Unboxing Beauty

July’s MaskGenie went out a week or so late, so that is why I am unboxing it later this month.  I will give my standard intro to MaskGenie, as it is a small ~ but fantastic ~ subscription  service and you may not know about it.

MaskGenie is a monthly subscription of masks ~ facial sheet mask, body masks, wash off masks and hair masks.  The owner lives in Hong Kong and she (Genie) tries out the masks and determines which ones she feels are worthy for her customers to try.   Shipping is extremely fast ~ within a week, I get my pouch.  You can order the 10 mask pouch for $22.00 or the 5 mask pouch for $12.00 and that includes shipping and she just doesn’t ship to the USA ~ MaskGenie ships all over the world.

One of the things I really appreciate from Genie is that she does an unboxing video once she sends out the pouches.   It is really great that she cares about her customers to provide this extra service and she explains a bit about the mask, why she choose it, where it is from and so on.   Her July Pouch Unboxing Youtube can be found here.

 

Bangkok Face Sleeping Mask  (Thailand) The choices were either Lychee for anit-melasma (brightening/whitening) or Mangosteen for anti-acne. I received Lychee, which I am pretty happy with as I do care about hyper-pigmentation.  I couldn’t find a list of ingredients for this product (and I did look!) but I did find the main ingredients in it.  This is made from lychee seed and fruit, which contains a phenolic compound, which has potent antioxidant properties that help reduce hyper-pigmentation, while preventing collagen and elastic weakness and breakdown.  This also contains Vitamin E, which another antioxidant ingredient, combating free radicals.  The Lychee mask also contains arbutin, to help brighten and lighten your skin tone (not make it white, but to even out any dark spots and hyper-pigmentation) as well as royal jelly, which will moisturize and hydrate your skin.  This mask is guaranteed  as a Thai Organic Skin Care product.   I am pretty excited to try out a new sleeping pack and I did find it on eBay, so if I like this, I can purchase it easily!   Sample Size

Description:  Results/Benefits:: Anti-Melasma, Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Aging, Anti-Wrinkles, Whitening, Soften Skin.  Lychee contains great amount of antioxidant Vitamin C, B-complex and flavonoids. These antioxidants are important nutrient that makes lychee healthy. Antioxidants are required to protect the body from oxidative stress. High oxidative stress is caused due to pollution and UV radiation. This process creates free radicals from oxygen molecules. These free radicals destroy normal cell DNA and change the function of cells to form cancer cells. Vitamin C is good for our skin, bones and tissues and therefore is a very important vitamin for our body. Vitamin B-complex helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, protein and fats. It has a high level of Beta-carotene which strengthens the immune system and improves the function of liver and other organs.

Main Active Ingredients (source)

• LITCHI CHINENSIS FRUIT AND SEED EXTRACT : Reduce melasma
• ALOE VERA CALLUS EXTRACT : Anti-inflammatory, reduce irritation from sunlight, heal up wound
• ALPHA-ARBUTIN : Whitening
• TOCOPHERYL ACETATE : Anti-aging, anti-wrinkles, Anti-oxidant, Soften skin, Strengthen skin cells
• HYDROLYZED ROYAL JELLY PROTEIN : Skin Conditioner

Genie did a review of this sleeping pack (source)

Bangkok Face Thailand Lychee Anti-Melasma Mask (Thailand) This is the first ever mask I’ve used that is made in Thailand. The thing that caught my eye the most is the ingredients Bangkok Face uses, and this one uses lychees. This mask is a sleeping mask that claims to whiten hyperpigmentation and melasma. I had high hopes of this mask smelling like lychees, but sadly, it doesn’t, but it does have a sweet and fruity scent. So the texture of this mask is like a water based gel, but I realized, if you mix the contents inside the container with a spatula, it quickly returns to its original state (flat surface), which is quite amazing! The mask is very easy to spread onto the face, but it does leave the face feeling slightly sticky even if you leave it on for an hour before you sleep. In the morning, there is no more sticky feeling on the face, and the face feels firmer. It doesn’t increase moisture levels, but my pores do look smaller. Haven’t noticed any anti-melasma changes yet. Quite an interesting try of products. Rating: 7.5/10 

image from http://www.kireiskincare.com/91-lychee-anti-melasma-mask.html

image from http://www.kireiskincare.com/91-lychee-anti-melasma-mask.html

 

Yadah Cleansing Nose Pack (Korea)  I have tried Yadah products before ~ from their cleansers to moisturizers and they are a pretty nice brand.   I am not a fan of nose packs but they are to be expected in any mask pouch!  I don’t really use them, as my blackheads are not really an issue, but they are nice to have a couple hanging around in case I do need them.   1 nose strip Value $1.00

Description: A pack of peel-off strips that absorb dirt and oil to reduce the appearance of pores and blackheads.  Each adhesive strip attracts pore-clogging dirt and oil. Specially formulated to draw out impurities and blackheads to unclog pores and detoxify the skin in just one pull. Contains Witch Hazel extract, a natural astringent, helps tightens pores, control excess oil and reduces inflammation on the skin. Effective yet gentle, additional botanical ingredients provide a soothing and calming feel upon adhesion. Skin is left exceptionally clarified and cleaned.

Ingredients: VP/VA Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bentonite, Kaolin, Hamamelis Virginiana (witch hazel) leaf extract, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), Glyceryl Isostearate, Methylparaben  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.avenue86.com/

image from http://www.avenue86.com/

 

 

Chun Mei Crystal Collagen Mouth Mask (Thailand)   This is so funny looking!  This is a lip mask and it has a slit for you to talk thru or drink something thru a straw 🙂  All of the lip masks I have used do not have that type of slit, so this is pretty interesting. I *think* this is the anti-aging one and you would wear it for 20-3o minutes.  The little tab piece that sticks down is so you place the mask with that facing down ~ towards your chin.   1 mask Value $3.20

Description:  An excellent tool for restoring faded, weak and flaky skin of the lips, which helps make your lips softer, attractive and to keep them in good shape. The mask contains natural bio-collagen, which perfectly removes dead skin cells, moisturizes the lips and fills in fine lines in the skin, prevents aging, gives UV protection.  It improves blood circulation in the upper layers of the skin; activates the metabolism; toxins; moisturizes the skin; smooths facial wrinkles; prevents the formation of new wrinkles; It accelerates the healing process of wounds on the skin; It prevents the formation of rough scars; regenerates the skin peels after a course; It tightens the skin Collagen – is not the only component of the mask, as it includes a variety of supplements that make use of the mask becomes more efficient. Among the ingredients collagen mask vitamins, extracts of medicinal plants, fruit acid, hyaluronic acid, natural essential oils, etc.

Main Ingredients: Collagen from plants, glycerin, natural fruit acids, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid.

Ginseng Health Patch (Korea)   When Genie posted her mask challenge with this patch, I really was hoping she would include it in one of our upcoming pouches ~ she did and for the 10 mask pouch, she included 2 of them!  I had been looking for them on eBay already, so I am really happy this is in here.  I have a bad back (from yanking a capsized catamaran to an upright position in ocean…twice in 10 minutes…and I threw out my back…sigh)  and I use all sorts of creams and whatnot to help with the pain.  I would love to slap on a patch and not stink up the office!  I cannot wait to use these, as Genie gave them a great review (see below).  I may not be able to get the exact brand, but there are others that are very similar ~ I linked that in the product name above.   2 patches Value $2.00

Description: Ginseng is being handed down from the Goryeo Dynasty a Korean natural folk remedies.  Korean specialty Koryo ginseng use was accompanied by folk medicine-prescription natural herbal ingredients Korea is basic.  Improved form of drugs to stick it for the convenience of rheumatoid arthritis is very effective, non-drug ingredients and steroids. Korean Ginseng positive drug labels contain ingredients effective anti-inflammatory drugs, pain, blood, swelling, circulation, expelling wind, vibrant, soft-kin, to repair a bone, Directly attached to the lesion site can achieve rapid pain relief and has an excellent soothing effect.

image source

image source

MaskGenie’s review (source)

