Favorite skincare discoveries 2017

Here are my favorite new skincare discoveries for 2017. 2017 was a great year of skincare for me. It was the year where I started my Instagram (koreanskincarebyfie) and about half a year later I decided to start this blog because I wanted to write more in-depth reviews. It was the year where I learned to read ingredients list before purchasing new products. It was also the year where I started to understand what the ingredients actually did for the skin.
I've tested a bunch of products in 2017 and here are the products that really stood out to me. Some of these products are PR gifted but that has in no way influenced my choices.

Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser*
First of all, I really like the ingredients list. It doesn't contain alcohol or fragrance and it contains a ton of extracts. Due to the special kind of pump, the product is already foam when it comes out. That makes it so much more gentle because you don't have to rub to make it foam and it also makes it easier to spread out on the face. This is without a doubt the most gentle cleanser that I've ever tried. It leaves my face clean but not tight at all. The only con is the smell. It has a strong smell of tea tree and well, I hate the smell of tea tree. I will repurchase this if I ever find it on sale (the price is pretty high considering it only contains 100 ml.).

Klairs Supple Preperation Facial Toner
Before I tried this, I thought that it could never live up to the hype about it but I fell in love with this from the very first application. The texture of product is viscous so I apply it with my hands instead of a cotton pad. I use this in my AM skincare routine almost everyday and I use the 7 skin method. It leaves my skin so hydrated and smooth. A little product goes a long way and even though I use the 7 layers of it, this has lasted for half a year and I still have some left. Just like the Foam Cleanser, this toner doesn't contain alcohol or fragrance. I already have a backup of these for when I empty this bottle.

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX
This essence was lightweight and it absorbed quickly without leaving any sticky residue - it just left my skin smooth and ready for the rest of my routine. I was really surprised by how hydrating it was. The only con about this was the smell. It has the classic 'water bank' smell. It's not unpleasant but it is quite strong. I might purchase full size in the future but for now, I'm just glad that I have another deluxe sample of it in my stash.

Pyunkang Yul Moisture Serum**
This is the first product that I've ever tried from Pyunkang Yul and it won't be the last. The ingredients list is great and I really like that it doesn't contain water. I started using this in the beginning of December where the weather was getting colder and my skin was getting drier. My skin was getting irritated because of the cold weather but this helped calm my skin. This doesn't irritate my skin at all and it's just a pleasure to use. It's moisturizing and it has helped reduce those dry patches.

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask EX
I've only used this for about a month but I can already say that I'm in love. This has a strong herbal, hanbang high end smell but after I've gotten used to it, I've started to like it. The texture is thick and it feels so luxurious on the skin. It absorbs within a couple of minutes and it leaves a slight residue but that goes away after a while. When I wake up in the morning after using this the night before, my skin feels moisturized and it just looks glowing and plump. This is just perfect for my dry skin and I honestly don't have anything negative to say about it. I've purchased a bunch of samples (ml/price is lower with samples than the full size product) so I won't run out of product anytime soon.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Grapefruit
I had the 'Berries' version before this and effect-wise they're the same but this 'Grapefruit' version just smells amazing. This has really saved my dry, chaped lips. Whenever I use this at night, I wake up with moisturized, non-flaky and plump lips. I also use less lipbalm throughout the day if I have used this the night before. As for the price, I would usually feel like $20 is a lot for a lip product unless it's lipstick but in this case, it's money well spend. The jar contains 20 ml. and it lasts forever. I will keep repurchasing this forever because no other lip product I've tried has had such amazing effects.

Skinfood Black Sugar Honey Mask Wash Off***
This is my favorite exfoliating wash off mask. It contains sugar grains to exfoliate. When I apply it, I gently massage my face to exfoliate. I leave it on for 15 minutes and when I wash it off, my skin is baby soft. This doesn't dry out my skin at all, it actually leaves it feeling moisturized. I have half of this left but I've already purchased a backup so I won't run out.

Products marked with * are kindly gifted for review purposes from *www.kocono.dk/, **surisuri.dk/ and ***eopenmarket.com/.

Pyunkang Yul Moisture Serum

For the past month, I've been using this serum from Pyunkang Yul in both my AM and PM skincare routine and I really enjoy it. Ever since my favorite youtuber Gothamista raved about this brand, I've wanted to try it so when Maja from Surisuri.dk offered to send me this serum to test and review, I was ecstatic.

About the brand (from Ohlolly.com):
"Developed by the renowned Pyunkang Oriental Medicine Clinic in Korea, Pyunkang Yul dares to abandon trendy ingredients that are merely for texture or scent.  Each and every ingredient used by Pyunkang Yul has been selected for being the most gentle and safe for skin.  Finding and maintaining the oil and moisture balance in your skin is imperative to achieving healthy skin.  With Pyunkang Yul, your skin will find its optimal balance for a glowing complexion.  Pyunkang Yul is a cruelty-free brand!"

About the product (from Stylekorean.com):
The perfect balance between oil and moisture!
- Maintains the skin's oil-moisture balance and prevents the evaporation of hydration for a longer lasting dewy effect.
- Hypo-allergenic.
- Barberry root extracts work to reduce the temperature of your skin to soothe sensitive, irritated skin.

- Olive oil offers an intense hydration effect and prevents your skin from becoming dry.

Claims
"The moisture serum fully moisturize your skin and helps you nourish softer, smoother and silkier skin texture. The serum provides perfectly optimized moisture balance for healthier skin."

Ingredients
Milk Vetch Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Olive Oil, Caprlic and Capric, 1,2-Hexandiol, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerincaprylate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Dimethicone.

Noticeable ingredients
Milk Vetch Root Extract: This has antioxidant properties and it's rich in nutrition.
Olive Oil: Olive oil has so many skin benefits. It's rich in minerals, vitamins and natural fatty acids. It's also nourishing and rich in antioxidants.

The ingredients lists of Pyunkang Yul products are actually what attracted me to this brand. As you can see, this ingredients list is short and it doesn't contain water or fragrance. I really like that they believe in natural ingredients and that they avoid unnecessary ingredients.

Nice to know
Shelf life: 24 months.
PAO (Period after opening): 12 months.

The packaging

The serum comes in a box. On the side of the box, all useful information (claims, instructions, ingredients etc.) about the serum is written in both Korean and English.

First of all, look at this size of it! The bottle is huge compared to most serum. A serum usually contains somewhere between 40 and 60 ml. (at least all the other serums in my stash do) - this one contains 100ml. It's a good thing that PAO is 12 months because this is going to last a long time.
This serum comes in a pretty royal blue bottle with a liquid dropper. The packaging is like the ingredients list: simple. As much as I appreciate the hygienic packaging and the intention of the dropper, I would prefer a pump. I like that it's easy to control exactly how many drops of serum that you dispence. However, the texture of the serum is too thick for the dropper which makes it difficult to get the serum into the dropper in the first place.

Texture and color

If I didn't know that this was a serum, I would have thought that it was an emulsion or a lotion because of the texture. It's as thick as most emulsions and it's white. It spreads out easily on the skin and despite the thick texture, it doesn't feel heavy at all.

Smell
This serum has little to no smell. The smell is so light that I can't really say what it smells like.

How to use
"Apply adequate amount on your skin along with your skin texture."

How I use it
I use it in both my AM and PM skincare routine. In my AM skincare routine, I use it after essence and before cream. In my PM skincare routine, I use it after a sheetmask and before my emulsion. I only need three drops to cover my entire face.

Effects
Once applied, it absorbs within a few minutes. It doesn't leave any residue. It just leaves my skin smooth and calm. This is also moisturizing but it still feels lightweight on the skin.

I can rarely see if one single product makes a difference because I use so many products that it can be hard to tell if the improvement is caused by one product or another. This serum stood out. I could actually feel improvement on my skin after about a week with this serum. I started using this in the beginning of December and because of the cold weather, my skin was even drier than it usually is. After about a week of using this twice a day, I noticed that my dry patches were less dry and less red.

What I really like about this, is that I can use it all the time - even when my skin is irritated - and it calms it.

Pros:
- Nice ingredients list.
- No noticeable smell.
- Lightweight despite thick texture.
- The bottle is huge and a little product goes a long way.
- Does as it claims to do.
- Improved my dry patches.

Cons:
The only con is the dropper.

Overall
This is a great serum. The effect of the product compensates well for the dropper. I highly recommend it for all skintypes - including oily and sensitive.

Disclaimer: I received this from Surisuri.dk in exchange of my honest review. I am in no way obligated to write a positive review.
Surisuri har til og med den 10. januar 2017 15% på alle ikke nedsatte varer med koden "nytår15". Maja, der har webshoppen, er sød og hjælper gerne, hvis du er i tvivl om, hvilke produkter du skal vælge til din hudtype og dine behov.

December Product and sample empties

A bit late but here are my December empties! I didn't empty a lot of products. However, that's a good thing. I've been on a No Buy for almost six months (from June until Black Friday) and I decluttered my skincare stash. That means I now have less open products = less empties.

Etude House Honey Cera Priming Eye Serum (5 ml. deluxe sample)
I really enjoyed this. It's nourishing and leaves my skin smooth. This is perfect underneath a hydrating eye cream in my AM skincare routine where a thick eye cream is too heavy. It absorbs within a few minutes and it doesn't leave any sticky residue. I purchased full size.

Goodal Honey Pack Cucumber Sleeping Pack (10 ml.)
This was soothing and hydrating. I really liked it but the packaging is just too unpractical - it can't be closed. I will not repurchase.

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream (10 ml. deluxe sample)

This is my favorite cream to use in my AM routine during the winter. It's moisturizing enough for my dry skin without it being heavy. I've repurchased these deluxe samples a bunch of times because the price/ml is cheaper with the deluxe samples than the full size product. The only downside to this product is that it has a strong, perfumed smell and that the packaging is unhygienic. Repurchased.

The Saem Power Ampoule Hydra
This only contains three ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Butylene Glycol. I use this when I want to add some hyaluronic acid in my skincare routine without adding too many other ingredients. It's hydrating and it absorbs quickly without leaving any sticky residue. I store it in the fridge to give it a cooling effect. This was my third bottle and I've opened yet another bottle. This works but it's getting boring - it's time to try something new. After I've used this bottle, I will not repurchase again.

Benton Cacao Moist And Mild Cream
I used this cream during the summer and it was perfect. It was moisturizing enough for my dry skin without being heavy. The ingredients list is nice, it doesn't contain alcohol. It takes a while to absorb but that doesn't bother me because it leaves non-sticky, semi-matte/glowy finish. I will purchase this when the summer time is here if I find it on sale. This was provided to me by the company for review purposes.

Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Hair Protein Treatment
This is a good protein treatment but it's not life changing. It did make my hair look healthier and gave it a beautiful shine. However, the tube is only 100 ml. and it costs $10. That may not be a lot of money to some but I find it expensive for a hair treatment. If my hair was unhealthy and damaged, I might have felt diffently about spending some extra money on hair products but it isn't. I will repurchase if I find it on sale.

Laneige Foam Cleanser Moisture
This foam cleanser was not bad at all but the texture was just thicker than I prefer. It had a pleasant smell of shea butter and it cleansed my face nicely without stripping it. I will not repurchase it.

Son & Park Beauty Water

Today, I want to talk about this very hyped product: Son & Park Beauty Water. I've been using this deluxe sample (60 ml.) everyday in my PM skincare routine for the past month. Even though this is a multifunction product, I've mainly used it as a toner.

What it is (from Sokoglam.com)

"This multi-tasking toner and cleansing water has quickly become a cult favorite, as well as a 2015 Soko Glam Beauty Award Winner! It creates a clean base for the next steps in your skincare and makeup routine. Originally created by master artists, Son & Park, Beauty Water lives up to its name.

The Beauty Water is not just a cleanser but it mildly exfoliates with willow bark and papaya extract to help sweep away dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin tone and smoother texture. Lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract impart a subtle hydration so your skin can be prepped to absorb the next skin care steps, while adding in a bit of moisture. 

Beauty Water can be used in the morning to create the perfect canvas for makeup application, midday as a refresher, and night after cleansing to whisk away remaining impurities. For normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types. Beauty Water has a pH of 4.5, effectively resetting the skin's natural pH after cleansing."

Ingredients (from Sokoglam.com)

Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Butylene Glycol,Propanediol, PEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil,Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Water, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit/Seed Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua (Galbanum) Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Laveder)Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita(Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, OriganumVulgare Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Octanediol, Copaifera Officinalis (Balsam Copaiba) Resin, Protease, Alcohol Denat., Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

The ingredients list is SO long. It contains a lot of different extracts and oils. It also contains Alcohol Denat and Alcohol so if you're sensitive to that, avoid it. Personally, it hasn't irritated my dry and slightly sensitive skin at all. 

Noticeable ingredients

Rosa Damascena Flower Water: This is moisturizing. 

Witch Hazel Water: This is mildly exfoliating.

Olive Fruit Oil: This contains fatty acids.

The packaging

The deluxe sample is just like the full size product when it comes to packaging - it's simple and minimalistic. There is hardly anything written on the bottle. The bottle is made out of plastic and it doesn't break easily. At the top, there is a small hole which makes it easy to put the product on cotton pads.

Texture and color

This Beauty Water has the same color and texture as water.

Smell

This product has a somewhat floral smell but I can't really describe it better than that. The smell seems overwhelming when you smell it directly from the bottle. Once it's on a cotton pad, it's not that strong and when it's applied on the face, the smell fades quickly as the product absorbs.

How to use

This can be used as a makeup remover, a toner, a mist and a gentle exfoliater.

How I use it

As a makeup remover: I've only used it once as a makeup remover just to test if it works. It did remove my light makeup but if you are wearing heavy makeup, this probably won't work that well as a remover. The reason that I've only used it once as a makeup remover is that I prefer to double cleanse since it's just a part of my routine that I wouldn't be without. My skin just feels so much more clean when I double cleanse. I do think that it's practical that it has cleansing proporties when you can't do a double cleanse - if you're on a long airplane trip for example.

As a toner: I really enjoy using it as a toner in my PM skincare routine because it leaves my skin so clean and if there should be any makeup residue, this removes it. I apply it with a cotton pad. I only use one layer of it (instead of the 7 skin method as I do with the Klairs toner) because it contains alcohol.

As a mist: I haven't actually tried using this as a mist but I do think that it would work very well.

As a gentle exfoliater: To be honest, I don't know if this even exfoliates because it's so gentle but it probably does with that ingredients list. This is not exfoliating enough to skip my exfoliating wash off masks and peeling gels.

Results

After I've applied this with a cotton pad (as a toner), it absorbs quickly without leaving any sticky residue. It removes all residues from makeup and dirt and it just leaves the skin clean and glowing. My skin is left slightly moisturized, soft and ready for the rest of my skincare routine.

Overall

This is a good product that does what it claims to do and I can understand the hype about it.

Disclaimer: I received this from surisuri.dk/ in exchange of my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Surisuri.dk har lige nu 15% på alle i forvejen ikke nedsatte varer med koden "nytår15". Maja, der har webshoppen, hjælper gerne hvis du er i tvivl om, hvilke produkter du skal vælge til din hudtype og dine behov.

Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser

I've been using this cleansing foam for the past month - mainly in my AM skincare routine but also a few times in my PM routine to see how well it removes the residue from my cleansing oil.

About the brand (from www.kocono.dk/):
"Klairs works at the forefront of natural Korean skincare. Affordable and effective, the brand’s philosophy focuses on simplicity and working only with the most essential ingredients, all of which have passed the safety measures of a research lab specializing in dermatologist skin care. This means NO colorants, NO alcohol, NO parabens, NO artificial fragrances, making Klairs a high-quality skincare brand for sensitive skin. To make things even better, the brand has been an advocate against animal testing from the start."

About the product (from Kocono.dk):
The Skin Type: 
Recommended for all skin types, especially for dry, and sensitive skin

The Product: 
Hypo-allergenic and skin repairing gentle foam cleanser that helps to deeply cleanse your pores, and remove all traces of makeup and impurities without drying out your skin. The ph-balanced cleanser contains exfoliating ingredients which lead to smooth soft skin

The Good To Know: 
Formulated with a blend of essentials allows for perfect hydration and treating troubled skin:

Aloe vera and hyaluronic acid boost hydration.
Tea tree oil with its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties calms your skin.
Houttuynia cordata extract and olive oil helps to purify and revitalize your skin.

The Kocono Benefit: 

This product is made without colorants, alcohols, parabens, and artificial fragrances

Claims
"The Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser gives hydrating refreshment that deeply cleanses and conditions skin and pores. Its formula has been designed to perfectly clean and condition without tightening after-feel that harsh soap and detergents can leave behind."

Ingredients
Water, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Glycerin, Propylen glycol, Lauric acid, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Sodium hyaluronate, Dimethyl sulfone, Potassium hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, Betaine, Stearic acid, Chamaecyparis obtusa water, Ananas sativus(pineapple) fruit extract, Chlorphenesin, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, Illicium verum (anise) fruit extract, Citrus paradisi (grapefruit) fruit extract, Nelumbium speciosum flower extract, Paeonia suffruticosa root extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Panthenol, Citric acid, Pyridoxine, Linum usitatissimum (linseed) seed extract, Hibiscus esculentus fruit extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Arctium lappa root extract, Hibiscus mutabilis flower extract, Corchorus olitorius leaf extract, Hydrolyzed pea protein, Lecithin, Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, Phytosterols, Squalane, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Ceramide 3, Propanediol, Apium graveolens (celery) extract, Brassica oleracea capitata (cabbage) leaf extract, Brassica oleracea italica (broccoli) extract, Brassica rapa (turnip) leaf extract, Daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, Oryza sativa (rice) bran extract, Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fruit/leaf/stem extract, Lysine hcl, Proline, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Acetyl methionine, Theanine, Tocopheryl acetate, Panax ginseng callus culture extract, Piper methysticum leaf/root/stem extract, Centella asiatica extract, Portulaca oleracea extract, Beta-glucan, Papain

As you can see, the ingredients list is super long because this cleanser contains a bunch of extracts. It doesn't contain colorants, parabens, artificial fragrance or alcohol which makes it perfect for all skintypes including sensitive.

Main ingredients
Sodium Hyaluronate: Sodium Hyaluronate is derived from Hyaluronic Acid. It has the same benefits but Sodium Hyaluronate is absorbed more easily. Sodium Hyaluronate can hold 1.000 times its own weight in water which is why it has amazing moisture-binding abilities.
Tea Tree Leaf Oil: Tea Tree is a powerful ingredient. It's an antioxidant, it's anti-inflammatory and it helps troubled skin.
Licorice Root Extract:  This is also soothing, smoothing and anti-inflammatory.
Ceramide 3: This is moisturizing.

Packaging

This cleanser comes in a plastic bottle that contains 100 ml. On the bottle, there are claims, directions and ingredients written in English.

The only con about this packaging is that you can't see how much product you have left.

Texture and color

Due to this kind of pump, the product is already foaming when it comes out.

That makes it easy to spread out but it also makes it much more gentle because you don't have to rub your face to make it foam.
The foam looks like a white cloud and it is very soft.

Smell
It smells like tea tree. The thing about tea tree smell is that you either love it or hate it. I hate it. However, it doesn't bother me that much with cleansers because you wash it off relatively quickly and put on toner right after so the smell from the cleansing foam is replaced with the smell of your toner.

How to use
In AM routine: Apply water on your face. Pump product on your hands (I usually use two pumps) and massage onto your face using circular motions. Gently rinse off the product with luke-warm water.
In PM routine: After using an oil based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, use this cleanser. Same procedure as in AM routine.

