Mizon Goodnight White Sleeping Mask

What is a Sleeping Mask and do I need one?
Sleeping masks are yet another step in your already crowded beauty routine, some of you may be groaning right now, while others may be rubbing their hands in delight at the thought of another product to add to your growing arsenal! Sleeping masks are your last step at night to be used 2-3 times a week. Their aim is to deliver an intense burst of moisture to dehydrated or unhappy skin, so if yor skin is very dehydrated like mine you may wish to use one every night, while those people with less dryness may only need to use them as a weekly treat. 

I picked up Mizon Goodnight White Sleeping Mask from RRS (you may recall it from my first post) and I've been using it ever since. 

I just love the simple blue packaging

Packaging - It comes in a 50ml tube and is also available in an 80ml tub - I do like the convenience of the tube packaging and price per ml works out better if you buy the tube packaging too. Also from a quick glance at cosdna I'm not sure if the formulation of the tub mask is the same as the tube, despite the same name.

Scent - Very subtle, maybe a hint of lavender? Anyway it's quite soothing and perfect for night time.

Thick gel texture

Feel - Not very creamy or rich, which is what I was expecting from a sleeping mask. From what I'd read beforehand online I imagined all sleeping masks to be an extra boost of occlusive hydration - so when I squeezed the first bit out, I was very surprised to find it was a thick gel texture. It spreads easily over the skin and sinks in fast - the feel of spreading the cream is really nice, it's just so light and easy to spread and you don't feel like it's just sitting there waiting to be absorbed by your pillowcase as soon as you nod off to sleep.

On my first night of using it I left out my starfish step thinking that using them both together may be too hydrating and boy was I wrong - this cream contributes minimal hydration. I was so dissapointed thinking that this was a wasted purchase (however nice it felt slathering it on at night.) So I checked out the ingredients list, only to find that this packs a huge Niacinamide punch - not so useless afterall.
  
What is Niacinamide and why was I so excited?
Niacinamide also known as Vitamin B3 or Nicotinamide works well as an anti-inflammatory and is used as an adjunct to many acne treatments with some new creams containing niacinamide as well as the usual acne medication. Niacinamide has also shown very promising results as a skin whitener when applied topically (not a skin bleacher it will not make you paler than your natural colouring) and is especially effective at treating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (those pesky marks left behind by spots!) and uneven skin tone (dodgy panda eye tan marks left over from a summer wearing sunglasses anyone?) 

 

 

White as the snow comes into your skin!! Purest skin will come true!!

Ingredients:  Aqua, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Polsorbate 20, Glycerine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Gycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerine, Tropolone, Triethenolmaine, Carbomer, Trehalose, Sclerotium Gum, Broussonetia Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Patethine, Placental Protein, Natto Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, C1 17200, C1 42090, Fragrance

Results: Using this Product in conjunction with the rest of my skincare routine has considerably lightened the stubborn red marks and pigmentation left on my chin and around my nostrils - left over from previous breakouts and the freckles on my cheeks left over from a summer spent in the sun have also almost completely faded and are now only visible under bright light. 

Rebuy - Although Mizon Goodnight White Sleeping Mask is amazing, it's not quite what I'm looking for at the moment as my skin is constantly dry, so I'll be continuing my search for a new Sleeping Pack after finishing this tube. I imagine this could easily become a HG sleeping pack for ladies with oily skin or those with PIH - it really is so light and non-oily and at this price-point I really do think it's worth the risk and I am considering buying another tube "just in case" as it's so reasonably priced. 

Innisfree Super volcanic pore clay mask

I recently purchased the Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask from Innisfreeworld online which came as part of a set containing Jeju volcanic pore toner and Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam - all for the same price as the mask alone! 

I love clay masks. I've loved them since my teenage years using superdrug "fruity chemically tingly mask packs" at sleepovers and this love carried me through to buying Eve Lom Rescue Mask in my early 20s. When I heard all the rave reviews of this little beauty from Innisfree I snapped it up quickly during their free shipping offer! 

