One of the latest ones I’ve tried is the Actifirm® ActiLift™ Firming Mask (currently $49.30USD/4oz). When they say firming, they mean it. As you can see, it comes out as a green gel, thanks to the main ingredient of Aloe Leaf Juice. It spreads on easy enough, but, man, this is the only gel based mask I have ever had that dried and cracked on me, it was *that* tightening. It didn’t hurt, was just surprisingly tight. After I used warm water to rub it off, my skin was smooth and taut. I would definitely say this would be a good mask to use when you have a big night out planned. But, I would def suggest you do it a few hours before you leave, so that any redness you may experience can reduce. After that, you are good to go!

The other mask I tried allowed me to be a pretend mad scientist my mixing my own bliss fabulous skin-reviving rubberizing mask ($38USD/6pk .5oz) like they do at the bliss spas. The 6-pack box comes with individual packets chock full of seaweed and antioxidants like Bilberry + vitamin C, individual spatulas (*which I didn’t see – oops!) and a scoop for water. Just mix one packet with one scoop-full of water until the powder is all moistened, then spread all over your face – there was enough for me to spread it on thick, but be careful of big drips until it starts to set. Then, after 15-20min, or so, it should be set enough for you to peel off and throw away – do *NOT* rinse down a sink.

Now, I don’t know if I didn’t apply it good enough in some areas, or if I didn’t let it dry long enough, but I had some areas that dried up white & never rubberized. Those areas came off with a little bit of water, so it wasn’t a big deal, and the rubberizing effect was not tightening to me. Afterwards, my skin felt soft and bright, which is exactly what this mask is good for – giving your skin a boost when it is dull and in need of brightening.

Have you tried either of these masks? Do you have a favorite go-to mask or do you have a variety for different needs? Or are you one that doesn’t bother with a mask any time?

*Disclaimer: I received these products from their PR for editorial consideration.

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Now, I have had blackheads across my nose since I can remember. And since I don’t get facials on the regular, ie., hardly ever, I take care of things at home – sometimes good things like good scrubs and peels; and sometimes really bad things like manual self-extractions. (*Those always go well. Uh huh.). But the one thing that I use that gives me the best clean is when I use my Clarisonic brush, that I got on QVC a couple of years ago (*5 easy-pays – Heeeey!). In my case I can’t use it that often, but when I do, it makes my skin feels really clean, but it never does that deep down scrubbing clean. Or at least it *didn’t*. That has changed with this new Deep Pore brush head.

So, when I was in NYC, I had a chance to try a true “Triple Oxygen Treatment” facial at bliss spa, to compare with my at home version that I had done. I had a hard time writing about it, because, well, it was so relaxing I slept thru most of it and woke up with amazing glowing skin (*and no post-facial breakouts! Score!), and I didn’t really know how to explain it properly. Anyway, I point this out to show that I had a great “baseline” fresh face – deep blackheads still there, but really smooth skin. Usually, not too long after a facial your skin kind of goes back to how it was before, well, in this case, I have been able to maintain a lot of the smoothness, but also have been able to get down into some of the deeper blackheads using this brush head, reducing the appearance on the bridge of my nose and down the sides. This makes for a very happy girl.

All of you QVC junkies, be jealous! Look who I got to hang out with that day: Dr. Robb!!

And, I want you to see the deep pore cleansing difference yourself by giving away a Deep Pore Cleansing brush head to you. Oh. You’ll probably need something to be able to use the brush head on, so, why don’t I throw in a Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, too? You know what? I was talking to my best friend today, who is traveling overseas, and I bet she wishes she had a Mia to travel with right now. Let’s make sure your BFF doesn’t suffer the same way – let’s give them one, too!

That’s right – I’m giving away a Sonic Mia, with a Deep Pore Cleansing brush head to one lucky reader AND their BFF. All I need you to do is tell me why your BFF deserves one, and I’ll choose the winner. Yes, it’s entirely at my whim. And I already know why *you* deserve one, you beauty fiend you. I’ll take submissions until Midnight Friday night, July 29th. (*Sorry, this is for US residents, only!)

