My personal thoughts on face masks and skincare - Behind every mask there is a face, and behind that a story

SAMPAR Poreless Magic Peel

At first I was not sure how I felt about this SAMPAR Poreless Magic Peel. I was hesitant because I’ve got break-out for the first week after using it but I pushed through and now, after using it for about a month, I’ve got my final verdict for you.

Claims from the manufacturer:

Poresless Magic Peel to the rescue ! With its formula rich in restorative enzymes, this daily anti-blemish solution swoops in to save your skin in the fight against imperfections, smoothing its surface and reinforcing its natural ability to repair and heal.
Results : the skin is mattified (70%*) and recovers its natural softness (90%*). The skin surface is smoothed (70%*). Pores are deeply cleansed (66.7%*), and marks are visibly reduced. This daily anti-blemish solution is ideal for combination and oily skin. Put off the dermatologist with Poreless Magic Peel!
Paraben free

Directions from the manufacturer:

Apply in the morning on the whole face on perfectly cleansed skin. Gently massage the product from the middle of the face to the outside until fully absorbed.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Trilinolein, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Paraffin, PEG-2 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Fragrance, Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil, Triolein, Tripalmitin, Ceteareth-25, Polyquaternium-39, Chlorphenesin, Glycolic Acid, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Trilinolenin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Stearate, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids, Palm Glycerides, Capryloyl Glycine, Bacillus Ferment, Tristearin, Lactitol, Xylitol, Limonene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Citral, Linalool, Pentylene Glycol, Triarachidin, Magnolia Grandiflora Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Seedcake Extract, BHT, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

My experience:

I’ve started using this cream in late October and wanted to love it as much as I love the SAMPAR H2O hydrogel masks. There are few things I was hesitant about but after using it for 10 or so days I’ve started seeing results. Before that I was only noticing that my skin had small break-outs here and there that went away with exfoliating my skin more religiously.

To my taste this cream has too many preservatives in it. I’m questioning their existence in this formula because there is a lot and there is “A LOT”. The latter is the case with this product. The texture is very creamy and the cream is very much like a thick gel with yellow-ish hue to it. At first I thought it comes because of some sort of vitamin C in the contents but the active peeling ingredient was the glycolic acid. After using it for a while I’ve started comparing it to the other GA based products and noticed similarities in scent. I can not describe it but it is definitely noticeable, even with so many added fragrance ingredients.

I do love that the packaging comes with vacuum pump making this product very hygienic in use plus it ensures that the GA won’t deteriorate due to the sunlight. As it comes to the effects of this cream, I’ve found out that it works the best in my AM routine. There is no tacky or oily finish left behind and the absorbency is fast making it a must-grab item when you are on a rush. After 10 days my skin started to feel smoother and was looking more even in tone.

I’ve stopped using it for a week and tried something else in between and was curious whether the breaking-out situation would repeat itself. And it did. I will gladly use this cream up as it does make my skin silky smooth and reduces my pores but I won’t be repurchasing it anytime soon. If you have very reactive acne-prone skin, this is definitely not something for you. If your skin is more dull and dry, it is worth trying out. On the brighter side, it is a great base cream for under the make-up thanks to the quickly visible skin smoothing results.

Summary:

Pros:
+ Vacuum seal container
+ Girly packaging
+ Effective acid peeling treatment yet mild on the skin
+ Great balance between peeling and skin nourishing ingredients
+ Leaves my skin soft and smooth after 10 days use
+ Great cumulative effects with prolonged use
+ Doesn’t leave any residue on the skin, can be used under make-up

Cons:
– Unnecessary use of too many preservatives in the formula
– Contains too many fragrance and masking ingredients
– Not a fan of how it smells
– Tends to break me out every time I try to use it again
– Disagree with advised application method using this product “solo”

Where to buy:
NL and BE: lookfantastic.nl
Internationally: Available at sampar.com
Price is +/- 30€ per 50ml container

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

FRUDIA My Orchard Hand Cream

FRUDIA My Orchard Hand Cream is a first product that was looking interesting enough for me to try out. I love small, colorful and well fragranced hand creams so FRUDIA ones have caught my eyes immediately.

