Archive for the ‘Mask’ Category

Review: Estee Lauder So Moist Deep Hydrating Mask


2010
02.26

Estee Lauder So Moist Deep Hydrating Mask

From www.evecare.com:
Experience the ultimate in deep hydration. A unique, energizing, mineral rich water drenches your skin for instant comfort that lasts and lasts. Dramatically boosts skin’s moisture content for hours. Leaves your skin feeling soft, healthy and revitalized.

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
Transparent plastic tube with screw cap top. Easy to dispense the product, travel friendly. But it may be more practical if the cap is flip top.

Texture:
Thick! Rather sticky upon application too.

My General Review:
This is an old product, I believe? I read about it in Paula Begoun’s recommendation (I think from the 6th edition of her book Don’t Go To Cosmetics Counter Without Me).

And so I accidentally stumbled across a deluxe sample size of this product….and tried it out. The texture is not really pleasant, it’s rather thick and sticky. But let it melt for a couple of minutes to your skin, and it’ll turn into very slick layer in your skin. I usually let it sit for a long time, and gently wipe it off with soft towel cloth. It moisturizes okay, doesn’t irritates or breaks me out. Decent product.

BTW, it seems that this product is not fragranced. It smells nasty, unlike other EL products :D Good for my sensitive skin!

Application:
I usually apply this after I’ve cleanse and tone my skin. Apply it thickly (including eye area), do whatever chores, then gently wipe if off because I go to bad. I always top it off with antioxidant serum and moisturizers.

Availability:
Has this product discontinued already? Can’t find it anywhere…Not in the EL’s official website too.

Price:
US for 75ml at evecare.

Ingredients:
Because I only own the deluxe sample tube, it doesn’t have the ingredient list :( Can’t find the list on the Google too :( But it comes in recommended by Paula Begoun, so I guess it won’t be bad.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Okay moisturizing mask, but there are cheaper, more effective and elegant mask around. I still love my Paula’s Choice moisturizing cream mask the best.

Watsons Whitening & Moisturising Facial Mask


2010
02.02

Functions: 
Boost Skin Metabolism
Reduce appearance of dark pigmentation spots
Improves moisture retention
Restores Skin elasticity
Verdict: 6.5/10   I am quite surprised that this mask did brighten  my skin and has a slight whitening effect. My skin feels really hydrated after using. It states ” A daily regime, for 6 days (1 sheet/day) will renew your skin and improve texture”.  [...]

L’oreal White Perfect Instant Radiance Facial Whitening Mask


2010
02.02

Provides your skin an intensive and immediate radiance action, revealing a more luminous and transparent skin in only 10 minutes.
One mask is impregnated with the same quantity as one week of whitening cream treatment.
For optimal results, use 5 masks in 5 days in a row.
Verdict : 6.5/10.  There is instant radiance action but whitening effect [...]

My Scheming Beauty : Sake Kojic Extract Mask


2010
02.02

I have been so disappointed with the results of masks from “My Scheming Beauty” range, I was quite prepared to stop trying the rest.
Function
Moisturising & Brightening
Improves cell renewal & elasticity
Smoothens wrinkles
Verdict: 5/10 This is suppose to be a gentle formula for sensitive skin, but I still feel a slight tingling feeling.  The fragrance is not [...]

Gowoonsesang Hydra Intensive Mask


2010
02.02

Dr.G Hydra Intensive Mask is a high concentrated mask containing 60% of botanical elements such as hyaluronic acid and evening primrose oil.
With portulaca oleracea extract, it provides calming effect on skin. Since a sheet contains a full bottle of essence, the professional result can be obtained at home.
how to use it
After base skin care, tear [...]

My Beauty Diary: Bulgarian White Rose Mask


2010
02.02

Main Ingredients

 

Bulgarian White Rose , Aloe, Cucumber Essence, Seaweed Extract, Plant Collagen, Kiwi Extract

Functions

Removes dullness in your skin
Whitens your skin
Balances uneven skin tone
Moisturizes and comforts your skin
Supplements moisture content

Fit & Size: As per all “My Beauty Diary” Mask
Sensitivity: No negative reaction
Absorbency: Can be massaged well into skin
Content: The rose smell is stronger than the Watson’s [...]

