was impressed to see that the masque had not dried out my skin, but rather shrunk my enormous pores and greatly reduced the size of a pimple I'd been struggling with (said pimple is now gone. Yay!).

After picture! You might not be able to really see, but my pores looked MUCH smaller and my skin just looks firmer and healthier.

Obviously, I would clearly recommend this product. I have absolutely NO complaints about it. In fact, I'm going to go buy another 5 tubes right now so I don't have to worry about running out!

The Search for the Perfect Liquid Foundation

Foundation is definitely the most important step in any makeup application because it evens out your complexion and creates a truly blank canvas for you to work with. Therefore, finding the one that is perfect for you is really, really important. So what should you consider when comparing foundations? I'd recommend looking at texture, thickness, coverage, time it takes to dry, and oiliness, but you can judge foundations on tons of other qualities as well.

Over the past year and a half, I have made it my business to try as many liquid foundations as possible in search of the one, as in the one foundation that will highlight my best features, lovingly hide what I don't like, and will stay with me forever (yeah, I just compared finding the perfect foundation to finding true love.). In this post, I'll give some reviews of the most noteworthy products and hopefully help you find your true love.. er, I mean foundation!

1) mark. Get a Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion ($9.00)
This is actually a tinted moisturizer -- different from a foundation because it is more sheer and lightweight -- but I count it as a foundation because you still apply it after your primer and concealer, but before eyeshadow or powder. A decent amount comes in the tube which is fantastic!
Pros: Lightweight, contains SPF 15, has a moisturizer built into the formula.
Cons: I noticed that it completely melted while I was outside over the summer which is NOT good. It got in my eyes and stung terribly. This product also takes a while to dry.
Final Verdict: Great product if you're not going to be outside in the sun. Which is kind of silly, since it does contain SPF protection.
Rating: 2.5/5

2) Rimmel London Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation ($6.90 at Ulta)
Love the packaging because the tube is super thin which makes it easy to slip into a makeup bag for travel. At the same time, the tube is a bit small, so I feel like I'm not getting as much product as I paid for.
Pros: Thicker consistency, good coverage, creamy application, dries within 45 seconds of application.
Cons: I don't think it actually lasted 12 hours like it promised. And I didn't really notice any shine control.
Final Verdict: Although it doesn't do exactly what the packaging promises, I still think this was a pretty good product and would consider purchasing again if only for travel.
Rating: 3/5

3) Covergirl TruBlend with Blendable Minerals ($6.50 at Walmart)
This brand has a reputation for being a strong contender in drugstore makeup, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The packaging isn't too cute and the pump got dirty kind of quickly. The glass bottle also kind of scared me (if I drop it will it shatter and get foundation everywhere?), but it was thin and easy to fit into a makeup bag.
Pros: Pump makes it super easy to apply, great coverage, thicker consistency.
Cons: Seemed to take forever to fully dry, left my skin feeling a bit oily. I don't think it actually lasted all day, especially in my t-zone.
Final Verdict: It's a great back-up foundation, but I'm not sure I really love it. I'll probably purchase it again because the price is so fantastic.
Rating: 3.5/5

4) Revlon PhotoReady Makeup ($11.97)
I heard wonderful things about this foundation from other makeup gurus on Youtube, so after much thought (because it is a bit pricey), I decided to give it a try.
Pros: OHMYGOSH! Almost everything!! It's incredibly lightweight, but gives fantastic coverage. No scent, SPF 20, dries quickly.
Cons: It dries quickly. Haha.. I know I just said that was good, but since it does dry pretty fast, it's very hard to blend it once it's on your skin. So, if you're not quick with your foundation or stippling brush, your foundation could look a bit streaky. The bottle is also made of glass and is a bit of an odd, round shape.
Final Verdict: This is the best liquid foundation I've ever used! It's smooth, has great coverage, light formula, and dries quickly with no oiliness. LOVE it!!
Rating:4.5/5

Do you have a foundation you'd like me to review? Or do you have your own review for one of these products? Share it!

Beauty Basic #1: Love the Skin You're in

I kind of think that this goes without saying, but nevertheless...

Treat your skin with the utmost respect!

I mean, seriously, you only get one. If you don't take care of it, you will regret it. Undergoing fancy medical procedures when you're 40 because your skin looks like it's 80 is not fun, chic, or affordable. Plus, procedures like face lifts, resurfacing, and laser treatments have long, painful recovery times.

So to keep things simple, just spoil the heck out of your skin now. It'll help you in the long run.

