Hi everyone! ^_^
Heads UP! this is a super super long post! If you are looking for a specific mask, please type the name in the search bar, thanks!
I will finally be reviewing the
"My Beauty Diary" variety pack of hydrating masks. Each one has it's own special property designed to treat certain skin problems or give your skin an extra boost. Some of them have properties such as whitening, brightening, softening, etc. I bought the variety pack on Amazon and it was rather pricey, I think around $30. If you read my review on "
My Beauty Diary: Black Pearl Mask" (which is one of the masks in the variety pack as well) The packaging and style of mask is the same for all of them. The
directions are the same, put it on after a cleansed and toned face and leave it on for 20-30 min. After taking it off, massage the serum into skin until product is fully absorbed.
Main thing about all these masks is that
they are all highly hydrating and moisturizing! Definitely good if you have dry skin! Because I have sensitive and combination dry skin, I am reviewing based on my skin type. If you have tougher skin and different preferences (such as mask scent, etc.) you can consider them a little differently based on your skin type and preference. Also, please understand, because this is a variety pack, I only used each kind
once! So, these are first impressions but not long time use impressions. If you have certain immediate expectations for some products such as fragrance-free or irritation, these reviews will probably be very helpful when considering which mask to buy!
And this is my take on each of the masks! Enjoy! =D
Black Pearl - I have done a thorough review on this mask in one of my blog posts because this is the first mask I ever tried and I used it for a good 3 months or so until I started the variety pack. You can read the whole review on my blog for my
review on the black pearl mask. Long story short, great mask, good for sensitive and dry skin. Has whitening products that do work and evenly make my skin paler and my acne scars fade. I
definitely recommend this mask!
Strawberry Yogurt - It says it whitens and refines the skin, controls/balance sebum/oil secretion, and tightens pores. This mask smells sooo good! XD haha, it has a nice sweet strawberry yogurt scent! I really like it and I would
definitely recommend this one, especially to younger people. This mask is better for people with younger skin because they can absorb it better.
Yogurt has many anti-redness/inflammatory, hydrating and softening properties. Your skin will feel so smooth and bright after this mask! I am very pleased with this product and it will definitely be on my list to buy after I am done with the variety pack! =)
Natto - It says it restores radiance, elasticity to skin and prevents free radicals=antioxidant. This is the one mask that I did not try, because I gave it to a friend of mine who really wanted it. This mask has Natto extracts from it which has a high amount of Vitamin K. Vitamin K is a blood clotting vitamin and is good for the skin and it used to treat broken capillaries, rosacea, surgery bruising, dark circles, and hyperpigmentation.
I have read many good reviews on this mask and it is rather popular, especially for irritated and sensitive skin so I was eager to try it out. So, this mask has a typical mask smell to it, a bit of that product chemical smell, and doesn't really smell like natto at all, which is good i guess XP, I don't like the smell of natto. I don't like the typical product smell, which is a bit of downer but it's not too sharp and strong so it's okay. The smell goes away in 5 minutes or so.
When I first put on this mask, the skin on the corners of my nose and around my mouth stung for a few minutes, which made me sad =(. I was really hoping that this would not irritate my skin because it says it works for sensitive skin, but it did. The stinging left after those few minutes, but still you know, I wouldn't be sure about using this mask regularly if I my skin stung every time I put it on. But my skin did feel softer and smoother afterwards!
So, because everyone's skin is different, even sensitive skin, I think this mask is
worth a shot! It may work better with other people's sensitive skin and not mine.
Q 10 Rejuvinating - It says it revitalizes, whitens and tightens the skin. Don't listen to them. This is a mask that has no other properties besides hydration. I don't, do not, recommend this mask.
Don't get it. It's a waste of your money. Why? As a pre-med student I'll explain.
Q10 is also known as Q or QH or QH2, commonly called Ubiquinone or Ubiquinol depending on it's energized state. Q10 is used in the process to form ATP (energy) for cells in the body. Q10 is in the electron transport chain in the mitochondria of all body cells. Q10 is a molecule that transports Hydrogens in the mitochondria along the transport chain. When it does that, ATP is formed and pumped into the mitochondria for energy use.
Now, what the heck does this mean? This means that Q10 is something that transports something else in body cells. It's just a transporter/carrier. It does nothing! Absolutely nothing! And trust me, you don't need like more Q10 in your body, everyone's body has a ton of them, having a little more isn't going to make your skin or body any better or healthier.
Now, if you want a mask that just hydrates your skin like any other mask, then you can get it if you want. But you're probably paying the extra money for a property that doesn't exist. So, I
do not recommend it.
Bulgaria White Rose - I read reviews on this one and I heard people did not like the smell. It is supposed to have whitening and brightening effects. The smell is kind of...meh. It smells like roses but kind of cheap? weird?, that kind of rose scent, which is kind of a put off. And, yes, like the reviews say, it is kind of strong and sharp smelling. So, I don't like that. This mask also made my face burn and sting the moment I put it on, maybe it was the fragrance that did it, I don't know, but I took it off immediately >=( and washed my face with water so it would stop burning.
I don't like strong sharp scents and my sensitive skin didn't like it. So, I
do not recommend this product.
Pearl Powder Mask - I read reviews on this and it's an okay/likable mask. It is supposed to have whitening, brightening, and moisturizing effects. The first think I noticed was the artificial scent. I being made from pearl extract, I didn't know what scent to expect, maybe nothing. But I didn't like the smell of this mask. It has an artificial smell, sharp, kind of like one of those disinfectant wipes that you use to clean the bathroom, messes, etc. That bothered me. I probably won't buy this kind, just because of that. (I'm picky haha) It did kind of burn/irritate my skin around the corners of my nose and around my mouth, but it went away after 5 minutes or so. If you don't like sharp artificial smells, then I
do not recommend this mask and irritation may or may not happen to you if you have
sensitive skin.
Bird's nest- This is one of the more popular masks in Asia. It says that it whitens, nourishes and renews skin. It says it's good for normal skin and recommended for dry, dull, and rough skin. "Bird's nest" is corallina officinalis, the so-called “bird’s nest from the bottom of the
sea”. It is a type of red seaweed, and it's properties are said to be intensely moisturizing and nourishing. This mask has no fragrance or scent to it. When I put it on, my sensitive skin tingled for a moment. I'm not sure if that was a sign of slight irritation, but it was only there for a moment and I felt fine. This mask did not irritate or redden my skin. It felt very hydrating =). I do
recommend this to people who do not like scented masks and/or who have very dry skin especially in cold dry weather. It's main purpose is hydration so I would
not recommend this for people who are looking for more skincare benefits than just hydration.
Aloe- It says that it provides hydration, repairation, and nourishments for skin and that it is ideal for all skin types, especially dry and damaged skin. This has an aloe scent to it that is a bit artificial but it goes away in about 5 minutes. I had a slight stinging sensation around the corners of my nose but that disappeared in a few minutes. I think this is a pretty ordinary mask, nothing really special about it besides hydration but all of them at least hydrate so I probably won't be buying this one. I think if you are young and have pretty good non-sensitive skin, I
think it's worth a shot. However, if you are looking for something with more effect(s) and/or if you have
sensitive skin I am
not sure to recommend it or not because it may or may not irritate your skin.
Hyaluronic acid- It is said b/c of hyaluronic acid, it will revitalize and intensely moisturizes skin, helping it retain its moisture. It is said to be good for older skin especially if you have wrinkles.
I really like this mask! It is definitely the most moisturizing out of all of them, even though all of them are excellent moisturizers. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed that I had not even the most mild of irritations, which I sometimes get with some of these masks. This mask has a bit of a cooling effect, or at least it feels like a nice cooling moisturizer. =) If you are looking for
extra moisturization especially if you live in a dry environment, your skin is very dry, or becomes dry because of season changes, I
definitely recommend this mask to any skin type! I am very happy with this one because it did not bother my sensitive skin at all! (If you've read the others, some have bothered me slightly, but go away, which is a bit annoying and possibly worrisome).
Red vine- It says it whitens and tightens the skin and contains antioxidants. I have read very good reviews on this mask. A lot of people like it and recommend it. This masks smells strongly of red wine actually haha, it has an alcoholic scent to it. But the smell quickly faces after a minute on the face. It did not irritate or redden my sensitive skin but I may have felt a tingling sensation around the corners of my nose and around my mouth. However, that went away in less than 5 minutes. I'm sure like the rest of the My Beauty Diary masks, the whitening properties work well. After 1 use, my face didn't feel tighter, but this probably happens after using it more times. I like this mask, I'll probably buy a pack when I'm rotating different kinds of masks. I
recommend this mask to any skin type. When I do buy a full pack of these, I will write a review on its tightening and antioxidant properties.
Sake yeast- One of my friends says this is a really good mask and you should use it
on a hot summer day. And I was like okay! I will! XD It says it is enriched with Sake Yeast Extract, which works to boost metabolism and
skin renewal by increasing temperature of skin surface and has collagen for cuticle renewal. It says it is for all skin types but for sensitive skin, one should go under dermatological testing. This sentence made me pretty wary, but I decided to try anyway =P.
I am happy to say that this mask was great! It did not irritate or redden my sensitive skin. It smelled like sake, so yes, it has an alcoholic scent to it XD. It is not that strong and does fade in a few minutes. It might have increased in temperature initially, but it was very quick and short, and then it had a more cooling effect, which felt nice on a hot day. I
recommend this mask to most skin types unless you know that your skin is particularly sensitive/allergic to most skincare products. Then you should ask your dermatologist. I like this mask, and I would probably buy it again and use it during the summer more often. =)
Apple- It says that it tightens pores, refines and hydrates skin. I think you have to use this product for a while to have pore-tightening effects but I felt that it was hydrating. It had a sweet-sour green apple smell (like candy haha) but it also had a somewhat artificial smell that I didn't like. Also the nice apple smell went away quickly =(. It did sting a little bit around my mouth but went away in about 5 minutes. I don't know about this mask. It didn't have a strong impression on me or stood out in anyway. I probably won't buy it. I think if you are young and have pretty good non-sensitive skin,
it's worth a shot. However, if you are looking for something with more effect(s) and if you have
sensitive skin I am
not sure to recommend it or not because it may or may not irritate your skin.
Collagen- It says it has collagen that lifts and firms the skin with natural,
long-lasting moisturizing effects leaving it
smooth, delicate and more elastic.
So, this mask did not irritate my skin at all! There was no burning sensation, itchiness or redness, which is great! It works for my sensitive skin! And I noticed a perfume like fragrance. It's hard to describe, smells like a very standard perfume. It's not a bad smell, not strong and not too sweet or sharp. I don't mind it. Because I used this only once, I don't see any lifting or firming of the skin. It would probably take 2-3 months to see a change. However, I will definitely keep this mask in mind when I am older and want to help prevent wrinkles! I'm very happy that it doesn't react to my sensitive skin =)
If you are looking for a product to help lift and firm the skin, this mask is
worth a shot. I can't guarantee what it says it does, because I only used it once. However, a plus is that it works for my sensitive skin, so if you have any skin combination, it should be okay =). I'd recommend this product for people in their mid to late 30s and onwards.
Arbutin Whitening- It is said to of course, evenly whiten the skin for a paler, clearer complexion.
So, this mask doesn't have any added fragrance. It smells like any regular hydrating mask and the smelling isn't sharp or strong and goes away in a few mintues.
I'm very happy that this mask did not irritate my skin at all! No pain, stinging, or redness! Definite plus XD.
Even though I only used this mask once, this brand is pretty good at whitening and I've already seen good results from the black pearl powder mask. I'm not sure what the difference is between these 2 masks because they are both for whitening. It is possible that the whitening mask shows stronger and faster results.
If you are looking to whiten your skin, especially if it is too tanned to you or you have hyperpigmentation from scarring such as from acne, I do
recommend this mask to any skin type.
Snail- It says it contains mucus secreted by snails and that is rich in protein, the ingredient
effectively increases skin’s elasticity, and strengthen moisture-locking
and repairing effects. I was kind of put off by the fact that it comes from snails...like...it's a personal thing, but I don't like snails, or at least I hate it when I step on one and when I'm walking in the dark outside my house there are a lot...and I really really hate it, when I accidentally step on one...so gross. Anyway, off topic, haha
So, I'm very happy that this mask did not irritate or sting my skin! I was worried at first b/c it first smelled like alcohol but that smell went away quickly and nothing bad happened to my skin. =) My skin felt very smooth and hydrated after this mask.
This mask came with a complementary snail facial moisturizer that you are supposed to use after you take off the mask. However, I decided not to use it. The reason is that it contains mineral oil, and i'm not allergic to it. But mineral oil is a very very strong moisturizer.
Aquaphor has mineral oil and it is oily and thick. Because I have combination skin, I only use Aquaphor on the sensitive dry areas of my skin and nowhere near my oily forehead and nose. Therefore, I don't think this snail cream is good for oily skin, and I don't want to apply 2 different moisturizers onto my face, so I didn't use it.
I
recommend this product to people with very dry and/or sensitive skin. =) It feels very nice on the skin and doesn't harm my dry sensitive skin areas.
If you don't have combination skin and your skin is dry or very dry, then I
also recommend that you use the complementary cream that comes with it. However, if you have combination dry skin then you might want to put it only on the dry areas of your face and if you have oily skin, I definitely don't recommend you use the cream, but the mask is fine!
Japanese cherry blossom- This is a very popular mask and I have heard very good reviews on it. It says it whitens, refreshes, brightens, and soothes the skin. Initially this mask has a sharper cherry blossom scent but it quickly lightens up into a nice faint scent. This mask did not irritate or redden my sensitive skin. I'm sure the whitening, like the other My Beauty Diary masks, works well over time. If you are just looking for basic complexion and whitening properties I
recommend this to any skin type. However, if you are looking for something more than that then maybe you want to try a different mask.
So, I use a mask once a week and there were 16 masks total, which meant about 4 months overall. It took a really long time to finish this post haha. But I wanted to finish the entire variety pack and review all of the products at once so you can look at and compare the masks to fit your preferences.
I hope that you enjoyed this review despite it's long-ness XD, thank you for reading and I hope it helped you find a mask that works for you! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write in the comment box below =). Thanks and have a nice day!