Ginseng Health Patch (Korea) This isn’t a mask as such, but it’s a health patch that you stick onto a part of your body that feels painful or tired. I’ve always had back pain, and it has often disrupted my sleep. I’ve tried many ways to help it, including acupuncture, massage, Chinese medicine, physio, yoga, and other pain patches (Tiger Balm’s warm plaster does a good job to relieve pain temporarily), but nothing has really cured it. I recently came across this patch, and decided to try it. Each patch is like a thin sticky piece of paper, smells of ginseng, and has many small holes in the patch. It is recommended to use the patch each night for three days consecutively, even if your body doesn’t feel painful or tired anymore. I was surprised that my skin didn’t feel itchy after the first night (I don’t have super sensitive skin, but it does get slightly itchy after using sticky patches), however, after the third night, my back felt slightly itchy. The patch sticks on pretty well, and doesn’t come off easily. The most surprising thing is that my back doesn’t feel painful at all anymore, and I’ve never felt so good before! I hope this feeling isn’t temporary, but even so, I’m a happy girl again! Rating: 9.5/10

Dewytree Squalene Resilience Solution Mask (Korea)  I love Dewytree!  Not everyone does, but I love that their masks are practically dripping with essence (I dislike a dry mask).  I have used their black masks before (honey, detox, sny-ake) and only one of their Solution masks – Tea Tree.  I am pretty happy to get a Dewytree mask in here  and this one means business, with the doctor’s coat packaging!  haha   This not only has squalene, but green tea extracts, betaine, trehalose and sodium hyaluronate, which makes for a very soothing and firming mask! Value $2.00

Description: Elastic care components such as Kerasgen, Squalane will change even more elastic and healthy your skin, losing its elasticity as it gets older. Cotton mask sheet with silky touch delivers the effect of high-grade nutrients to the skin efficiently.

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, dimethicone, betaine, trehalose, methyl gluceth-20, panthenol, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, hydrolyzed collagen,  polyglutamic acid, alcohol, squalane, carbomer, camellia sinensis leaf extract, hydrolyzed keratin/hydrolyzed elastin, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxythylcellulose, potassium hydroxide, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, chlorphenesin, trisodium EDTA, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.dewytree.com/shop/shopdetail.html?branduid=97143

image from http://www.dewytree.com/shop/shopdetail.html?branduid=97143

 

Sexylook Superior Hydrating Black Mask (with neck) (Taiwan)  I received a Sexylook mask in a prior MaskGenie pouch, so it is nice to see another one in here!   This has a “neck” piece which I always find distracting ~ but that is supposed to help lift and firm your neck.  I am pretty excited to find out that this mask has JELLY FISH extract!!  I have never tried one before with that ingredient!   Supposedly, jellyfish extract has an anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties.   This is not only a hydrating mask, but is supposed to control the oil in your face too.   And wow!  Beauteque.com carries them!  Value $4.99

Description: This product has added the unique jellyfish protein complex and type V collagen. Together with the power of obsidian, the effect will be doubled and make skin’s deep layer elastic to smooth the wrinkles.  The type V collagen not only keeps the skin plump, luster, smooth and soft, but also injects an regeneration power to stimulate the production of natural collagen to pull up the skin and make it delicate.

Ingredients:  water, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, butylene glycol, hydroxethyl urea, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, citric acid, niacinamide, chlorphenesin, xanthan gum, carbomer, dipotassium glycyrrihizate,  phenoxyethanol, triethanolamine, iodopropynl butylcarbamate, hematite extract, jellyfish extract, sodium hyaluronate, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance, copper tripeptide-1  cosDNA.com analysis

 

Miss Carol Kiwi Whitening & Brightening Mask (Paris & Hong Kong) This was another choice mask ~ others may have received the Miss Carol Green Apple Anti-Aging Mask.  Genie must know my obsession for brightening and whitening products!!  And if I like this, I can get it from an online shop that Genie has turned onto ~ sasa.com ~ I really loved the honey peach masks from Sasa and they carry all sorts of other brands and goodies there!  This mask is made in Paris by a Hong Kong company.  Value $1.12

Description: MISS CAROL Kiwi Whitening & Brightening Mask improves dullness and uneven skin tone. The vitamin C in kiwi is twice more rich than people’s need for a day. So it is named the king of fruit. Rich in nutrition ingredients like tartaric acid and folic acid improves dull skin. Extracted from juice easily absorbed by skin. It helps to regain beautiful skin as crystal, bringing fine complexion with whiteness and gloss.