Claims from the manufacturer:

Frudia has developed a series of intensively nourishing and moisturizing hand creams with fruit extracts from cactus, coconut, lemon, grapefruit, dragon fruit, mangosteen, pineapple, passion fruit, quince and raspberry. Each of these has a delicious fruity fragrance.
R Vita W ™: a technique for obtaining nutrients at low temperature to deliver valuable antioxidants to the skin is used when creating each product. Extracts from seeds and fruit are processed with the utmost care to preserve their color and fragrance.
The hand cream is dermatologically tested.

Directions from the manufacturer:

Apply the hand cream to clean hands and massage it in. If necessary, apply several times a day.

Ingredients:

(Quince hand cream)

Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cydopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Myristyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Erythritol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lauryl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Honey Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance.

My experience:

I’ve finished my favorite scented hand cream by HUXLEY a while ago and was looking for some alternatives to it. Since I love everything “cactus”, I’ve googled for some “Cactus hand creams” and my magic friend Google has provided me with many alternatives out of which one was made by FRUDIA and sold in NL. Couple fast clicks and the cream was in da house.

Since I’m a skin care fanatic I looked at the ingredients list and found few items in there that I would not apply on my face but since the target area is hands, we are good to go. After I’ve tried out the cactus cream I returned to my desk and ordered a whole big bunch of these creams to try out. That’s how much the cactus version traumatized me in a good sense of that word.

Ingredient lists for rich formula creams

The texture of the cactus cream in particular is very thick and almost ointment-like. And the fragrance of that one is truly out of this world!!! It is very sweet and does smell like prickly pear juice or jam. One thing to fragnaphobiacs, the fragrances in these creams are definitely artificially enhanced. If to compare it with the HUXLEY scent, HUXLEY has more green/herbal/traditional cactus fragrance. FRUDIA hand cream, on the other hand, is more youthful/sparkly/playful… And strong.

After visiting the manufacturer’s website I saw that different creams have also different textures. Brown capped tubes contain a cream that is richer and more nourishing in nature. The ones with white caps are more light and easily absorbing and are perfect for daily use. In terms of the ingredients I’ve provided the list for the Quince scented cream just to give you an idea what to expect. The images show you the full ingredients. lists as well.

Ingredient lists for classic formulation

In total I now own 10 hand creams from FRUDIA and I have max of 3 in rotation at a time. My current hand cream trio is:

Cactus – rich thick cream for the evening care
Mango – sweet, fruity fragrance for work
Blueberry – daily use at home

The Quince, Peach and Grapefruit hand creams will be gradually replacing them. I hope that somewhere by the end of the winter I will try them all out and will pull some final thoughts together. So watch out for the “What is old? What is new?” posts where I summarize my overall thoughts on the products I’ve used up.

For now, after using these creams for a week I can say that they are very good at hydrating my skin overday and that the rich formula creams do deliver that extra oomph into the night care. The scents are superb, size of 30 ml for price of +/-4€ is a huge bargain, zero stickiness or oiliness on the skin…. They are looking very promising!!!

Summary:

Pros:
+ Versatile collection of 15 different scents
+ Two different formulations available for day/night or dry/normal skin types
+ Great fragrances
+ Eye-catching packaging that is perfect for traveling
+ Most are containing panthenol, Vitamine E and shea butter
+ Outstanding price : quality ratio

Cons:
– Many of these contain mineral oil and/or silicones
– May not be favorite amongst people who don’t like strong scents in their hand creams

Where to buy:
NL and BE: dermarolling.nl and littlewonderland.nl
Internationally: Available at ebay and some online stores in Poland
Price is +/- 4€ per one tube of 30 ml

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Speedy Solution Nose Pore Cleaning Patch Set

MISSHA Speedy Solution Nose Pore Cleaning Patch Set contains 8 hardcore pore cleaning strips that clean out my pores as a charm. Since I exfoliate a lot, my pores do not have many chances to get congested. For the purpose of this review I was not using my normal peeling pads that help me with keeping my pores at bay. As the result I was able to collect some stuff in my pores (sounds soooo gross).

