The Body Shop Expert Facial Masks

It's great to be able to take some 'me' time during the week to pop on a face mask and relax and unwind at home. Except when I accidentally deleted an almost completed blog post on said masks!!! Grrrr. So I'm actually retyping this post with one of the face masks mentioned on my face, just to give me some motivation to get this finished! I can't move my face though!

The Body Shop has released new face masks that are made with community trade ingredients and 100% vegan. I received a duo set for Christmas and have been trying to use one once a week ever since. The duo set isn't available in the UK anymore but it is available for my Australian readers ($69.95!). The set includes the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask and the British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask (individual price is £16 & $39.95 AUD for 75ml). They are a bit on the pricier side of masks. The masks come in a heavy dark glass jar with a plastic screw top lid and a plastic sealer underneath the lid to keep the product from drying out.

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

This charcoal-clay mask is inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems originating from India. It is infused with Himalayan bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves from Japan and tea tree oil from Kenya. These ingredients work together to help draw out impurities and excess oils, exfoliate and purify the skin.

Ingredients - Aqua, Kaolin, Moroccan Lava Clay, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pumice, Argania Spinosa Shell Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Charcoal Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limonene, Linalool, Methylpropanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, Citral, Geraniol, Coumarin, Caramel.

- Thoughts - 

This is your typical clay mask but with some chunky bits of charcoal in it. It can get a bit messy applying the mask because of this as the bits of charcoal sometimes flake off. I use a cheap synthetic foundation paddle brush to apply the mask but you can also use your hands if you like. The mask has a herbal scent from the tea tree oil and it does create a tingling sensation on the skin. I would recommend a patch test first if you have sensitive skin. I apply the mask on my face and away from the eye area. The website says you can also apply it on your neck and décolleté area. The instructions says to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes which is a sufficient time to allow the mask to dry. I have left it on my skin for half an hour with no complications (of course you judge your own time). To remove, I soak a muslin cloth with warm water and pat it over the mask to rewet it. I found that if the mask was still a little dry it made removal quite uncomfortable. Gently wiping with the muslin cloth also provided some exfoliation.

After using the mask, my skin felt so smooth and refreshed. I don't really get problem or congested skin so I can't comment in that area however, the reviews on their website are very positive.

British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask

This gel mask is inspired by European bathing rituals and is infused British rose essence, rosehip oil from Chile and Community Trade Organic aloe era from Mexico. This mask works to sooth, plump, nourish and moisturise the skin. 

Ingredients - Aqua, Glycerin, Propanediol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-32, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Rosa Gallica Flower Powder, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Methylpropanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium EDTA, Rose Extract, Benzyl Salicylate, Menthoxypropanediol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700.

- Thoughts - 

This masks feels amazing when I put it on as it feels like I'm painting my face with a wave of cooling jelly. There's a light rose fragrance in the product but I couldn't smell it after application. I could see flecks of rose bits in the gel but there's not as much as compared to the charcoal mask. The mask will remain wet/tacky throughout the process so be careful not to touch your face. The gel formulation makes my skin feel like it's being deeply moisturised. This mask can also be applied on the neck and décolleté area. After about 20-30 minutes, I removed the mask with a damp muslin cloth. Afterwards, I do feel like my skin is softer, plumper and less dull.

Overall, these two products are lovely face masks and do I feel like they are a bit of a splurge (for my budget anyways). If you're interested in trying these Expert Facial Masks, head over to your nearest The Body Shop! There are 5 different masks to pick from in the range, all targeting different concerns (Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow, British Rose Fresh Plumping, Amazonian Acai Energising Radiance, Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing and Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing).

What are your favourite face masks?