Ingredients:  water, glycerin, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol,hydrolyzed jojoba esters,  carbomer, butylene glycol, hydroxyethylcellulose, allantoin, ethylhexylglycerin, triethanolamine, methylisothiazolinone, actinidia chinensis (kiwi) fruit extract, sodium hyaluronate, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

MaskGenie Review (source)

Miss Carol Kiwi Whitening and Brightening Mask (Paris & Hong Kong) I thought this mask was made in Korea, but this is in fact manufactured in Paris by a Hong Kong company. The mask is soaked in an essence that smells nothing like kiwi fruit, instead, smells strongly of cologne. The shape was pretty decent for a low end mask, though its adherence was so so. There was hardly any essence left to massage in, but my face did feel refreshed afterwards. Nothing special.

 

Seatree Ice Fresh Mask (Korea)   Seatree and I have a rocky relationship.  I find that their products are too heavily fragranced, but I am always willing to give them another try.  This mask is supposed to be a cooling mask and has horse chestnut extract to add moisture back into your face and it boosts circulation and helps deliver oxygen-rich blood to the dermal layer.   It has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and broken capillaries and veins are strengthened and repaired.  I know this because I use some horse chestnut gel that I use on my legs to remove and prevent spider veins.  NOTE:  If you are on blood thinners, you don’t want to use horse chestnut.   I am hoping this mask is not so scented as the other ones I have tried as I love a cooling mask, especially in the summer time.  Value $2.00

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, alcohol, PEG-75, xanthan gum, disodium EDTA, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.shegoestoseoul.com/seatree-ice-fresh-mask-sheet

Farm Stay Green Tea Seed Mask (Korea)  I have never heard of Farm Stay, but I love the packaging already (I am a sucker for GREEN things)  I love Green Tea masks and this one is made with the seed extract (.05%), not the leaves.   This also has arginine, betaine and sodium hyaluronate, so I am hoping this is a nice hydrating mask!   Value $1.16

Description:  A non-sticky, nourishing facial sheet mask.  Contains hypoallergenic green tea seed extract to hydrate dry skin. Adheres to skin perfectly allowing serum to be absorbed thoroughly. Skin appears purer, softer, smoother and refreshed

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, alcohol, sodium hyaluronate, betaine, arginine, carbomer, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, allantoin, camellia sinensis seed extract (.05%), disodium EDTA, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

 

Ryeo:hui Ultra Hydrating Essence Pearl Mask  (Korea)  This mask not only has pearl extract, which is a common ingredient in Asian beauty products, but fermented soybean extract, which my skin adores!  This is supposed to have a thin sheet, like Innisfree masks, and is soaked in essence.   Value $1.30

Description:  The product provides enough moisture and nutrition to skin exposed by stimulation from outside and its active component forms a protective barrier and helps moisture not evaporate from your skin.

Ingredients: water, glycerin, alcohol, pearl extract, lactobacillus/soybean ferment extract, salix alba (willow) bark extract, cinnamomum cassia bark extract, origanum vulgare leaf extract, chamaecyparis obtusa leaf extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, portulaca oleracea extract, sodium hyaluronate, polysorbate 80,  hydroxyethylcellulose, methylparaben, carbomer, triethanolamine, disodium EDTA, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.bydeals.net/my/deals/3639/cotton-korean-mask-sheet-ryeo-hui-mastk-sheet-set.html

 

 

Once again, I am pretty happy with my MaskGenie pouch ~ I haven’t received a dud yet!  I really am looking forward to trying the Bangkok Face Lychee Sleeping pack, as well as the Ginger Health patches, Farm Stay Green Tea Seed and Seatree Ice masks.  I paid $22.00 for this pouch, which included shipping, and received a retail value of around $19.00 to $20.00    I really love the variety Genie puts in the pouches, not only with the type, but ingredients and country they are made in.  I do not have access to masks here in Boston ~ and I may not wish to gamble with an “unknown” mask initially, due to shipping costs and quality.

If you are interested in MaskGenie,  , just go to her online store at www.skinilove.com  and you can place your order that way, which would be month by month OR if you think you want this to be a reoccurring subscription, email Genie at her FB page at and let her know to invoice you monthly.

Do you get this month’s pouch from MaskGenie?  What are you looking forward to trying out?

 

[ All items purchased with my own money ]

[ descriptions in italics from the product’s linked site ]