I received a second reviewer package from Skin18 about a month ago, and I finally got around to trying all of the skincare goodies inside, so...review ahead!
Skin18 is a K-beauty company based out of Hong Kong, with warehouses located in both China and the United States. They focus on high quality skincare that doesn't have to break the bank. One of the things I love about Korean and Japanese skincare is the fact that I don't need to shell out $70 for a good moisturizer, or pay an arm and a leg just to keep my skin in good health. Korean skincare and cosmetics have truly changed the way I approach skincare and how I feel about myself in general, so I'm happy to have stumbled across a company that truly believes that good skin can be achieved without spending tons of money - an idea that can sometimes be lost on many members of the Asian beauty community. I've said it before and I'll say it again - expensive does not always mean quality!
Description: Green tea can boost the metabolism of skin and protect the skin from all kinds of irritation. At the same time, it can relieve your skin of problems which originated from the passage of time. Relieves your skin of external stimulus. Mirum fresh fruit series provides your skin with marvelous hydration and nutrition. The dense and compact cotton mask sheet can be attached perfect to your skin, make the essence in this mask absorbed completely. What is the Natural Cotton Crosel Mask? A mask sheet made from 100% natural cotton which can attach to the face securely and allow the essence ingredients contained in the mask to be absorbed completely.
After cleansing, apply toner to the skin. Remove mask from packaging and place on skin, adjusting accordingly. After 15-20 minutes, remove the mask once the essence has absorbed completely. Massage into skin. Do not rinse.
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Green Tea Extract (500ppm), Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Ceteth-1-20, Steareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Celearyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Fragrance. cosDNA Analysis
Cracare Anti-Aging Snail Repair Mask 3 Steps Mask Lightening + Firming (Price: $2.90 USD) - A highly effective snail repairing mask that promises to lighten and firm skin by delivering a hefty dose of moisture. This is a multi-step mask, and includes an Anti-Aging Active Ampoule, an essence mask, and an Anti-Aging Night Cream. I hadn't tried a mask from Cracare before, so this was the highlight of the whole package for me; plus, I love anything with snail! The first step, which is the active ampoule, has a very creamy texture, but it's very lightweight and sinks in easily. It has a light floral scent that dissipates quickly, and left my face feeling immediately more hydrated. The step 2 mask was absolutely dripping with clear, runny essence (unscented, for my ~scentsitive~ friends out there), and lasted almost an hour before drying up around the edges. After removing, my face was glowing and hydrated, and the essence from the mask sunk in beautifully without leaving my face tacky.
I then applied the night cream, which is a thicker texture than the ampoule with the same slightly floral scent. It sunk it quickly as well, and the morning after there was hardly any residue left from the cream, and my skin felt incredibly firm, bouncy, and hydrated. I didn't experience any irritation, and my skin was calm and not nearly as red as it usually is near my nose/cheeks. For such an inexpensive mask, I was thoroughly blown away by the results, and can't wait to pick up more (and perhaps try some of the other flavors too).
Description: Snail Repairing Mask is highly effective in skin-lightening and firming by helping the skin moisturized deeply. 3-Step Facial Care: Natural and fresh ingredients penetrate deeply into the skin. It helps your complexion remain crystal clear, fresh, smooth, revitalized and moisturized. Package comes in three parts:
- Step 1 Anti-Aging Ampoule
- Step 2 Anti-Aging Essence Mask
- Step 3 Anti-Aging Night Cream
After cleansing, apply a moderate amount of [Step 1 Active Ampule] to be absorbed on and around eyes and lips. The remaining ampoule can be applied onto the area you concern of the face. Position [Step 2 Mask] on your face and smooth on lightly with your fingertips. Leave on for 20-30 minutes and remove the mask. After removing the mask, gently massage remaining essence into the skin. Apply a moderate amount of [Step 3 Night Cream] to be absorbed on around eyes and lips. The remaining cream can be applied onto areas of concern.
Key Ingredients:
- Anti-Aging Active Ampoule: Adenosine, Orchid Extract, Chia Seed Extract, Moringa Extract, Pumpkin Extract.
- Anti-Aging Essence Mask: Adenosine, Snail Secretion Filtrate (110mg), Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Lillum Candidum Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Betaine, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract.
- Anti-Aging Night Cream: Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen.
Luke Hyaluron Essence Mask (Intensive Moisturizing) (Price: $1.65 USD) - This mask claims to provide intense moisture and concentrated nutrition to the skin, and also work to balance oil levels. Hyaluronic acid is known for being an anti-aging compound due to its effectiveness in moisturizing and lubricating the skin, acting like a moisture-heavy cushion between the layers of the skin to help make the complexion look and feel softer and smoother. It's also used to treat burns and other wounds. This mask also contains concentrated natural plant extracts to help skin look refreshed and healthy, such as:
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - Also known as green tea extract. Naturally rich in antioxidants, it helps protect the skin against free radicals and also soothes inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea can also stimulate microcirculation in the skin, promoting an overall firm and more even-toned complexion.
- Sodium Hyaluronate - An intensive moisturizing ingredient which attracts water to the skin to keep skin hydrated. It is a natural substance found in the human body and is made up of amino and uronic acids, and can retain 100 to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it the perfect ingredient for intense hydration.
- Glycerin - Moisturizes and hydrates the skin, and forms a protective layer to prevent moisture loss. A very popular humectant used in skincare.
- Aloe Vera - Great for burns and mosquito bites due to its soothing and regenerative properties. It helps tone skin, keep acne at bay, and reduce the appearance of pores.
- Cucumber Extract - Helps to regulate the water/oil ratio in the skin. Contains much-needed proteins, lipids, and Vitamin C, and possesses moisturizing and emollient properties. Reduces inflammation/puffyness.
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate (105mg), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Phalaenopsis Amabilis Extract, Calanthe Discolor Extract, Pinus Densiflora Extract, Cymbidium Kanran Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Allantoin, Dipatossium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA. cosDNA Analysis
Luke Mugwort Nose Cleansing Strip (Price:$1.20 USD) - Your typical nose pore cleansing strip. Wet it, rip it off (gently!), you know the drill. This one promises to cleanse clogged pores and get rid of blackheads. I don't suffer from blackheads on my nose (only those pesky sebaceous filaments) so I didn't expect crazy results. This mask does have some notable ingredients, including:
- Mugwort - Rich in Vitamin E, mugwort contains antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which can help skin stay clear of acne/blemishes.
- Vitamin E - Helps soothe skin while reducing redness and inflammation.
- Licorice Root Extract - Brightens skin and relieves irritation.
- Witch Hazel - A favorite ingredient of mine; witch hazel has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits which help to clear up acne and balance oil levels in the skin. It's often used to treat sunburn to prevent peeling and flaking due to it's moisturizing properties.
- Aloe Vera - Again, great for soothing and toning the skin, keeping acne at bay, and reducing the appearance of pores.
After cleansing, thoroughly wet your nose with water. Peel off the patch from the plastic backing and apply onto the the nose area smooth side down, pressing gently. Leave on for 10-20 minutes, then remove the patch when it becomes dry and hardened. Peel off slowly and carefully, starting at the edges and pulling toward the center. Apply toner afterward to soothe skin.
I'm not generally a huge fan of pore strips; many swear by them, but I find that regular use of a clay mask and BHA is just as effective and less harmful to the delicate (and sensitive) skin around my nose. The last thing I want is broken capillaries/veins on my nose, so I rarely use nose strips (maybe once a month, if that). To make sure I reaped the full benefits of this nose patch, I first applied some of the Cosrx BHA liquid to a Muji cotton pad and applied it to my nose a la sheet mask style, and left it on for about 15 minutes. Once the sebum/buildup in my pores was softened thanks to the BHA, I then used the pore strip, and after slowly peeling it off (if you peel too quickly, you might miss some blackheads/gunk, as well as permanently stretch out your pores), my nose felt smoother and cleaner and the appearance of my sebaceous filaments/pores was diminished. I didn't really find anything particularly special about this pore strip, and my favorite is still the PACKage Melt Me Softly nose strips that I got to try out a few months ago; they're so much more gentle and effective.
Vitamin Hydrogel Eye Patch (Vitamin Nutrition Pumping Orange) (Price: $1.80 USD) - I love me some eye patches, ya'll. I use under eye patches almost daily to give the area under my eye a nice boost of moisture and brightness, so I was excited to try these vitamin patches out. These promise a visible anti-wrinkle effect, and provide beneficial nutrition to the delicate area under the eye, resulting in a firmer, brighter appearance and reduced dark circles and puffiness. Key ingredients include:
- Vitamin E/Tocopherol Acetate - Helps soothe skin while reducing redness and inflammation, as well as diminish the appearance of fine lines in the skin. Contains a hefty dose of antioxidants to protect the skin against free radicals.
- Vitamin B3/Niacinamide - Well known for its brightening capabilities; helps to reduce scarring due to post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (aka acne scars), improve skin elasticity, an is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
- Vitamin C/Ascorbyl Palmitate - Powerful antioxidant; helps protect against damaging free radicals and encourages the production of collagen for firmer, more elastic skin.
- Vitamin A/Retinyl Palmitate - Promotes healthy skin cell rejuvenation, repairing hyper-pigmented, sun damaged skin.
