I was a skeptic of facial mists for a long time until I became a huge fan of Missha’s First Treatment Essence Mist. The mist worked so well for me, I set out on a campaign to try other mists to see if I would see any differences in my skin, as I had with the Missha mist. One thing that I learned on this quest is that all mists are not created equal. And while the Missha mist is actually an essence that you can mist on your face, not all of the facial mists are. Some (most, in my limited experience so far) are just for hydration and moisture-retaining purposes: something I really have no use for.
This brings me to two reviews in one: the Benton Honest TT Mist and the Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist. Both of these (~$8.00) have some form of tea ingredients in them, which is what drew me to them in the first place. Let’s start with the Benton TT Mist.
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| Benton Honest TT Mist |
The Benton Honest TT Mists boasts 80% Tea Tree Leaf Water, instead of just using regular old water, tea tree extract, and sodium hyaluronate as its key ingredients. It’s supposed to moisturize and help balance oily skin. I would use this directly after cleansing and right before toning. Here are a list of the ingredients (from Sokoglam):
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tee Tree) Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Altharea Roea Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Poly Glutamic Acid, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Psidium Guajava Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen)Extract
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| Benton Honest TT Mist |
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| Benton Honest TT Mist |
The packaging is pretty unique for a mist; it’s got the spray nozzle at the top and the container is made of a plastic tube-like material, instead of the traditional can.
This works well as a first-thing-in-the-morning spray, but I couldn’t use this throughout the day because 1) makeup 2) I have oily skin, so I don’t need moisture throughout the day and 3) the “misting” is more of a spraying (like the Supergoop mist) and is quite uncomfortable.
Another important thing about the Benton mist is that I thought it might be great for travel, but this thing leaks all over everything. So don’t take it with you in your suitcase, or maybe just keep it in you handbag so you can keep an eye on it. So all in all, it’s an ok mist but not something that would be a repeat for me.
The Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist is very similar to the Benton TT Mist, with the exception of the packaging and the fact that it actually mists instead of sprays. The main use of this mist is to provide moisture to parched skin. I used this first thing after cleansing as well, and didn’t really notice a difference in my skin. Again, I have oily skin so I’m not one to go refreshing my face throughout the day. This might be nice when it gets really hot as a refreshing mist, but I can’t foresee me using it for anything else.
A good list of ingredients is here on CosDNA.
This mist also boasts a high percentage of green tea water from Jeju Island in S. Korea (91%), as an alternative to plain water.
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| Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist |
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| Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist |
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| Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist |
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| Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist |
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| Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist |
The bottom line is these are good hydrating mists, but not something I would buy again. The Missha mist is winning and from now on, I will look for essence mists instead of these refreshing, moisturizing mists. If you have dry or even normal skin, you might find these to be a treat in your skincare regimen. They’re pretty cheap, so it’s not like you would be putting yourself out, but I find, personally, that essence mists work better for me.
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