Homemade gelatin pore mask VS pore strips

I've touched a few times upon the chaotic state of my skin lately -- VERY oily, clogged pores, breakouts all over, etc. -- I recently started a new BCP, which I'll probably share my thoughts on later... It's my (I think?) 4th or 5th attempt at battling my PMDD (see this post for more info about PMDD) and I'm hoping it will start helping with clearing up my skin soon :x

Anywho, I just wanted to share my experience with a homemade gelatin pore mask. I had seen various youtube videos and read posts on this method of unclogging pores, and decided I'd give it a shot since I had Knox gelatin at home. When it comes to food-stuffs for your face; I'm pretty willing to try just about anything as long as it doesn't seem dangerous :P

All you need for this is:

• 1 tbsp powdered unflavored gelatin
  
• 1 tbsp milk

You're supposed to mix the aforementioned ingredients in a microwave safe bowl, throw it in the microwave for 10 seconds, then apply to your face in the desired areas with a brush (preferably one you don't mind getting gunky and/or throwing away). Then leave on for 30 minutes or until dry, and peel off.

I've read numerous reviews saying warmed milk is absolutely rank smelling and other people said they substituted plain water or green tea for the milk. So I opted for green tea since it has antioxidant properties. Unfortunately for me, IT STILL SMELLED TERRIBLE :| I'm not sure if it's just how it combines with the gelatin... but Idk, it smells grossss :( In hindsight, I think I should have waited awhile longer for the tea to cool down after I brewed it (I only waited about 10 minutes so it was still pretty warm -- figured it would be the same as if I had used cold tea & microwaved it) before I mixed it in. The gelatin pretty much instantly started to congeal and I had sort of a hard time evenly spreading it on my face.

Once on my face, I had to deal with the smell :x I got used to it but it was still not pleasant. I put the mask on/around my nose, on my chin, and on some problem areas on my forehead and cheeks. A lot of it was sort of clumpy and not evenly applied but it did dry relatively quickly, faster than 3o minutes but I just lounged around with it on anyway :P

Now peeling it off was the traumatic part. IT WAS SOOO PAINFUL!!! I think if I had a better consistency to start with, I would have been able to apply it more evenly and would have had an easier time pulling it off. But it was still really sore.

The "good" thing is that it feels like it ripped out every single baby hair on my face, so my skin was really smooth and clean looking afterwards. Surprisingly, it did not get red or itchy like I usually get with pore strips. The disappointing thing though, was that it did not seem to pull anything out of my pores!!!! When I use regular pore strips, I don't get a lot of gunk coming out; but at least I get SOMETHING. I couldn't seem to detect anything at all on the peeled-off gelatin mask. A bit bummed because the "fun" (okay maybe that's kinda gross but it is interesting!!!) part about doing peel-off masks is seeing all the stuff it takes out of your skin!

So overall I was pretty disappointed with my experience with a homemade gelatin mask. For the amount of pain involved in peeling it off, I was sure it would have really cleaned out my pores. But it seems that it didn't do anything.

On a whim, I decided I'd try to use face strips right after and see if it could pick anything up. I had one last Biore face strip so I cut it into pieces and put one on my nose, forehead, and chin. The forehead and chin strips came out clean, but the nose strip did in fact pull out some gunk!!!! I put it in the same area as the gelatin mask, so I KNOW the mask was not effective at pulling it out.

So overall I'm under the impression that the homemade gelatin mask is NOT as effective as actual pore strips. The biore pore strips are less painful also. I think I'd rather spend the extra cash and get actual results rather than waste gelatin and not get any results. From what I read of others experiences, it seems to work for some people, but just not effectively enough for me. I'd say it is worth a shot though if you have clogged pores!

Review: Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque

(This was another sample product that I received from Cellnique)

Price: $51 for 50g (cellnique.com)

What they say: This unparalleled scrub mask is formulated with bio-captured fresh fruit enzymes and acids complex. It works effectively in exfoliating dead cells, optimizing cellular renewal performance and deep pore cleansing, thus revealing a softer, fresher and healthier skin.

