Finding Your Zen With Magnets & Roses
So, I’m the first to admit that I’ve been a bit wonky with my skincare routine during my pregnancy. For the first trimester I was just utterly tired and had no energy to do more than the most basic of face washes and remove my makeup. With the second trimester I had more energy but as I wasn’t really going anywhere, (and the weather was still fairly decent), I wasn’t consistent with my multi step processes and masks. Now that I’m in my 3rd trimester, and the weather keeps waffling between frigid cold and milder weather, I can tell that my skin has definitely paid the price for my baby bump induced laziness.
Well, I’ve been working overtime the last month or so to get my skin back to the glow that I love. Currently, I’ve been dealing with extreme flakiness and dry patches which can show up as hyper pigmented spots on my face. I’m not sure if this is solely because of the weather or pregnancy induced (yes because aside from the fab side effects like thicker hair, faster growing nails and apparently an “always there” glow - there are plenty of not so gorgeous side effects like linea nigra, constant exhaustion and chloasma). Chloasma can cause hyper pigmentation and is often called “pregnancy mask”. I don’t have a full on pregnancy mask, but the dull spots which I’m constantly battling are irritating enough. Anywho, whether you’re heading down the aisle with a bun in the oven or simply trying to combat the effects of winter skin, I have a few new items to review which I think you guys might like.
Al’iver Mineral Rich Magnetic Mask (purchased)
Earlier last week I decided to treat myself to a mask that I’ve had in my Amazon shopping list for at least a year. Magnetic masks were all the craze last year and although I wasn’t in the market for one, I did find a mask that got pretty consistent positive reviews and wasn’t crazy expensive. I finally bought it and it came in today with the accessories you see in my intro picture. So, the premise is pretty interesting. Using the spatula (provided) you’re supposed to spread an even layer of the iron enriched mask on your face. Wait 5 to 10 minutes and then using the magnet (which looks like a black Sorry! game piece), wave the magnet over your face to remove the mask, which will help to clear clogged pores. Now, I found the spatula that came with the mask to be very small. So, I opted to use my bigger mask applicator brush from ELF (pictured above) because it’s wider.
I like that this mask doesn’t dry down and become uncomfortable as you wait for it to take effect. The magnet works amazingly well to literally (and gently!) lift the mask off your face to reveal soft skin beneath it. Now a lot of reviews of this product claimed that after removing, they were left with a bit of an oily residue on their face. And even the packaging tells you that you should be left with an “essence” residue which you should work into your skin. That didn’t happen for me at all. So, I definitely had to follow up with a good moisturizer (hence the Pixi Beauty review below). In all, my face felt clean but on the dry side. Although I’ve seen reviews that if you don’t apply the mask in a super thick layer (which is not required), this can reduce the oily residue effect. As a side note, if you’ve seen any video reviews on these magnetic masks you know that it’s best to cover the magnet remover with cling wrap or a sandwich bag to make cleanup easier. Otherwise, it’s really hard to get the mask off of the magnet.
Like I mentioned, the spatula that comes with the mask is ridiculously small. I felt like it would take me forever to apply the mask if I used it - which is why I swapped it out for my ELF cosmetics mask applicator silicon brush. Also, this product is heavily perfumed. I felt like I was applying Axe body wash to my face - and even now...several hours after I applied, I still feel like I smell like a frat house after all the bros have gotten ready for a Friday night out.
Pixi Beauty Rose Caviar Essence & Rose Flash Balm (gifted)
This weekend I had a fan girl moment on Instagram as my ambassador kit from Pixi Beauty came in and was focused on my favorite natural scent - roses. Both the Rose Caviar Essence and Rose Flash Balm (squeeze tubes) are meant to hydrate the skin gently with an infusion of essential rose oil. The Caviar Essence is a gel suspension that has beads of rose oil and should be used after cleansing & toning your skin. The Flash Balm is a creamy hydrator that can also double as a primer or mask depending on whether you apply a thin or thick layer.
First the scent is heavenly as I love all things infused with rose oil. Both the Caviar Essence and the Flash Balm do offer moisturizing effects, but at different levels. If you just need a light refresher or pick-me-up, the Caviar Essence is a great option. But if you need something a bit more intensive, the Flash Balm cream is your best bet.
Although I love the cooling effect of the Caviar Essence, the ratio of oil to gel in this product is just too lightweight to be a primary moisturizer in the winter. After applying, my face felt dry (but not tight) about 5 to 10 minute later. Which led me to the Flash Balm because it’s thick, creamy and substantive without feeling heavy. But I also had to then follow that up with Pixi’s Rose Oil Blend which is an oil made from rose oil and orange essence. So, ultra dry skin may still find flaking to be an issue with the Flash Balm.
I’m trying to keep a fairly open mind as my pregnancy skin might be aggravating the whole dry skin issue more than it normally would. But all three products didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I have about two months left til Baby G arrives so fingers crossed that my hormones balance out significantly.
Although I don’t particularly care for the scent of the Al’iver magnetic mask, it’s not so cloying that I wouldn’t want to finish the jar. I like that it left my skin soft, and would most definitely use it again. The fact that it cleans off so easily is really appealing compared to a lot of traditional masks where you have to scrub like your life depends on it to remove them. I really want to try it again (and possibly apply a thicker layer) to see if I can get that residual oil effect.
With Pixi Beauty, as much as I love their rose oil infused products, I was a bit bummed that neither the Caviar Essence or Flash Balm was enough to successfully moisturize my skin unlike their Rose Oil Blend which is super hydrating. Today was a fairly mild day where the weather was in the mid 40s and fairly humid so I typically shouldn’t have flaky skin. I’m not 100% ready to throw in the towel on these two products, but I’m definitely interested to see how they perform after my pregnancy.
Note: This article originally appeared on my other site, The Anti Bridezilla. But the content about pregnancy skin and managing it is very relevant for other mommies to be who are experiencing any kind of chloasma or hormonal related dryness/skin changes like I am.