What is old? What is new?: Empties and new skin care products

Today is the day that I’ve decided to sum up the bunch of stuff that was swirling in my brain and to finally put it on paper. I’ve decided to shortly mention my favorite products that I have used up in last month or so and to finally introduce some new brands into my skin care. So today’s review is all about the Empties and new skin care products that are going to gradually appear on my blog.

Empties:

Nearly everything is gone till the last drop

I won’t be reviewing every sheet mask that I’ve use in the past month here, it is too much work for both me and you so the regular sheet mask reviews will appear as normal content. For al of the products mentioned in today’s post I will rate each product that I’ve used up according to the following score chart:

– Holy Grail, will probably purchase it up until I retire
– Excellent product, will consider repurchasing it (unless I stumble across a better alternative)
– Good one for overal use but there is definitely a better known alternative for it
– Not impressive or not performing well on my skin
– Waste of money (try before you buy)

Skin care

MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive Moist 150 ml
Rating:

Amazing quality! One bottle of this magic juice and lasts me approximately for 3 months. In order to stretch it out for that period of time I am decanting it into a spray travel bottle so that I can use my favorite whenever and wherever. Tip: perfect base for first couple of layers if you enjoy doing the 7-skin method.

MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule 50 ml
Rating:

Great addition to the MISSHA First Treatment Essence. It smoothes and calms my skin like no other. I only use it in my evening skin care. (I used to apply it in the mornings too but I now have a lighter alternative for my skin needs). If you never tried it, go and buy it and your skin will love you eternally.

MISSHA Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Cream
Rating:

Holy-moly-grail cream for me. The texture is light and silky, resembling a thick gel. Loving everything about it starting from the fresh cactus-like scent of it and ending up with the way it seals all the moisture on my skin. Who knew that my oily skin will love this so much!!!

MISA Geum Sul Emulsion
Rating:

Love the smell and the packaging of it. Ingredients are very extensive and definitely benefit the aging skin. After going through the entire bottle I do notice the reduction in pigmentation and fine lines. Unfortunately at some days it felt like too much for my skin. If you have a dry skin, definitely give this one a go.

Lange Hydra-Global Active Cream Mask
Rating:

Best used as a sleeping mask and not like it is advertised. Amazing skin tightening and hydrating results and zero breakouts. Loving it and had already purchased a replacement jar!!!

Cleansers

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel 400 ml
Rating:

Quite reasonable cleanser for oily and combination skin. I enjoy it’s light texture and used it every time in my morning cleansing. For now there are plenty of better low pH alternatives out there so I won’t be repurchasing this tube any time soon. It is very economic in use, the 400 ml bottle lasted me for half a year.

MERUMAYA Melting Cleansing Balm 100 ml
Rating:

This particular balmy cleanser did nothing to my skin except leaving it greasy after washing it off. It does take the make off and doesn’t irritate the eyes but the finish of it that remained on the skin is unacceptable for me. Better get a good oil cleanser or the Clean it Zero balm for the same price.

Cellio It’s True Premium Real Honey Deep Cleansing Foam
Rating:

I love this cleanser and currently it is my top favorite out there but I have a bunch of other brands lined up in my stash that I want to test first and see if this goodness will remain the ultimate winner. It cleanses my skin gently, leaving it hydrated yet free of all the dirt and grime. Impressive and smells nice.

Pore and pimple care

COSRX Clear Fit Master Patch
Rating:

Pimple patches are my friends. This particular edition is OK but not the best one I’ve tried. I will stick to the classic COSRX acne pimple master patch or the Lioele patches.

Lange Matifying Mask
Rating:

It was ok but not as high quality in terms of delivering immediate results as other products from this brand. Overall a bit disappointed with it. Still a good product for those who doesn’t want their skin to shrink like a prune during the application.

Body care

MISSHA Fresh Mint Cooling Body Sorbet
Rating:

When it comes to the light fresh fragrance of it and feel on my skin after application, this is a clear winner for me. Unfortunately the hydration abilities of it are not spectacular. It is good for the summer or humid environment but not enough for my skin during the colder months.