Benefits
• Promotes cell renewal
• Slows down aging process
• Exfoliates dead skin cells
• Lightening, brightening and instant radiant effects



Color: Grayish white
Scent: Fresh fruity scent
Texture: Clay type
Feeling: Mild tingling sensation

What to do:



What's in it:

BioCELL eL: Advanced Bio Renewal Masque contains 20% BioCELL eL, Cellnique’s exclusive acid complex formulation that uses AHAs to accelerate cell renewal rates, enzymes and vitamins to neutralize and prevent possible irritation by the acids.

Alpha Hydroxyl Acid: AHAs are known to have the ability to rejuvenate skin by exfoliating dead cells from the skin, this further causes the skin to grow new cells to replace the damaged cells. AHAs also helps in wrinkles and photo-aging.

Enzyme:
• Papaya enzyme + Bromelain from pineapple fruit extract
• Bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple plant, Bromelain helps digest keratin protein and promote exfoliation effectively. Skin appears smooth and brightens after the dead skin cells being removed.
• Papain, an enzyme derived from papaya, helps exfoliate damaged and dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores that can result in skin eruptions. It is able to whiten and soften the skin, heal wounds and prevent the subsequent development of pimples.

Full ingredient list: Purified Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Kaolin, Glycolic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Papaya (Carica papaya) Enzyme (Papain), Phenoxyethanol, Trithanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Pomelo (Citrus grandis) Peel Extract, Pineapple (Ananas sativus) Fruit Extract, Acrylate / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Potassium Sorbate.

The good stuff:

• Smells like pineapple!!!
• Pretty easy to apply
• Gritty-creamy texture
• Has little exfoliating particles
• Contains AHAs (did not irritate my skin!)
• Dries quickly
• Leaves skin smooth & soft
• Improves skin tone/texture
• Leaves skin looking radiant and healthy

The low-down:

• Expensive!
• The scent becomes kind of odd after awhile (for me)
• The exfoliating particles may be a bit harsh
• You need to use a lot to cover your entire face evenly

My take: Let me start off by saying... this masque smells like pineapple! I love pineapple, so that's a plus for me :D However, after awhile of leaving the masque on, it starts to smell... not so appealing anymore? :/ But it's not a big deal for me. The texture is thick, creamy, and gritty. Easy to slather on, but you have to keep using more and more to cover your entire face in an even layer. My little sample pot has 3g in it, and I used a little more than half the pot for one use, so say, around 2g? The full-size is a 50g tub.... you're basically paying $1 per gram; $2 per use (if you're using the same amount I did). So in 1 full-size tub, I'd estimate that there are ~25 uses. But if you are following the directions and using it 1x a week, it should last ~6 months (of course, don't quote me on this!)

The little exfoliating bits are gentle, but as with any exfoliating product, it might be harsh on sensitive skin, even more so because of the AHAs. I did not really feel any "mild tingling sensation" like the product description states, but maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, haha XD This masque did not irritate my skin though. The overall results? Radiant, clear, smooth, soft skin! I have been using Cellnique's Derma Brightening Complex religiously for the past 2 months, so that is mainly what I would contribute my current "nice skin" to. However, the masque did a great job of making it look nicer :D

Would I repurchase/recommend?
Unfortunately, the only thing really stopping me from buying the full-size product is the PRICE. $51 is a bit too steep for me. PLUS, I feel like I can get very similar and wonderful results using Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque, which only costs $3.99! Sooo... while I think this is an excellent masque that yields great results, I wouldn't repurchase anytime soon; it is definitely more of a "luxury" product! If the price doesn't deter you though, I would certainly recommend it. Maybe not so much for people with sensitive skin though... but you could always patch test/use a very thin layer of product instead of slathering it on like I did :P

---

My experience with Youthful Wonder Acne & spots eliminating mask

I got one of these sheet masks from a swap with Angela of SparkleMidori! So I finally decided to try it out last night.

Sorry I didn't take any before/after pictures :( But these were truly my results!

Sadly, I'm breaking out like CRAZY atm. It's driving me nuts because I'm unsure what's causing it. There's a bunch of breakouts on my forehead and a few on my right cheek. And there's a huuuge one on the side of my nose UGH! -__-; So that's why I wanted to try out this mask, to help with my acne.