So back to the mask at hand!!

Ingredients: WATER, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, VOLCANIC ASH, GLYCERIN, SILICA, TREHALOSE, KAOLIN, BENTONITE, POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, ZINC OXIDE (CI 77947), GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, JUGLANS REGIA (WALNUT) SHELL POWDER, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, PVP, PEG-100 STEARATE, POLYSORBATE 60, STEARIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, XANTHAN GUM, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, SORBITAN STEARATE, POLYACRYLATE-13, MANNITOL, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, LACTIC ACID, POLYISOBUTENE, MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, POLYSORBATE 20, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL

Packaging: The 100ml comes in a small jar - you'll need a spatula, which doesn't come with it: I'd recommend buying a big bag of them as they always come in useful even if you don't use them for your face creams, to get the last bits of product out of jars without digging with your nails! 

Texture: This stuff is thick I actually used a spatula to get a small amount out and then used a wet face pack brush to apply it - worked like a charm. It's completely smooth unlike glamglow mask and is a very pale grey colour when applied. It dries to a bright white/grey colour FYI.

Scent: Clay, no added fragrance just that comforting earthy smell which I associate with complete relaxation and "girl talk" while watching soppy movies! 

Face masks: you may be doing it wrong!!

I was talking to a friend of mine who works at a dermatology practice the other day and among the usual skincare conversations we normally have, clay masks came up. I was complaining that I hate the feeling when I yawn with a clay mask on and my whole face "cracks". 

She looked horrified - "you let the mask dry out on your face???"

"Well yes, that's what you're supposed to do right?"

"No!!! When it dries its pulling moisture out of your skin, haven't you noticed your face feeling tight after?"

"Well yes...but I thought that was supposed to happen.."

"No!"

So apparently we're supposed to be washing the mask off before it gets dry and flaky - at the stage where it's just starting to change colour and still has some "tack" to it, she likes to mist her face to prolong the process while wearing a mask - I tried it out - mind blown!! I used Avene thermal water spray but you could just use a plain mister or even a fancy one (I wonder if nature republic bee venom mist would work?)

She also went on to tell me that I should keep the clay mask to my oily zones and to put a moisturising mask over the other parts of my face (makes sense...also justifies a new purchase!!!) 

Results: Clay masks are used to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and loosen debris in the pores (or loosen "blackheads") 

When I removed the mask my pores appeared smaller (probably due to some of the gunk covering them having been washed away!) and my face was much less "ruddy" also in the evening following the mask I finally managed to get "grits" when I oil cleansed!!!! (Maybe some of that blackhead loosening action?)

Rebuy: Yes, it's cheaper than Origins Charcoal mask the only other clay mask I've tried without added menthol (seriously what is it with a lot of companies adding menthol to give that tingly feeling to make you feel like it's "working" it just irritates!!!) and it works really well for me. 

I've yet to try the toner and foam cleanser that I received with this mask as I've run out of pH testers - but I'll report back if they pass the pH test! 

Pros: 

It does what it says on the tin

Non-irritating

No annoying menthol tingle

A little goes a long way

Cons:

Slightly difficult to get hold of

Pot packaging - apparently the 200ml comes in a tube (score!!) 

It has a lot of ingredients - do check if you're sensitive to any of them and run them through cosdna before purchasing! 

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream

Today I'm going to speak about my current obsession - Mizon Returning Starfish Cream. I bought this about 8 weeks ago and have been using it ever since - to be honest the only reason I bought this was because of the amazing tin, it's beautiful:

However, this rather fetching tin holds (what's turning out to be) my HG hydrating cream, it's completely bowled me over!!

Mizon Returning starfish cream contains a whopping 70% starfish extract as well as some other nice additions such as niacinamide. 