MISSHA Near Skin Self Control Sticky Massage 200ml

Rating:

OMG!!!! My holy grail for….. wait for it…. body!!!!! Whaat? Yep, you heard me! It perorms well on my face but concidering that the jar is 200ml I was never able to use it up within the 12 months since the opening. So here comes the boom- wiht the realization that container is humongous, I’ve started using it on my body and… It completely got rid of my Keratosis Pilaris on my arms. A one skin condition that was never influenced by anything in my life. I swear by this thing and am solely using the next jar on my body as the difference of my skin on my upper arms is tremendous.

P.S> It is not sticky as advertised in the name 🙂

New skin care products:

As for the new skin care, I’ve decided to expand my interests towards organic skin care and hunted down some fun stuff from the Japanese market. Sorry, no Hada Labo product reviews coming…. Yet 😉

Splurge alert !!!

For my birthday I’ve ended up investing into an entire set of Whamisa products. I have sampled each and every product before I bought them and was quite happy after 1-2x uses. Sorry, my dear wallet, it just had to happen that I wanted them in full-size. Below you can find the list of items that I am already testing or will start testing out on coming Monday. There will be individual reviews of each product that will go live in November because that’s when I’m planning to do it.

Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich 300 ml
Whamisa Organic Flowers Lotion Original 120 ml
Whamisa Organic Flowers & Fruits Feminine Cleanser 150 ml
Whamisa Organic Flowers Natural Fermented Creamy Foam Cleanser 200 ml
Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil 150 ml
Whamisa Organic Fruits Peeling Finger Mitt Sebum Care 25 pads
Whamisa Organic Flowers Apple Sebum Treatment 120 ml
Whamisa Organic Flowers Hydrogel Mask

Anti-aging products

Since I am going into the winter mode and I just turned 30, I’ve decided to invest into the Geum Sul line by MISSHA and got 3 unique products that stood out of the bunch with their ingredients and their potential use. I also got another version of the Near Skin Self Control Peeling massage thing-of-a-bobs to see if it is going to improve my Keratosis Pilaris any further.

MISA Geum Sul Lifting Special Cream 50 ml (the actual jar is on the photo with Whamisa products)
MISA Geum Sul Vitalizing Finisher 60 ml
MISA Geum Sul First Essence Booster 100 ml
MISSHA Near Skin Self Control peeling massage 200 ml

More masks !!!

What mask-addict blog wouldn’t include the new masks. Ha-ha, definitely not mine. Over past 4 weeks I’ve collected a whole bunch of amazing looking masks from MISSHA and Hello Skin brands and will be doing the test-drives of these in coming weeks. So definitely stay tuned.

Hello Skin Jumiso Whoa Whoa Soothing Mask
Hello Skin Jumiso Chewy Elasticity Mask
Hello Skin Jumiso Rich Nourishment Mask
MISA Cho Gong Jin Silky Mask
MISSHA Skin Essential Charcoal & Horse Oil Sheet Mask
MISSHA Glowing Oil-Soak Mask
MISSHA 3-step Nutrition Mask

New brand in town

And of course last but not least, after the Huxley skin care release I was extremely eager to try out their products and see myself what all the fuss is about. Considering that trying out everything full-size would put an enormous dent into my wallet I’ve opted for the set of miniatures that I am planning to take on my coming vacation in January. I also purchased the miniature set of their oils (which is currently flying across the ocean on one of the shipping courier planes). Soon I will be adding review about them too so don’t hesitate to check out my blog around January for the reviews on this brand.

The Huxley Deluxe Collection Extraordinary Gift Set containing
Full-size Hand Cream 35ml
Travel-size Healing Scrub 30g
Travel-size Healing Mask 30g
Travel-size Sleep Mask 30g
Travel-size Cleansing Water 30ml
Travel-size Cleansing Gel 30ml
Travel-size Toner 30ml
Huxley Travel Pouch

Pheew, what a lot of writing! I truly hope you enjoy reading my blog. Definitely let me know if you have tried any of the products mentioned today and waht your experience wit them was. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to testing new goodies out and reporting back to you with my thoughts and experiences.

