Lust after Lush: The Five Best Lush Face Masks
By:
(Writer's Note: Play “Daydreamer” by Adele in the background as you read this. It really sets the mood.)
As a self-proclaimed diva, nothing is more fab than a good pampering. And nothing makes a good pamper night quite like a face mask. While I mostly use face masks for their various benefits, I also just love having a blue or green face for 20 minutes. I think it gives me greater insight into the psyche of an alien.
My personal favorite face masks are from Lush. And I don’t mean that I have one good Lush mask I always go back to. I mean I love almost every face mask Lush has to offer, and I’ve tried close to all of them.
Hi, I’m Madison Sternberg, and I am a Lush addict.
What initially drew me to Lush Cosmetics was the fact that they are a natural skincare company focused on using quality ingredients. Because of my very un-diva like sensitive skin, I have to be extremely careful about what I put on my face and body, and so far Lush has yet to break me out.
Some things to note about Lush face masks: They all (save for two) need to be refrigerated. The ingredients used in these masks are perishable just like food, so they need to be kept in an environment that will preserve them. Technically, you could eat these masks. But don’t, because that’s gross.
This also means that the Fresh Face Masks don’t last as long as Lush’s other products because they don't have preservatives. (Side note: I’ve never had an issue finishing a mask before the expiration date, and also like food, you have a week or two after the expiration date before the product actually goes bad.)
Furthermore, a majority of the masks can't be purchased online because they can't be safely shipped long distances.
Long story short: Most of the masks can only be purchased in-store and must be kept in the fridge. But they are totally worth the trip.
So, without further ado, here are my five favorite Lush face masks. They’re not in any particular order because that would be like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. It’s just wrong.
Cosmetic Warrior
Cosmetic Warrior was the first mask I used to combat a bad breakout, and boy did it worked splendidly. C.W.’s scent reminds me of slightly off Italian food. The scent doesn’t make me want to gag at all, but isn’t exactly something I ever want to smell unless necessary. And sometimes this mask is necessary.
The main perpetrator for C.W.’s smell is garlic. And while I’m more used to putting garlic in my body rather than on it, this ingredient definitely works wonders as an antiseptic in combination with the tea tree oil also found in the mask.
I recommend C.W. to anyone experiencing a breakout or acne-prone skin. Just do your best to try and ignore its garlic-y (and something else I cannot quite put my finger on…) fragrance.
Catastrophe Cosmetic
Catastrophe Cosmetic is like the adorably sweet and wonderful little sister to the rebellious, wild older sister that is Cosmetic Warrior. Both have “cosmetic” in their names, so they’re definitely related. I cracked the code, you’re welcome.
C.C. is more of a preventative mask rather than a restorative or acne-fighting one. I use this when I have no serious skin concerns but want to treat myself.
The mask is blueberry-based, which makes a wonderful purple-y blue color and nice, soft scent. The blueberries provide vitamins while calamine, rose absolute and chamomile blue oil help cleanse and calm any redness or irritation.
C.C. is one of Lush’s most gentle masks. I would suggest it to pretty much anyone who wants to add a littleoomf to their skincare routine.
Brazened Honey
Probably one of Lush’s more intense masks, I would recommend using Brazened Honey once (or twice if you really need it) a week. That said, using B.H. is like having some special angel reach into your face and pull out any toxins or impurities.
With eggs and honey to soften, lime oil to brighten and spices to “warm the skin” (not really sure what that means), B.H. kind of does it all.
Some of the reviews complain that B.H. boasts a particularly rank odor, but it’s never bothered me. I’m not sure if that says more about me or the reviewers, but regardless, the results are worth it.
Even with my sensitive skin, B.H. is great to battle pimples or just revive your skin. Definitely watch how your face reacts to it, though, as it is a very stimulating mask.
BB Seaweed
Fun Fact: seven pounds of seaweed are in each batch of this wonderful mask. BB Seaweed was the first Lush face mask I tried (about three or so years ago), and I still enjoy using it today.
B.B.S. is the mask that won “Best All Around” for senior superlatives in high school. It offers light exfoliation, soothes any redness or irritation and moisturizes the face. Basically, all the traits you look for in a great girl or guy.
It was made specifically with sensitive skin in mind, allowing all skincare lovers to rejoice and take part in the BB Seaweed party. It does not work as aggressively as some of the above options, so keep that in mind when choosing a mask.
This is also a particularly fun mask to take pictures in since the color of the mask is close enough to my skin tone (fair) that it looks just odd enough to raise concern, but just normal enough that “oh, she has a facemask on” is not people's first thought.
Mask of Magnaminty
So, remember before when I said I couldn’t pick a favorite? I’ve now realized I totally lied. This mask is hands down my favorite. This is the mask that got a full ride to Harvard and a job at Google. This is the mask that buys me flowers “just ‘cause.’” This is the mask that brings light into my life.
Mask of Magnaminty is wonderful for many reasons.
First, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and thus can be bought online (the crowd rejoices!).
Secondly, as the name would suggest, this mask smells like mint. But not just mint. There are some ever-so-slightly noticeable chocolate undertones that either totally exist or are just made up in my head. (Note: upon an ingredient check there is vanilla that could be helping to create the mint chocolate sensation I experience.)
The mint also creates an amazing cooling feeling on the face. In my opinion, the best time to apply this mask is right after a shower. The timing is great because a hot shower opens up pores, allowing the mask to even further penetrate your epidermis. Also, M.o.M.’s chilling effect feels amazing on my face since I prefer my showers to be near scalding.
M.o.M. has a light exfoliant made from aduki beans, vanilla to alleviate any redness and honey to moisturize and soothe.
The website says to use M.o.M. weekly, but when have rules ever held you down? Follow my lead and use it two or three times a week. Come on, you deserve it.
Bonus Section
Recently three new face masks have been added to Lush’s lineup: Don’t Look At Me (which also happens to be my personal motto), Cup O’ Coffee and Rosy Cheeks. So far I’ve only tried Don’t Look At Me, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s a crazy neon blue that looks wild on the face, and my skin looks visibly brighter after each use.
Photo by