No:hj Banana Ssul Masks [No:hj review Part I]
12:10 AM
Banana! I'm not going to talk about minions but about Mister Banana the hero of a range of sheet masks by the brand No:hj!
No:hj is a Korean brand that manufactures eco friendly masks using the best ingredients extracted from nature. It's a premium brand of masks that focuses on quality products but they are still budget friendly. All their masks contain a bunch of skin friendly botanical ingredient with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and you can see that they are formulated with care. The packaging is also adorable and feels luxurious because of the quality of the material and the super cool and mesmerizing 3D pattern!
Oh by the way, No:hj stands for Nature-Originated Ingredients & Healthy Joyful Life!
You can purchase masks individually or as a box of 10. The box looks like a book and to tell you the truth, this little sheet mask book looks incredibly fancy on your book shelf!
I actually received a PR package from the brand containing many of their sheet masks including their different lines. So I decided to break down the masks in categories and focus today on the banana masks but if you're interested in the brand, stay tuned because I have some of their other masks that I will review later on the blog!
This banana line consists in 8 masks: pomegranate, tea tree, snail, honey, cucumber, bamboo, green tea and lemon. I have them all except the lemon one.
As the type of mask material, essence and scent is the same across the line, I'll summarize the info below for all masks.
Material: It's a black mask with good skin adhesion. Thickness is medium and easily adjustable, it feels moist.
Essence: clear essence that is lightweight and non sticky with a "water drop" effect. The essence has a rather low viscosity (it's quite fluid) and only slightly gelified. There was some essence left in the packet but not much.
Scent: the scent is subtle, slightly different according to the flavor of the mask but mainly floral to herbal.
Material: It's a black mask with good skin adhesion. Thickness is medium and easily adjustable, it feels moist.
Essence: clear essence that is lightweight and non sticky with a "water drop" effect. The essence has a rather low viscosity (it's quite fluid) and only slightly gelified. There was some essence left in the packet but not much.
Scent: the scent is subtle, slightly different according to the flavor of the mask but mainly floral to herbal.
What about banana in terms of skincare?
Bananas are a rich source of carbohydrates and also vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. They also contain several antioxidant flavonoids.
The pulp of banana contains fatty acids, with linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids as the major compounds of this family and banana peel contains various sterols, all of them are good emollients (link).
The pulp of banana contains fatty acids, with linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids as the major compounds of this family and banana peel contains various sterols, all of them are good emollients (link).
All in all, there aren’t many scientific reports about the use of bananas in skincare. However what we can keep in mind is that it contains diverse minerals and vitamins (including vitamin C), antioxidants and fatty acids that are good emollients. Banana leaf extract could also be interesting to help even the skin out but this remains to be confirmed.
Ingredient breakdown
All the masks in this line contain the holy trinity of sheet mask ingredients: water, glycerin (humectant), butylene glycol (humectant). This makes the mask hydrating, i.e. it attracts and retains water in the skin. That’s actually the main point of sheet masks. After that and in addition to the banana extract, all masks contain another powerful humectant, sodium hyaluronate, and various botanical extracts that are anti-inflammatory and antioxidants (see below). I like that it’s packed with several antioxidant extracts as the best effects are always obtained when you use not only 1 antioxidant but a blend of antioxidants.
- Water, glycerin, butylene glycol => hydrating!
- Banana extract (Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract)
- Centella Asiatica Extract: help wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
- Lemon Fruit Extract: antioxidant, antifungal
- Aloe Leaf Extract: skin-soothing, antioxidant, hydrating agent
- Houttuynia Cordata Extract: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiallergic
- Portulaca Oleracea Extract: help wound healing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Licorice Root Extract: brightening, soothing, antioxidant
- Green Tea Extract: antioxidant, soothing
- Tomato Fruit Extract: antioxidant
- There is also, in small amount, niacinamide that improves skin’s elasticity, stimulates microcirculation and help even the skin tone and make it brighter.
- Moreover, each mask contains the “flavor” of the mask in interesting amounts (4th or 5th ingredient, corresponding to 1.0%).
=> the masks provide a good amount of hydration with antioxidant and soothing effects.
Pomegranate: For smooth skin. The fresh pomegranate extract firms and nourishes the skin. Pomegranate extract is mainly antioxidant but also anti-inflammatory. It may improve the appearance of wrinkled skin by soothing skin and inhibiting damaging environmental stressors.
My results: the only thing I wrote down on my notebook is that my skin felt nicely moisturized and hydrated, moist and soft.
I entered the ingredients in cosDNA here.
I entered the ingredients in cosDNA here.
Tea Tree: For clear skin. The tea tree extract calms and clears sensitive skin. Tea tree has skin soothing properties, is antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal and that is why it is great for acne-prone skin. However, as with most fragrant plants, tea tree contains volatile components that can be sensitizing. That’s why some people react to tea tree.
My results: OK, a lot to say about this mask. I usually don't really like tea tree but I used it when I was feeling that a pimple was coming. My skin was getting red and I could feel the pimple under the skin. When I noticed this, I immediately used this mask (wanted to see if tea tree could help), kept it on for 30-35 min and when I removed it, I was impressed because I couldn't feel the hard pimple under the skin any more, to be honest I would have never thought that a sheet mask could decrease a pimple like this. The area was still slightly red but significantly less. Then I applied the Innisfree Truecare cica intensive balm for 2 days. The pimple never came to the surface and in 2 days the skin was back to normal without any irritation or redness. So the combo of the mask plus the cica balm was impressive! The mask felt fresh and moist.
cosDNA analysis here.
cosDNA analysis here.
