Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet Pearl
Happy Friday! It’s March! This week just flew right on by. I am still feeling meh since I’m still not 100% recovered from whatever I had but I’m finally feeling up for slapping on a sheet mask on my face. Here are my thoughts on the Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet Pearl.
First thoughts? After feeling not so great for a while, I finally felt up for a little pick-me-up where sheet masking fits the bill. After a nice warm shower, I applied a FTE on my face followed by a toner. Once that has been left to dry for a few minutes, I picked this sheet mask to use. While this sheet mask has an “easy open” feature, I am actually not a fan. It takes me more effort and strength to open the packet up compared to all other sheet masks I’ve used to date. It’s so easy to just rip it open with a notch made for it like most brands that I’m not sure I would label this as easy open. It’s actually harder to open. I fished out the sheet mask, which is thin and translucent but holds onto the essence pretty well. I placed it on my face flush against the skin in all areas. I could’ve made the cut by the eye area larger like I usually do but it does lay flush against my face without doing that. The scent is light and citrusy. It felt nice and cooling on my face that I left it on for about 40 minutes or so. My face looks quite dewy and slightly brighter. I let it air dry for a few minutes but my skin felt slightly sticky or tacky still that I just sealed everything up with my face moisturizer.
Any negatives? While I’m not a huge fan of the easy open feature, it’s a nice sheet mask. I managed to get a pack of 10 of these at TJMaxx on clearance. I would not buy this at regular price in all honesty. There are just too many other sheet masks that does the same thing for a better price.
More information on this brand and their other products is available here.
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COSRX Pure Fit Cica Toner
This month sure flew by. I’m looking forward to Spring and all the life and warmth it brings. This also motivates me in revisiting what I use in my skincare routine as the weather gets warmer. With that said, here’s what I think of the COSRX Pure Fit Cica Toner.
COSRX Pure Fit Cica Toner
What I love about this product? This is another random pick from Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale a few months ago. The price was too good to pass up and I’ve been on a hunt for a calming toner. Their website states “With 7 Cica ingredients that help calm sensitive skin, this toner aids in soothing, moisturizing and strengthening to leave the skin healthier and more resilient.” The formula is pretty nice and gentle on my skin. It’s very watery and I found it quite easy to apply. I just shake a bit onto my face and use my pointing and middle fingers to spread it over my skin evenly. It’s very different from the most recent toner I have used up, SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner, in terms of the after feel. It feels like the product sits on my skin more than my previous toner but that also means it feels more moisturizing as well. I wanted to try this out as I read this is a good toner to calm the skin and help with any skin irritation or healing. It definitely helped with redness in my face pretty fast that I was actually impressed by it. It has what I would call “odorless” scent. It dissipates almost immediately as it dries on my face.
What I don’t like about this product? It’s not priced too high at $22 for 150 ml / 5 fl oz but I’m definitely getting this again only when it’s on sale. While I liked how gentle the formula is and how great it is with calming my skin when irritated, I still prefer a cooling exfoliating toner than that.
More information on this brand and their other products is available here.
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My Beauty Diary Natto Fermented Moisturizing Mask
What do you do when you need a pick-me-up on a day when you’re not feeling so great? I’m recovering from some mild cold and am at the tail end of it. A sheet mask is a quick way to accomplish that so today’s post features one as such. From their Nature Key line, here’s my take on the My Beauty Diary Natto Mask.
First thoughts? I’ve read a few good reviews on this one, but I was apprehensive to try as I know natto to have this sticky, stringy characteristic in food. I’m not a fan of that. But I believe I got this box free from Stylevana’s B3G3 free deal or some sale like that. Upon opening the packet, I detected a nice scent that is more floral to me than anything else. It isn’t too strong at all, so it’s all good in my book. After using a few My Beauty Diary sheet masks now, I can say that I am NOT a fan of that extra film sheet they provide. Not only it adds an extra step in sheet masking, it also holds a decent amount of product that could’ve been left in the packet for a few future uses in the essence or serum step of my skincare routine. The essence is milky white and doesn’t have that natto sticky, stringy characteristic which I am very thankful for. I don’t know if I can deal with that as I can see it playing over and over in my head while having the sheet mask on if so. The texture of the essence is slightly thicker than the previous ones from this brand. My face felt cool and moisturized as soon as the sheet mask is on my face. I left it on for over 40 minutes before it felt dry to the touch. My face looks healthy and young. I let my face air dry with the help of my handheld fan and then finished with my face moisturizer. I love how it dries down really well.