Hokkaido Lover: Sakura Whitening Mask


2010
02.02

The main ingredients are Sakura Blossoms extract, Mulberry Root extract, Marigold extract and West Indies Cherry extract
Functions
Minimises pores

Consists of aromatherapeutic properties to soothe body and skin
Repairs and restores skin structure
Reduces pigmentation

Fit & Size: As per other Hokkaido Lover Mask review
Sensitivity: No allergies
Absorbency: Difficult to absorb
Content: This mask has a light floral fragrance which I [...]

My Beauty Diary: Sake Yeast Mask Review


2010
02.02

Ingredients
Purified Water, Propylene Glycol, 1.3-Butylene Glycol, Comfrey Extract, Glycerine, Cactus Extract,, Algae Extract, Nanospheres, Aloe Extract, Marigold Extract, Vegetal Collagen, Centella Asiatica, Grapefruit, Hyaluronic Acid, Calendula Extract, Sake Yeast Extract, Bio-Active Silanols, Lemon Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Butyl Paraben, Methyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Phenoxyethanol, Tween 20, Lactamide, Fragrance

Functions [...]

My Beauty Diary: Camellia Mask Review


2010
02.02

Main Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Betaine, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, henoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylparaben, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Exract
There is no Additives & weak acid content
Camellia & Camellia Seeds Serum combination for Anti-Oxidation & Moisturization effects.
100% free of Alcohol & Fragrance By combining hyluraonic [...]

My Scheming Beauty Mask : Green Tea Extract


2010
02.02

Main ingredients: Green tea extract, barley extract, collagen, aloe extract and watercress extract
Functions : Minimise pores, reduce pigmentation, improve coarse and uneven skin.
Verdict : 1/10 This is the worst mask from My Scheming Beauty Mask Range that I have tried so far. The smell is not pleasing. There is no visible effect.  Seems like quite [...]

My Scheming Beauty – Red Wine Polyphenols Face Mask


2010
02.02

Main Ingredient : Red Wine Polyphenol, hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Witch Hazel Extract and Vitamin E
Functions:
Prevents aging and Promotes Blood Circulation of the skin
Accelerates Skin Regeneration
Repairs Damaged Skin
Restores skin elasticity
Allows the skin to be firm & gives a rosy complexion
Verdict : 1/10 The smell of this mask is really terrible. It does not seem [...]

Review: My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask


2010
01.28
My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask

My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask

From www.sunnanz.com.sg:
Extra moisturising, removes dead skin cells and lighten pigmentation spots. Skin becomes more hydrated, softer and smoother. All skin types, esp dry skin

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
A box of MBD Aloe Mask contains 10 individually packaged sheet mask. I think the packaging is beautiful, albeit not eco-friendly. I wish they can stuck several masks into 1 box…like they did with Kose Clearn Turn sheet masks, without sacrificing the amount of essence in each mask.

Texture:
The sheet is nice, not too thin. The cut is too wide, but is still workable. Amount of lotion in each sheet is not stated.It’s quite richly saturated in gel/lotion essence, but it’s not drippy. I can wear this while sitting without it being uncomfortable. After I removed the mask, the remaining lotion sinks in easily, leaving skin soft without sticky residue.

My General Review:
I expect I’ll love this mask. I know there’s some irritants in there, but my sensitive skin was able to tolerate other MBD masks (which contains irritants too), so I thought it will be okay. But alas, it’s not special. It’s supposed to be very moisturizing, but nope, it didn’t give abundant hydration. With MBD Natto sheet mask, my pores shrunk, but Aloe didn’t work the same way :( Overall it’s just nice refreshing, lightly hydrating sheet mask, but with no long term effects.

I think it gives the same effect as Purederm Brightening Herb Mask from Korea, but Purederm is *much* cheaper if you buy it directly from Korea.

