Review Match: Lush Mask of Magnaminty vs. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

I was going to do swatches of the masks on my arms to show the textures, but I came back to visit Toronto and realized I have left the masks back in London. I'm going on a camping trip tomorrow, so it was either using the photos that I had on my phone, or wait till I go back to London (which is two weeks later). 

I wanted to get this post out before the end of August, but the editing of this post took longer than I have imagined. In any case, I wanted to follow the schedule of one post per week, which is why I really wanted to send this out before leaving for the camping trip!  I hope I don't scare you all with these green masks on :P 

Okay, now let's get to the masks! Lush's Mask Magnaminty and Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque are both very popular mint masks that do very similar jobs. I've seen numerous reviews on both products, but I haven't been able to find reviews that compare them both side by side. 

Personally, I would rather pick the better mask and stick with it, instead of having two masks that does the same thing. Without further ado, here is my two cents on the ultimate mint mask match. (lol, that tongue twist :P)

For this post, the quick summary is a bit different. I will put up the ratings as I would regularly, but the"would I purchase it again" section and an, "overall final thought" section will be put in the conclusion, explaining my decision of who should be the winner.

Product: 

Queen Helene: The Original Mint Julep Masque (MJM)

What it Claims:
"Helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads & shrink enlarged pores"
"After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth"

Price:
In Toronto, you can find Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque at Sally's Beauty Supply and Toronto Barber & Beauty Supply.

Sally's Beauty Supply currently sells the MJM in two sizes, $3.99 for 3oz and $5.49 for 12 oz, with further discounts if you are a member.

TB&BS currently sells an 8 oz tube of MJM for $6.95.

If you are in the U.S, you can purchase it at Wal-mart for less than $3 dollars :)

Ingredients
One of the main concerns I have for this product is that the ingredients list contains Methylparaben. Methylparaben is generally in the very last part of the ingredients list, usually used in the least amount, and it is a kind of preservative. It is a very low risk toxin, but I still prefer to avoid products that contain Paraben, or choose products that contains less of it. You can learn more about the effects of Methylparaben by clicking here.

Some Background:
I didn't learn about Queen Helene's Mint Mask through the internet, nor have I ever seen it in stores. The funny thing is that it just appeared in my bag, and I can't remember exactly where I got it from! 

I vaguely remember a friend passing it to me saying "here, maybe this will help your skin". However, after confirming with him, he has no recollection of ever giving it to me. Till this day, I still don't know where it came from, so I guess I can just assume that it was meant to be. (Sent by someone to save my skin??)

After doing some research on the mask, because one should ALWAYS do research before putting anything on one's face, I learned that this brand has been around for over 80 years. This particular mask has been widely used for generations. With such a long history behind the brand, I am astonished that I have just learnt about this mask now. 

The hype about this mask is that it is THE MASK for people that are struggling with acne. It is suppose to reduce blemishes, blackheads, absorb oil and shrink pores. All the jazz that every mask made for acne-prone skin promises. Now, after using 3/4 of the tube I am here to do my review.

The Application:

The MJM I have comes in a tube, but if you prefer masks that come in jars you can purchase it at Sally's Beauty Supply. Personally, I think tubes are more sanitary as you are not re-dipping bacteria back into the mask. However, the tube of MJM I have is very difficult to squeeze out sometimes because the tube is made with a very thick material. I believe the ones that TB&BS sells uses a thinner material for their tubes, so that you can have easy application while staying sanitary.

In terms of the actual application, I use my fingers to smear the mask on my face after I squeeze it out of the tube. It is fairly easy to glide my fingers around my face with the mask on, it is very thick, and the rich texture allows me to smear it on my face evenly. At the same time, a small amount of the mask allows me to cover a relatively large area of my face. Finally, the mask itself is a minty green, hint the name mint mask, and it of course smells refreshingly minty. 

One neat thing I noticed when I was applying the mask on, was that tiny holes appeared on the surface of the mask. It was as if my pores immediately absorbed it. I'm not sure if it is actually my pores, or the mask is just made this way. Nevertheless, I put on another layer on top of the first layer to ensure that no tiny pore holes are showing. Finally, I am left with a very thick green mask on my face. 

During Application.

After the application, my skin tingles a bit. Some reviewers mentioned that it would sting. It is often said that it means the mask is doing its job. But honestly, if the mask begin to sting very much, it is probably better if you just wash it off. Luckily, my skin was not irritated by the mask at all. The tingling sensation was rather refreshing, and I think it is very suitable on a hot summer evening. 

