Innisfree Its Real Squeeze Mask (Cucumber) review

Dear Beauty Diary,

Today I shall review sheet masks from Innisfree! Sheet masks are the craze in Asia and even more popular than the masks that come in jars. In fact, a few years ago, I thought that sheet masks were the only type of masks for a long time, hehehe. Anyway, sheet masks are a great pick me up for your skin. I use them once a week. I have tried sheet masks from a few different brands, but I was just meh with them. Nothing that made me want to repurchase. Until I found the Innisfree sheet masks!

Innisfree has a few different ranges of sheet masks, but I shall be reviewing the sheet masks from the Its Real Squeeze Mask line. They have many different fruits, berries and herbs, such as Aloe Vera, Honey, Bija, Kiwi, Strawberry, etc. You will definitely find one that suits your skin! I've used up my Rose and Tea Tree ones, so I'm left with this cucumber one to review. Its quite affordable, at $2 for each mask. The mask comes dripping with serum, there's 20ml worth of serum packed into each mask. So much serum that you don't need to worry about your face drying out with the mask on, even if you have dry skin.

One of the top ingredients in the mask is glycerin, so it makes your skin very supple and moisturised. The mask is also very cooling and refreshing on the skin. Results last for a whole day! Your skin just feels so rich and moisturised after using the mask. I have never used a mask that gives me such results before, most masks leave a gel type serum after use. The Innisfree masks seem to leave a cream type serum after use, it is very thick and rich. Super moisturising and I love it.

Ingredient list.

Downside to the product is that all the masks from the Its Real Squeeze Mask line contains alcohol and butylene glycol as one of the top ingredients. I have found that the only masks that do not contain alcohol is the Shea Butter and Rice masks. I have quite sensitive skin, so the alcohol tingles my face. Also, pure alcohol smells terrible. It has a sharp stinging smell. While these masks are scented, the alcohol smell is still overpowering. They smell terrible.

Furthermore, even though there is very little research done on the comedogenic effects of butylene glycol, after years of experimenting, I have discovered that butylene glycol breaks me out. I have read reviews of others breaking out from some of these masks, and I suspect its butylene glycol.

If you do not have sensitive skin, I would recommend using these masks, as the effects are great. Love the glycerin and love how moisturising it is. I still use this mask once a week even though it has butylene glycol, just because I love how soft, plump and moisturised it makes my skin feel. Currently this is my favourite mask, but really wish they would take out the alcohol and butylene glycol. If anyone has masks to recommend that are super moisturising, yet do not contain the 2 ingredients I mentioned above, please say so in the comments, I would love to try! ^_^

Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Cream review

Dear Beauty Diary,

I'm back with a whole lot of Korean skincare and makeup reviews! To kickstart all the Korean goodies, I shall start with Innisfree, one of my favourite Korean brands.

Firstly, let me tell you a short story about my skin. I have normal to oily skin. In the past, I tried creams from Etude House, Mizon, Za, Hada Labo, etc etc (that was so long ago that I can't remember xD) even dermatologist recommended creams. All didn't work. It left a greasy layer on my face which made my skin super dry, sticky, and it kept evaporating which made my skin very uncomfortable and in serious need of more moisture. Very unhappy skin. That put me off chemical laden skincare, and I turned towards natural skincare. I tried brands like Sukin and LUSH. Wow I loved them, my skin drank up all the natural oils, but natural butters (shea, cocoa) broke my skin out! So I had to continue searching. Enter Badger. I LOVE Badger. No butters or comedogenic oils in their skincare, which explains why I used up 2 bottles of their damascus rose face oil and 3 bottles of their unscented face oil. I've been using Badger for about 4-5 years now. However, my skin got too used to Badger, so it wasn't as effective for me anymore. I would definitely use Badger again in the future, after a few rotations of different brands. Anyway, I started the search again. Enter Innisfree, which is known to use natural ingredients from Jeju Island in Korea.

I couldn't decide which range to use, as there are so many different ranges in Innisfree. Thus, I decided to pick them based on their ingredient list - the more natural, the better. Struck out all creams with silicones, they do nothing but sit on your skin to give you a glossy, dewy Korean skin look. Looks pretty, but is very greasy. Enter the Green Tea Fresh Cream. No silicones, very impressed. It also contains 84.2% green tea extract. Green tea is good for the skin and body as it is full of antioxidants.

I got my Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Cream at $25 ($17.88 USD), very affordable. This cream is meant for oily skin. They also have the green tea balancing cream, which is for combination skin, and the green tea moisture cream, which is for dry skin. It comes in a plastic tub with 50ml worth of product, which is going to last you ages as you just need a finger dab each application. By the way, you can bring back the plastic tub to Innisfree after you are done with it, they will recycle it. And you also get $1 back for your recycling efforts.

The product comes in a light gel form. It is colourless and the texture is similar to aloe vera gel. Feels very lightweight. However, it is very moisturising, which surprised me! It goes on smooth as a gel, but as you massage it in, it takes on a rich oil texture. I love oils and how fast they sink in and their moisturising ability, which made me very happy with this cream.

The gel is colourless, I swatched it in the middle of my hand, hopefully you can see it.

This cream did not leave me dry at all. Honestly, it was a tiny bit sticky at first when I was massaging it in, but the feeling disappeared once I patted it in. After it sinks in, there is no more sticky feeling. It is not greasy and does not leave a shiny look on your face. It just leaves your skin smooth and moisturised throughout the day. My skin has become softer and smoother after using this cream, and I am so happy with the results. This cream should only be used in Summer and Spring, it will not be enough for the cooler Winter weather. Perhaps I will use my Badger oils then.

This cream has a very strong fresh scent. It smells like a forest after the rain, fresh and strong. It is pretty pleasant, but sensitive skin users beware, the smell is quite strong. Anyway, here is the ingredient list that I have retrieved from the Innisfree website, look how natural it is.

The Green Tea Extract (84.2%), Propanediol, Glycerin, Tangerine Peel Extract, Prickly Pear Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Extract, Grapefruit Extract, Orange Extract, Tangerine Extract, Tromethamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance

Overall, I am very satisfied with this cream. It is light but super moisturising. Sinks in fast, no sticky or greasy feeling. Ingredients are very natural which makes me feel so proud of Innisfree. No breakouts at all. Highly recommended!