Claims from the manufacturer:

Use the Speedy Solution Nose Pore Cleaning Patch for a purifying pore care.
It has strong adhesiveness to get and remove sebum, impurities, and dirt inside the pores.

Directions from the manufacturer:

After washing face,remove patch from film and apply onto wet nose.
Remove patch slowly after 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients:

VP/VA Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bentonite, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Methylparaben, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Alcohol Denat., Hordeum Vulgare Root Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Oenanthe Javanica Extract

My experience:

I have tried several decongesting patches for years now and everything that has been produced in te EU or local shops such as Kruidvat have been useless. No, very useless! When it comes to good quality nose strips, make sure they originate from Asia or US (Biore). Since my face trusts MISSHA brand entirely, I tend to grab the Speedy Solution 8-pack. Every now and then I try out something new but I always go back to these. I also like that they are black colored and I can easily see how much of the gunk has been removed successfully.

These patches are simple in use. Just peel off the plastic shield, apply on the wet nose and fit them tightly to the skin making sure there are no air bubbles. If I feel that the sheet is still stiff I like to use 1-2 sprays of water to make it more moist, hence more flexible. After 15-20 minutes the patch hardens up and can be removed. I pull on both lateral edges of the patch and disconnect it from my skin in such manner that the part around the nose bridge area is removed last in an upwards motion. That way I get all the gunk out.

One thing I would advise you to do after such treatment is some local quick pore tightening clay mask. I usually do one of the ghassoul masks: MISSHA ghassoul pack or my current “must finish soon” mask from Too Cool For School. They both really help to shrink my pores. Anyhow, let me know if you want more of the patch treatment reviews in the future!

Pros:
+ Easy to open packaging
+ Simple application
+ The strip hardens fast
+ Easy to remove, leaves no residue behind
+ Very thorough cleansing of even the smallest pores

Cons:
– The fit is just enough for my nose. For someone with larger sniffing apparatus this patch may be on the small side.
– These may be on a pricey side but they do much better job than the cheaply priced alternatives.

Where to buy:
NL and BE: missha.nl and bbcreamshop.eu
Internationally: Available at misshaus, misshadeutchland, amazon and other online stores
Price is +/- 1,50€ per one loose sachet or 4,95€ per pack of 8

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

WHAMISA Organic Seeds Hair Essence (miniature)

Organic Seeds Hair Essence by WHAMISA got to me in form of a sample with one of my orders and I’d like to review it for you today.

Claims from the manufacturer:

95.4% organic ingredients
This lightweight, organic hair essence protects weak and damaged hair. Active ingredients include sweet flag, barley, sesame seed, oat kernel, soy and mung bean extracts to nourish hair and give it a healthy shine.
Argan oil, olive oil, camellia oil, and aloe help moisturise, repair, and strengthen hair damaged by over-styling and environmental factors. Combined with our signature fermentation process and waterless formula for added benefits.
Suitable for all hair types, especially beneficial for damaged hair.

Directions from the manufacturer:

Massage onto damp hair focusing on damaged areas and ends. For normal hair apply to ends. For dry hair, apply liberally as needed. Leave in. For daily use.

Ingredients:

*Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, *Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, *Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, **Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, *Aloe Maculata Leaf Extract, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, *Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, *Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, *Lactobacillus/Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Ferment Filtrate, *Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, *Lactobacillus/Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Ferment Filtrate, ***Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, ***Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, ***Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Xanthan Gum, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, **Fragrance

*Certified Organically Grown **Natural Origin ***Natural Preservative

My experience:

The Organic Seeds Hair Essence is very sustainable product for someone with very thick and dry hair. If your hair is thin, you may not like it at all. The smell of the essence is very mild and barely noticeable. Once applied on the hair it doesn’t linger and your hair will smell like your shampoo or conditioner (in case it is scented).

The texture is milky and tends to separate in the bottle into 2 layers. So shake well before using. A little of this product goes a very long way. The amount on the picture is what I use on my hair in order to nourish the damaged hair ends. If I apply this product through-ought the length of my hair I’d need 3 x the amount shown here. It looks very little but believe me, with this hair essence the less is more. If over-applied it leaves your hair looking greasy! Even when I applied it on my hand I could immediately see all the oil sitting atop of my hand for a while. It absorbs into my skin almost entirely in 10 minutes.

No doubt that this particular product will be glorious for women with curly hair. It will define them and nourish throughout the entire time between washes. I can personally close my eyes on the price of this product because it is very rich and intensive and definitely tames down my hair madness. Still, I’ll be a precautious buyer and invest into few more samples before getting the full size bottle. One tiny bottle lasts me for a mont with ease so for now there is no need for super-huge bottle.

Summary:

Pros:
+ A little goes a long way
+ Light fragrance
+ EWF certified organic ingredients
+ Best suited for thick dense hair

Cons:
– Very oily on the hair if over applied
– High price
– Hard to get in EU
-Not suited for thin or over-processed hair

Where to buy:
NL and BE: littlewonderland.nl(full size)
Internationally: Available at amazon(full size), whamisa.co.uk(full size), ecco-verde (miniature)
Price is +/- 30€ for 120 ml or around 7€ for the miniature of 20ml

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

NEOGEN Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea

I’ve got my first NEOGEN Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea pad as a sample with one of my latest K-beauty orders. Considering the fact that I am a big fan of NEOGEN peeling products for 2 years by now, I immediately decided to review this particular single-use version of the pads.

Claims from the manufacturer:

Exfoliation that is so easy, convenient, effective yet gentle. Patented hypoallergenic cotton gauze pads provide a dual texture layer to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, excess sebum, and impurities and softly wipe away exfoliated skin to even out textures while delivering skin benefiting ingredients in the process.
Gentle Peeling: Manual Exfoliation Pads soaked in Green Tea Serum Help Remove Dead Skin Cells, Cleanse, and Purify the Skin
Relaxed and Hydrated Skin: Mineral Ingredients from the Green Tea Helps Refresh the Skin While Replenishing Moisture to the Skin.
Smoother Skin: Patented 3-layer 100% Cotton Gauze Pads Deliver Smoother, Improved Skin Texture.

Directions from the manufacturer:

After cleansing, use one gauze to gently sweep across dry face and neck in outward motion avoiding eye area. Apply more to problem area and rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with your daily toning.

* For best results, use twice a week or as needed.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Dipropylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Benzophenone-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum)

My experience:

Now that I’ve gradually tried all three kinds of NEOGEN peeling pads I am capable of comparing them. Overall, I like this gauze-type-of-pad a lot because it is very effective at exfoliating skin mechanically. So this particular pad came in a 1-pack as a sample with my online order. I did enjoy the fact that the pads come in individual packets as it would be a perfect thing to take with you for a trip. Unfortunately after looking around online, I could not find these single use pads for sale within the EU. So I’m stuck buying the regular bulky 30-pad jars….Even though I don’t dislike the classic packaging of the pads, if I’d had the choice I would rather go for the single-use pads.

The peeling pad is designed like a pocket. You can insert your fingers in the middle and use both sides of the pad to gently exfoliate the skin. One side is rough and is covered in mixture of gauze and cotton. The other side is embossed cotton that is very soft and glides with ease over the skin. First you have to scrub the face with the gauze side and only then remove the remaining dirt and grime with the soft side. You don’t have to rub as hard as you can in order to achieve the peeling results. Gentle swiping motions are more than enough to thoroughly cleanse the skin and remove the existing debris.

The green tea bio-peel gauze peeling smells like green tea with slight hint of citrus. Jumping ahead another reviews on NEOGEN I can tell that this is my 2nd favorite scent of the pads after the Wine version. After using the pad I can always see how well it removes all the dead skin cells of my face seeing how dirty the pads get even after I do my double cleanse and run my face over with the TYF cleansing water (which is BTW amazing at cleaning face in all circumstances, but this is a different story). I currently owe 2 types of full size jars with these pads (Green tea and Wine versions). But my personal favorite on any given day would be the single-use version of these pads.

So do these actually work? Yes! 100% All Neogen pads are effective peels and do not break me out nor irritate my sensitive skin. I enjoy using these about 3x a week for 4 weeks straight. I see it as a vast regimen that replaces my weekly MISSHA bubble peeling treatments. When I use these peeling pads I don’t usually use any stronger peeling products or two-step peels because my skin gets enough exfoliation in order to remain radiant and smooth. Would I recommend then to anyone else? Yes! In case you are still wondering whether to try these out or not, definitely try. They are definitely worth the hype! One important reminder: don’t forget to rinse your face after peeling. Removing the remaining liquid is a mandatory step for someone with oily and blemish prone sensitive skin like mine.

Summary:

Pros:
+ Lovely light scent
+ Great pad design
+ Soft gauze and cotton sides of the pad
+ Gentle mechanical and chemical exfoliation duo
+ Handy sample packaging, easy to travel with
+ Does not irritate my skin

Cons:
– Would like to see the package with individually packed pads such as with samples, it is more hygienic
– Price is quite steep in comparison to other brand peeling pads
– Peeling liquid contains alcohol and fragrance

Where to buy:
NL and BE: boozyshop.nl, lifeandbeautyshop.nl, littlewonderland.nl, honeysu.be, coos-cosmetics.com
Internationally: Available at neogen, amazon, yesstyle and many other shops
Price varies between 22-32€ per package of 30 peeling pads

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

ETUDE HOUSE 3-Minutes Care Mask Black Bean

ETUDE HOUSE 3-Minutes Care Mask Black Bean is an intriguing product for those who likes to pamper their skin in the mornings. If you have extra 10 minutes in the AM to mess around with a sheet mask in order to hydrate your skin for the coming day, this one may be for you.

Claims from the manufacturer:

3-minutes simple skin-caring for who hate hassles by uncomplicated steps. (original grammar from the packaging).

Directions from the manufacturer:

Apply toner to skin after cleansing. Take off mask from pouch ad apply to face by placing mask to fit eye and lip area. Remove mask after 3-10 minutes and lightly massage remaining solution into skin with hands.

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate

My experience:

I’ve gotten this mask from the “back to schol” edition of the mask box I’m currently buying from the local NL webshop. I was super happy to see ETUDE HOUSE brand products emerging here and there more often in the area where I live. The mask is nicely packaged and opens with ease. Inside there is a brownish-red colored sheet that is made of cotton and is woven in such manner that it remains flexible on your skin and can be stretched into place here and there. Korea is stepping up their game in terms of releasing better quality sheets into the market. This particular sheet is a good example of that.

Fit and adherence are superb. The mask fits like a glove and I can run my morning routine with preparing for work with no issues of loosing it from my face. The serum in it has a very distinct feel of hyaluronic acid ampoule. It is slippery, yet jelly like on the skin. Very refreshing and cooling at the same time. What puzzled me the most about this mask is the scent. It is very natural and smells like sautéed beans (not my favorite odor FIY). Since I’m only supposed to be wearing it for max 10 min, I could live with that. I’ve been drinking my morning coffee while using this sheet mask and it overwhelmed the beany fragrance.

After 10 minutes I’ve removed the sheet to meet my newly hydrated and refreshed skin. I am happy to report that essence what is left on the skin is very light and doesn’t leave a sticky residue. I was able to proceed with my make-up application in no-time. Overall a very decent hydration boost for a working girl, if you are ready to wake up 10 minutes earlier than planned. The feel of the mask is very enjoyable but I would not consider repurchasing it yet (mostly due to the scent). Also I am constantly sleep-deprived mommy and donating my 10 minutes of sleep towards sheet masking on a busy morning is something that I won’t be doing in the coming year or two. I would use it as a hydration booster in the vacations though. It would be a nice quick recovery product after being in the sun and I would use it as a prep for the dinner date afterwards 🙂

Summary:

Pros:
+ Good ingredients list
+ Great price-quality ratio
+ Very soft sheet in unique color
+ Great adherence and fit for my face type
+ Lovely packaging and presence of instructions in English
+ Good base for under the make-up
+ Moderately hydrating and fast in use
+ Suitable for all skin types

Cons:
– Off-putting scent of something fermented (in a bad way)
– Hard to get in the EU
– Contains fragrance

Where to buy:
NL and BE: Not available
Internationally: Available at cosmeperks, etudehouse, roseroseshop and plenty other online retailers
Price is +/- 2,50€ per one sheet mask

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

A’PIEU Chi Ka Po Ka Tooth Brushing Mask

The Chi Ka Po Ka Tooth Brushing Mask by A’PIEU was definitely a fun one. My daughter was staring and laughing at me for the entire time I wore it on my face. It turned out to be an amusement for us both.

Claims from the manufacturer:

The mask sheet does not cover up the mouth area – you can brush your teeth, enjoy snacks or talk on phone while applying the mask.
Infused with pumpkin extract to smoothen skin texture and hibiscus flower extract to hydrate skin, leaving your skin vibrant and translucent.
The bamboo charcoal mask sheet helps purify skin for a bright and clear complexion.
Contains Hibiscus extract providing cool,
soothing relief to dryness for clean and moist skin.

Directions from the manufacturer:

After cleansing, place the mask sheet onto your face and smoothen it out. Leave for 10-20 minutes and remove the sheet. Pat in any remaining essence onto skin for better absorption.

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

My experience:

The Chi Ka Po Ka Tooth Brushing Mask is very unique because it’s missing fabric around the mouth area. Missing it intentionally. Thanks to this mask you can still eat, drink, talk on the phone, laugh and so forth. Very miraculous thing indeed if you have an S.O.S. situation in the morning. Applying it for 10 minutes is already enough to boost the tired skin making it very handy for those who party till the early hours and still rush off at 8AM to work.

The packaging is very cute but it has no official name on it. I’ve had some troubles going through my online purchases trying to find it’s original name. When it comes to the mask it is made of black bamboo charcoal fiber that is very absorbent, elastic and soft to touch. The adherence and fit of this mask are excellent. Once applied, it remains on your face without bubbling or lifting on the edges.

The essence is transparent and runny in texture. It is still thick enough not to drip off the sheet like water. It is also somewhat soapy – I saw few soap-like bubbles appearing on the mask when I was getting it on my face. Application process is very simple and wearing this mask is comfortable. I put it to the lunch test and it did it’s job as promised, no loose edges, perfect hydration. Well done, A’PIEU!!! I would recommend wearing it 10-15 minutes max and then proceeding to the following steps in your care.

In terms of effects it has hydrated my skin making it look more alive and plump. I’d buy it again for those busy mornings or for traveling on the plane. I would probably scare some people around me but at least I would be traveling in comfort 🙂

Summary:

Pros:
+ Silicon, alcohol, paraben and sulfate-free formulation
+ Outstanding design for party animals and busy moms
+ Suitable for normal, oily, combi skin types
+ Lovely apothecary scented essence
+ Great fit and adherence of the sheet
+ Delivers basic hydration with no sticky finish on the skin

Cons:
– Lack on info in English on the packaging
– Not easy to find/buy in EU
– Contains fragrance
– Not suitable for very dry or very sensitive skin

Where to buy:
NL and BE: Not Available
Internationally: Available at beauteque.com, ebay, roseroseshop, thebodyshop, kruidvat, etos,
Price is +/- 2€ per one sheet mask, depending on which vendor you buy it from

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

The Body Shop Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask

Today’s review is about the Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask made by The Body Shop. It is the 5th one I own and my nr 1 most loved mask from this entire series. Yes, yes, I know, sneaky me, reviewing my holy grail mask as the last one from the entire bunch 🙂 It does everything for my skin what I’m expecting a good wash-off mask will do!

Claims from the manufacturer:

Give your skin a new lease of life with our Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask. Inspired by Chinese traditions, we have blended ginseng extract, rice extract and sesame seed oil into our 100% vegetarian creamy exfoliating mask, that has been formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil. Use two to three times a week to reveal brighter-looking, even and supple feeling skin.

100% vegetarian
Creamy exfoliating face mask
For skin that needs an intense treatment to remove dullness and unevenness.
Illuminates, evens and revitalises skin
Formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil
Ideal to create a facial at home
Blended with rice & ginseng extracts from China and organic Community Trade sesame seed oil from Nicaragua

Directions from the manufacturer:

After removing makeup and cleansing the skin, use the Facial Mask Brush to smooth an even layer of the Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask onto the face avoiding eye and lip area. Apply to neck and décolleté if desired. Leave for 5-10 minutes then rinse off with warm water and a muslin cloth in circular motions to gently exfoliate. Use 2 to 3 times a week. Use various masks in different areas to target specific areas of your face.

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit, Kaolin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil/Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-100 Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Decyl Glucoside, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, Perlite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter,Parfum/Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Menthol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/Panax Ginseng (Ginseng) Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citral, Citronellol, Linalool, Menthoxypropanediol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Eugenol, Dextrin, Oryza Sativa Extract/Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide

My experience:

I’m in love with this mask since the day 1 when I’ve actually got the sample of it in the shop. It is my go to mask if my skin is dry and looking grey that frequently happens after a sleepless night. I apply it on my face and in 20 minutes my face turns back to normal. After using this mask in the morning, my skin turns into the ultimate and oh so perfect canvas for my make-up.

The texture of this mask is clay based. It is filled with bits of the of ginseng root and small rice particles. Mask itself is opaque white and you have to apply it in a thin layer. It never dries entirely, hence there is no pulling or tugging on the skin. 5 minutes into the application I feel cooling effect that is caused by menthol oil. By the way, there is plenty of alcohol added into the ingredient list which is a big no-no for me but somehow this entire thing is so well balanced that my skin is never dry nor dehydrated after use. I love what The Body Shop has done with this mask in terms of formulation.

After the mask is on your face for 10 minutes simply rinse it off. If you want skin exfoliation, you can make your hands wet first and gently rub the mask on your face in circular motion. Due to the ginseng and rice particles it is quite abrasive and works very well as a scrub-mask. The jar is very big and lasts me forever if I use it in thin layers for skin brightening purposes. It does an excellent job and in my eyes meets it’s claims 100%

Summary:

Pros:
+ Paraben and sulfate free formula
+ Contains UV filter and anti-blemish and anti-ageing ingredients
+ Economic in use. I get +/- 20 uses out of one jar
+ Perfect product for multi-masking
+ Good at soothing, brightening and purifying results on my skin
+ Excellent exfoliatior
+ Cruelty free and 100% vegetarian

Cons:
– Contains alcohol
– May not be suitable for very sensitive skin
– Absence on discounts from the manufacturer on the Skinfoods mask series

Where to buy:
NL and BE: thebodyshop webshop
Internationally: thebodyshop online webshop and regular stores in your country of residence
Price is 20€ per 75ml jar

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

SNP Jeju Cactus Mask

SNP Jeju Cactus Mask is one of the latest buys of mine and I loved it so much that I wanted to review it a.s.a.p. The essence is so light yet it delivers superb hydrating results.

Claims from the manufacturer:

All main ingredients for these sheet masks are derived from the beautiful Jeju Island in Korea. The combination of silky essence and natural ingredients make these affordable sheet masks suitable for every skin type.
This nourishing mask provides nutrients of Jeju cactus to skin for moist and supple skin complexion.

Directions from the manufacturer:

Cleanse face thoroughly and use skin toners to rearrange the skin texture. Remove the mask sheet from packaging and smooth over face, making sure the locations of eyes and lips are well aligned. Leave the mask sheet on for 20-30 minutes before removing. Pat in the remaining essence with your palms for optimal absorption.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, PVM/MA Copolymer, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Sprout Extract, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propolis Extract, Andrographis Paniculata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde

My experience:

My most favorite ingredient in skin care is cactus because it is so hydrating on my skin. Funny enough, there are plenty of products in K-beauty world that contain several elements from this magic plant but it gets lost amongst the other ingredients. The SNP Jeju Cactus Mask is one of the examples of an excellent hydrating mask that is a match from heaven for my skin.

I’m very surprised at how well it performs, yet how inexpensive it is. The sheet is made of cupra and is very stretchy. The adherence and fit are all excellent and the sheet doesn’t pile up into a tent on my nose (happened before with other SNP creations). The material is very soft and if you stretch it on the face it feels like my skin gets lifted thanks to the cupra.

The essence is very light and transparent and has a consistency of an ampoule. There is no dripping of the liquid at any point of the masking process. I was cooking a meal and picking up my daughter’s toys in the process and the mask didn’t bulge. The essence has a slight green scent to it, very similar to freshly cut aloe but a bit more sweet/sugary to my nose.

As for the results this mask did wonders to my skin in terms of packing it up with moisture. Considering that my skin has plenty of hormonal acne and healing blemishes and it is overall not at it’s best behavior, this mask helped me with reducing dry patches on my cheeks and calmed down the redness around my chin. I love it when you see immediate results that last you through ought the day. Too bad I ought only a sample and not an entire box of these masks. I am very much impressed and would advise it to every skin type despite the fragrance listed in the ingredients. There is zero finish on the skin after the essence is absorbed making this a true gem for the morning fix before applying make-up.

Summary:

Pros:
+ Paraben, sulfate, alcohol and silicone free formulation
+ Light essence texture
+ Faint plant scent similar to aloe
+ Rich in nourishing and moisturizing ingredients
+ Suitable for all skin types
+ Perfect for morning use/ under the make-up

Cons:
– Contains fragrance
– Lack of information in English in the packaging

Where to buy:
NL and BE: shopichigo.com and littlewonderland.nl
Internationally: Available at amazon and ebay
Price varies between 1,50€ and 2€ per one sheet mask

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Embo Gels: Part 4 Shining-Bomb mask

Today’s review about the MISSHA Embo Gels Shining-Bomb is my 4th review of the embo gel masks. If you want to read about the other masks from this series as well, just search for the word “embo” in the search bar on the right.

Claims from the manufacturer:

No mesh-type of transparent hydro gel. Is adhered to the skin without irritating
Containing nourishing complex which consists of collagen, ceramide and honey extract. It makes your skin shiny and healthy.
Containing abundant essence in the special embossed texture supplies effectively the active ingredient to the skin
Containing Shiny Complex which consists of Peal Extract Lotus Extract and Licorice Extract, it makes your skin bright and shiny.

Directions from the manufacturer:

1. After washing the face, prepare the skin with toner.
2. Remove films from the both side of sheets after opening the pouch.
3. Placing the embo side onto the skin, spread evenly the upper part from the eyes and the lower part from the lips
4. Leave it for 20~40 minutes and remove masks. Pat leftover essence lightly to be fully absorbed.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Agar, Carrageenan, Mannan, Dextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Pearl Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gaprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhyxylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

My experience:

I an in love with the Embo Gels and today’s review is about the Shiny bomb mask version. The mask itself is translucent and has one side that is smooth and the other side is ribbed or as they say – embossed. Same as with all masks from this collection. The sheet is composed from the top and the bottom halves for a better fit. BTW< the fit and adherence are superb in all masks!

Mask has a light medicinal scent that smells like licorice for a while. The scent is very faint and I can tolerate it much better that the other licorice type of fragrances. I loved that the smell wasn’t overpowering and disappeared after couple of minutes of wear. The essence in this mask is a bit more viscous than in other masks. It also has definitely more “oilier” finish to it.

After 30 minutes I was left with calmed down, cooled skin with no traces of redness on it. There was a visible dewy finish on my skin that didn’t look oily. I was kind of liking the way my skin looked for the first half of the day. After it got oily, everything was a oily mess of coarse but same happens even when I don’t use a sheet mask in the morning hours. Nothing that blotting paper can not fix 😉 Overall very good mask to consider if you have more dry, normal skin types. For more oily skin it can be too much.

Summary:

Pros:
+ Extremely good fit due to 2 parts of the mask
+ Remarkable adherence to the face, it adheres better to the face the longer it’s on
+ Very moisturizing and plumping
+ Reduces redness of the skin and smooths down the imperfections in dry areas of the skin
+ Fragrance is not overpowering

Cons:
– Still more pricy than the regular cotton/bamboo sheet mask
– Contains fragrance if you are sensitive to it
– Dewy finish on the skin. If you’re not a fan of it, avoid at all costs

Where to buy:
NL and BE: missha.nl and littlewonderland.nl (current packaging)
Internationally: Available at missha-deutchland and yesstyle (newest packaging)
Price is +/- 3€ per one mask

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