Bubu Skincare - Ultimate Sheet Mask Pack

Who doesn’t love ‘mask time’?  We love pampering ourselves and giving our skin some TLC! So, when the newest ‘it’ sheet masks arrived at The Amazing Blog, we were very eager to give them a whirl. Not only because in a world where we are constantly pressured to look our best, the philosophy of the brand is breath of fresh air, but also because their products are as effective as they are convenient and simple to use.

The founder of Bubu Skincare is Marianne Morrison, serial beauty entrepreneur, and qualified beauty therapist, so she knows what she is talking about. Right about now, you’re probably wondering why she chose this particular name for her newest brand. Bubu is short for the brand’s philosophy “Be U, Be Unique” which is the core of the brand’s DNA. For Marianne, nothing is more important than to be able to love your body and feel at home in your own skin, (especially) without make-up. The brand specialises in potent sheet skin masks, for every skin type and need. The five sheet masks #Soakmewet, #stripitoff, #feelingdirty, #t-spot, and #youpucker (don’t they sound cheeky?) and all come in five different coloured packs (with more fun descriptions). We think that these will probably become a new favourite, especially for those who want their weekly pampering routine to be simple and easy without a fuss while still being ultra-effective. Although the focus of the brand is not put on being eco-friendly or organic, the fact that they are eco-conscious with their recycled packaging and being completely vegan is a big plus for us.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in with the first sheet mask in the pack of five, called #soakmewet. This one – you guessed it – is meant to give a pure shot of deep hydration and glow to dry or dehydrated skin. It comes in a red metallic packaging that you have to open (carefully) to reveal the two-part sparkly gel mask that makes applying it easy. By the way, you don’t have to worry about the glitter’s bad impact on the environment as it is entirely bio-degradable! This sparkliness is Bubu’s innovative and patented thermogel that stays solid to keep the potent ingredients inside, right up to the moment it touches your skin and then dissolves to infuse its actives. Unlike most masks that are actually soaking wet, dripping, and frankly a mess to put on, this one is quite simple thanks to the two-part conception and solid gel. For this first mask, the hydrogel is packed with a mix of antioxidants and vitamins, as well as the renowned plumping and moisture-retaining hyaluronic acid, and liquorice roots that soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. Once on the skin, the mask stays in place, allowing you to either keep going with your day or indulge and relax while the moisture kicks in. Keep it on for about 15 minutes, then take it off and massage the leftover product to maximise the benefits. The product is quickly absorbed, leaving skin perfectly primed and radiant, ready for make-up. You can find #soakmewet individually here for the price of £7.00.

The second mask, called #stripitoff, is sensibly different, as it is the only exfoliating mask of the pack. This one comes in an orange metallic packaging and is in one piece, so you do have to be careful when pulling out and unfolding the sheet mask. What is more, the texture is different on this one. The thermo-sensitive gel is not present in this mask. Instead, the texture is a super exfoliating blend of charcoal and kaolin clay to unclog the pores and draw the toxins, and AHAs to get rid of the dead skin cells. This mask literally feels like an at-home spa treatment. Once on the face, the mask sticks well. You can also let this one sit for 15 minutes and work its way to your skin – exfoliating your face does not get easier than that. Then rinse off with warm water. The skin feels completely clean and the pores look smaller. After using, do not forget to apply an SPF if you plan on going out in the sunlight as newly-revealed skin is always more sensitive to sunlight. You can find #stripitoff here for £7.00.

The third mask of the pack is #feelingdirty. This one is another two-part mask that uses the patented hydrogel. It is to be used preferably in the morning, after cleaning your face, as it aims to protect the skin against environmental toxins and pollution, as well as dirt and free radicals, thanks to its advanced biotech complex and sage leaf infused formula. It also stays in place and primes the skin perfectly, leaving a clean and ‘tacky’ surface for make-up, absolutely perfect for the morning rush. #feelingdirty is available individually here for the price of £7.00.

If, like us, with COVID 19 your skin has reached a new level of stress and has adopted ‘maskne’, the perfect sheet mask to tackle this is #t-spot which is the fourth and final full face mask of the pack. This one is also a two-piece mask with a hydrogel that contains niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) and allantoin, both effective to treat inflammation and soothe the skin from acne and eczema. The gel also contains pro-vitamin B5 and a secret serum which help restore the skin barrier. In this mask, the oil-control and total anti-blemish action is a however a progressive result: it will not target your acne spots like an anti-blemish balm or rebalance your skin right away, this is not its purpose – but it will make your skin better, reducing the oil production and breakouts in time, but only if used regularly! After use, we found that the skin looked clean and healthy and is also primed ready for make-up. You can purchase the #t-spot sheet mask individually here for £7.00.

