Mask Compilation #7 - Misc

Hey everyone~~ I have a bunch of masks that doesn't really fit into one specific purpose or one specific brand. So we are doing a miscellaneous collection of masks~~

Nature Republic - Real Nature Manuka Honey Hydrogel Mask

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[BENTON] - Deep Green Tea Lotion

Hi everyone, can you believe it's the end of 2018 already? I am closing it out with the Benton Green Tea lotion, which is a brand new product that Benton just released.

[BENTON] - Cacao Moist and Mild Serum

I like Benton and they been introducing quite a bit of new products lately. I was slightly beating myself up for getting the Cacao Moist and Mild Serum because I got the toner and cream. I was just one away from the complete collection! So imagine my surprise when I got the serum in my goodies bag from Skinvestment! Thank you!! 💓

[BENTON] - Cacao Moist and Mild Toner

I was fortunate to be selected as one of the testers for Benton's newest product, the Cacao Moist and Mild toner. I was so excited, as I got the cream as well. I also received the serum from the Skinvestment event last weekend, so I have the entire line to test. However, life got the best of me and I haven't used the toner enough times to warrant a full review. So, instead, this will be a first impressions post.

[BENTON] - Tea Tree Cleansing Water

I finished using/dumping out my cleansing water and had been looking to buy a new bottle. I was recommended Bioderma and managed to snag one while on sale. But when Benton started to recruit reviewers for their new Tea Tree Cleansing Water, I just couldn't resist applying. Cleansing/micellar water is like the perfect tool for a lazy bum like me. So you can imagine that I was pretty excited to hear that I was selected! Yay! So read on for my review on the Benton Tea Tree Cleansing Water.

[PR Sample] - Benton Papaya-D Sun Cream SPF38/PA+++

Benton was asking for reviewers for its new sun cream on Instagram so I went and applied. I was surprised I got in as I also qualified for the Cacao cream but yay! New products to test out!

Just a random blurb, but I was surprised when they shipped it via DHL! Such an expensive shipping option for PR samples! Unfortunately, with the way our customs and postal service is working, DHL is necessary if you want the reviewers to receive it in time. Seriously, I am not even kidding. I haven't received the cacao cream they sent out via registered mail, and a product I won from Jolse back in March just arrived at the end of June.. =__= Oh the joy that is called Canada Post.😠😟

But I digress. The Benton Papaya-D Sun Cream SPF38/PA+++ the very first sun cream made by Benton, which includes both physical and chemical sunscreen agents. It contains papaya water and papaya fruit extract which contains various vitamins and nutrients, purportedly will keep the skin moist and vibrant. Looking at the ingredients list, there is also niacinamide and adenosine, which is great in achieving a brighter and smoother complexion.

Here is the full ingredients list:
Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Water(55%), Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Panthenol, Carica Papaya Seed Oil(5000ppm), Glyceryl Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract(750ppm),Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Papain(100ppm), Propanediol, Adenosine, Sodium Gluconate, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Algin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Bud Extract, Glucose, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Oil

CosDNA

They even have a verification sticker on the top of the box! 

On the literature sent with the sun cream, Benton noted that the sun cream is a sunscreen with a minimal white cast that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. So we will see how it performs shall we?

First thought. THAT SMELL!! Urg. It is very sharp. When I first tried it on the back of my hand, it was very sharp, reminding me of paint. It also never went away. -_- But I realized it's probably the papaya that is causing the sharp smell. I then tried it on my face, and was pleasantly surprised that after the initial assault to the nose, the smell dissipates and I become noseblind to it. The smell was not bothering me at all for the whole day. But you will get that initial shock of scent each time you put it on. But once it's on, the scent does dissipate. So don't be put off by the initial smell! It will go away I promise!

The cream comes out of the tube easily, and it is an opaque white colour. A little goes a long way, I only need about a dime sized for my chubby face. It spreads easily and leaves my skin feeling moisturized hours afterwards. So Benton did not lie that it is a moisturizing sunscreen!

I didn't find any reactions from using the cream for a few days in a row. My skin is not very reactive, so if I don't have any breakouts within a couple of days, then it's all good. But, as everyone has different skin types, it may be different for you.

Now, what everyone really cares about. Is there white cast? Benton says it's minimal, but I beg to differ. There is definitely a white cast, pretty noticeable on the back of my hands and on my face.

Using the back of my hands as an example, you can tell where I have applied the sunscreen. That portion has a shine to it whenever light hits it. Even in indirect light, I can tell that area is lighter.

Natural lighting coming from above my hand, office lighting and flash

Natural lighting coming from right hand side

Now onto my face. You can see, I don't need much to cover half of my chubby face. It's actually too much and I had to spread some to the other side. 😆

There is definitely a shine to the cream. It makes my skin look shiny! *sings* I am so....shiny!  I love the music from Moana if you couldn't tell from that reference 😝

No sun cream vs sun cream

Look at that shine from the light coming in the window.. 

Anyways, I also tried putting on some BB cushion on top of it to see how it reacts with makeup. Um... Let's start with the good? Because it is so moisturizing, the makeup goes on SMOOTHLY. I always found that when I put on makeup, it kind of looks caked on even with one layer. That is because my skin is so dry. With this sun cream on, I can put on more than one layer of BB cream and it looks like I got nothing on! Yay! What's even better? I have NO skincare underneath. Just clean skin and the sun cream. So yes, this is one moisturizing sun cream!

Seriously! This is two layers of BB cream and it looks like I have nothing on..What?!