Snail: For healthy skin. The snail mucus extract makes the skin healthy and glowing. Chemically speaking, snail slime is a complex mixture of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycoprotein enzymes, hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides and trace elements including copper, zinc, and iron. There are some studies performed on cell cultures that show that snail slime can stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts, of new collagen and elastin fibers, and increase the production of fibronectin proteins. It could improve skin condition by increasing the dermis’ natural ability to take up and hold water and could have wound healing properties according to the BeautyBrains. Overall snail slime seems pretty interesting to help repair and moisturize the skin.
My results: my skin felt mainly hydrated and soothed and I could spot some light brightening effects.
cosDNA analysis here.
cosDNA analysis here.
Honey: For nourished skin. The honey extract provides rich nourishment to the skin. It’s a humectant and has strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and soothing properties plus it can help wounds heal faster. I’ve read in this review that it exerts emollient, humectant, soothing, and hair conditioning effects, keeps the skin juvenile and retards wrinkle formation, regulates pH and prevents pathogen infections.
My results: Again, it felt moistly very hydrating but also moisturizing (although it felt more hydrating than moisturizing) and soothing.
cosDNA analysis here.
cosDNA analysis here.
Cucumber: For hydrated skin. The cucumber extract provides rich hydration. Cucumbers are composed of 95% water, and the other constituents primarily include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), caffeic acid (an antioxidant), fatty acids, the mineral silica, plus other trace minerals. Due to its antioxidant activity, cucumber is a welcome addition to anti-aging products.
My results: it felt really hydrating and fresh on the skin.
cosDNA analysis here.
Bamboo: for chok chok (moist, hydrated) skin. The bamboo extract hydrates and moisturizes the skin. It has antioxidant and skin-soothing properties.
My results: it felt about the same as the cucumber, mainly hydrating and fresh.
cosDNA analysis here.
Green Tea: For sensitive skin. The green tea extracts calms and hydrates the skin. Research has established that topical application of green tea leaves or extracts have many benefits for skin, including anti-aging properties. The polyphenols in green tea possess potent antioxidant and skin-soothing properties, and show significant promise for improving the appearance of sun-damaged skin.
My results: Again, very hydrating. When I used this one I had some redness on my cheeks, they looked somehow irritated. After wearing this mask for 30-35 min, redness was gone, my cheeks felt soothed. My skin felt more firm, pores were less visible and the skin looked smoother. I think the firming effect and the decrease in the apprearance of pores can be mainly attributed to the hydrating effects of the mask.
cosDNA analysis here.
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| Not very easy to show (it looks better in real life) but I made this gif to show you the cool 3D pattern on the packaging. |
FINAL THOUGHTS
So yes, overall I'm very happy with these masks. They deliver in terms of ingredients. I particularly love the blend of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory extracts that are really interesting in terms of skincare. Also they don't contain irritating ingredients and are therefore great for people with sensitive skin. The fact that they contain banana extract and the "flavor" of the mask in large amount is another plus! I also love the adorable packaging with the cute banana and the 3D effect which make them extra special and fun!
I was also super impressed with the tea tree mask (I need to get back-ups) and overall all the masks left my skin highly hydrated, soft, more plump and soothed. Morever they're budget friendly at only 2,000₩ each ($2.5-$1.62 depening where you purchase them).
Purchase info
- No:hj website
- Koreadepart
- Beauteque
*PR samples*
14 comments
I remember seeing these on Instagram and the cheeky packaging immediately caught my attention. At first I thought they were all banana flavored and would be gimmicky, but it's great to know that they work well and have good ingredients! Thank you for the detailed review!!
ReplyDeleteJenny // Geeky Posh
Thank you, Jenny! I also thought they would be gimmicky but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality! Definitely worht trying! :D
DeleteThis is such a detailed review! I love face masks and am always on the look out for new ones and these look great!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm also a face mask addict ;) and yep these ones are really good!
DeleteAll of these look and sound so interesting. The packaging is so fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks, they do are interesting!
DeleteI hope my comment hasn't come through multiple times as my internet seems to be playing up!
ReplyDeleteI love sheet masks! I'll have to look up this brand. The 3D packaging is such a cool idea!
It's perfect! :D yes, the 3D packaging is really a nice touch!
DeleteI love how your post is so in-depth! Thank you so much for taking the time to try out the masks and share all this information with us. The Tea Tree mask sounds amazing! I need that in my life to help with breakouts!
ReplyDeleteShirin | www.queenshirin.com
Thanks a lot, I happy you like the review with the détails! The tea tree one definitely helped me for pimples and break out!
DeleteI would have walked past these masks as they look more gimmicky to me. But I love your description and I definitely need to get my hands on the bamboo mask. Great review lovely!
ReplyDeleteLubz || http://lubzsays.com
Thanks my dear! Same for me, the first time I saw them I thought they would be gimmicky but not at all!! I'm really happy with them ;)
Deletewow although I'm not a mask person but these sounds interesting, especially the snail one.
ReplyDeleteHello my dear :) you should give them a try, maybe they will convert you into a mask addict :D
Delete