Review: The Cocoon Original Vietnam Winter Melon Face Mask

I get asked about my skin from time to time, and aside from telling people that my skincare routine is simple, because I forget how many steps there are in it, my other response is generally a very flippant,"Thank you, I made it myself!", followed by the occasional,"I got it from my mumma!". That aside, I do know that when I'm in a slump, and in need of a boost, I can always rely on getting it from a face mask! I've been using a purchase from Bali, and that's The Cocoon Original Vietnam Winter Melon Face Mask.

 

I really wanted to try it when I first saw it, because I couldn't remember the last time I tried something from Vietnam. It's really funny that I've been to a number of different destinations in Southeast Asia, which is where I grew up, but Vietnam is one of places that I have yet to visit. It may be time to change that, though, because there's a whole world of skincare, and makeup, out there that I haven't tried yet! The Cocoon is 100% vegan, which is good news for everyone! Certified by The Vegan Society, their whole range is cruelty free, and doesn't contain any animal ingredients, and instead, harnesses the power of plants and fruits sourced exclusively from Vietnam. 

 

The name Cocoon originates from a place of nourishment and protection - simply what the cocoon does for a caterpillar, to help with it's transformation into a butterfly. It's a beautiful analogy, and aside from being vegan, they are also committed to sustainability. The range that they had available in Bali when I was there was reasonably small, and I wanted to try a mask, which was why I picked up the Winter Melon Face Mask. Said to be helpful for unclogging pores, improving acne, soothing for inflammation, controlling oil secretion and moisturising the skin, the humidity of Bali inspired me to pick up just the very thing that I thought would be helpful.

 

This comes in an amber jar with a screw cap and a simple label on the side. The consistency of this is like that of jam - quite thick and gloopy, but not sticky. It spreads over the skin beautifully, and doesn't dry down. Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off, and you'll be left with skin that feels soothed. It uses winter melon extract as their main ingredient, which is what's responsible for being anti-inflammatory and cooling, while also having anti-bacterial properties to treat acne. I'm familiar with winter melon only as either a dried fruit sugary snack that you can find at Asian supermarkets (an often found treat at special occasions growing up), or as a rather blend addition to the soups that my mother used to make when we were kids, so it's fascinating to me to be using them in such a different way.

 

There's also centella, which contains biological compounds like asiatic acid, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and madecassoside to help increase collagen production for the skin, while also soothing redness and irritation. Additionally, there is tea tree oil in this for both the aromatherapy properties, and to reduce inflammation. It's been a treat to have this after exercising, or when it was warmer, and my skin was oilier. For my first introduction to the brand, this has been a good one, and I'm very much looking forward to what else I can pick up from their line in the future. Have you heard of Cocoon Original before?