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

Matcha Clay Pack by LEEGEEHAAM

Matcha Clay Pack by LEEGEEHAAM is a good clay mask if you want something that is easy to use and comes in a large container. If you don’t mind spending 20$/€ you should try it out. I should warn you though, it is not a holy grail product.

Claims from the manufacturer:

A wash-off type clay pack with antioxidant-rich matcha purifying and detoxifying dull skin. It helps to tighten enlarged pores as it dries, maintaining skin smooth and revitalized.
Redness might appear right after rinsing off, which is due to the product’s tightening function.

Directions from the manufacturer:

Apply an appropriate amount on face gently. After 10 min, wash off with warm water.

Ingredients:

Water, Kaolin, Dipropylene glycol, Bentonite, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Betaine, Silica, Butylene glycol, Montmorillonite, 1,2-hexanediol, Illite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl urea, Cellulose, Xanthan gum, Chromium oxide greens, Citric acid, Citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, Disodium edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil

My experience:

It reminds me of the L’Oreal Purify & Mattify Face Mask from thePure Clay series except that LEEGEEHAAM mask is much better version out of the two. If L’Oreal breaks me out like a beast, this one does a decent job at mattifying my face and temporarily tightening the pores.

Anyhow, do not attempt to apply it on an entire face. When this mask is dry after 10 minutes it tugs a lot on the skin. If you have a sensitive skin use it more-less like a spot treatment or just cover the necessary areas.

The mask is sea-foam green in color and the jar contains 110 grams of product which is a nice amount. The packaging is sturdy plastic that has very minimalistic logo on it and a brief description of the back. The scent is very fresh and not too strong. Mask itself is very soft and creamy but the consistency is a bit on the thicker side. With this particular product the less is more. More you apply, more it will tug on the skin irritating it…

The advised wear time is 10 minutes which ensures that the mask is entirely dry by the end of that time. When it comes to rinsing it off, it is a very pleasant experience. Mask comes off in very little time and requires minimal effort. After it is washed off, my skin is pleasantly hydrated but I still have an urge to moisturize my skin after 15 minutes. When it comes to the results, this mask is nothing special. It does diminish the appearance of my pores a bit and gets rid of my oil. It basically does everything other clay masks do. Overall it is a pleasant product but I would not purchase it again. There are many other masks performing better on my skin for much less $$ spent.

Summary:

Pros:

+ Easy to wash off
+ After use skin is decently hydrated considering this is a clay pack
+ Decent amount of product in the jar
+ Minimalistic packaging
+ Sulfate, silicone, alcohol, paraben free formulation

Cons:
– Pulling too much on the skin
– Not worth the price, there are better masks delivering better results at lower price point

Where to buy:
NL and BE: littlewonderland.nl
Internationally: Available at amazon and glowrecipe
Price is 20,95€ per 110 grams jar

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask

I bought the Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask a a part of the MISSHA Black Ghassoul Pore Care Set on the bbcreamshop website. I am not new to mud masks so I pretty much knew what to expect from it.

Claims from the manufacturer:

The Black Ghassoul wash off mask is great for pore cleaning and tightening.
It helps control sebum as well as skin troubles.
The mask moisturizes and leaves skin with a refreshing feeling.
Free of Paraben, Talc, Mineral Oil, and Fragrance.

Directions from the manufacturer:

Use 1-2 times per week. After washing face and applying Toner, get appropriate amount and spread evenly onto face, avoiding eye and lip areas. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Ingredients:

Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Bentonite, Propylene Glycol, Moroccan Black Ghassoul, Glycerin, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Charcoal Powder, Fomes Officinalis (Mushroom) Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Extract Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethylaurate/VP Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499

My experience:

The Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask turned out to be a quiet powerful product for tightening up my pores. I’ve used one of the pore strips earlier today and there were some pretty big gaps on my nose. I’ve literally received this one together with some other MISSHA products today so I decided to do first impressions of it while it was sitting on my face.

