Glow Recipe: Watermelon Sleeping Mask

From a wait list of over 5,000 skincare addicted consumers to a coveted spot on my shelf of products, my only concern was would it live up to the blown up hype?

After all, I'm no stranger to sleeping masks or the disappointment that follows from dishing out an exorbitant amount of money for what is essentially a more cosmetically elegant Vaseline (yes, I'm looking at you, Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask...) While sleeping masks definitely have their place in a typical skincare routine, they aren't products I would ever recommend paying over $30 for, considering how quickly they degrade and how small the packaging/amount usually is.

The main objectives of a sleeping mask are first and foremost to create a moisturizing barrier, again much like Vaseline, to help seal in the previous steps in your routine for the long night's sleep ahead. I also use them as the final step in my daytime routine if the weather is going to be extremely dry and/or with harsh winds. Some sleeping masks also boast other benefits such as brightening, firming, anti-aging, etc. The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask takes it a step further and promises to deliver overnight exfoliation through incorporating glycolic and lactic acid into the mix and balancing that combo out with "soothing amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract" and hyaluronic acid to ensure your skin doesn't get too dehydrated from the inclusion of AHAs.

So there you have it: AHAs, moisturizing extracts and a ridiculously fun, bouncy, jelly-like texture? I was sold. Insert the now-quintessential meme of one Phillip J. Fry furiously thrusting his money out and saying "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!" because that's how deep into the koolaid I was. Once it was in my hands, I marveled at the sweet watermelon jolly rancher scent and how the texture changed once you stirred it up with the provided spatula (there will be a bit of separation due to the nature of the ingredients.) 

But even after diligently using it every night--and some mornings--, I didn't see any dramatically amazing results that would dethrone my COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Mask. 

The pros? It melted onto my skin and dried almost immediately. No tackiness and waiting an upwards to an hour before my face could hit a pillow! Skincare addicted mothers and college students can definitely agree with me here: sleep is a priority. It also doesn't pill up like most products that have silicon (simethicone to be exact here) and it did leave me fairly moisturized in the morning.

The cons are that outside of doing the basics, there wasn't much else that wowed me. I didn't really see any brightening effects from the glycolic and lactic acid or increased bounce or plump-ness to my skin. It doesn't moisturize quite as much as my usual COSRX sleeping masks (both honey and rice) so I do feel more tightness when I wash it off my face in the morning. 

And at $45 for 2.7oz, if there's no glow, then it's definitely a no-go.