Why rice is an awesome ingredient, and how the result’s of cosrx’s overnight mask made it one of my favourites from the brand.
I think I might have mentioned before once or twice (cough) that cosrx honey mask is one of my staples. It’s an excellent summer go to, because it’s light, but hydrating af. When I decided not to buy single use sheet masks any more (omg the waste that produces!), I started to branch out into sleeping packs/overnight masks more. What could be more logical, then, to try out another overnight mask from one of my favourite K-Beauty brands?
A detour to rice
Rice paddies are beautiful, cooked rice is yummy – but rice extract in skincare is able to do some astonishing things. Rice extract is rich in protein, antioxidants, fatty acids, phyto nutrients, and even ceramides. All this means that it’s extremely soothing and moisturizing, conditioning and nourishing when applied to skin. In the end, fatty acids and ceramides are essential for our skin barrier, while antioxidants protect from free radicals, and thus, are instrumental when fighting skin aging! And there’s about 70% of it in cosrx’s overnight rice mask.
Other notable ingredients in the Rice Overnight Mask
The overnight mask packs a punch of moisturizing ingredients: we have a lot of oils, wax, and fatty alcohols. There’s also Dimethicone – a film forming silicone (it’s a overnight mask, remember?) that makes the mask nicely occlusive, trapping moisture underneath. No trans epidermal water loss while this is on your face! On top of that, we get 2% Niacinamide for brightening and truly, everything you might wish for. Niacinamide is the swiss army knife of the beauty world, fighting both signs of aging and impurities. (Inci list at Cosdna.)
If you’re conscious about palm oil in cosmetics, there’s both palm oil and palm kernel oil included.
Cosrx claims
“Enriched with more than 68,9% of Rice Extract, this mask provides intensive nourishment with deep moisture and brightening. (…) This mask effectively brightens, nourishes and hydrates dry, uneven skin and promotes a radiant complexion. Suitable for all skin types.”
I say…
Texture
A thicker, gel-like lotion that flows easily out of tube. I use a hazelnut-sized blob. Yes, it will feel sticky for a while. Yes, it’ll likely leave a residue on your pillowcase. I don’t care.
Use
While the honey mask is great for the peaks of summer, when your skin needs some respite from heat (and it gives a seriously hydrated glow), the rice mask is incredibly nurturing and gives finicky winter skin what it needs: moisture. I layer my moisturising toners and serums underneath it and reap all the benefits: my skin gets a boost of moisture and lipids.
While cosrx says that it’s suitable as an overnight mask, wash off mask and moisturiser, I only use it as an overnight mask. I don’t know if the texture would be right for a daytime moisturiser, especially with sunscreen and foundation over it, and why wash it off and loose all that lovely occlusive properties?!
Effects
I also have some data backing this up: my skin analyser supports my initial reaction. My skin has amazing moisture levels in the morning whenever I used cosrx’s Rice Overnight Mask. While my moisture levels are usually around 38% on a regular morning, I can boost them when using cosrx’s overnight mask the night before. I then reach moisture levels up to 45%, which is truly excellent, especially in winter. What’s not to love?
It’s relatively easy to buy. You can go for the big K-Beauty online shops, like Wishtrend, or go to amazon, Ulta in the US, or Lookfantastic in Europe.
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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