Now the bad.. Um... I am still so.. SHINY~~ (Go listen to that song again!) Despite the two layers, I still got that shine. The shine is extremely prominent on my nose and cheeks. It looks like I got highlighter on but seriously, it's just the sun cream and the BB cream!😂 So use this if you want that highlighter look. 😅 Oh and for those wondering, yes the shine last ALL day! I had it on around 11AM and went out to do Canada Day events and came back after 5PM. The shine was STILL present. 😅

You can tell I got makeup on since my complexion got better. But that shine never went away!

Overall, I really like the fact that the sun cream is so moisturizing. But I am not a fan how shiny it makes me look. This girl doesn't need to look like she's sweaty throughout the summer. My moisturizers already gave me that sweaty/greasy look, I don't need to add to it. I think I will give it another try by putting some powder on top and see if it helps. If it doesn't then I'll probably use it on my decolletage as I always forget that area and it needs some protection from the sun.

With the price tag of roughly $20USD, I don't think I'll repurchase. But I am really appreciative that Benton sent it to me to review!

**This product was sent to me for free for review purposes from Benton, but all opinions are 100% mine.

[JOLSE] Benton Honest TT Mist Review

Yay!!! It's my first and probably last sponsored review!!!!! Let me start it off with a story~~

So Jolse went on r/AsianBeauty back in November selecting 40 reviewers for the Benton mist and I submitted my name for it. They also had a similar process on their website and I also submitted my name. Hey.. Why not increase my chances right..

Fast forward to middle of November and I was browsing on their website and saw the banner for the list of winners. I was sad to see my name wasn't on there but that reminded me to check out Reddit. And what did I see?!?!?! OMG ~~~~ I won~~~~~~!!! o(*≧□≦)o But then.. I realized.. I missed the deadline to give them my address.... .·´¯`(>▂<)´¯`·. What's a girl to do????

I emailed them and explained how I missed the deadline. Jolse graciously replied back saying they will still send it out! Yay!!!!

I anxiously waited and waited but it still wasn't here by the posting deadline of January 8, 2016... But.. What do you know.. I get the mist a week after the deadline. Thanks a lot Canada Post... ┐(￣ー￣)┌

Anyways, here is my honest opinion of the Benton Honest TT Mist.

First and foremost. I DO NOT like this mist at all. It has nothing to do with the product but rather the product design. Every time I sprayed the mist on my face.. I feel like I am being bombarded heavily with water. The nozzle just dispenses too much liquid with too much force. I have to hold it at an arms length to not be splashed with so much product that it's dripping off of my face. If it feels like my face is being rained on every time I use it, I am not going to like this product. Sorry Benton!

1 full pump, it's very poorly distributed. 

On the plus side, I do like how it is designed aesthically. It's only 40ml so it would be very clunky to have it in a bottle. I like the tube design. It makes it much easier to slip into a bag than a bottle. The simple black and white design is very appealing to me but I have a preference for black and white items.

Let's move on to the actual product. This is made with tea tree water instead of plain water. I am so glad this mist doesn't smell ANYTHING like tea tree!!!! Tea tree is up there on my list of smells I will absolutely avoid. I refused to use this tea tree mask that works really well due to the smell. So the lack of tea tree smell is a big plus for me. The fact that it doesn't have any discernible scent is even better!!!

 Ingredients: As per the package. 

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea tree) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadenisis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Poly Glutamic Acid, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Psidium Guajava Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract

Oooooh~~~ Sodium Hyaluronate is the second ingredient!!! I am always excited to see that high up in the ingredients list! 

Love that there's instructions in both Korean and English!

I been using the mist right after my toner, and I hate to say it.... The tea tree water doesn't work as effective as the Snail Bee Essence. I know there has been problems with the preservatives in the Snail Bee Essence previously but it worked wonderfully against all of my brother's breakouts. Whereas this, I am using it right after toner and I am still getting break outs. In fact, I got two huge painful under the skin bumps on my cheeks right after I started to use the mist. After I stopped for a few days, they kind of went down. I currently have quite a bit of breakouts on my chin and I been using the mist. So far, it haven't helped calm or reduce any of it... 乁░ ‾́  ‾́ ░ㄏ

But... then I realized.. I had misconceptions about the product! This is a moisturizing product! Not targeted toward breakouts at all!! I really thought it was for calming down breakouts like the Snail Bee Essence. But the description on the tube says it is to "help improve your rough and damaged skin from stress and pollution with moisturizing and cooling effect".  I should've known after seeing Sodium Hyaluronate as the second ingredients.. I think including "TT" in the product name and  advertising it is made from Tea Tree water is a bit misleading for a moisturizing product.

Okay, so it's a moisturizing product. So now let's view its moisturizing ability. I would say it's quite good with refreshing my skin and keep it moisturized. After I spray and pat in the mist, my skin feels softer and more moisturized. I even tried to spray it while I am at work, where I have a mini heater on at all times. My skin was so much softer and happier after using it.

My final thoughts on Benton's Honest TT Mist is that the tea tree water does nothing against breakouts for me but it is quite a good moisturizing mist. Would I purchase it? No I would not. even though it's portable, and a good product. I absolutely hate the nozzle and how unevenly distributed the mist is. I don't want to sit in public and look like an idiot trying to distribute the mist and pat it in. ＼| ￣ヘ￣|／

Last thought! Thanks again to Jolse for sending the product out for me to try! 

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence

So during the Memebox drought in November, I decided to purchase the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence along with the Ciracle Red Spot Cream. I heard that it is a great product to use on troubled skin, especially those with acne problems. I bought it with my brother in mind but I ended up keeping it. I have heard of the contamination problems they had before but I have heard pretty good recent reviews and decided to take the plunge. I did keep in mind that I would do a patch test before using it on my face.