It’s nicely fragranced, I don’t know of what :P As usual, I prefer fragrance-free products.

Price:
I joined a spree in Indonesia and it’s quite expensive at IDR16,000 per piece. I think the price in Singapore is much more acceptable. sunnanz.com.sg sold this at SGD1.3.

Ingredients:
Purified water, Propylene-Glycol, 1.3-Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic-Acid, Algae-Yeast complex, Milk protein, Glycerine, Nanospheres, Aloe Extract, Mulberry, Albumin, Collagen, Kiwi, Bearberry, Lemon, Rosehip, L-Ascorbic acid, Bio-active Silanols, Mucopolysaccharides, Vitamin E Acetate, Squalane, Methyl Paraben, Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Butyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Dimethicone, Tween-20, Lactamide

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Too bad, but it’s not my favorite MBD mask. I love MBD Natto sheet mask better.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: My Beauty Diary Bulgarian Rose Sheet Mask


2010
01.28
My Beauty Diary Bulgarian Rose Sheet Mask

My Beauty Diary Bulgarian Rose Sheet Mask

From www.sunnanz.com.sg:
Brightens and whitens the overall complexion. Skin becomes well hydrated and soothed. All skin types, esp for dull looking skin.

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
A box of MBD Bulgarian Rose Mask contains 10 individually packaged sheet mask. I think the packaging is beautiful, albeit not eco-friendly. I wish they can stuck several masks into 1 box…like they did with Kose Clearn Turn sheet masks, without sacrificing the amount of essence in each mask.

Texture:
The sheet is nice, not too thin. The cut is too wide, but is still workable. Amount of lotion in each sheet is not stated.It’s quite richly saturated in gel/lotion essence, but it’s not drippy. I can wear this while sitting without it being uncomfortable. After I removed the mask, the remaining lotion sinks in easily, leaving skin soft without sticky residue.

My General Review:
Wew, my complexion was so~ soft, bright and smooth right after I took this off! Sadly, the brightness didn’t really last :P The hydration is not really apparent too.

Just like most MBD sheet masks, this does contain some irritants, like Kiwi and Pineapple extracts. My skin didn’t act up though, at least not too much. Still I don’t prefer to use skincare items with this kind of irritants in the long run.

It’s nicely fragranced….of Tea Rose? I’m not too sure :P As usual, I prefer fragrance-free products.

Price:
I joined a spree in Indonesia and it’s quite expensive at IDR16,000 per piece. I think the price in Singapore is much more acceptable. sunnanz.com.sg sold this at SGD1.3.

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Vegetal Collagen, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Glycerine, Algae, Propylene Glycol, Aloe, Licorice, Kiwi, Arnica, Pineapple, Bulgarian Rose Water, Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid, Nanospheres, Bio-Active Silanols, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Triethanolamine, Tween 20, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Perfume.

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Smells so good and the packaging looks cute, but it didn’t do much good for my skin.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask


2010
01.28
The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask

The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask

From www.thebodyshop-us.com:
Best if you want to: Strengthen your skin’s natural barrier with an intensive, creamy leave-on mask that softens and instantly cools.

Best for: sensitive skin

How it works:

  • Use once a week to provide a soothing blanket of protection to sensitive skin.
  • Community Trade sesame oil helps to soften skin and create a protective shield that prevents water loss and restores suppleness.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Plastic jar.

While this product doesn’t contain major light/air sensitive ingredients (like antioxidants), there’s a Vitamin E at the bottom of the list. I don’t know if it’s potent enough, but just to be safe, I think a tube is more appropriate. Plus it’s more hygienic.

Texture:
Light cream. Easily spread and absorbed, it feels very refreshing.

My General Review:
Feeling dry and tight, yet don’t have time to lay around and pamper yourself with a sheet mask? Cream mask is the alternative then :D

I use this mask when I feel I need an extra dose of moisture before putting on my night cream. So after cleansing, I would use a toner (this step is optional, though), and smear this cream all over my face. Yep, including the eye area :) It sinks quickly, leaving a thin film of moisture. I leave it at that, and then back to my house chores etc.