Last but not least #puckerup, is not really a face mask, but a lip-mask. Perfect after a day in the sun or for a ski trip this winter, this sheet mask is a lip-shaped gel that delivers deep hydration thanks to the hyaluronic acid that locks the moisture in, and actives that plump-up the lips. Suitable for all skin types, and is even safe to use during pregnancy. This one is a little bit trickier to apply as it is slippery, so we advise you to just sit and relax while the Thermogel works its magic – which, let’s face it, is just another excuse to take some time out. You can buy #puckerup individually here for £5.00. Depending on the season, where you live, your age or even anxiety, fatigue and stress levels, your skin will continue to change. For instance, it may become dryer this time of year, due to alternating between central heating and the cold.  This is why we think it’s worth investing in the full complement of these five masks, with Bubu’s Ultimate Sheet Mask Pack, which is available here for £25.

Bean Álainn Naturals Skincare

Are you tired of searching for chemical and toxin-free skincare? Then we at The Amazing Blog have just the brand for you, meet Bean Álainn Naturals. All their products are completely chemical-free, cruelty-free, and utilise 100% organic, cold-pressed oils.

Mother and daughter duo LeAnn C. Riley and Erin L. Sorena are the co-founders of US skincare Bean Álainn Naturals. Their mission is primarily to create pure and organic ingredients with no hidden extras. With their respective backgrounds in molecular biology and wellness, it was the perfect match for creating this brand. The origins of the name Bean Álainn, is from a Gaelic phrase meaning ‘beautiful woman’. Ingredients are sourced from all over the world, although the products are produced in their own private laboratory in California, USA. They all go through a rigorous checklist to ensure purity, potency and minimal processing. To this end, their products are chemical-free, cruelty-free, and use 100% organic cold-pressed oils. We like that the EWG Skin Deep Organization has given them the highest safety rating of zero for being completely non-toxic and that they were also awarded by Cruelty-Free International a Leaping Bunny certification.  They pay meticulous attention to detail, with their skincare being formulated, bottled, and packaged only in small batches. By the way, the packaging and branding have changed since we were sent their products.

We were sent three of the products, and will begin with their hero product, the Master Mix Anti-Ageing Powerhouse Serum. It is a daily face serum for both morning or night. Use alone, or in our case, as a primer under makeup. This serum is in actual fact more of a face oil and contains some potent and luxurious anti-ageing oils. These oils are sourced from all around the globe with argan, jojoba, orange, apricot seed, pomegranate seed, grapeseed, evening primrose, krill and emu oil.  Argan oil, as we all know, helps protect against sun damage with its omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and linoleic acids. Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce redness. Emu oil is rich in vitamin E and has small particles that allow it to penetrate deeper into the dermis to moisturise and prevent skin ageing. When we asked co-founder Erin Sorena, why emu oil? She told us: ”Many oils make these same claims, but studies show that emu oil far outperforms other oils in its class, including olive oil (which does not absorb into the skin as easily and clogs some prone skin). Emu oil is a luxury but comes from emus that are sustainably raised.” The Orange oil helps dry, irritated, acne-prone skin and gives the serum its citrus fragrance. Apricot oil is also anti-ageing and prevents blackheads, softening and soothing the skin. Pomegranate oil regenerates and repairs skin. Grapeseed oil helps the skin be more elastic. Evening primrose oils enhance the textures and elasticity of your skin. Lastly, the krill oil here improves the overall appearance of the skin. It is a very rich serum, so only a few drops are needed. Shake the bottle well, then massage into a damp face and neck. They recommend using it both in the morning and evening to get the best results. The 1oz Master Mix Anti-Ageing Powerhouse Serum is available here.

The Enliven Mist helps brighten the skin. You would typically use it before their Master Mix as a prep or primer. We used this Mist on face and neck after cleansing then followed it with our regular skincare routine. However, some of us spritzed it during the day and found that it offered excellent hydration (particularly now we have the central heating on!) That said it’s not a flower water and leaves a slight dewy residue, which in turn gives the skin more of a glow. The organic green and white tea extracts help with skin-firming.  Whereas the organic liquorice extract is effective in improving an uneven skin tone. Plus, with its glabridin, a potent antioxidant, it’s a skin-soothing ingredient too. Helichrysum oil here is a slightly more unusual ingredient (from the Latin it translates as immortal or everlasting) it’s hydrating and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Cucumber seed extract gives a protective barrier and helps with cell regeneration, while the rosehip oil has lots of fatty acids and has cell-repairing notes. The 4oz Enliven Mist is $35 and available here.