So why should you be putting starfish on your skin? There are very few studies on the effects of starfish at present, but it does appear to be a very promising cosmetic additive! Here's a summary of the current studies available (skip forward if you don't want a science lecture, and thanks goes to u/ecologista on reddit for gathering all these papers!). 

Starfish extract contains steroidal compounds which may play a part in the  anti microbial properties it exhibits against yeasts and fungi (maybe something to consider if you're using any fermented cosmetics). 

Another study suggested that it may also have skin whitening materials which could result in a reduction of melanogenesis by reduction of tyrosinase activity. Now that's a few big scientific words, let's break that down a little: Melanogenesis produces melanin, or skin pigmentation - the pigment in your skin, eyes and hair. Sun exposure causes these melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) to go a bit crazy, depositing a lot of protective melanin in the skin layers as a reaction to Ultraviolet light - this is what gives you a "tan". Other compounds can also trigger melanogenesis such as metabolic disorders, Vitamin D and retinods..but that's a lesson for another day.

Other studies found that like snail filtrate (yeah remember the snails?) starfish extract accelerated wound healing and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects (all good things if you're suffering from acne scarring).

Now none of these studies were conducted on humans and a variety of different starfish types were used - so don't take these claims as gospel, these are potential effects and further studies will have to be conducted to prove their efficacy on humans!

Now back to the cream!

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream, available from RoseRoseShop: ~£12.50 it's out of stock at the moment (free p&p) TesterKorea: £16.80 CultBeauty: £25 (err nope)

Ingredients: 

Water, Hydrolyzed Starfish Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Isododecane, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Tropolone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Adenosine, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Beta Glucan, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Pca, Betain, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Disodium Edta, Fragrance

There are a few known acne triggers including Oenothera Biennis Oil (evening primrose oil), so do check the ingredients through cosdna to be sure this product is suitable for you. 

Texture: Its a firm jelly like texture when you first scoop it out from the tin (with the handy spatula provided) when I first scooped some out my initial thoughts were "How is this even going to spread on my face, it's so solid!" But rub it a bit between your fingers and you'll notice that it becomes a lot less viscous and it's then very easy to pat on to your skin. 

Scent: Light floral scent - I don't usually like fragrance in my cosmetics but considering the ingredients in this cream, a floral scent was extremely welcome! It's very subtle and disappears once the cream sinks in. 

Effects: now you don't need much, just a pea sized amount to achieve the most wonderful hydration! I put this on at night over Mizon All in One Snail Cream, just on my cheeks and just before my face oil and WOW I'm waking up with the bounciest, plumpest skin I've ever had. 

I can't really comment on the "whitening" effects as I'm using a few different products containing niacinamide and AHAs, but in combination my routine has dramatically faded the pesky freckles on my cheeks left over from lax SPF application during the summer. 

Rebuy: Yes!! 

Disclaimer: I can't be held responsible for how much you end up stroking your face after applying this cream. 

Étude House bb cream samples

I recently received some samples of Étude House BB creams and one face base, as I am forever on the search for a HG BB cream I was eager to try these, although I had a slight suspicion that they wouldn't be my shade (see below for lard coloured skin examples). 

From left: Baby choux base in "Mint Choux", Precious Mineral BB in "Blooming Fit w13" and "Cotton Fit w13"

(I'm maybe slightly more tan than white flour) I'd say the blooming fit was around an NW 15-20, and the Cotton Fit is around an NW 20-25.

Baby Choux in Mint Choux costs $15 from www.etudehouse.com

I was very excited when I received this as I've been looking for something to tone down the red marks around my nose and hoped this would work well. 

Ingredients: WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, METHYL TRIMETHICONE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), GLYCERIN, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, SILICA, ZINC OXIDE (CI 77947), DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, POLYSILICONE-11, STEARIC ACID, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, PRUNUS MUME FRUIT EXTRACT, CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), FRAGRANCE

First impressions: 

Texture: A lovely mint green colour with quite a light texture. 

Scent: The scent is slightly floral but it's very subtle. 

