The above is taken from the Canadian Holika Holika website, but the formatting was done by me. The brand also states that the Honey Extract and Acerola Extract are present in quantities of 20% each. Iffy ingredients are the ethanol and added colours, but I can see why they would be in there. The alcohol is needed to help the pack to dry and the colours are likely there to give a more honeyed appearance to the finished product. Since I personally experienced no irritation, breakouts, or otherwise negative reactions, I will not be dropping the final score I give. However, as with all things skincare, your mileage may vary.

Honey Pot Honey Pot Honey Pot

The first few nights I used it were not the greatest. For one thing, I put on way, way too much. I also used my finger to apply the mask which I believe is a mistake. The first time I used a cheap (and adorable!) liquid foundation brush to apply the sleeping pack was like a revelation in itself. I had lovely skin on the mornings after applying the mask with my fingers, but I had plump, glowing, calm skin after I switched to the brush for application. Not only that, but I was using less product and it would dry down more quickly.

I didn't realize until tonight that I never took a picture of the full length of my brush in all its mermaid tailed glory.

That is probably the one failing of this, and perhaps all, sleeping packs. They take a while to dry down enough that I feel comfortable laying on my pillow. I'm a side sleeper no matter how I try to learn back-sleeping, so skincare smears on my pillowcase can be a real problem. I once applied so much of this mask (I think it was only the 3rd time using) that it still wasn't dry after 30 minutes. And I woke up to a sticky honey face stuck to my sticky honey pillowcase. Not cool, man. Not. Cool. As you can see, I learned my lesson and that was never again a problem. However, even after my thin layer, applied by brush, has had lots of time to dry down it will always remain a little sticky. Fly away hairs stick to my face and pajama lint does too. It's cold where I live; flannels are a must but that means the constant supply of lint they produce is here to stay.

On the mornings after using the Holika Holika Sleeping Pack I have to wash my face. It doesn't need to be a full double cleanse, but it has to be more than just a splash of water before moving on. I sincerely hope that this won't be a problem for the sleeping packs I use in the future but I imagine it will be. Next up is the Missha Misa Yei Hyun Jin Bon Sleeping Pack which I have just applied for the first time tonight. Something tells me my dreams will be hanbangin'  *^_^*

Will I repurchase this mask? Probably not. Not because of its failings but because there are just too many other great things to try. The Missha sleeping pack that I opened tonight is a 150mL tube which is going to last positively ages. I also have a pile of samples of Cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask, a decant of the Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask, and a bad hankering for the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask EX. Okay, you say, but what about the blueberry and canola versions of the Holika Holika mask? Well, I smelled the blueberry one at a friend's house and that smell is NOT for me I tell you what. I find the idea of the canola mask appealing since my house is surrounded by canola fields (fun fact: the old name for canola is rapeseed. RAPESEED) but not appealing enough to pull me away from the lure of sexy new products.

I like it, I recommend it, I would give it to a loved one, but I'm too entranced by the lure of new things to repurchase this mask. If you've used it, let me know in the comments below! I love seeing how differently the same products behave on different people. If you are curious about my rating system and review process click here.

I am not affiliated in any way with any brands and these products were purchased by me with my own money. I am reviewing them because I feel strongly that more reviews of more products leads to better information for everyone.

-redness and flakiness, even in places not usually prone to that kind of problem

-stinging/burning during product application, even when using the most gentle moisturizers

-tight, thin, overly smooth skin

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately(?), I didn't manifest most of those signs. Instead, I had a month long period where my skin was never quite as smooth as it could be, I had an increase in pimples in my usual areas, my cheeks were a tiny bit more red than usual, the flaky area around my mouth was worse than normal, and I could never achieve 'The Glow'. During this month the weather has been brutally dry and windy, the temperature has shifted drastically, and my central heating has been going non-stop. Can you fault me for thinking it was just the weather screwing with my skin? Plus, I was trying out a new vitamin C and I didn't know what to expect.

It wasn't until I was visiting a kbeauty loving friend that I began to clue in. That evening, I tried out one of her acid serums because I thought my skin needed more exfoliation to get back to smooth. Since the serum was supposed to be considerably gentler than what I had been using I expected to be unaffected. Particularly since its use was followed up by layer after layer of hydrating and emollient products. To top it all off, I even added a sleeping pack and extra facial oil. I woke up the next morning expecting to have The Glow but no. My face was somewhat less red but that was it. A few hours after waking the usual redness was back. My skin felt tight and a little warm, but never anything that seemed extreme.

I continued to be clueless. Later that same day I visited my mother who is generally uninterested in the world of skincare. While we chatted about some of things I had learned she made a tiny, throwaway comment: "Your skin looks a little tight" Suddenly everything clicked into place. It really felt like a moment of epiphany where a light had suddenly turned on. Oh my goodness, what have I done to myself?!?

I immediately went into recovery mode. All acids have been retired to the back of my closet with the exception of Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. I now use it just once per day instead of twice. Sheetmasking is no longer optional. Once per day I wear a mask for around 30 minutes with hydrating toners, serums and rosehip oil layered under and after the mask. I'm piling on creams, oils and a sleeping pack.

Is all of this giving me breakouts? Yes. However, my skin is softer and smoother than it has been all month, my redness is going down and my flakes are nearly gone. I figure I can deal with pimples once my skin's moisture barrier is repaired.

Going forward I think it's important to be more careful with active ingredients. This time of overexfoliation coincides perfectly with my use of The Ordinary Vitamin C suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. I knew from the first time I used that product that I needed to be careful because it is gritty (read: physically exfoliating) and stung like hell as the little bits of L-ascorbic acid absorbed into my skin at some ungodly low pH. I persisted in using it despite my misgivings so really, this is my own damn fault.

Still, a learning experience has value and I will keep this lesson in mind as I move forward.