Need another good reason to keep your skin healthy? No matter how much makeup you use, it is almost impossible to cover up heavily damaged skin. Not to mention the fact that makeup can clog pores and agitate super-sensitive skin.

There are several things you can do to keep your skin healthy. Firstly, drink a ton of water! Water is the best treat you can give your skin. It makes it soft to the touch and gives it a healthy glow. Coffee and soda are not so good for your skin as they can dehydrate you.

Berries are also a great food to incorporate into your diet. The antioxidants found in berries have been shown to help flush out your system and the berries themselves contain great vitamins for your skin. I would highly recommend blueberries! Mix some with low-fat yogurt and some granola (for those of you who crave a crunch) and you've got a yummy, skin-healthy snack.

But if you're looking for a full-on skin care regiment, pull up a chair and get comfy. My routine is not exactly short, but it's as simple as it can get..

First, let me point out that while this skin care regiment works for me, it might not necessarily work for you based on your skin type. For the most part, I have normal to dry skin. Soo.. if you're someone with oily skin, the moisturizers I use could be too thick for your skin and could result in breakouts. In these cases, I will try to make suggestions for other skin types.

Before I brush my teeth every morning, I wash my face with Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash (listed as $5.49 on the Neutrogena website). I really love this face wash because it has a very neutral scent -- good for guys and girls -- and doesn't strip my skin too much of it's natural moisture. Still, I find it very effective and my face always feels clean and smooth after using it.

I'll be honest.. I rarely use a moisturizer during the day on my face. I spend a lot of my time walking from class to class, and I feel that when I'm outside, my makeup tends to slide all over my face if I have a moisturizer on. However, during the winter, it is a necessity and I constantly reach for mark.'s Matte Chance Moisturizer ($16.00). This moisturizer is lightweight, so I really don't feel it on my face, yet I know it works because I don't get chapped skin.

I do recommend using a primer underneath your makeup because it forms a barrier between your skin and concealer or foundation. L'Oreal Studio Secrets' Magic Perfect Base (usually about $12) is extremely creamy so you only need to use a little bit at a time. This means that the tiny little jar it comes in can easily last you five months.

I cannot stress the next step enough: ALWAYS wear sunscreen. Find a good formula with little to no smell that is oil-free like Neutrogena's or even Copper Tone and wear it every day. Your skin will thank you by being firm and wrinkle-free when you hit your mid-to-late 20s. The sun can really damage your skin more than you realize, so sunscreen is always the way to go. Some foundation formulas contain SPF. Use these foundations if you don't want to put pure sunscreen on your face!

Depending on how tired I am at night and how heavy my makeup is, I may or may not reach for makeup remover before showering. If my makeup is extremely dramatic, I use Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Eye Make Up Remover ($5.49 at Target) with a cotton ball allover my face before hopping in the shower. This is a formula that I find needs to be washed off quickly though, because it can feel rather oily on the skin.

If my day makeup is still on, and therefore not really dramatic I use Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Cream Cleanser to wipe everything off in the shower. It smells fantastic and has a very silky feel to it.

I'm a big fan of Bath and Body Works so I have like three of their shower gels in my shower at a time, and just alternate days with them. Definitely use a loofah in the shower to scrub off dead skin cells and keep your skin healthy looking. I'd recommend getting a new loofah once every four or five months because it'll lose its roughness over time, and then instead of scraping off dead skin cells, you're really just moving them around. Eww!

Just before I get out of the shower, I really love to use Neutrogena's Deep Clean Relaxing Nightly Scrub ($7.99 and yes, I clearly love Neutrogena). It removes any remaining dirt and smells so relaxing.. definitely the best thing to use before going to bed.

Immediately after showering, I'd recommend using a body lotion on your legs and arms to lock in moisture. For me, my legs and arms get particularly dry, but if you have other dry areas, use the body lotion there as well. At the moment, I'm loving Bath and Body Works' Dark Kisses, but since all of their scents are fab and I like to use them all, I'd recommend stocking up on their travel sized bottles ($5 or 3 for $10, but they also go on sale during the semi-annual sales). These travel sized bottles are also available when new scents are about to premiere and only cost $1 then!

When I do break out, I normally use Neutrogena's On-the-Spot Treatment ($6.99) before bed, before putting on concealer, and in the mid-afternoon. It's really important to not pick at pimples though, because they can easily get worse or start to hurt.

So that's basically how I take care of my skin. If you have any questions or want some beauty banter, leave a comment!