Just before I go to bed, I assess my face first. If that was my very dry period, I prefer to let it sit there. Other times, when I feel the mask is much too heavy to sleep with, instead of washing it off, I wipe the excess product with a clean towel. This way, the moisture stays in my skin, while the excess is cleaned. Whatever method I choose, I always top this with an antioxidant serum and moisturizer.

I only use the mask as a fun extra helping product, and I love the refreshing, moisturizing effect of it. I don’t expect something like ‘barrier repairing’ effect :P That’s why I don’t mind wiping this off :P

What Else You Need To Know:
For a moisturizing mask with more advanced ingredients, I suggest Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask. That one is loaded with antioxidants so I tend to use it as a very rich night cream; washing/wiping it off sounds like a wasteful idea to me, unless you feel it’s too heavy :D

Anyway, TBS also offers another cream mask in a jar, called Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask. That one contains antioxidant, but the jar packaging may render them useless over the time. It’s fragranced though, unlike the Aloe mask.

And this Aloe mask is preservative-free. Thus it’s also paraben-free. I don’t know if it’s a good idea though, given the jar packaging, where contamination can easily happen.

Availability:
Just pop in any TBS store…they have plenty of them here in Jakarta :)

Price:
IDR189,000. US in United States. Mine has last quite some months, so I think it’s still worth it.

Ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Octyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lanolin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Levulinic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, p-Anisic Acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Water.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Easy to use hydrating mask. It’s very basic though. If you want an elegant, moisturizing cream mask, you might want to check on Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off


2010
01.28
Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off

Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off

From The Box:
Rice not only gives plenty of moistures but also brightens your skin.This gentle rice mask,feeling as real rice lifts off any excess dirt and oil leaving skin smooth and clear.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Cute plastic tub with screw top. Not exactly hygienic, but it’s easy to scoop out the product.

Texture:
Light cream/lotion with soft beads to scrub off dead skin cells.

My General Review:
Humph. This stuff really threw my skin out of balance!

I don’t know why but from the start I was wary of this product; when Skinfood gave me several generously-sized samples to be exact. But the reviews in the other blogs are good…..you can find words like ‘brightening’, ’smoothing’, ‘hydrating’ etc. I saw the ingredient list too; it doesn’t look particularly hydrating, yet it doesn’t really contain potential irritants (other than the fragrance).

So. Curiosity vs wariness. I waited until my skin is more stable to test this out, in case this is really damaging.

Which was a couple of days ago. My skin has stabilized, it’s very smooth and supple and normal. Not oily, not too dry. So I gently massaged this product on dry face after cleansing for a bit, then wash it off. Gah! My skin is drier after I used this stuff.  It seems to be slightly exfoliating, as it sheds some of top layer skin.

I tried to counter it with a hydrating cream mask (Paula’s Choice Hydrating Treatment Mask), but no effect. At morning my face was still dry. And rough. And it seemed angry. It oxidized.

Three days later, following intense moisturization and masking, my skin hasn’t regressed back to its normal state. It’s still a bit drier and rougher than before. Already calmer though.

Application:
This mask is supposed to be used on dry face. I wash my face first with a gentle cleanser, than gently massage this mask for 1-2 minutes then wash it off with water.

Availability:
Available at all Skinfood counters in Indonesia. It’s also available online from shops such as Sunnanz, Bobodave, or Sasa.

Price:
I don’t remember the IDR price exactly, but it was around US at Bobodave or Sasa.

Ingredients:
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclomethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Prorylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Water, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Butylparaben, Parfum

Overall Rating:
1 out of 5. Useless, harsh product. Cure Natural Aqua Gel can exfoliate really effectively yet is much gentler than Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Ageing Facial Stretch Mask


2010
01.28

Olay Total Effects Stretch Mask

From The Box:
Stretch technology infuses skin with 7 anti-ageing benefits

  • Line Minimization: Helps reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles.
  • Nourishing Moisturization: Soothes dry skin.
  • Tone Enhancement: Events skin tone.
  • Gentle Exfoliation: Smooths and evens skin texture.
  • Moisturizing Nutrient Replenishment.
  • With Anti-Oxidants: Helps protect skin’s moisture barrier.
  • Subtle Lifting: Hydrates for firmer skin appearance.