Effects
This is probably the most gentle cleanser that I have ever used - my dry and slightly sensitive skin loves it. It doesn't irritate my skin in any way. After rinsing it off, my skin doesn't feel tight at all. My skin just feels soft and clean. When I use it in my PM skincare routine, it removes any residue from my oil cleanser effectively.
What I really enjoy about this (besides the fact that it's so gentle), is that the cleansing foam is already foam when it's pumped out of the bottle. It makes it so easy to use.

Pros
- It's hypo-allergenic.
- It doesn't contain alcohol or fragrance (the entire ingredients list is actually a pro).
- The cleansing foam is already foam when it comes out of the bottle.
- Gentle yet effective.
- Leaves my skin soft and clean.

Cons
The only con is the smell.

Overall
This is an amazing cleansing foam. If you don't like the smell of tea tree, stay away from this one. If you don't mind the tea tree smell, I highly recommend this to all skintypes.

I received this product from Kocono.dk in exchange of my honest review. I am in no way obligated to write a positive review.

Sheet Mask Empties November 2017

November was a great month when it comes to sheet mask empties. I used 28 sheet masks which is really good.

Manefit Beauty Planner Mask Set*
These were all pretty decent but non of them left me thinking 'wow'. I especially enjoyed the Honey mask because it left my skin moisturized and with a beautiful glow.

Innisfree Skin Clinic Mask Hyaluronic Acid
This mask was hydrating and left my skin with a dewy glow. However, the material was kind of stiff and not that comfortable so I will not repurchase this.

The Face Shop Real Nature Lotus
This mask was hydrating and it didn't leave any sticky residue. The fit could be better, it didn't adhere well to my skin and it had a strong smell. I will not repurchase this.

The Face Shop Real Nature Longan
This is the only mask I haven't reviewed because I can't really tell what effects it had since the smell of it made me nauseous - it was like a mixture of alcohol and perfume and it was just so strong. I will not repurchase this.

Tonymoly Master Lab Hyaluronic Acid
This left my skin looking plump and hydrated. The material was super thin and comfortable. I will not repurchase this because I prefer the Hyaluronic Acid mask from Etude House.

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Acai Berry
This mask was moisturizing enough for my dry skin and it had a nice fit. It had a strong smell and left a very sticky residue so I will not repurchase.

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Green Tea
This is a nice budget friendly mask that does as it claims to do. It had a pleasant cooling effect while on and it left my skin hydrated and with a sticky residue. It had a strong smell. The material was stiff and adherence could be better. I will not repurchase this.

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Aloe
This was a nice mask that does as it claims to do and it had a pleasant cooling effect. However, like the Green Tea mask from this sheet mask range, it had a strong smell and it didn't adhere that well to my skin. It also left a very sticky residue. I will not repurchase this.

Welcos Juju Natural Green Tea Mask
This mask had a nice fit and adhered well to my skin. It left my skin hydrated and smooth. However, it did sting the first few minutes I was wearing it and it had a strong smell. I will not repurchase this.

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Sheet Mask*
This was definitely one of my favorite masks from November. I especially love that it doesn't contain alcohol or parabens. The fit was nice, adherence was good, there was no strong smell, it didn't leave any sticky residue and it did as it claims to do. I think this would be a perfect mask for summer time. Due to the price, I will only repurchase if I find it on sale.

Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet Pearl
This was a good hydrating sheet mask that didn't leave any sticky residue. It left my skin glowing but it didn't brighten my skin as it claims to do. I will not repurchase this.

Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet Damask Rose
This mask did as it claims to do. It had a pleasant smell and the thin material was super comfortable. Unfortunately, it left a very sticky residue that didn't go away. I will not repurchase this.

Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Mask Damask Rose
This was a nice mask that did as it claims to do. It was hydrating and gave my skin a beautiful glow. Unfortunately, it left a sticky residue. I will not repurchase because there are other masks from this sheet mask range that I prefer.

Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Mask Hyaluronic Acid
This is one of my favorite masks when it comes to hydrating. It always leaves my skin hydrated, soft and non-sticky. I've repurchased this more times than I can count and I will keep repurchasing it.

Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Mask Aloe
This mask had a nice cooling effect - even after removing it. It does as it claims to do - soothing and hydrating - and it's perfect for irritated skin. I will repurchase this.

Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Mask Manuka Honey
This is one of the best nourishing masks I've ever tried. It was moisturizing enough for my dry skin - even after I exfoliated it. I don't have anything bad to say about this mask. I will repurchase this.

Tonymoly I'm Real Mask Sheet Seaweed
This had a nice cooling effect while on and it left my skin hydrated and radiant. However, the stiff material didn't adhere well to my skin and the smell was noticeable while the mask was on.

Tonymoly I'm Real Mask Sheet Avocado
I love using this mask after exfoliating my skin because it leaves my skin feeling so moisturized after using it. I've repurchased this a bunch of times and I will keep repurchasing it until I find a mask with similar results and a better fit.

Tonymoly I'm Real Mask Sheet Tomato
This mask left my skin feeling smooth, hydrated and gave it a beautiful glow. However, the material was stiff and it had a weird smell. I will not repurchase this.

Tonymoly I'm Real Mask Sheet Makgeoli
This mask did as it claims to do and it was also hydrating and moisturizing. It didn't leave any sticky residue. However, the material was stiff and it didn't adhere well to my skin. The smell was also too strong for my taste. I will not repurchase this.

*Gifted for review purposes.

The Face Shop Real Nature Lily

Last night, I tried this mask. This mask is a part of the budget friendly sheet mask range 'Real Nature' from The Face Shop.

Claims
"The mask sheet drenched in a smooth serum with oil with Lily brightens and revitalizes dull skin."

Directions
"1, Wash face and apply toner. 2. Pull out mask and carefully place on face. 3. Remove after 10-15 minutes and pat face lightly to absorb remaining essence on skin."

Ingredients
Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceri Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Alcohol Denat, Sorbitol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Propanediol, Betaine, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Clycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Ethylhexyglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Fragrance.

Noticeable ingredients
Glyceri Lilium Candidum Flower Extract: This is skin conditioning.
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil: This is an emollient and it's rich in essential fatty acids.
Grapefruit Extract: This is rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
Allantoin: This is soothing and anti-inflammatory.

The formula is without added parabens.

The packaging
On the front side of the pouch, there are beautiful lilies. On the back side of the pouch there are claims and directions in both Korean, English and French (I think?). There are also ingredients list in both Korean and English.

The mask

When I opened the pouch and took out the mask, it was difficult to unfold due to the amount of slits.

The sheet material was medium-thick - like average sheet material.

Essence

The essence was a mixture between clear and white and it was watery. It didn't drip when I was unfolding the sheet and the essence didn't run down my neck while I was wearing wearing the mask.

There was about a tablespoon of essence left in the pouch.

Smell

The essence had a strong smell - like a mixture of perfume and floral. It was honestly a bit overwhelming since it was noticeable the whole time I was wearing the mask.

Fit

The fit was okay but there was definetely room for improvement. There were plenty of slits to adjust the mask for a better fit. Both the holes for the eyes and the hole for the mouth were big enough for my face. The sheet material was a bit stiff and it didn't adhere well to my skin.

Time
According to the back of the pouch, you should leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes. I left it on for 20 minutes before it started to dry.

Results
When I took off the sheet, the remaining essence absorbed after about 10 minutes. It left a sticky residue that didn't go away. My skintone was evened out nicely and my skin looked radiant. My skin felt hydrated.

Price
This retails at $3 on thefaceshop.ca so it's not expensive.

Pros
- Does as it claims to do.
- Hydrating.
- Affordable.

Cons
- Strong smell.
- Fit could be better.
- Didn't adhere well to my skin.

Would I recommend?
Just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. However, I do believe that there are better masks out there at this price range.

Repurchase?
No.

Rating
3/5