The 95ml jar comes with a spatula for scooping out the product. The mask is dark grey in color and it is very thick so please do use spatula otherwise it is very difficult to pick up this mask with a brush. I tried to aplly it with my regular soft bristle mask brush but it picked up very little of the product. The spatula came in handy and I just spreaded it over my face with my small pore brush that is designed to reach well into the nose folds. Application with the hands is also possible and maybe even easier than making my brushes dirty.

First 5 minutes nothing happened. Mask remained moist and didnt change any color. After 10 minutes on my skin I felt slight tightening sensation on my nose and to me it was a cure to wash it off. Rinsing it out was quick and easy. My skin seemed brighter on the areas I’ve placed the product. The gaps from extracted earlier sebum were gone. There was no irritation or redness of the skin. The mask did a good job on evening my skin and shrinking the craters on the nose are. The only other skin care step this day was a spray toner to restore the moisture barrier of my skin.

To sum up: the mask did what I expected it to do. It is very economical in use and a little goes a long way. I like this mask much more than the Ghassoul mask from the TooCoolForSchool that I’ve been using for shrinking my pores. There is no scent to this product and it has a decent price. The ingredient list is also very good. Will I purchase it again? Yes! Considering the amout of prouct in it it will probably be somewhere next year 🙂

Summary:

Pros:
+ Paraben, Sulfate, Perfume and Alcohol free formulation
+ Contains charcoal powder and Panthenol
+ Rich in Vitamine E and Camelia Flower extract
+ Great purifying mask that tightens up my pores
+ Suitable for all skin types
+ Economic in use, the less is more
+ No fragrance

Cons:
– Contains Dimethicone
– Very thick consistency, hard to apply with the brush

Where to buy:
NL and BE: bbcreamshop.eu and easycosmetic.nl
Internationally: Available at missha.nl, misshaus and amazon webshops
Price is 11,95 € per 95 ml of product

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Pore Care Natural Color Clay Mask

Missha Pore Care Natural Color Clay Mask is part of the 4 mask series that are suitable for multi masking and address several issues of the skin. This specific mask is aiming to reduce the appearance of the pores while deeply hydrating the skin.

Claims from the manufacturer:

❇ Pore care mask with Brazilian green clay to help absorb sebum and clean pores.
❇ Brazilian natural clay
❇ Classified color treatment depending on the type of skin troubles
❇ Wash-off type

Directions from the manufacturer:

After washing the face, prepare the skin with toner. Take an appropriate amount, apply thickly onto the face avoiding the eye and lip area and after 10-15 minutes, wash off thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Ingredients:

Water,Glycerin, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG -17/6 Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Bentonite, Stearic Acid, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Mica (Cl 77019), Cellulose Gum, Polyacrylate – 13, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Montmorillonite, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

My experience:

Do I like it? Yes! I it the best from the entire line? No. With this entire mask series a little goes a long way. The tube of the Pore Care clay mask is well designed. It is made of thicker plastic that is soft so squeezing the mask of of the package is as easy as counting to three. It’s huge tube contains 137 grams of product and lasts me forever since I do not apply it over my entire face.

The consistency of clay is very soft and almost gel-like. It is definitely different from the rest of the bunch. The color of it is olive green and it doesn’t have a scent to it. It spreads out extremely well due to it’s very gel-like texture. It literally glides over the skin.

I apply this Firming Natural Color Clay onto my T-Zone and let it do it’s magic for 15 minutes. In order to create more thin layer I apply it with a brush. after 15 minutes it is not drying out entirely. If I touch my face I can still move the product around. Once it comes to rinsing it out that is where I get stuck with it. It feels to me that you need more time to completely remove it off the face. Nonetheless, my skin is always left very hydrated after this one.

I do still pat my skin with a toner after using it to restore my skin’s natural moisture and pH levels.

Final verdict: This mask is great to use if you want to cleanse your pores without drying the skin out. It is so gentle on the skin that I think it will be good for dry skinners out there! Just follow the 15 minute application rule.

Pros:
+ Alcohol, sulfate and paraben free formula
+ Contains Eucalyptus extract and Vitamin E
+ Enormous amount of product in the tube for a low price
+ Extremely suitable for my oily/combination skin
+ Does not break me out nor dries my skin out
+ Easy to apply

Cons:
– Contains some ingredients that are not suitable for acne prone skin
– Contains silicone
– Washes off with more difficulties in comparison to other masks from this line

Where to buy:
❇ NL and BE: bbcreamshop.eu and missha.nl
❇ Internationally: Available at skin18, misshaus and other webshops
❇ Price is 8,95€-14,63€ depending on where you get it from

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

BIOTHERM Wonder mud beautifying smoothing mask

The Wonder mud beautifying smoothing mask belongs to the Skin Best series made by BIOTHERM. It is a 3-minute purifying non-drying mask and here it is what I think of it.

Claims from the manufacturer:

❇ 3-minute mask, with mineral clay, to cleanse deep, reduce the look of pores and get a healthy-looking glow. This non-drying mask removes impurities and excess sebum and unclogs pores.
❇ Use twice-weekly to cleanse against the build-up of city grime, makeup and impurities to help fight dullness and let skin feel as if it can breathe easier.
❇ This mask combats dullness and absorbs oil and impurities. Skin looks noticeably healthier, brighter and more even, feels soft and looks luminous.
❇ Tested on all skin types, even sensitive.
❇ Purified and healthier-looking skin within 2 weeks.
❇ Pores look reduced within 4 weeks.
❇ Gentle, comfortable and non-drying texture for easy-on, easy-off application.
❇ Freshness streamlines application and removal.
❇ Dead surface skin cells are scrubbed away with a sweet sensory experience.

Directions from the manufacturer (Multiple ways to mask):

❇ Non-drying, in 3 minutes your mask is on – and off again.
– Option 1: Use twice weekly all-over at hometime or after your run for a deep-cleansed glow.
– Option 2: Use to target trouble in the T-zone.
– Option 3: Apply to cheek contours only for light-reflecting contouring when the big occasion calls.

Ingredients (listed on the official website):

FORMULA WITH ASTAXANTHIN, GHASSOUL MINERAL CLAY, AND LIFE PLANKTON.

Full list of ingredients:

Aqua, Kaolin, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Capryloyl Glycine, Steary lAlcohol,Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Linalool, Geraniol, Myristic Acid, Moroccan Lava Clay, Citric Acid, Haematoccus Pluvialis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum [+/- CI 77891, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77510]

My experience:

At first I liked this mask but more I used it, more my opinion of it has changed. I purchased it around 3 months ago. I loved the way it is packaged, great quality glass, beautiful vibrant color, big size jar. Unfortunately this mask doesn’t come with an application spatula.

I still remember the first time I used it. It was so creamy and went on with a nice thin layer. I was surprised to find scrubbing particles in it but I did like their presence in (it makes it easier to wash off this mask off). Back then I put a nice layer and covered my entire face and left the mask on until it was half-dry. Then just simply rinse it off, tone – you are good to go.

Couple of days later I reached for it the second time. That’s when it started acting wonky on me. I applied it for 3 minutes as it was advised by the manufacturer and washed it off. The next day my skin was feeling very textured and I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that my pores were ultimately clogged. So I did apply it for the third time and same thing happened.

I started poking the mask around and saw that it has a mica glitter powder in it. After you wash the wonder mud off your face, look closely and you will see some small golden-hue specks of glitter (fine milled powder) remaining on the skin. That was the reason that my skin was boycotting. I immediately stopped using this mask because it did me no good whatsoever.

Today I reached for it only to write this review and it is officially the last time I will use it on my face. The texture of this mask is very soft, creamy, almost whipped. It is highly scented with that artificial strong lemony(citronella) fragrance that lingers on top of your skin even after you rinse the mask out. To me it does nothing in the 3-minutes application time. My skin does not feel more hydrated or revitalized, it also doesn’t look any brighter, cleaner, calmer… Nothing.

The rinsing part is also so-so. If you let this mask on for longer than 5 minutes then it comes off much easier than after 3 minutes wearing time. Once I was washing it off my skin felt greasy (I presume there is a high content of glycerine it it). In order to protect my skin from the aftermath I had to go over with my foam to oil cleanser + toner to remove every last bit of it off my face. Unfortunately the Wonder mud did no wonders and left me extremely disappointed.

Pros:
+ Sulfate and paraben free
+ Contains vitamine E
+ Pretty packaging
+ Good texture of the product

Cons:
– Description on the manufacturer’s website is disturbing and not clear
– Contains alcohol and a lot of skin irritating ingredients
– Contains fragrance, beware it is very strong
– Not skin friendly for oily (which is weird considering it is a clay mask), acne prone and sensitive skin
– Does nothing good for my skin
– Does not meet it’s claims
– Overpriced for what it is

Where to buy:
❇ NL and BE: parfumerie.nl and easyycosmetic.nl
❇ Internationally: Available at biotherm , ebay and at many other online retail stores
❇ Price is 33,40 € per 75 ml jar

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

Morocco Ghassoul Cream Pack by Too Cool For School

Long time no see! Sorry for some quiet times on my blog page, I was on my vacation in sunny Cape Verde and internet was not so great there to publish anything. I did bring a lot of things with me here so will make a post about what I actually used up in the two weeks time that I was there.

Today’s review is about the Morocco Ghassoul Cream Pack by Too Cool For School. This was one of those accidental buys that turned out into a pleasant surprise. The jar contains 100 grams of product and it will last me for a while.

Claims from the manufacturer:

❇ Morocco Ghassoul Cream Pack is a cream-type, pore-cleansing mask pack is formulated with 10% organic Morocco Ghassoul clay certified by Ecocert.

❇ It cleanses pores, nourishes the skin, AND evens out skin tone! Man what can this amazing mask NOT do?!. Micro particles of Ghassoul clay gently remove dead skin cells while refining skin texture for smother, clearer, and more youthful appearing skin. Also this formula is rich in vitamins and minerals which are packed full of natural amino acids. Finally, manuka honey gives a instant boost of hydration, promoting cell regeneration for damaged skin. The formula is further enriched with Herb Flower Complex, consisting of Edelweiss, Calendula, and Camomile that softens and soothes skin.

❇ Suitable for oily and combination skin types

Directions from the manufacturer:

1. Apply a generous layer to clean, dry skin. Leave on for 5~10 minutes.
2. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water and pat face dry.

Ingredients:

Water/Eau, Kaolin, Moroccan Lava Clay, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bentonite, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Honey Extract/ Miel, Extrait de miel, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA.

My experience:

The Morocco Ghassoul Cream Pack comes in a brown plastic jar. It contains 100 grams of off-white colored clay which is very thick and somewhat creamy. I was struggling with application with my hands for the first time because I didn’t expect the play dough consistency. The mask just kept falling off my face. Once I figured out that the brush application achieves much better results it got much easier for me.

I apply this mask only on to the centre of my face leaving my chin and the largest part of my forehead area untreated. Why? Because this mask is hard to wash off and I don’t want to scrub my face unless I do it with a product that is made for it. Tip! -> This mask washes off way easier if you use the same brush you applied it with and make the clay wet prior to washing it off.

I also tried to do a spot treatment with it on the emerging pimples on my face and wow! For this purpose the results are more than great! No matter if my acne was huge,red and angry or whether it was a small not dangerously looking zit. In all of the cases this mask reduced the swelling around the pimples and the next day they are as good as gone!

Pros:
+ Sulfate and alcohol formula
+ Good for oily and combination skin
+ Great pore tightening results
+ Perfect for spot treatment of emerging pimples
+ Great amount of product per one pack

Cons:
– Contains paraben
– No-no for a dry and sensitive skin
– Extremely thick consistency
– Hard to get within the EU webshops
– Best used for spot treatment, avoid application to an entire face

Where to buy:
❇ NL and BE: TKmaxx stores
❇ Internationally: Available at beautybay and toocoolforschool webshops
❇ Price is +/- 18€ per jar depending on where you get it from

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Purple-Firming Natural Color Clay Mask

MISSHA Purple-Firming Natural Color Clay Mask is one of the 4 masks in the Color Clay series. I love the fact how gentle they are on my skin. Clay masks are my nr 2 used masks in my entire collection. First place is rightfully occupied by the sheet masks because they are so easy in use.

Claims from the manufacturer:

❇ Elasticity care mask with Brazilian purple clay to help provide elasticity and nutrition to skin.
❇ Brazilian natural clay
❇ Classified color treatment depending on the type of skin troubles
❇ Wash-off type mask

Directions from the manufacturer:

Ingredients:

Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG -17/6 Copolymer, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Palmitic Acid, Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Bentonite, Stearic Acid, Viola tricolor Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cellulose Gum, Polyacrylate – 13, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyisobutene, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Montmorillonite, Mica (Cl 77019), Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ultramarines(Cl 77007), Iron Oxides (Cl 77491), Iron Oxides (Cl 77492)

My experience:

Do I like it? Hell yeah! With this mask a little goes a long way. The tube of this clay mask contains 137 grams of product! It is huge and lasts me forever. If I would want to cover my entire body in clay I could use one of these and still have some left afterwards.

The consistency of clay is very soft and creamy. If you ever tried the Biotherm Wonder Mud, you know what to expect from this one. The color of it is pinkish with a slight tint of purple in it. It turns more violet on the skin once it is drying out. There is no scent to the clay that I can detect. It spreads out extremely well and when it dries it still somehow feels moisturizing .

I apply this Firming Natural Color Clay onto my entire face. I do use a brush for it to create more thin layer. I remember the first time I used it I was afraid it is going to pull on my skin so I just placed it only over my T-zone. Now that I know it is tug-free, it is my go-to mask when I want to reduce the shine of my face for the coming day.

I usually leave it on for 15 minutes. Within this time it is nearly completely dry. When I rinse it, it comes off in no time leaving my skin very smooth and matte. I pat my skin with a toner of my choice and apply my make-up. After these steps my make-up sits on my face for an entire day and I don’t even have to use the blotting paper.

Final verdict: This mask is great to use if you need to wear make-up and be out an about for an entire day. By the end of the day you are left with flawlessly sitting make-up!

Pros:
+ Alcohol, sulfate and paraben free formula
+ Contains vitamin E
+ Enormous amount of product in the tube for a low price
+ Extremely suitable for my oily/combination skin
+ Does not break me out nor dries my skin out
+ Easy to apply and washes off with ease
+ Perfect base for a makeup

Cons:
– Contains some ingredients that are not suitable for acne prone skin
– Firming claim is not met on my skin

Where to buy:
❇ NL and BE: bbcreamshop.eu and missha.nl
❇ Internationally: Available at yesstyle, skin18 and many other webshops
❇ Price is 8,95€-14,63€ depending on where you get it from

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂

MISSHA Pure Source Pocket Packs

For some time I was oogling at these pocket pack masks from the MISSHA brand. I really like the concept of having several types of masks in little pouches that last you for 2-3 times. For me it means that I can test several products out without spending a fortune on full-size items. As well as I am not stuck afterwards with a full jar of something I may potentially not like.

For a while these were sold out in NL online stores so I was waiting patiently until they got restocked. I purchased 8 types to try out out of which 5 were sleeping packs, 1 peel-off pack, 1 exfoliating pack and 1 clay pack. I grouped them according to the instructions on the packs. More detailed description and my experience is are at the end of this post.

Sleeping Packs

❇ Honey – A sleeping mask with Honey extacts to nourish and moisturize your skin overnight

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Sophora Japonica Flower Extract, Allantoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethanolamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.

❇ Green Tea – A sleeping mask with Green Tea extracts that hydrate, relax and soothe your skin overnight

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

❇ Tea Tree – A sleeping mask with Tea Tree extracts that hydrate, calm and soothe your skin overnight. Due to the antibacterial propertis this mask is most suitable for the acne prone skin

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol Denat., Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

❇ Shea Butter – A sleeping mask with Sheabutter to moisturize your skin overnight

Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.

❇ Lemon – This sleeping mask with Lemon extracts brightens and clarifies skin overnight, it is enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants

Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate , Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance(Parfum).

* There are 2 more of the sleeping pack with Aloe and Pearl extracts which I couldn’t find at the time of the purchase.

Directions from the manufacturer:
At the last step of the skincare after washing the face apply an appropriate amount over face. Leave on overnight and rinse off with lukewarm water in the morning.

Wash-off Clay Pack

❇ Pomegranate – This clay mask with Pomegranate exracts smooths and firms the skin, absorbs excess sebum and reduces impurities.

Ingredients:
Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Bentonite, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Titanium dioxide, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lactic acid, Iron Oxides, Sodium Lactate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Fragrance

Directions from the manufacturer:
At the last step of the skincare after washing the face apply an appropriate amount over face. 10 minutes later rinse off with lukewarm water.

Wash-off Exfoliating Pack

❇ Rice – A mild peeling with Rice extracts removes dead skin cells and brightens the skin leaving it soft and radiant

Ingredients:
Water, PEG-8, Cellulose, Oryza Sativa Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit /Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Tromethamine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance

Directions from the manufacturer:
Apply aan appropriate amount over face. Massage until the dead skin cell comes out and rince with lukewarm water. (yep, that is the original text, no grammar issues here at all 🙂 )

Peel-off pack

❇ Lotus – A peel-off mask with Lotus extracts to brighten and clarify the skin

Ingredients
Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., PVP, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Methylpropanediol, Trehalose, Allantoin, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropolone, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.

Directions from the manufacturer:
At the last step of the skincare after washing the face apply an appropriate amount over face. 20-30 minutes later after it dries out completely, peel it off.

My experience:
All of the masks are definitely worth trying. Each one of them preformed well on my skin, didn’t make me breakout or stick to my sheets. For me, my personal top 3 from this range are the Lotus, Rice and Green Tea packs.

Lotus pocket pack got me after 1 use! My heart melted at how easy it was to remove off my face. There was no pull or burn on my skin as it happens sometimes with the pore strips or those black pore masks. On the contrary, My skin felt hydrated and soft after use. I did feel that it did strip the oil off my face, so I did moisturize my skin with essence after this mask.

Rice pocket mask is quite mild exfoliant for me. It had a pleasant, non-offensive smell to it and was easy to spread around my face. I would reach for it for sure on the days that my skin is more sensitive than normal.

Green tea sleeping pack performance was as moisturizing and hydrating as other masks. I picked it over the others because I really like the yummy smell of it. All of the sleeping masks I’ve bought are quite similar in their action so I would opt for choosing the one whom fragrance you like the most.

Clay mask was as effective as any other clay masks. It purified my skin, left it nice and oil-free. Smell of this one is quite good too. Was worth trying but I doubt I would repurchase this one again. I have too many clay masks that to better job at moisturizing my skin on top of doing what clay usually does.

Pros:
+ Affordable and good quality products
+ Big variety to choose from
+ Nicely fragranced
+ Peel-off pack is not painful to remove
+ Exfoliator pack is very gentle, hence suitable for the sensitive skins
+ Perfect for 2-3 times use
+ Ideal for traveling due to the handy format of these
+ Resealable packaging which ensures that the content stays sanitary
+ Suitable for all the skin types

Cons:
– Sleeping packs are kind of all the same except the scent
– Clay pack is not standing out from the whole bunch
– Manufacturer’s description in English makes me very sad. For such a big company as MISSHA they should not Google-translate the text that they put on the label

Where to buy:
❇ NL and BE: bbcreamshop.eu has these currently in stock for 1,85€. You also get 1-2 day delivery (which is worth mentioning)
❇Internationally: There are plenty of websites such as amazon, yesstyle.com, ebay.com e.t.c. Just hit the name of these into Google and push the shopping section to see what online shops in your country sell these.
❇Price per pack varies from 2-4,5$ depending on the retailer.

Thank you for reading!

Yours truly, Kati 🙂