My General Review:
There’s not much to say about this mask, even though I bought it because at first glance the ingredients are interesting for my dry skin. Also, this stuff is not fragranced, great for my sensitive skin. But why do you often put Benzyl Alcohol in your products, oh dear Olay? :( It may be irritating. Well maybe it’s not there in significant amount to guarantee any flare ups, but I’ll sleep more soundly if it’s not there. Got my point? :D

In my book, this mask is ex~pensive. It’s about IDR32,000 per sheet (~US.5) ? Compared to My Beauty Diary or Watsons mask, the pricetag sure seems hefty.

So have it done anything beneficial for my skin? Well…slight moisturizing, but nothing beyond that. Of course, I appreciate the Niacinamide (Vitamin B3, a cell-communicating ingredient), and Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E); but at this price tag I really need to see more effect. Like, it smoothing/plumping out my skin texture? Yeah, I wish.

Honestly, I’d rather repurchase My Beauty Diary and Watsons mask. Cheaper, visible moisturizing/brightening effect. Olay got an advantage in the fragrance-free issue, and its stretchable sheet means that it fits your skin better compared to the traditional pre-cut sheet masks. But I think that’s about it.

What Else You Need To Know:
And BTW, Watsons has stretchable sheet mask too. I bought a box, but haven’t got the chance to really use it. Will update you lovelies later when I’ve tried it :D

Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isopropyl Isostearate. Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Benzyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Allantoin, Carnosine, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin.

Review: Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off


2010
01.28
Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off

Desciprition:
Black sugar mask with rich minerals and vitamin to provide luster and smoothness to skin.

My General Review:
I’ll make it quick because personally, there’s nothing much to say about this mask. It comes out goopy with a lot of sugar, which supposed to act as the scrubby particles. Unfortunately, the sugar particles are huge and harsh, making my skin irritated. On me, the sugar won’t melt even though I mix it with water. End result is irritated and dehydrated skin, without so much of an exfoliation.

So what’s the point? I can get effective exfoliation from gentle product, such as Cure Natural Aqua Gel.

Ingredients:
SUCROSE, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, GLYCERIN, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, LANOLIN, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, SORBITAN LAURATE,B UTYLPARABEN, BHT, CARAMEL, PARFUM

Review: My Beauty Diary Pearl Powder Sheet Mask


2010
01.28

My Beauty Diary Pearl Powder Mask

From www.mybeautydiarymask.com:

Purpose: Whitening, hydrating

Skin type: All skin types

Characteristics: The variety of amino acids and trace elements present in natural pearl powder can penetrate deep into the skin for supple, radiant look. Essence from the Mulberry extract helps in the hydration of the skin. The vitamin B and Algae-Yeast complex activates and nourishes the skin. Licorice and Lemon extracts help the skin to regain its balance while obtaining the nourishment at the same time.

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
A box of My Beauty Diary Pearl Powder Mask contains 10 individually packaged sheet mask. I think the packaging is beautiful, albeit not eco-friendly. I wish they can stuck several masks into 1 box…like they did with Kose Clear Turn sheet masks, without sacrificing the amount of essence in each mask.

BTW I see that Watsons Singapore carries My Beauty Diary masks with different box now. Has the packaging been redesigned?

Texture:
The sheet is nice, not too thin. The cut is too wide, but is still workable. Amount of lotion in each sheet is not stated.It’s quite richly saturated in gel/lotion essence, but it’s not drippy. I can wear this while sitting without it being uncomfortable. After I removed the mask, the remaining lotion feels slightly sticky, but I usually let it until it’s fully absorbed by my skin, leaving skin soft without tacky residue.