Product description
The Acne and Spots Eliminating Mask contains Korean Herbal and dermatologist formulas. The active ingredients fights against acne instantly while reducing irritation. It removes acne-causing bacteria and reduced redness visibly. The pimples and spots diminish significantly. Skin is supple, replenished and moisturized. It also awakes skin's natural radiance and promotes a more luminous complexion. Continuously apply for the first 7 days and then twice a week for best results. (you can click the picture above to read all the information on the back)

Ingredients
Licorice, Bisabolol, Tea Tree extract, Corn mint, and Green tea.

My thoughts

So first off, this mask is DRIPPING with loads of gooey essence...hahaha. I actually squeezed some off before applying it because I felt like it would be too much. It has an herbal-ish scent. Not too bothersome for me, but might be too much for some people.

You are suppose to use this mask after cleansing, then leave it on for 15 minutes. If you have oily skin, it says to cleanse your face afterwards with warm water & wipe the remaining essense off.

In the beginning, the mask gives this nice, cooling, refreshing, relaxing sensation. But after about 5-10 minutes, OH MY FUCKING GOD MY FACE IS ON FIRE. ICY MINTY FIRE. This scared me since I usually have bad reactions with "cooling" products that usually contain menthol. But apparently, this contains "Corn mint," so I stuck it out. After 15 minutes, I removed the mask. To say the least, I was speechless.

Speechless because my pimples were RED!!! Inflamed and red!!!!!! I was horrified! My skin was INCREDIBLY soft and smooth, but my acne was so aggravated! I wanted to cry T_T So I washed off the remaining essence. And after about 1o minutes, lo and behold, my pimples seemed to disappear!

The redness WAS significantly diminished, pimples dried out and flatted, and the best part was that MY SKIN WAS WHITENED. This is probably the first product that I have used that has actually whitened my skin. Even with one use! I could NOT stop looking at my skin. It looked great. I was so thrilled with the results! But it was late, so I went to sleep.

Sadly, the next morning, the luminous whitening effect was back to normal, and my pimples were beginning to get red again. This must be why the directions state that you need to use this continuously to see results. Boo. If I knew where to get this mask, I would certainly want to try it out for the reccommended 7 days... I say it works!

---

Queen Helene Mint Julep masque review

Price: $3.99 from Drugstore.com

What they say: Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment developed by a dermatologist that helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores. Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your clean face and neck. Within minutes it firms and hardens, drawing out impurities from your pores. After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth. Even for individuals who are fortunately free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that helps relaxed tired muscles and ease tension lines on the face and neck. No animal testing. No animal ingredients.

What to do: Cleanse face and neck thoroughly. Apply masque generously and allow to dry for about 15 minutes. Leave on problem areas overnight, if desired. Remove with warm water and a washcloth.

Ingredients: Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Sulfur, Chromium Oxide Greens (CI#77288), Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

The good stuff:

• Cheap!
• Lots of product
• Easy to apply
• Refreshing
• Leaves skin feeling clean
• Smooths skin and improves tone/complexion
• Minimizes pores
• Seemed to have a whitening effect on my skin?

The low-down:

• It's kind of like applying toothpaste on your face xD
• Did not seem to help with pimples
• Did not help reduce oil (not that it said it was supposed to but...)
• Made my skin a little itchy in places I did not remove well

My take: I've been using this mask every night for about 5 days now and I'm pretty much loving it =) It's kind of weird applying it though since it really feels like you're smearing toothpaste all over your face! It's green, thick, minty and sticky xD It dries up fast and tightens the skin quickly. After 15 minutes, I'd wipe it off with warm water and a cloth and the results are immediately apparent. My skin was smoothed, soft, and glowy (did get itchy spots in places that I was careless to wipe off good... so be thorough!) After a few days of using it, I think I notice a whitening effect . . . maybe it's in my head but my skin looks lighter to me xP probably cause my tone and complexion is really improved as well! Also minimized my pores some.

I did have one irritating pimple though, and it did not really dry it out or minimize it at all. Also, since it's a clay based mask, I was hoping it would help with my new oilyness, but it didnt =( So I'm still on the hunt for a better oil-reducing mask! Besides that, my skin seems to be improving daily =) It's veeeery smooth. I think after awhile though I won't use it as much since my skin will probably start to tolerate its effects.

Would I repurchase: YES! It's so cheap but I won't have to repurchase for a long time since there's so much product!

Looks, feels & smells like toothpaste :P

Dries quickly (sorry blurry)


My skin after:

---