The last, but certainly not the least, is their Transformation Clay Mask. We like that this is formulated with only three ingredients. The seaweed here is full of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants. The bentonite clay helps to remove sebum or oil from the skin's surface and has a calming effect on inflamed breakouts. And the organic peppermint oil will detoxify the skin while moisturising and tightening. This mask is designed for a monthly or weekly home facial, we used it weekly and found it easy to mix with equal parts of water (and we even added some of the Enliven Mist). It took about 20-30 minutes to dry then we rinsed it away. This was our favourite product; we loved the simplicity, purity and of course, the results which gave us incredible soft and hydrated skin. At 6oz the Transformation Clay Mask is $40 and available here. To start your chemical-free skincare journey go to Bean Álainn  Naturals here.

Mitomo: Aloe + Cherry Blossoms & Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Masks

Today at The Amazing Blog we’re talking about sheet masks. Did you know that they originated in Japan (not Korea)? Sheet Masks are thought to have been invented by the Japanese Geishas who would soak small silk squares in flower water, and then rest them on their faces as part of a skincare routine. We don’t have silk sheets but we do have Mitomo’s Essence Sheet Masks which are made from sustainable bamboo fibres and impregnated with botanical extracts.

Mitomo is a Japanese company that launched in 2006, which specialises in producing high-end sheet masks. Their products and branding reflect the culture, where you can’t miss the famous cherry blossom on their packaging and extracts in most of the ingredients. The symbolism cherry blossom in Japan means ‘a time of renewal’, as the blossom is only evident for two weeks before it starts for fall. In a bygone era, it signalled the rice-planting season, where its blooms were used to bless the forthcoming harvest. We’ve already tried many of their different sheet masks, see here; so, we’re looking forward to trying two new sheets masks that they have added to their Ukiyoe Essence Masks collection with the Aloe + Cherry Blossoms Essence Sheet Mask and the Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Mask. These are made from bamboo bio cellulose material and what we like about bamboo is that it’s biodegradable and the fibres have no chemicals. It also has good breathability and water absorption; together with being antibacterial. They also manufacture and designs sheet masks for other international beauty brands, and are known in more than 60 countries all over the world. 

Let’s start with our favourite, Aloe + Cherry Blossoms Essence Sheet Masks which are ideal for those who wish to enhance moisture and elasticity in the skin. It contains a rich source of caffeic acid and other phenolic antioxidants for antioxidants that prevent cellular damage; as well as arbutin known for reducing dark pigmentation spots. The cherry blossom extract is used as a soothing agent because it has an anti-inflammatory effect. It helps to repair skin damages and gives the skin a natural barrier. It is rich in collagen, therefore, not only can it improve skin elasticity, but also prevents the effect of glycation, a process in which the excess of sugar in the body destroys the elasticity and create wrinkles and sagging. This face mask is also rich in multivitamins and enzymes including vitamins A and C and stops skin breakouts thanks to the aloe vera extract here. Finally, the mask is rich in a boswellia serrata gum extract (also known as Indian frankincense)  known for its ability to keep the skin look firm and youthful. We used these once or twice a week, on cleansed skin, leaving for 20 minutes, removing and squeezing out any excess extracts which we gently massaging into the face. You can find it here for £2.70 each or a pack of 10 for £23.90.

The Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Mask is a very different mask, it’s a purifier. One of its main ingredients is the camellia flower oil, which is non-greasy and an excellent moisturiser for oily or combination skin. It absorbs quickly and reaches the dermal layers of the skin, therefore providing even deeper hydration. It’s also a great balancer rich in vitamins A, B, D, and, E as well as omega 3,6, and 9. The matcha (ground green tea) here is very popular in East Asia and is used for detoxing in both cosmetics and food. Good for the body and digestive system; it provides DNA restoration for the skin. The tea polyphenols in matcha powder offer protection against UV ray damage. It can reduce the redness of the skin and bring an overall feeling of smoothness. It also has properties that help with the reduction of sebum secretion. The boswellia serrata gum extract used in both masks is included for anti-ageing reasons and as an acne reliever. Alongside these great ingredients, it also contains refreshing and soothing aloe vera. You can find this purifier mask for £2.70 each or a set of 10 for £23.90 here