My General Review:
This is one interesting mask. I’ll admit, I’m not sure there is really pearl powder in there. And I don’t really trust pearl powder to be an effective face brightener. I’d rather take them as jewellery, thank you.

However, this mask are brimming with hydrators such as Collagen, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid. MBD also threw in some antioxidants such as Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin C, and Green Tea. And MBD didn’t stop there. What caught my attention is the addition of brightening elements such as Azelaic Acid and Mulberry. Doesn’t it sound spot on, because this mask claims to be brightener/whitener mask?

The question is: does it work?

Nah~

Azelaic Acid is a FDA-approved acne-treating ingredient. There are also researches citing its promising spot lightening action. However, they used 15-20% concentration of Azelaic Acid. Does this mask contain 20% Azelaic Acid? I don’t know.

Then comes the Mulberry. Mulberry is often used in skincare because  it contains Hydroquinone. Butall are in-vitro test, and just how much Mulberry must be used in a cosmetic is unknown. So it doesn’t sound like it’s gonna be a useful addition to me.

Not to forget, the Licorice. Licorice often claimed as brightener in other skin care products too, but MBD claims more accurately here. It’s an anti-inflammatory.

So that’s a string of ‘false brightener’. Yet, what I do know is, the mask does make my skin plumper, more hydrated. It does smooths out pores, as to be expected from the best of MBD mask. Previous to using this mask, my skin was stressed and dehydrated because I just came out from using 2% BHA to control my acne, but day 2 into using this mask, my skin looked calmer and normal. Gotta love that. In a sense, yes it brightens my dull, acne-treated skin. It helps my skin regain its healthy glow, but I think it’s not due to the Azelaic Acid nor Mulberry. More like from the moisturizing agents, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidants to relieve my skin from stress? Hydrated, healthier skin result in brighter, more glowy skin I think :D

And speaking of result, maybe (just maybe…) my skin will gain more benefit from this mask if only MBD are willing to remove the Lemon ingredient. As much hype as they may carry…Lemon is potential irritant :( I don’t want my skin to waste its energy to fights irritants and counteract the other wonderful ingredients this mask carry!

Last, previously I was not sure about the difference between this mask and the popular MBD Black Pearl Mask. Both claims to be whitening and hydrating. Yet after trying both, I personally think that this Pearl Powder Mask comes as the winner for normal/dry skin. It works better and is not as irritating. MBD Black Pearl Mask is ridden with more irritants, so it’s not my favorite after all.

What Else You Need To Know:
I generally enjoy My Beauty Diary sheet masks a lot, due to their cute packaging :P But here are my top three favorites from MBD due to their reasonable price and generally visible result (eg. in brightening and smoothing out my pores/skin texture).

  1. Natto (when my skin is dry).
  2. Red Wine (when my skin is normal/dry).
  3. Pearl Powder (when my skin is normal/dry).


Up next will be my review on the Q10 sheet mask, plus I still have the Camellia and Platinum Nanocolloid variants from MBD to try. They’re in the Premium series, more expensive compared to other MBD. Better ingredients too, as far as I can tell :D

Application:
I use the mask after cleansing and toning my face. Leave it on until I feel most the essence is already soaked in, the take it off and wait until all remaining juice in my face get absorbed. It may be sticky for a while, but no worries. Once it’s soaked in, it’s all good and you’re left with soft, glowy skin. All I need is to top it off with an antioxidant serum and a light moisturizer.

Price:
I bought it at SGD1.30 per piece at sunnanz, shipping and handling included. Depending on the exchange rate, that works to less than IDR10,000 each. Not bad.

Malaysian based www.mybeautydiarymask.com sells it for slightly cheaper. RM3 each.

Availability:
Not available in Indonesia, except via pre-orders. I usually buy this from sunnanz in Singapore, but now it’s also available at Watsons Singapore.

