Ling skincare

It’s been a few months since I have done a beauty favorites video so I decided to combine both January and February into one! Enjoy and don’t forget to subscribe!

My January and February favorites are:

Between cleansers and masks, it’s hard to say which one I love more. Patience has very rarely been a good trait of mine, so that’s why I am drawn to masks. The results are often immediate and I can see how well it works (or doesn’t). And when I am interested in trying a new skincare brand, I often purchase either a mask or cleanser first because I find they are the best way to ease into a brand and decide if it’s worth splurging on the more substantial items like a serum, moisturizer or eye cream. I’ve been testing out a handful of masks over the past few weeks and here are 3 that rose to the top and were deemed worthy of a review.

1. Ling Sparkling Makeover Mask – By far, my favorite facial of all time is the Advanced Facial with Energy Lift at the Ling spa in Union Square. Lucky for me though, I can continue my results after with her skincare line. I love a good fizzy mask, but some disappear too quickly or give very lackluster results. I am a fan of this one from Peter Thomas Roth, but after trying this one from Ling – I found that it removed dirt and impurities from the skin rather than simply hydrating and rejuvenating.  You apply the product onto a damp face and within a minute, it begins to foam up. I leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes, and surprisingly there was still some foam left on my face! This stuff is serious. And the fact that it comes in individual packets means that it will be a travel must.

2. Dr. Hauschka Hydrating Mask – While I do love a gel based hydrating mask for that cooling and soothing effect they often give, it was a nice change to use one that was rich, thick and ultra-moisturizing. Though it’s still quite hot and humid out, I have been dealing with some dryness on certain parts of my face. This mask came just at the right time. I was tempted to apply it just to the dry patches but decided to cover my entire face. Because it’s so thick, I needed a damp washcloth to remove it but my skin felt like new again afterwards. The dry patches were almost gone and by the next morning were no longer a nuisance when applying makeup. This should come in handy in about 4 months when I’m trapped inside because of the cold winter weather. (I shudder just thinking about it.)

3. Nuance Salma Hayek White Clay Treatment Mask – Typically I am more of a department store gal when it comes to my skincare preferences, but occasionally I find gems in the drugstore that really impress me. I am new to the Nuance line but this White Clay Treatment Mask was the perfect introduction. I love a good clay mask as much as the next oily-skinned gal, but my gripe with them is that many times I have to immediately use a hydrating mask right after because my skin  feels dry and tight. I had high hopes for this one the minute I squeezed it out onto my hand. The texture was creamy, and after 10 minutes of waiting for it to dry down (translation: feel crusty and hard) I was happy to see that it still stayed quite creamy and emollient on the skin. Afterwards my skin felt hydrated, looked naturally matte and my pores appeared less noticeable. I don’t think I can ask for much more.