Being the big fan of Do It Yourself projects, I was excited when I found out that there are DIY peel off masks. So I decided to test the out two of them for you to see if they really lived up to the hype, I'll also rank them out of five stars.
The first one I attempted was the gelatin and milk mask. It has one package of unflavored gelatin and two table spoons of milk. Which is cheap and easy considering both individual ingredients are at Walmart and if you get one of those tiny bottles of milk it's under ten bucks.
First you want to pour the gelatin into a disposable container, as after a while the mask will harden and it will just be a hassle to clean it out, and I didn't want to make the attempt. Then add in your milk and microwave it for about twenty seconds.
Now the one downside to this mask is the smell. Lord have mercy it was not pleasant, some people describe it as wet dog. I'd have to say warm bad milk mixed with the taste in your mouth after you throw up. Thankfully, I added cinnamon and vanilla extract before I heated it up and it masked it pretty well. Just don't add too much cinnamon or your face might burn.
Give yourself a thick coat. If the mask is too thin you'll get spiderweb like marking along it from simple movements of your face or as you being to peel and it'll make the job much harder.
The mask dried fairly fast, I'd say it only took about twenty minutes so it wasn't too bad, the only thing is I'd do it with company as you make so much of it but if you're just using it for yourself, you'll have to toss out most of it.
Some people said online that this was one of the most painful mask that they've ever done, but I though it was fine. There was more pain than our second mask, but it did get quite a few blackheads out, so I'm not complaining.
I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars.
Our second mask has to be the favorite of the two. It's a Activated Charcoal and Elmers Glue mask.
It's also a fairly simple mask, you just need activated charcoal powder and Elmers glue (or any other nontoxic childfriendly glue really). I but this one into an old washed out body scrub container and it keeps beautifully.
I had the glue already at home but I had to buy the charcoal powder. Which took me five separate trips on different days, in different weeks, until my friend told me she had bought some at the local CVS. I happily found it in pill form, as it is used as a supplement. Which meant I had to pull the gelatin pills apart but I was just happy to have finally found some of the dang stuff. It's also a bit more pricy but was still under fifteen dollars.
Making it is also less complicated (if that can be said) because all you have to do is mix the two together, you want a fairly dark black color when you do mix them together, of its like a navy mix in more powder. You want a nice gel consistency.
For applications I use a cheap make up brush for both of the masks, on my chin nose and a little on my forehead. The charcoal mask also dries fairly fast, usually about twenty-twenty five minutes.
This mask also doesn't have much pain when it comes off, just remember to peel up so you can get all the little nasties out of ya face!
It's also to see the little dots of blackheads and white heads on this mask allowing for a better feeling of satisfaction. I did it twice and I must have gotten at least thirty of them out. You should tone with either cold water or toner and clean up and you're pampered!
I'd give the Charcoal Mask a 5 out of 5, would use again.
Some tips I have for either mask is that you will pull out little baby hairs on you face so be prepared. They're both good masks to do maybe one a week, maybe bi-weekly if your skin isn't sensitive like mine. If you do get it on your eyebrows or antithetical hair you don't wanna pull off you can just use water as both will come off with water. To prep your face I say lightly rest a rag that you dipped in hot, hot Water to open up your pores. Just make sure your skin isn't too wet or your mask won't work. Also, for the milk and gelatin mask make sure you wash your brush out well and immediately after you are done applying, or it will harden up and become unusable.
Have fun, and remember to peel up!
