I looooove honey as a skincare ingredient, and I enjoy indulging in wash off masks. Therefore, it was inevitable that I would purchase the I’m From Honey Mask. It sells out very quickly if/when it goes on sale, and pretty much everyone who has tried it has given it A++ reviews.
However, given that around the same time, my Miss Flower and Mr Honey Heating Pack arrived, it seemed like a good idea to compare the two masks. So, I challenged them to a face-off. Heh.
Most of my wash off masks go on for about 10 minutes while I’m in the shower. However, these masks are much “higher-end” (read: spendy) and the reviews I had read advocated leaving them on for much longer, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
As someone with dry winter skin, this sounded heavenly. I like having masks that hydrate while also giving me some down time to sit and relax.
Why is honey so great? Science.
You might be wondering why I wound up with two honey masks coming to my house around the same time. One answer is that I’m a slightly obsessive collector who finds something she loves and MUST HAVE THEM ALL.
But the reason I love honey products is the root of why I bought these two different masks. Honey is a fantastic ingredient and I have steadily incorporated more honey and propolis products into my routine. (Propolis is the waxy material bees make that keeps their hives together; it’s made from beeswax and resins from the buds of trees.)
Honey and propolis have been used to heal wounds as far back as ancient Greece. They both have proven antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. On a completely anecdotal level, my mother is a retired nurse and remembers using honey to help heal bed sores at the hospital.
I can’t link to a full text, unfortunately, but as scientists have studied the antibacterial properties of honey, one study I found discovered that different honeys from around the world might actually have slightly different antimicrobial properties due to differing sources of nectar. (I heart science.)
Citation: Mandal, Manisha Deb and Shyamapada Mandal. “Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity.”Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 1.2 (2011): 54–160.
Honey. is. good. for. you.
Put it on your face. Put it in your mouth. (But maybe not in the same form.)
Let’s get to comparing these masks.
I’m From Honey Mask
Claims:
“A sweet salve for your skin, this premium mask is dripping with 38.7% Honey from Mt. Jiri, a village in Korea famed for its abundant wild herbs. In addition to the natural humectant and antimicrobial Honey, the mess-free mask also features other buzz-worthy elements like the antibacterial Propolis and skin-plumping Bee Venom. The result is brighter, moisturized, and firmed skin that’s pampered and protected from the harsh environment. Plus the soft, thick texture of the mask lends a smooth application and luxe experience for all skin types, even sensitive skin.” (Memebox.com)
The (Personal) Evidence:
My biggest disappointment is that this mask doesn’t smell like honey. In fact, it has a very…earthy smell. Almost a musky corn-type smell? I couldn’t put my finger on it, and neither could Mr. Sir. It’s not unpleasant, but it did take me a bit to get used to after being spoiled by all of my amazing smells-so-good-I-could-eat-it products I put on my face.
I will admit that this detracted a bit from my relaxation and overall experience using the mask. Sensory input often contributes just as much to my enjoyment of Korean skincare as the actual results do.
Upon opening it, I did have to stir the contents of the jar, which had slightly separated. Since then, it’s stayed that nice smooth caramel color and consistency. The mask is very soft and glides easily onto the face. The silicone spatula makes applying it a breeze, although I did use my hands once (after scooping it out with the accompanying spatula/spoon) and it was fine.
I used this mask on the weekend, when I had plenty of time to let it sit. It says about 20 minutes, but I left this sucker on for a good hour. It’s not a cheap mask, and I wanted my skin to soak up all of that honey, propolis, and been venom goodness. It didn’t evaporate and felt fine on my skin for that hour.
Upon washing off the mask the first time, I kept thinking there was still product on my face because my skin was so soft and smooth. I kept checking the mirror to make sure I’d gotten it all off.
To be clear, there wasn’t product residue or a film left from the mask: my skin was so soft and smooth, I got confused.
The last time I used it, I washed it off in the shower and spent an inordinate amount of time touching my face. It was just so soft.