Are any of you already Clarisonic fans? Have you had a chance to try this new brush head out for yourself? Lemme know what you think if you have, or if you are thinking about picking one up!

*Disclaimer: I received a Mia and the brush head from PR for consideration. I also received the facial courtesy of PR, too.

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Ever have a time where your face just feel dull, maybe acting up a bit, just kind of out of sorts, but not really with a specific cause? I had one of those a couple of weeks ago. I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong, I just knew it felt kind of lifeless. Luckily, right around that time I had a chance to try several items from the bliss line of products & decided to give myself an at-home version of their famous triple oxygen facials to see if that would help anything.

The products I used were the bliss triple oxygen™ instant energizing mask ($52), the bliss triple oxygen instant energizing eye mask ($54) and the bliss triple oxygen™ + C energizing cream ($54).

The oxygen mask bubbles up (*and it tickles!) and after the bubbles die down, about 5min later, you just rinse it off. After that, my skin seemed brighter, a little tingly, but not tighter. I’ve used this a couple of times a week since then for a nice boost on blah days.

I then went to use the eye masks, which come in packaging that you squeeze the liquid into the sealed section of the eye pads so this “allows their active ingredients to remain in their purest form, so they have maximum potency when placed on your peepers”. I’ll tell you – this wasn’t my favorite part. I may have been too rough on the pads, as they seems to tear apart easily after being soaked, when I was trying to separate the two pads for application, so they went on kinda funky, and not one sleek pad under each eye. Also, I don’t know if my face was too sensitive from the oxygen mask, but my upper cheeks/under eye area became irritated and stingy after just a few minutes of being on (*they are supposed to be left on for at least 15min). You may not have this reaction at all, but personally, I think I will only use these on their own to combat a bout of puffiness and not in a full facial session again.

I will say that when I used the energizing cream afterwards, it helped soothe the tingling and felt nice after drydown. I was concerned that the “energizing” feel of it might be too much, but there wasn’t any of the sort with this. It felt gentle going on and absorbed quickly. It didn’t leave a film to give it a “brightening” look to it, but my face did indeed look brighter then when I started. I use this in the mornings on days when I may not have slept so well, or was up too late and needed a quick boost to look fresher for the day.

You can pick any of these up individually, but you can get the bliss triple oxygen trio over on QVC for $99 (plus s&H) right now, which would be less than just the mask and cream & get to try the eye masks out for yourself for free.

Have any of you tried any of these triple oxygen products, or even any bliss products? I would love to know if you have, and what you thought.

*Disclaimer: I received these products from their PR for editorial consideration.

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Enter bliss underarmy antiperspirant gel. I picked some up on a trip to Marshall’s one evening. It normally runs $18 on bliss.com, but I snagged it for $7.99. Now, that said, it is still more than the $3something I usually pay for the regular ap/deo I would get at like Target or Walmart.  (*Speaking of, remember when I gave up Secret? I switched over to Dove, which took away a lot of the itchiness probs I was having back then.) That ap/deo works fine on normal days, but can not hang in this Oklahoma heat. But, it was still more than I was used to, so the damn thing had better work, right?

Oh, I forgot to mention. It’s a roll-on.  I don’t do roll-on’s. Haven’t since High School. I just *hate* the sticky waiting time for it to dry. Ugh. So, yeah, going out of comfort zone here. Anyway, I tried it, it dried and I went about  my day. Then about 3/4 thru the day I realized that I hadn’t been all chicken-wing flapping my arms because I was all hot. This stuff worked. I was amazed. Straight up. I did some searching and realized that this stuff has almost the same amount of “aluminum sesquichlorohydrate” (16%) as the prescription stuff (20%). No wonder it was working.

There *are* a few caveats, besides it being a roll on. There is no deodorant in this. However, there is a minty-ness to it, which gives a cooling effect, and a hint of a scent. Warning, tho – if you put this on right after you shave your armpits, it is going to sting like the devil. I know this, so now you know this.

Like I said, I was able to pick this up at my local Marshall’s for less than half of what I would have paid at bliss. But if you can’t find it there near you, I really think it would be worth it full price during the hot temps to help you keep your cool.