Coverage: It blends easily and smoothly and the green colour doesn't settle in any lines, in fact the green colour disappears pretty quickly. 

This was more of a base than a BB cream - the colour pay off was next to nothing for this reason. I'm still unsure what exactly it's supposed to do, because it did ermm..nothing. Maybe due to the fact that I'm so pale, I found no difference in my skin tone after applying, it had no effect on any red patches and no effect on how smoothly my foundation went on afterwards - if anything it made my foundation much slower to absorb. 

Buy it or bin it? Bin, unfortunately it didn't do a thing. YMMV this may be more effective on darker skin colours - but if it's redness you're trying to cover, keep looking because this isn't going do a thing! 

Precious mineral BB cream in Blooming fit w13 costs £7.20 And you can find it here: 

http://www.roseroseshop.com/en/20-sale/121355--etude-house-precious-mineral-bb-cream-blooming-fit-60g-now13-natural-beige-new.html?ps_full_site=1 

Ingredients: WATER, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6- 14 OLEFIN), CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE (CI 77947), BORON NITRIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYBUTENE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, HEXYL LAURATE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, BEESWAX, STEARIC ACID, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, ADENOSINE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, MOTHER OF PEARL, PHYLLOSTACHIS BAMBUSOIDES JUICE, ALCOHOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), FRAGRANCE

First Impressions

Texture: This has a very light texture and a good amount of "slip" although it was too dark for me it would still do in a pinch during the summer, due to how blendable it was. 

Scent: Not much of one, just a slight "sunscreen" smell.

Coverage: I couldn't really test it on my own face as it's now winter and I've got my whole "Morticia Adams" paleness going on. My mother however is a perfect NW20-25 and this was perfect on her, I'd say the coverage was medium, but very buildable. The most impressive thing was how this completely covered deep pores without caking and without primer - pretty miraculous stuff! It also did a very good job at hiding dark circles and didn't settle into any lines throughout the day. 

Staying power: Stayed matte all day (but she does have normal/dry skin) didn't settle into lines, some wear around the nose but considering the ease of applying it would have been easy to touch up. 

Buy it or bin it? Mums asked for it for Christmas, so I guess I will be buying it! 

Etude House Precious mineral in Cotton Fit w13 costs $15 at www.etudehouse.com

Ingredients: WATER, PEARL EXTRACT, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), GLYCERIN, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, NIACINAMIDE, NYLON-12, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), ZINC OXIDE (CI 77947), TALC, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), BEESWAX, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM (COTTON), CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) EXTRACT, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM EXTRACT, ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS EXTRACT, PRIMULA VERIS EXTRACT, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT, VERONICA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HEXYL LAURATE, TRIBEHENIN, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, DIMETHICONE/METHICONE COPOLYMER, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, ADENOSINE, KAOLIN, SILICA, LECITHIN, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE(PARFUM), MICA (CI 77019), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

First impressions:

Texture: This was much thicker than the other two, well it was just as runny but it just felt thick when I was blending it. 

Scent: Smells like sunscreen

Coverage: Again this one was too dark for me and the coverage was higher so it was much harder to blend. I'm not sure if you can see in the picture but this one even settled into the tiny lines on my arm to leave an almost "snakeskin" look - not nice. 

Staying power: Not tested, but it's not rubbed off my arm in the past 6 hours despite being under my sweater. I'm pretty sure the "sweater arm test" will be the next big thing in product testing. 

Buy it or Bin it? Bin - this would be more suited to someone with oily skin and of course a darker skin tone. 

Final thoughts

My pale BB search continues! I've heard some promising things on reddits /asianbeauty about Misshas BB cream so I will be purchasing that soon to try out. 

I found that these sample sizes although they looked rather small were enough to do two coats of bb on your whole face - I imagine that if you're a light coverage kinda girl these samples would last you 2 days - something to think about if you're planning on doing a trial before purchasing! 

Rosamund x x