I'm a man, honest (Lush Mask of Magnaminty)

Member Name: a-true-ben

Product:	Lush Mask of Magnaminty
Date:	18/03/04 (409 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does good for my face

Disadvantages: Messy, 'Girly', Best before date

Is it ok for a modern guy to write about face masks? I hope so?

I?ve long resisted the many Lush opinions on Dooyoo. Actually, truth be told, I didn?t find it too hard being a bloke - and the over-powering smell every time I walked past the new(ish) Lush shop on Oxford?s Cornmarket Street didn?t do much to entice me in. Emily though was an instant convert - although not familiar with Lush from the US (her nearest is Chicago), she used to work in Body Shop, and she said she could tell this was good stuff before she tried it - buying bath bombs, face masks and who knows what other smellies.

Now, the skin on my face has long been a problem. I was never especially spotty as a teenager, but still suffer from a greasy t-zone (nose and forehead), yet paradoxically also am prone to dry flaky skin (also on my forehead!) This had led me to consider face masks before, but I?d always been too intimidated to actually buy one. When Emily suggested we both try her ?Mask of Magnaminty? I didn?t take too much persuading.

It comes in a small black pot (so not quite like the picture, which I assume is out of date). It says ?Deeply cleansing, toning and exfoliating pepperminty mask. Refreshes and brightens all it touches. To use: apply, allow drying, removing with water in circular movements?. It?s made in England and gives the address (in Poole, Dorset) and www.lush.com (though you may as well go straight to www.lush.co.uk)

I don?t know anything about the main ingredients (Bentonite Gel and Kaolin), but it also contains peppermint oils and perfume, so I suppose it may trouble some sensitive skin. Lush don?t buy ingredients from companies that use animal testing, and I think I?m right in saying all their products are vegetarian. A sticker informs me the product
was made by Emma on 14/01/04 and best before 14/05/04. That gives you four months, make sure you pick a fresh one up off the shelf!

The mask is available in large tubs (325g for £5.25) or smaller pots (125g, £2.25). I have the smaller, and doubt I?ll use it within the date - I reckon it could last six months assuming it doesn?t go off. Being a guy, perhaps I don?t use it as much as I should. Still, I?d recommend the smaller tubs even if they seem worse value - unless you can share with a partner/flatmate.

The stuff inside doesn?t look particularly appetising. Thankfully we?re not here to eat it! It?s a greeny colour that reminds me a bit of seaweed, smells of peppermint (surprise!) and is about the texture of fishpaste or pate. The application is easy enough - simply smear it over your face. Apparently it?s best to use your ring finger under your eyes, as too much pressure leads to bags and wrinkles.

It took me a few goes to get the coverage right. It felt tingly at first - I?d compare it to Original Source mint shower gel. Leave it 10-15 minutes to dry (still tingling), then simply rinse off - which I found quick and painless, though it did make a bit of a mess of the basin.

And the effects? Well I can?t say I noticed any miraculous difference. My skin did feel a little tighter, and I had to say it didn?t trouble me for the next week or so. Emily left the face pack here, and I?m still using it. I have to say, I haven?t had such problems any more, so I?m happy to say it must be doing good. Now I just need someone to buy me another when this tub runs out? ;)

Summary: