Rudolph the red nosed Lush mask...

Well, it had to be done... what else could I possibly name this post about the most festive skin care product at the moment, it is of course the Lush Fresh Face Mask in Rudolph (£5.50). Since I use some form of a mask at least twice a week I'm always on the hunt for something new. I've tried quite a few of the Lush masks with mixed success to be honest, but after a few trial and errors I have found my firm favourites that I stick to e.g. Cupcake and BB Seaweed. It's so much fun going into a Lush store and browse the fresh masks - it's a bit like a salad bar, and for me they are great value for money and my only issue is that because they only contain natural ingredients I don't always manage to finish them before the expiry date, but that's a small price to pay for natural fresh skin care.

Rudolph is a calming and soothing mask specifically intended for winter and cold harsh weather, and it's rich in ingredients that reduce redness and restores the skin e.g. cucumber, lavender oil, oatmeal and tofu. Even if we have been lucky enough not to have your typical winter weather, this mask is still lovely to use if your skin feels a little tight, irritated or dehydrated and I would imagine this would be great for sensitive skin as well. The mask is nice and creamy and holds together well, so unlike some of the other fresh masks it's fairly easy to apply an even layer all over the face, although there might be some little drops of it that fall off - so don't use this wearing something delicate or fancy. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes or so before you take it off and enjoy the lovely fresh, watery smell of cucumber on your skin. It doesn't really dry into a different consistency so it's easy to wipe it off with a hot cloth for a gentle exfoliation at the same time and your skin should feel very moisturised, nourished and less angry.

Since I spend all of my day in front of a computer screen, I sometimes feel that my skin gets a little prickly and Rudolph is a wonderful, fresh relaxation in the evening and even though BB Seaweed is another great skin calmer I actually prefer the aquatic scent of Rudolph, which just adds to the sensation of the skin being refreshed, soothed and restored. Yet another fun product from Lush this Christmas season and I'm very happy to let Rudolph and his cute red jelly nose guide my skincare this winter.