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Remember when we were told that 8 hours sleep was the minimum? The minimum? (to be read in Soulja Boy Drake voice.) It’s almost laughable to me right now, although I need it more than ever.
Actually, let me be specific: I can’t seem to sleep in as I usually do (to 10am and beyondddd!), so my age-old habit of heading to bed late is really playing with me. I guess I should try to change my habits there… but that takes at least 22 days, as Beyonce told us, so I’ll get back to you on that.
But despite what my lacklustre amount of sleep leaves to be desired, sleeping masks can begin to alleviate. And today I have two sleeping masks to discuss: the Cosrx Ultimate Moisturising Honey Overnight Mask and the Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack.
I was provided the Rovectin mask by Wishtrend, and picked up the Cosrx mask of my own volition (but it is actually also available at Wishtrend, funnily enough). Both of these brands are amazing because they are VEGAN! Yep, you heard that right: vegan Korean brands seem to be multiplying daily, and I am here for it. I always tried (in vain) to find Korean brands not tested on animals, and trust me, it used to be a lot harder than it is now.
Cosrx is officially a cult brand, and while I’ve tried a handful of products, I wouldn’t call myself an aficionado yet. A connoisseur, if you will. These fabulous foreign labels elude me, but it’s all good — because we are all on our own path, and this is mine, bb. Yes, this is getting a touch dramatic, but in the beauty world (especially Korean beauty world), there are new hot releases daily, so when you are slightly behind, it feels like you’ve time travelled back to the 18th century. LATE late.
Anyway, here I am. The Cosrx Honey Overnight Mask is a cult favourite, and it definitely intrigued me. I’ve always been a fan of honey products (since 2013 I mean, when I got my life together and discovered K-beauty), and I love the nourishing nature of honey/royal jelly products, as well as the supposed antibacterial properties. Actually, when I moved to Korea, I was having problem skin, and I do think these helped. (But if you want the full story, sign up to my email list to get my free ebook, How I Fixed My Skin!)
So I was of course muy excited to try this baby. It is quite a small, cute product — minimalist and rather chic, really. Cosrx definitely have that cool aesthetic down, and I know they’ve recently updated their branding, but it’s still a similar ~vibe~. Very clean and aesthetically pleasing. This mask did come in a box, and is a convenient squeezy tube that is very light (as it’s plastic) and easy to travel with (if we could). It has a simple flip top so you’ll never lose a lid (!!!) and wins points on the packaging simplicity factor.
Now, the product itself… is clear. Clear! Transparent, see-through, zero pigment. I was honestly not expecting this, and clearly had not checked any reviews so my initial reaction was filled with curiosity and delight. Despite writing a review right now, sometimes I do love to just try products on a whim and see how I go. I figure our gut feelings never really steer us wrong, especially once you get the gist of what ingredients and brands you like… and plus, it’s just fun.
So it’s a clear mask, we’ve got that. As for the scent, there wasn’t a really memorable one, but it was a very light honey fragrance. Very light. I used quite a generous amount each time I applied this baby, and while a little does go a long way, I like my face to be moisturised, dahling. So I probably apply it a little too thick, but it really does just absorb into the skin quite quickly and doesn’t feel heavy.
As for the results? Well, each time I’ve used it, I’ve kind of forgotten about it in the morning, until I rinse it off and remember. What I mean is, it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy, which I love. After using, I do find my skin to look more bouncy and nourished, although I’m not sure how long this lasts for (but how long does it ever last for?! Sigh). In terms of a moisturising mask, this is a good one to use, simple in its technique and does what it says it will.
Here’s a quick swatch (Rovectin on top, Cosrx below, cat in the back):
In terms of ingredients, Propolis Extract is the very first, and the list isn’t too long which is generally good. This baby also contains beeswax and Cassia Obtusifolia seed extract, as well as dimethicone, a silicone commonly used in skincare to protect from mild skin irritations and dry patches, although it can be clogging. This pack also contains Arginine, an amino acid that is one of the primary building blocks of skin collagen.
The texture of this product is slightly tacky, but it applies well. It also has a faint honey/propolis scent to it, similar to the Nature Republic Royal Jelly sheet masks.
As for the cost, I guess it is a little small for a mask, and perhaps there would be lower priced alternatives on the market. But having said that, if you’re a K-beauty kween and want to dip your toe into the world of Cosrx, then this really isn’t expensive. Yes, it’s a cute size and yes, if you layer it on thick you will go through it quickly. But Cosrx is a great mid-cult-favourite brand that won’t break the bank — and will look chic on your bathroom counter.
Onto the next one! The Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack is new to me, as again I had not done any searches on it, and was happy to jump in blind. Again, fun! That’s what beauty is to me, and to be honest it keeps me feeling young, you guys.
It’s part of their Cica Care line (obviously), which includes sheet masks, toner, cleanser… the lot! For those who aren’t in the know, “cica” is a term for centella asiatica, a type of plant which is known for its soothing and healing properties. I learnt here that it’s what tigers rub on their wounds to help their skin heal… amazing, no?!
Here’s my own tiger/lion pictured lazing with the sleeping pack swatch:
This one is a slightly more opaque, cloudy kind of transparent. If I’m not mistaken, it also has a light rose-ish scent, although strictly speaking it has no fragrance, parabens, or colorants. So that could just be me! But it does smell very pleasant, and has a gel-like consistency, as the Cosrx sleeping pack did, and as most sleeping packs do.
It’s also a great sized product, much beefier than the Cosrx one I must say. It’s also available in a cheeky lil’ Cica Care Package set (at 40% off) if you’re interested in trying the whole fam!
I actually applied this again last night, and am always torn over whether to apply over a full routine or to just use on its own. Last night, I went for the latter, as I didn’t want to overload my skin (as it’s been playing up recently). However, I do believe you can do both, just depending on what works for your skin at the time.
Apart from centella asciatica extract, this pack also contains aloe leaf extract, calamine, and broccoli extract. It’s definitely designed to have a calming, soothing effect on the skin, and would be good for troubled, sensitive skin (ding ding ding!).
I do sometimes feel a mild reaction to this upon first application, perhaps because it is heavier than creams/gels I normally use, and it’s a similar feeling with the Cosrx one. I haven’t been into sleeping packs for a minute, and as I said, they are designed to be a heavier layer of moisture to sleep in overnight. However, my skin does feel lovely the morning after and looked very hydrated — even in this dry af climate!
Ella also approves:
So, how to choose? I think both are good for different purposes. The Rovectin sleeping pack may be your thing if you’re having highly sensitive skin, breakouts, trouble… you name it. The Cosrx one is more a hardcore moisturiser, great for dry skin and for a deep hydration. But then, both are good options if you’re dipping your toe into the world of sleeping packs.
As I said, I don’t generally use them in my routine (#lazy), and do sometimes feel a mild reaction to the heaviness of them upon first application… but the results the next day keep me coming back.
You can cop the Rovectin mask here and the Cosrx mask from Wishtrend or Amazon.
Have you tried these sleeping masks? Or other products from the brands? Let me know your thoughts!
Steph x
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