Any negatives? If I have to be really picky, again, it would be the price. Compared to decent sheet masks I get from TJMaxx (especially when on clearance) and Amazon sales, it is pricey for a box of 8. This is probably why I got this when there was a B2G2 sale or something like that and will continue to do so as that’s the cheapest that I know of I can get it for.
More information on this brand and their other products is available here.
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CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV
Today’s post is on a sunscreen that I’ve been using for a few months now. I surprisingly loved this more than I thought I would. I am so, so glad that I got this one among a few other ones to try out. Asian sunscreens are known to be more cosmetically elegant and this is from a Japanese brand. Here’s my take on the CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV.
CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV
What I love about this product? The packaging is cute and I actually don’t mind the smaller sized tube as I can easily slip this in even in my back jean pocket. It is light but not watery and doesn’t have the scent we are all too familiar with announcing itself as a sunscreen. It goes on really easily and leaves my face looking dewy and bright. The description online states the following:
Splash! Feel as fresh as a mermaid princess♥
Powerful, yet delectably moist
● SPF 50+ / PA++++
● Smooth gel without that roughness or stickiness characteristic of most sunscreens. Recommended for those who prefer a light, refreshing sunscreen.
Splash it on like a facial lotion – also serves as a make-up base
● Gel breaks down into a watery texture as you smooth it over your skin. After using face wash, this is all you need for complete skincare and UV protection.
*Can also be used after your usual facial lotion and other skincare products.
● Serves as a moisturizing make-up base with UV protection. Infuses your skin with moisture, helping your foundation to sit better and last longer.
● Use it on your body, as well as your face.
Skincare gel with 85% beautifying ingredients
● This pleasant watery gel contains 85% beautifying ingredients.
Easily portable tube format
● Sunscreen is most effective when reapplied frequently. Comes in an easily portable tube that makes it simple to adjust the amount you apply, so it’s perfect for reapplying sunscreen when you’re out and about.
It comes in 3 different shades and the one pictured here is the 01 Clear (“Colorless type ideal for any complexion”). I also got the 02 White (“White type to showcase your fairness”) but haven’t used it yet and the last one is 03 Cica Mint (Green-tinted formula corrects redness and dullness to enhance translucence). This is my favorite face sunscreen to date and I’ve tried more than a handful of Asian sunscreens.
What I don’t like about this product? If you had asked me when I first purchased this, I would’ve said that it only comes in these tiny tubes but I actually like that as I find it convenient. So maybe just the fact that it isn’t as accessible as I’d like and that I do wish it was cheaper.
More information on this brand and their other products is available here.
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SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
It’s finally Friday! I look forward to Fridays as it’s usually when I start to wind down for the weekend. I try my best to catch up with sleep at those times. I’ve been using this product for months and have finally seen the last drop from the bottle. Here’s my Curtain Call entry for the SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner.
SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
Product description online states:
Don’t Squeeze, Just Wipe!
If you are concerned about your angry, irritated skin, pay attention to this toner!
It quickly calms problematic skin with just a wipe. Miracle Toner contains AHA ∙ BHA ∙ PHA, which removes dead skin cells and impurities, and a good calming agent for the skin, 10,000 ppm of Teatree Water.
Are you worried if it might be too irritating for the skin? Don’t worry. It is a mild product, free of 20 worrisome ingredients, and has even completed a skin irritation test. It has completed a non-comedogenic test, making it suitable for acne-prone skin.
Say goodbye to annoying, problematic skin. Miracle Toner will be with you.
What I love about this product? I have to admit the packaging is quite catchy to me. It’s green and white, simple and clean, has clear instructions and is direct about its purpose. The formula is very watery and gives off a cooling sensation wherever it is applied. I’m not a huge fan or strong scents and some may find the scent of this toner to be strong but it dissipates as it dries, so it doesn’t bother me at all. It has a minty scent. It’s more moisturizing than I thought it would be for an exfoliating toner. I use it between my FTE and sheet mask or essence step in my skincare routine. I initially used it twice a day and while it didn’t irritate my skin, I feel like it might get to a point that it would, so I settled for using it as a step in my nightly skincare routine. I basically tilt the bottle to get a few drops onto my face and use my pointing and middle finger to dab it to spread it around. The results aren’t immediate but over time I noticed an improvement in some closed comedones on my forehead and I’ve had almost no breakouts at all compared to a few here and there that I get normally.
What I don’t like about this product? I am honestly a bigger fan of this than I thought I’d be. I’d gladly repurchase this again especially when I can catch this on a good sale. It’s on a pretty good sale right now on their website and I’d stock up on it if I didn’t have 3 different unopened toners on hand already.
More information on this item and other products the brand carries is available on their website here.
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