Ingredients:
Purified water, Collagen, Glycerine, Glycine, Propylene Glycol, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Extra fine pearl powder, Aloe, Licorice, Ginkgo Biloba, Lemon, L-Ascorbic acid , Azelaic acid, Green tea, Algae-Yeast complex, Mulberry, Hyaluronic acid, Nanospheres, Bio-active Silanols, Carbomer, Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, Xanthan gum, Citric acid, Triethanolamine, Tween 20, Methyl paraben, Butyl paraben, Ethyl paraben, Propyl paraben, Perfume

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Works to hydrate my skin and smooths out pores. Several beneficial ingredients are there, just hope they’ll remove the Lemon to avoid any irritation possibility. And the perfume too, if you will, MBD.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

http://wonderfulwortelworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/review-my-beauty-diary-black-pearl-sheet-mask/

Review: My Beauty Diary Q10 Rejuvenating Sheet Mask


2010
01.28

My Beauty Diary Q10 Rejuvenating Sheet Mask

From www.mybeautydiarymask.com:

Purpose:Anti-oxidation, hydrating, firming

Skin type:All skin types especially skin lacking firmness

Characteristics:
Q10 (a.k.a Ubiquinone or Coenzyme Q), Vitamin BT (Carnitine) and Lecithin have excellent effects as anti-oxidants, reducing the harm caused by the free oxygen radicals in the air on the skin, creating firm, elastic smooth skin. With natural plant moisturizing ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin, it not only improves the hydration in the surface skin, but also provide a lustrous texture, steering the skin to function at it’s peak. Hyaluronic acid works hand in hand Nanospheres to provide for prolonged hydration effect, rejuvenating of the skin.

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
A box of My Beauty Diary Q10 Mask contains 10 individually packaged sheet mask. I think the packaging is beautiful, albeit not eco-friendly. I wish they can stuck several masks into 1 box…like they did with Kose Clear Turn sheet masks, without sacrificing the amount of essence in each mask.

Texture:
The sheet is nice, not too thin. The cut is too wide, but is still workable. Amount of lotion in each sheet is not stated.It’s quite richly saturated in gel/lotion essence, but it’s not drippy. I can wear this while sitting without it being uncomfortable. After I removed the mask, the remaining lotion feels slightly sticky, but I usually let it until it’s fully absorbed by my skin, leaving skin soft without tacky residue.

My General Review:
I think this is the last of the lot from my stock of MBD regular type. And I’m very torn with this mask.

Honestly, I love the effect. My skin was drying up again (maybe because of my new sunscreen), so I wear this one last night for 40 minutes or so. At first it causes slight tingly sensation (never happened with other My Beauty Diary masks). Slight itchiness too after I’ve finished masking. But the end result is beautiful. It’s quite hydrating, smooths out my pores, and the next morning my face is in great shape plus it’s glowing, without any sign of irritation.

The down part is the fact that…yes, this mask contains irritants. Lemon, for instance. But Comfrey is far more problematic, I think. It is carcinogenic, and it can be absorbed into the blood stream. In short term topical usage, it has anti-inflammatory purpose, but only if you’re sure “the amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is less than 100 micrograms per application—something that would be impossible to determine without sophisticated testing equipment, making comfrey an ingredient to avoid.”, according to Paula. So best to avoid this ingredient.

Was it the cause of itchy and tingly sensation? No idea. But I have to say that I was extra sensitive last night, and I did the mask after exfoliating my skin with Cure Natural Aqua Gel. So maybe it was aggravated by Lemon in this mask too.

What a shame…because there’s some good ingredients in there. Hydrators (such as Collagen, Glycerin, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate), and skin calmer (Licorice), and antioxidants (Ubiquinone a.k.a Coenzyme Q10, possibly Carnitine too).

What Else You Need To Know:
As such, my standing on MBD Sheet Mask (the regular line) doesn’t change with this review :D My top 3 favorite are still:

  1. Natto (when my skin is dry).
  2. Red Wine (when my skin is normal/dry).
  3. Pearl Powder (when my skin is normal/dry).


Please note that both Natto and Pearl Powder mask have Lemon, which is a skin irritant. However it’s further down the list in Natto, so hopefully it’s not potent enough to cause trouble.

Both didn’t cause adverse reaction on my highly reactive skin.