After about 10-20 minuets, depending on how thick of a layer you've applied, the mask will dry up and it will crack. When looking into the mirror, there were tiny dark spots showing up on my previously minty green mask. These dark spots usually appears on my nose and cheeks where the larger pores are. I'm not sure what it actually is, but I would like to think its all the dirt in my skin that is getting sucked out to the surface. (The things one delude themselves into thinking...)

I know the mask is completely dry when it cracks, and when I no longer have a darker shade of green blotches on my face. I then rinse the mask off with warm water. A little WARNING though, you might scare yourself a little, if you look up to the mirror when your face is mixed with the mask and water, I know I always scare myself :)

After the mask dries.

Some users often uses the MJM as a spot treatment overnight for acne, by dabbing on a little mask just on the area that requires treatment. But, the mask actually only works until it dries, so it is best to wash it off immediately after it dries instead of leaving it on for the whole night.

The Result
The mask does a pretty good job in terms of sucking out the dirt in my pores as I had many white heads sitting on top of my nose after the mask, waiting to be cleared off. I had no irritations after the mask, nor did I have any extra blemishes. My complexion overall was evened out by the mask. However, this mask (MJM) did leave my skin feeling very dry afterwards, I recommend putting on moisturizers immediately. 

Next Day Result
You thought the evaluation was over didn't ya :) I always do my masks at night, so the evening evaluation is just a beginning :P First thing I do after I wake up is to check the amount of oil I have on my face, I find this to be a pretty good indicator on whether or not the mask is suitable for me. This is especially a good indicator for sheet masks, but I will talk more about it in the upcoming reviews :)

In the morning after the MJM, there is actually quite a bit of oil on my skin, probably because it is quite drying, so my skin tries to replenish the lost oils by producing more oil. It doesn't seem to help even if I put on serums and moisturizers immediately after the mask. 

Long Term Result
Believe me when I say the evaluation process is LONG! As I mentioned before in other posts, I've been going through a bad cycle of breakouts for the past 5 months. I've used 3/4 of the MJM, and I have not found it to help reduce acne in the long run. I wouldn't keep my fingers crossed and think that my acne would have been worse if I didn't use the mask. 

But please remember that just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. I've read a lot of reviews that swears by the MJM and swore that MJM is a god sent gift that have saved their skin. In fact, MJM even has great reviews on acne.org, but unfortunately the mask did not work its magic on me. It's always frustrating for me, because everything that seems to work great for others never really works on me :(

Final thoughts?
The Mint Julep Mask by Queen Helene does bring out dirt underneath the pores, but I find it failed to shrink enlarged pores. Perhaps products that are designed specifically for tightening pores should be used after the mask for a better result. Overall, I would give this mask a good rating as it works pretty well, and it is a fun mask to put on. The mask is refreshing, and seems to do well in terms of sucking out dirty substances from the skin. I recommend the mask to those who have relatively oily skin instead to those that have dry skin.

Quick Summary of Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque
Pros
- Does a proper job in cleaning pores
- Fun and refreshing
- Very thick and is easy to use
- Low cost
- Long "best before" date

Cons
- Does not tighten pores
- Can be drying
- May give stinging sensation
- Contains Paraben

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (78%)

Product:
Lush: Mask of Magnaminty (MMM)

What it Claims:
A deep cleansing mask that calms and soothes redness, exfoliates and reduces blackheads.

Price:
$12.95 for 125g (4.4 oz) and $24.95 for 315g (11.11 oz) at Lush.

Some Background:
My mom used to purchase Lush's Henna Hair Dyes and that's how I got to know the brand. Until recently, my knowledge regarding them has always been limited to just bath bombs and hair dyes. 

As I was experiencing the last bad breakout(it never ended), a friend of mine offered me her sample of Mask of Magnaminty. Even though I have given up all hope and was terrified of trying new products, because everything seemed to make my face worse, I was still willing to try it because doing nothing doesn't work for certain so I might as well go all out. (Yes, I did try the Cavemen Regime, and maybe I will do a review about it!)

It turns out that the mask did not break me out, even though breaking out seems to be a common symptom at first for this mask. I was told by the sales person that because the mask uses a lot of natural ingredients, my face would purge before adjusting from chemical to chemical-free ingredients. I was pretty skeptical about that claim because the sample I've used did not break me out, so it's probably just a method that Lush uses to cover their ass ;) Anyway, the sample lasted me five masks and I've purchased the 315g jar to see if it helps with my acne in the long-run. 

The Application:
The Mask of Magnaminty comes in only jars. The mask itself smells like mint chocolate, which makes it very tempting to take a bite out of it. In any case, the application process is similar to that of MJM. I would say that MJM is a lot richer in terms of texture when compared to MMM. The only other difference is that MMM contains Aduki Beans, which makes the mask a little harder to spread around evenly.

The mask would crack when it is completely dry, and I would wash the mask off very slowly, one area at a time, to exfoliate my skin with the Aduki Bean. This ensures that my skin is free of any dead skin, and that it maximizes the potential of this mask to give me a brighter complexion. 

The Results:
Like MJM, there are a lot of whiteheads sitting on top of my nose and cheeks, where larger pores are. Instead of using nails, I've learned that it is best to just use a damp cloth and wipe the whiteheads off. If the whiteheads refuses to budge with a cloth, I would just leave it alone instead of picking at it as it could make the pores bigger. In terms of dryness, I find the MMM to be less drying than MJM. In fact, the moistness of my face felt just right after the mask, it also feels very soft and looks very vibrant in general. 

The Next Day Result:
My face is a lot less oily in the morning after MMM when compared to MJM, probably because MMM is gentler as it does not dry out the skin as much. Big plus to MMM :)

Long Term Results
Once again, many reviewers have expressed that MMM really helps in terms of reducing acne, but it just did not have the same effect on me. I still experience just as many breakouts as I would usually. 

Why do I bother using all these masks when there is no change in my skin you ask?  What can I say, I love masks. There is a mask that is out there meant just for me, I just gotta believe. Don't stop, keep trying >v<

Final Thoughts?
MJM does a good job in terms of exfoliating and evening out the skin tone for a brighter complexion. However, it also doesn't really address the problems of enlarged pores. Overall, it is a gentle mask that does not dry out the skin too much. I recommend those with dry skin to be a little cautious because my mom , who is in her forties and who is not troubled by oily skin, found MJM to be a bit harsh on the skin. MJM did give her a more glowy complexion, but her face stung a little after the mask. Just putting that out there.

Quick Summary
Pros
- Good exfoliation
- Evens out skin tones
- Gives brighter complexion
- Smells very nice
- Relatively inexpensive

Cons
- Doesn't shrink pores
- Relatively short best before date
- Harder to spread around the face evenly
- Also contains Methylparaben

Ratings: 4.2 out of 5 (84%)

Final Conclusion

Alright, let's be completely honest here, I love MJM's price. With $0.45/oz, MJM has a very high value return. My MJM tube is 8 oz, I always slather on a thick layer, and it has lasted me a very long time (the expiry date is a lot longer than 3 months btw). It is definitely a worthwhile mask if you want to try it. I mean, if it works that's great, and if it doesn't, it's only five dollars, not much can go wrong there.

I know I made a chart where both products have received the same amount of stars. The reason why I did is because I wanted you to see every aspect of the mask and compare it. I honestly believe that both masks are good products, but some prefer masks in a jar while others do not, or some prefer an exfoliating mask instead. People with different skin types will look for different things, everybody has different needs. I hope this chart made it clear which mask is more suitable for you :) 

I'm actually looking forward to try many other masks from Lush, so there will probably be many comparison reviews on the different masks that Lush has. But for now, I think I will stick with Lush's Mask of Magnaminty. (I'm very committed to finishing a product)

Yes, Mask of Magnaminty is more expensive than MJM, but the benefits that it provides even got me, person who looks for Champagne-taste-on-a-beer-budget, feeling like it is worth it. Many aspects of Lush's mask suits what I'm looking for, such as exfoliation, gentle on the skin, less drying and fresher. 

I think we have a winner here ladies and gentlemen! :)

Would I purchase it Again:
It will be a long journey for me to try out all the products that are suitable for acne-prone skin in Lush. Until I find a better replacement, I will continue to purchase Mask of Magnaminty!

This concludes my very first Review Match! I know it is super long, but I hope it has helped you in finding a more suitable minty mask! :) 

I devote a lot of time and energy behind all my posts, it would mean the world to me if you could leave a comment down below :) (pretty please <3) Let me know how you feel about the masks!

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