Additionally, after washing the mask off, I notice that any red spots I have on my faced have calmed, and my skin looks even and radiant. I understand why this mask is a holy grail for a lot of people.
So, will I buy this product again?
Rating Scale:
Did you not read the review? Yes, of course. I will spend all of my money on this product!
Yes. I enjoy this product enough to purchase again in the future, especially if it’s on sale.
Meh. Maybe. I mean, I bet there are other, better things out there. I’d use it if someone gave it to me.
No. I won’t use this again and will probably bad-mouth it to others.
Hahahahaha. Nope. Noooooooope. Not even if you paid me.
The Verdict: Yes. I enjoy this product enough to purchase again in the future, especially if it’s on sale.
So, why not a top rating? Because the full price on this wash off mask is off-putting ($38!) and I’m not ready to buy it at that price. On sale? Yes, then I’d stock up and hoard it. (And I did.) And that’s exactly what everyone else must do, too, because as soon as it’s less than $30 somewhere, it sells out.
Where you can get it:
- Wishtrend: $38 (Here’s my referral link for $5 off your first Wishtrend purchase.)
- Amazon: $35
- Memebox will often stock it for around $28, but it sells fast, so you just have to watch for it.
Miss Flower and Mr Honey Heating Pack
Claims:
“This wash-off pack gives your skin protection, hydration, and a boost in resilience. The honey as a main ingredient will not only soothe your skin, but it can also give you a softened complexion and a replenishing glow.” (Banilaco.ph)
The (Personal) Evidence:
I like the tube application better than the jar since it’s more hygienic and I can better control how much product I get. However, this product is a bit thicker and doesn’t spread as smoothly–at least at first–as the I’m From Honey mask.
As the pack warms up, it becomes softer–a bit greasier, for lack of a better word–and spreads easily but doesn’t become too liquidy.
As with all Miss Flower and Mr Honey products (have I mentioned I’m obsessed?) I was not disappointed by the smell of this heating pack (uunnghhhh). It smells like–surprise!–honey and flowers.
That being said, this mask is not super warming. Had I not read that it was a warming pack, I would have never guessed it. I massaged my face for a few minutes after applying and that warmed it up slightly, but that went away relatively quickly. Still, this is the only warming pack I’ve used, so I can’t speak to the average warmth? warming? that I should expect from this type of product.
Like the I’m From Honey mask, I let this one stay on for awhile, about 30-45 minutes. It doesn’t evaporate or absorb into my skin.
After washing off my face feels incredibly smooth and looks brighter. However, I don’t think it feels as soft or as moisturized as with the I’m From Honey mask. The heating pack didn’t do much to calm any red spots, either.
I think this mask is more about the experience–the slight warmth, the pleasant face-feel, the smelllllllll–than the results for me. Don’t get me wrong, I like the results enough for a wash-off mask, but this mask is not doing magic.
So, will I buy this product again?
Rating Scale:
Did you not read the review? Yes, of course. I will spend all of my money on this product!
Yes. I enjoy this product enough to purchase again in the future, especially if it’s on sale.
Meh. Maybe. I mean, I bet there are other, better things out there. I’d use it if someone gave it to me.
No. I won’t use this again and will probably bad-mouth it to others.
Hahahahaha. Nope. Noooooooope. Not even if you paid me.
The Verdict: Yes. I enjoy this product enough to purchase again in the future, especially if it’s on sale.
Where you can get it:
- TesterKorea: $23
- There are a few eBay sellers, but they’re asking about $10 more.
So, in placing these two masks next to each other, I realize that I would never choose one over the other. (But you saw that coming, didn’t you?) Instead, these two masks serve two different purposes in my skincare wardrobe.
I think of the I’m From Honey mask like a reliable little black dress: simple, performs its job, and isn’t flashy but always works.
The Miss Flower and Mr Honey Heating Pack is like the flashier, trendier, shinier dress that you just feel good wearing: it’s pleasing to the senses, makes you feel good, and while not always practical, is fun enough to make you save it for when you need a pick-me-up.
What is your favorite honey mask?
I buy crap so you don't have to 