- Vitamin B5/Panthenol - Helps retain moisture and hydrate the skin. Has anti-inflammatory effects to help reduce inflammation/puffyness.
- Orange Extract - Helps tighten pores and deliver moisture to skin, making skin look and feel firmer/more elastic.
Skin18 unfortunately doesn't have the full ingredients list posted on their website.
After cleansing, pat eye area dry. Peel off the patch from the plastic liner and apply to desired area. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. Remove patch, no rinsing necessary.
Taking these out of the package, I was surprised at how different they were from typical eye patches that I've tried in the past. These came with a fabric-like backing on one side and a dry feeling gel on the other, as opposed to the typical sopping wet hydrogel material. These were incredibly uncomfortable to wear for me - they made my eyes itch, and pulled the delicate skin under my eyes when it was time for them to be removed. I left these on for quite a long time (maybe an hour or so on my day off), and I did notice that the skin underneath my eyes looked and felt more firm and hydrated, and the gel was still sticky and moist even after an hour of sitting against my skin. Unfortunately, the results didn't really knock me off my feet. Due to the discomfort I experienced while wearing them, I probably wouldn't try them out a second time. I'll stick to my hydrogels, thank ya very much.
Purederm Grape Yogurt Pack Wash-Off (Price: $0.95 USD) - This is a wash-off type mask that contains natural ingredient extracts, as well as yogurt extract as a main component. Yogurt has strong anti-aging properties, and helps to reduce fine lines and prevent the formation of wrinkles. Skin18 has a ton of different varieties of these little wash-off mask packets, including Aloe, Cucumber, Grape, Green Tea, Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry, Tomato, or Vitamin E. I received the Grape variety, which is supposed to be moisturizing and brightening. I applied this all over my face after cleansing, and it has a thick, white lotion consistency and smells strongly of grape candy, which is a bonus for me but might not be for some. This pack is very, very rich, and felt very cool and soothing on my skin. It was relatively easy to rinse off, and left my skin feeling moisturized and soft with no film or residue left behind. Some notable ingredients include:
- Milk - Nourishes and replenishes the skin by delivering a healthy dose of moisture. Milk protein extracts help soothe irritated skin, diminish the appearance of pores, strengthen the skin barrier by promoting collagen formation, and reduce inflammation. Milk is also known to speed up the healing of wounds and lighten hyper-pigmentation/acne scarring. Lactic acid (an AHA) helps exfoliate dead skin cell buildup and remove excess oil and other debris from pores.
- Vinis Vitifera (Grape) Extract - Contains high levels of active enzymes such as flavonoids, linoleic acid, and phenolic procyanidins to repair and nourish the skin, as well as antioxidants to protect cells from free radical damage.
- Natto Gum - A polyglutamic acid containing a ton of great-for-your-skin ingredients, such as lecithin (a skin softening and smoothing agent), Vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), Vitamin K2 (helps promote smoother skin and prevent fine lines), and Gamma Polyglutamic Acid, or PGA, which is an amino acid that is 10 times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid, delivering some serious hydration to skin and brightening and evening skin tone.
- Squalene - A chemical produced naturally by the body that has antioxidant properties, which help prevent UV damage and hyper-pigmentation; a powerful moisturizing ingredient. Our bodies produce less of this chemical over time, so it's particularly useful for those with drier, more mature skin.
- Trehalose - A sugar naturally occurring in plants; it has re-hydrating and water-binding properties, and is a powerful antioxidant.
I quite liked this mask, and found it to be both very moisturizing and pleasant to use. PureDerm isn't a super exciting brand in the Asian beauty community, but I think it's pretty solid for a drugstore brand, and it's inexpensive. I like inexpensive.
Skin18 recommends alternatively using this as a massage pack - I have a few massage packs laying around, but I usually don't have the time (or desire) to give myself a 30 minute long face massage. I really should start, because face massage has so many awesome benefits - relief from stress, sinus congestion, migraine headaches, and more. There's even a cute little tutorial on how to give yourself a short, one minute face massage above. After leaving the mask on for about 30 minutes, I slowly massaged each area of my face per the instructions, and...there's just no other feeling like it. It's so stress relieving and my face felt so calm and soothed afterward. You should definitely give it a try!
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Milk, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Yogurt Powder, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Jojoba Esters, Natto Gum, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Squalane, Hydroxethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Red 33 (CI 17200), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance. cosDNA Analysis
Inoface Modeling Cup Pack in Tea Tree (Price: $5.40 USD) - Or as my fiancé likes to call it, my "In Yo Face!" mask. This is a rubber peel-off mask, made with the same stuff that costume designers use in special effects makeup/masks - that rubbery, "chewy" substance that starts off as a powder and then turns more solid and rubbery when mixed with water. This mask promises to soothe sensitive skin and regulate oil production in oily skin, exfoliate dead skin cell buildup, and provide nutrition and moisture. It contains tea tree extract which is known for helping calm acneic skin and control sebum production, as well as diatomaceous earth, a silica-based powder that contains a bunch of good-for-your-skin minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc. Diatomaceous earth is often used in wash-off masks for its gentle exfoliating properties and ability to draw impurities from the skin. Skin18 currently has 10 different types of Inoface modeling masks for all different skin types and concerns, including:
- Acerola: For brightening and shining skin with moisturization function, suitable for skin losing brightness, dull skin, lifeless skin.
- Blackfood: For rough skin and the soothing of skin, suitable for rough, flaky and oily Skin (Pore Care & remove dead skin cell).
- Chlorella: For skin improvement, oil-moisture balance and skin moisturization; suitable for allergic, sensitive, inelastic and dull skin.
- Collagen: For elastic and brightening skin, suitable for saggy and droopy skin, dry skin.
- Peppermint: For soothing and refreshing of skin (pore management), suitable for saggy skin and oily skin.
- Propolis: For supply of nutrients and improvement of luster, suitable for rough and lusterless skin, dry skin.
- Shining: For tightening of pores and brightening of facial complexion, suitable for dark, oily, dull and lackluster skin.
- Tea Tree: For skin troubles and control of sebum, suitable for problematic skin, sensitive skin.
- Vitamin: For elastic and brightening skin, suitable for inelastic and dull skin.
- Yogurt: For supply of nutrients and improvement of luster, suitable for skin that needs moisturization and luster.
The purpose of modeling masks are to deliver a concentrated dose of moisture and nutrition, and help keep that moisture in for the full duration of the mask session, unlike traditional sheet masks made of cotton or bamboo that allow moisture to slowly evaporate. Modeling masks help brighten and soothe the skin, and keep moisture levels balanced. I use modeling masks after I've applied all of my essences, serums, and ampoules, so that the mask can form a barrier between my face and the air, allowing my skin to drink up all of the moisture and hydration from my routine's previous steps.
Ingredients:
Diatomaceous Earth, Allgin, Glucose, Calcium Sulface, Terasodium Pyrophosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrmiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Allantoin, CI 77491, Fragrance. cosDNA Analysis
The instructions for this mask on the Skin18 website say to fill up the lid of the modeling cup twice, and that should be enough liquid to make the mask the right consistency. I found this no where near true, in fact, my mask was still a dry lump, so I added double the recommended liquid, and I reached the consistency I like. I did use almond milk instead of water though, so YMMV depending on the liquid you use. Almond milk gives my masks an extra boost of moisture, but I'm sure purified water will work perfectly fine.
When I apply these masks, I smear them on thick. I know many people can squeeze out two uses from these modeling cups, but I prefer to use the entire cup because it makes the mask so much easier to remove at the end; if you have trouble removing modeling packs, chances are you've been spreading them on a bit too thin. Try a thicker layer, and see if that makes the process easier! My mask came out to a nice, creamy, light green consistency. I'm kicking myself for not taking photos (I did post some Instagram stories on this mask, though), but I used this in the dead of night, so there was no good light to document my experience. :(
The mask was easy enough to apply. I tried working quickly and being careful not to spill it on myself (I did anyway). After about 45 minutes, I removed the mask fairly easily; I love when they come off mostly in one piece, but this one was a bit more difficult to remove in one go, so I spent a minute or two peeling (luckily I layered it on thickly enough so it wasn't too difficult to get off). Afterward, I took a warm wet washcloth and got rid of the stray bits lingering around my eyebrows, nose, and edges of my face, and my skin looked and felt very soothed and calm, with a lot of redness reduction around my nose/cheeks. While I was happy with the results, this mask was in no way miraculous (I like the Ettang and Lindsay modeling masks the most), so I probably won't purchase this one in a hurry either.
Final Thoughts: Overall, there were some products I really loved in my second reviewer package, and some that were just okay, but that's really the fun in product testing - if every product worked out miraculously for me, where would the fun be in that? The Cracare and Mirum masks are definitely new favorites - I love me an inexpensive yet effective mask any day of the week. The Luke sheet mask was passable, as was the Inoface rubber mask. I wasn't a huge fan of the Luke patches, but hey - you can win 'em all. Have you signed up to get Skin18'ed and become a reviewer yet?
These products were sent to me by Skin18 free for review purposes, all opinions are my own. If you're curious about my press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclosure policies. Italicized text taken directly from Skin18.com.
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