I used to have really bad skin when I was younger so I have always worked hard to look after it and stop breakouts. Unfortunately, none of my usual tricks have been working so I went back to an old standby and am so glad I did because Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask from Lush is seriously saving my skin right now.
I've mentioned this face mask in a previous blog I did, but it is so good it definitely deserves a full review - especially as it has transformed my face over the last week or so. It was actually the first Lush face mask I ever used and has been the one I've always come back to, so now I only ever swap my five black pots for this mask.
As well as containing an exfoliant to help deep clean, smooth and wake the skin up, the mask also contains a whole list of stimulating ingredients. It's full of spices and herbs including coriander, fennel, parsley and ginger, which not only means it smells amazing, it also works to instantly brighten the skin and tone your pores. Every time I use the mask, I'm amazed by how small my pores look and how much healthier my skin seems to be, which is pretty amazing considering you only need to leave it on for up to 15 minutes.
To use the mask, you need to clean your skin and remove any makeup. I always use coconut oil to remove makeup as it melts it away in seconds and is really gentle. Depending on how my skin is behaving, I sometimes use a face wash as well before applying a mask to get rid of all the excess oil. When your skin is clean, just put a layer of Brazened Honey over all of it, avoiding your eye area.
Because the mask is fresh, you need to keep it in the fridge and use it within around four weeks. As it is also quite thick - it tends to get slightly harder after a couple of weeks too - I take it out of the fridge around ten minutes before I apply it as this makes it easier to use but it will still be cool and refreshing. I tend to put a generous layer on so I can't see any of my skin through the mask, as this stops it drying too quickly and ensures your skin can absorb more of the great ingredients it contains.
I put this on around ten minutes before Brazened Honey so it soaks in a bit and doesn't cause the mask to fall off as I'm applying it. The two products together work wonders and give an extra treat to skin that needs a pick-me-up. However, when I don't have Full of Grace to hand, I also use other face oils, with rose being my favourite.
The results of Brazened Honey really do speak for themselves. At the start of the week, I had had a really bad breakout over my chin, cheeks and forehead, while my nose was dry and flaky and other areas were really oily - yay for combination skin. I've used the mask twice this week - I usually only use it once a week as it is so powerful - and it has cleared my pores, calmed my spots, making most of them disappear and has reduced redness and inflammation.
My skin was making me really self-conscious as even makeup couldn't cover the problem areas, but now I am amazed at how much healthier it looks and feels. I'll be using it again this weekend to help give another refresh before I attend a wedding this week and then I am going to get back into the habit of always having a pot in my fridge.
While Brazened Honey works great for my skin, it might not be the best match for yours. If you want to try a Lush Fresh Face Mask, my best advice is to pop into a store and get a consultation. The staff know their stuff and will be able to find the best mask for you depending on what your skin needs. You use them all in the same way as Brazened Honey - although not all are exfoliating - and will always get great results.