Review: My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask

 

My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask

If you've read my blog before then you know I'm currently obsessed with Asian beauty products.  I am loving sheet masks.  I recently tried My Beauty Diary's Aloe Mask which I purchased from Amazon.com for about $14 (1 box with 10 pieces).  My Beauty Diary has dozens of masks from which to choose.  I picked this one because I didn't want anything whitening but I believe "Black Pearl" is the most popular formula.  For reference, I have normal/combination skin with occasional breakouts and I'm in my 30s.  The aloe mask is targeted towards people with "normal skin, especially recommended for dry and damaged skin."

Here's the directions from the package (also printed below picture):

In case you can't read that, it says:  1) Unfold mask, 2) Fit gently over face, 3) Let mask rest on your face for 20 -30 minutes, 4) Remove mask and massage any remaining serum with your fingertips to ensure that it is absorbed.  Do not rinse off.

The sheet itself is like a thin piece of cotton soaked in serum.  There are holes for your eyes, mouth, etc.  To me, it felt soothing and moisturizing although I didn't think it did anything miraculous like erase fine lines or make acne disappear overnight.  The serum is like a lightweight thin watery gel.  Some mask serums are stickier than others but I found this one to have a nice consistency.  It easily massages into my skin after I remove the sheet from my face but I do have to wipe off the excess with a towel.  I've used it a few times and it doesn't make me break out.  The reason I like sheet masks is because I like to pamper myself every once in a while and this is an inexpensive way to do that.  I pop one on after I wash my face and just sit back and relax with a celebrity gossip magazine.

Would I purchase this again?  Maybe, but there are so many other formulas that I would rather try a few more and decide which one I like best.  Other formulas include:  Red Vine Wine, Sake Yeast, Strawberry Yogurt, Mexico Cactus, Bulgarian White Rose, and the list goes on.  If you have a favorite My Beauty Diary Mask, let me know in the comments section below.

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned.

Makeup Vanity and Storage - IKEA, Muji and Ott-Lite

I live in an apartment so space is somewhat limited.  I used to store all my makeup in the bathroom but I read that this can be bad for makeup because of the humidity and heat from showers.  Plus, my bathroom counter was starting to look really cluttered and I missed the extra space.  I was planning to buy a small vanity for my bedroom but my brother is moving and he gave me his small IKEA table (similar here) with matching chair.  I took a look at it and decided why not.  Hey, it's free!

So, my bathroom used to look like this (yes, my complex was built in the 60s, hence the "retro" cabinets):

Before - very cluttered.  Train case is from Sephora.

After setting this up in a corner of my bedroom, my makeup storage and space now looks like this:

After - much more organized and bathroom counter is not cluttered

In order to turn the table into a makeshift vanity, I ordered another Muji storage unit and an Ott-Lite mirror.  The storage units are great and much cheaper than the designer acrylic cases used by Kim Kardashian.  I think each of the Muji units were $27.  The Ott-Lite can retail for $100 but I found it on Amazon.com for $60.  The brush holder is also from Amazon.com and the lipstick display case was a gift from a friend.  I believe it's Bobbi Brown but it's about 10 years old.

The Ott-Lite mirror is going to take a little while to get used to.  I read several reviews that said it provided the most natural light.  I think it's bright!  I am also not used to doing my makeup in a mirror where I can see so much detail due to the light and the ability to move it so close to my face.  Since I'm in my 30s, I really could do without seeing everything.  Kidding (mostly), it's fantastic!  I realized I was not blending my foundation as well as I thought.  I can also pluck every stray little hair on my eyebrows since the other side of the mirror flips to 5x magnification.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the outcome and I am glad my makeup has a new home...away from bathroom steam.

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned.