Where to purchase: Available on Yesstyle HERE
Price: £13.78
Volume: 60ml
Made in: South Korea
What is it?: A gel-like hydrating mask / moisturiser containing 87% Propolis Extract.
Description: Containing Propolis and natural beeswax, this product provides hydration and moisture as well as providing a cooling effect on the skin. This product is supposed to feel refreshing on the skin, good for cooling down heated skin and sunburned skin. Cosrx claims that this absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving it soft and hydrated.
Aimed at: Irritated skin (due to the propolis i.e. it’s deemed to be anti-inflammatory)
Good for: Oily skin types especially, oily-combo as well. Sensitive + Sensitised skins.
Packaging: Squeeze-y tube wih a flip-top cap. Love this packaging. Easy to use and control how much product I want out.
Compared to the COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask (which I haven’t tried) – that product is aimed at dry + Dry Combination skins and is a CREAM-like texture (this is more like a gel). That also contains Niacinamide so aims to brighten one’s skin tone (whereas this product aims to soothe + hydrate). It is also vegan whereas this contains Propolis + Beeswax.
Directions: To use as an overnight mask – you can use this at the end of your skincare routine before bed. As a wash-off mask, apply a generous amount and leave on for 15 minutes and then wash off. As a cream, just use at the end of your routine and in the AM, use before SPF.
How I use it: Personally I wouldn’t use it as a wash-off mask (I think that’s a waste of money to wash off your product, especially when you’re allowed to leave it on the skin for the 2 other uses). So I use this in the PM (sometimes the AM but usually the PM due to the lightweight texture of this, I don’t think it stands on its own as a moisturiser to use in the AM when I only tone – moisturise – SPF and am out the door). In the PM I use this at the end of my routine and I have no issues with it balling up.
Key Ingredients: Allantoin (skin soothing), Beeswax (emulsifying), Propolis Extract (skin soothing). Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant). Adenosine (barrier-protecting), Panthenol (skin soothing). Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract (skin conditioning).
You can see this is all aimed at calming and soothing the skin.
Full Ingredients: Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beeswax, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine
NOTE: Skincharisma have a full Ingredient Breakdown HERE
Texture: This is definitely a gel-type texture. It feels cooling on the skin upon initial application and is incredibley lightweight once absorbed. It spreads out really far so a little goes a long way. The only thing is I like to feel fully hydrated, so I do use a lot of this product regardless. On nights where it’s hot and humid, this is an excellent product to use instead of a moisturiser (if it feels too heavy during warm weather). This doesn’t feel sticky or thick. But absolutely this doesn’t feel like it has any oils/emollients in here i.e. it’s a gel and not a cream. But it also means this doesn’t feel oily.
I’m so impressed! The picture above shows the Ultimate Moisturising Honey Overnight Mask from Cosrx – this is a re-formulated version of that because I had such a bad experience with that honey mask – it kept balling up / pilling under and on top of skincare and messing my routine up. But this product? there’s no stickiness, even when I apply A LOT of product on my face which is what I usually like to do as I use this as my PM moisturiser. It layers absolutely fine on top of my skincare and my face doesn’t feel tacky or sticky. It’s so lightweight as well and feels cooling rubbing into the skin. definitely this is aimed at oily skins or those who live in hot and humid climates. Anyone who wants a lightweight, non-sticky, gel-like texture would enjoy this. This is even lighter than aloe gel to me (and definitely less stickier). I think the rice mask is aimed at more dry skins. However I do think dry skins could use this but would probably want to layer something under or on top of this whereas oily skins could get away with this being their moisturiser//lotion step.
A transparent, orange-tinted gel.
Literaly looks like a gel. Cooling on the skin and very spreadable.
I would say – although this melts into the face nicely, I can still feel it on top of my skin forming a barrier. It doesn’t entirely disappear to the point where my skin actually feels dehydrated, no – this forms an occlusive layer on top but not a layer that makes my skin feel like it can’t breathe.
Fragrance?: No added Fragrance or Essential Oils – this doesn’t smell strongly of anything and isn’t offensive.
Good Under Makeup?: I used this once under SPF and that was fine!
How long have I been using this?: For about a month (during the hot weather in England and this was what I tended to use much more than the Inkey List’s Peptide Moisturiser (Review HERE)
The Effect?: Hydrated skin to a certain extent. I must say that if I just used this straight after toning, my skin would feel both tight and dehydrated. but I find this to be a GOOD SEALANT. Something good to seal up all the layers you’ve put underneath, without making your skin feel like it can’t breathe. And I definitely like the cooling effect and how thin this is for the hot weather!
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What I like:
- Love the Tube packaging (easy to travel, hygienic and I can control how much product I want out.
- Lightweight YET Hydrating
- Layerable! (The previous version was not so I’m shocked that this now sits well on top of my other skincare products whereas the previous version did not!)
- Spreads really far so a little goes a long way
- Doesn’t feel heavy i.e. the skin can breathe
- Cooling effect (nice to wear during hot weather)
- It can be used as an AM or PM moisturiser
- Fine under SPF
- No fragrance
- Good to form a sealant on top – to seal in all the hydrating serums/toners/essences underneath.
- Not too sticky (my face doesn’t stick to my pillow too much)
- Did not irritate the skin
What I don’t like:
- I think the one thing would be – this seems to contain NO oil so if you’re feeling dry and NOT dehydrated, then this wont really do much (because this is just like a lightweight gel) – so it doesn’t bring that sort of ’emulsion’ or ‘lotion’ feeling. (fyi if you want a thick sleeping mask, then the Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask was that product for me – review HERE and purchase link HERE.
- Although it’s lightweight, it doesn’t disappear fully into the skin and leave my skin dry which is great! I can still feel it sort of sitting on top of my skin without it suffocating the skin, I can just feel an ‘occlusive’ barrier-type being formed. This may annoy some people if you really want your products to disappear.
- Although I’ve used it in the AM, it’s not the best for me in terms of an AM moisturiser and much prefer it in the PM to seal layers underneath (as my AM routine is short I do want more of an emulsion-type moisturiser before applying usually a drying SPF).
- Wish it had Niacinamide in it (because the Rice Sleeping Mask has it)
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4/5 – A lovely night gel/mask! I really have enjoyed using this whether it’s cold or hot in the UK, I have reached for this. For someone who likes lightweight, can barely tell it’s there products – I’ve really enjoyed this. I love the tube packaging, I like how far this spreads and how it ‘seals it all in’. As said before, dry skins would not like this and those with dehydrated skins like me – I can’t just use this on its own as it doesn’t stand on its own as a moisturiser for me, but as a sealant (to lock in the layers underneath) and I’m so happy that it isn’t heavy and my skin can breathe and especially as it’s a gel – doesn’t make my skin feel sticky and tacky. As I don’t find it a good-enough moisturiser to use on its own in the AM and really only use it in the PM – I did take a point off.
Would I repurchase?: Yes! This ties for me with the Laneige Sleeping Mask (Purchase HERE) – as said before, it’s a good sealant but I wouldn’t use it as a moisturising moisturiser, but more as a hydrating, cooling gel at the end of a routine to hold in the layers underneath. I think the laneige sleeping mask is a little more emollient, but the texture seems similar to me and both do the same job.
Dupe?: The Laneige Sleeping Mask HERE
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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