Red Wine is the ‘cleanest’ mask in the My Beauty Diary regular line-up. However, all My Beauty Diary sheet masks are fragranced.

Application:
I use the mask after cleansing and toning my face. Leave it on until I feel most the essence is already soaked in, the take it off and wait until all remaining juice in my face get absorbed. It may be sticky for a while, but no worries. Once it’s soaked in, it’s all good and you’re left with soft, glowy skin. All I need is to top it off with an antioxidant serum and a light moisturizer.

Price:
I bought it at SGD1.30 per piece at sunnanz, shipping and handling included. Depending on the exchange rate, that works to less than IDR10,000 each. Not bad.

Malaysian based www.mybeautydiarymask.com sells it for slightly cheaper. RM3 each.

Availability:
Not available in Indonesia, except via pre-orders. I usually buy this from sunnanz in Singapore, but now it’s also available at Watsons Singapore.

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Vegetal Collagen, Glycerine, Propylene Glycol, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Aloe, Licorice, Comfrey, Lemon, Carnitine, Ubiquinone, Lecithin, Algae-Yeast Complex, Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid , Nanospheres, Bio-Active Silanols, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Triethanolamine , Tween 20, Methyl Paraben, Butyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Perfume

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Sorry MBD….this is a nice hydrating mask, but would you leave out the irritants please? And most importantly, the cancer-inducing substance :(

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: My Beauty Diary Natto Sheet Mask


2010
01.28
My Beauty Diary Natto Sheet Mask

My Beauty Diary Natto Sheet Mask

From www.sunnanz.com.sg:
Anti aging and firming effect with supplementary moisturizing element. Skin elasticity improved and very well hydrated.

My Skin Type:
Ranging from very dry to normal/dry. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive.

Packaging:
A box of MBD Natto Mask contains 10 individually packaged sheet mask.

Texture:
The sheet is nice, not too thin. The cut is too wide, but is still workable. Amount of lotion in each sheet is not stated, but it’s quite richly saturated in gel/lotion essence, but it’s not drippy. I can wear this while sitting without it being uncomfortable. After I removed the mask, the remaining lotion sinks in easily, leaving skin soft without sticky residue.

My General Review:
I pick this mask because of my friend’s rave. It’s supposed to be the most moisturizing out of all MBD sheet masks. I tried this in 4 consecutive days and I began to notice improvement after the 3rd day. I find the texture of my skin is smoother; pores shrinks. It’s not heavily moisturizing though, on my skin it’s just lightly hydrating. I guess my skin was too dry at the moment I used this. At least it’s still able to make some difference.

I usually use this at night, and at the morning I find my skin soft and glowy. I’m not sure if the glow lasts after I wash my face though :P My face naturally glows anyway, so at least I think this product assists in maintaining that glow.

It’s nicely fragranced. Thankfully it doesn’t smell like natto (otherwise I would have thrown up; I hate natto!). But as you may already noticed, I prefer fragrance-free skincare products due to my sensitive skin. This also contain other irritant, Lemon extract, but at least it’s further down the ingredient list.

I monitor my skin closely and I think despite the presence of those irritants, it doesn’t create problem.

There are lots of essence there. I usually massage the remaining fluid into my hands/neck.

Price:
I join a spree in Indonesia and it’s quite expensive at IDR16,000 per piece. I think the price in Singapore is much more acceptable. sunnanz.com.sg sold this at SGD1.3.

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Propylene Glycol, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Water cress Extract, Glycerine, Elder Extract,, Algae Extract, Nanospheres, Aloe Extract, Natto Gum, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Bladder wrack, Grapefruit, Hyaluronic Acid, Arnica Extract, Bio-Active Silanols, Lemon Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Butyl Paraben, Methyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Phenoxyethanol, Tween 20, Lactamide, Fragrance

Overall Rating:
5 out of 5. Would love it better if it’s fragrance-free and have more moisturizing properties. Will likely to repurchase though, since the price is quite reasonable and it’s able to reduce the size of my pores. Only few products can do that.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.


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