masks

“We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.” 
- Andre Berthiaume

Well, that's the idea, Andre. 

But seriously, do you guys use masks? And lest you think for a second that I'm being metaphorical and deep, my depth is skin-level here. I have skin that reacts very.....sympathetically with stress. I somehow got through high school without much acne to speak of, but now whenever I'm stressed I know that there'll also be a breakout to pile on top. Being an adult is awesome.

Now I haven't figured out the definitive cure, but I have found something that when I have time to actually use it, helps a ton. (Of course, being stressed and having extra leisure time don't often go hand-in-hand...). After reading about it on tons of blogs*, I finally got this bad boy from Amazon**:

You can find instructions for (and odes to) the Aztec Healing Clay Mask all over Google. It suggests combining the clay with either apple cider vinegar or water, but I'm too much of a wuss to handle the vinegar smell on my face for 30 minutes. Some blog suggested using lemon to avoid the smell but get the acidity, which I now do. I think it works well, but of course can't compare it to the vinegar. I wouldn't suggest only using water, because the resulting texture isn't quite right. Once applied and dried, it tingles and gives you the feeling that the Aztecs knew what was up. Getting it off is kind of a bear - water simply makes it reform on your face - but I've found that hopping in the shower afterwards and taking it off in there works well. I assume that the reviewers who say that their faces were immediately spotless and glowing afterwards are some sort of lesser deities who don't actually need masks. Those who say that their faces were splotchy and red for about an hour and then looked better in the morning are more up my alley.

When I've used this consistently, I absolutely saw an improvement. I got a little lazy about making the time for it recently, but I'm back on the bandwagon starting tonight. If anyone is brave enough to try the vinegar (or has other secret weapons), let me know how it goes!

*Specifically, my several-times-a-day favorite, Capitol Hill Style.

**I also saw while grocery shopping tonight that Whole Foods actually has it for a few dollars cheaper. This is significant, since Whole Foods doesn't have anything a few dollars cheaper than anywhere else. I'm expecting the price to jump imminently.