One of the brands that I was most excited to try in Taiwan is Naruko – a cult Taiwanese beauty brand. Founded by Niuer, known in Taiwan as the Beauty King, Naruko was founded in 2008 and immediately became an award-winning beauty brand. From the diverse line-up of Naruko products, today I have the Tea Tree Shine Control & Blemish Clear mask.
My skin is oily and acne-prone, so this is the perfect mask for me. I’ve been wanting to try this for SO long and am so excited to finally have the chance to. I bought this box of 8 masks at Watson’s (local pharmacy chain) for NTD 299, which at today’s rate roughly equals NZD 14.47.
The Naruko Tea Tree Mask itself isn’t completely drenched in essence, but it isn’t dry either, which makes for a drip-free, not super messy mask experience. The material is thick but pliable, and molded to my face easily. I actually really like the fit of the mask – it holds itself up really well without sliding down my face too. It’s lightly scented, but with not quite an authentic tea tree scent. However, it’s not unpleasant or overpowering. The mask also provides a super pleasant cooling sensation, which is a welcome relief from the tropical heat.
Something that I was surprised to find out was that Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) actually is NOT on the ingredients list! It has a whole heap of other fantastic ingredients such as Witch Hazel Extract, Tranexamic Acid (which is a very exciting new skincare ingredient!), Salicylic Acid, and Sodium Hyalorunate, but Tea Tree is nowhere to be found.
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphesin, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, PEG-40 Hydronenated Castor Oil, Serenoa Serrulate Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Piroctone Olamine, Kalanchoe Spathulata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract, Gingko Biloba Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fragrance.
I do think it’s odd to market this as a Tea Tree mask if Tea Tree isn’t in the formula – perhaps it’s a small amount under fragrance?
Despite not listing Tea Tree, the effects of this mask are just fantastic. My skin felt hydrated without being tacky, and it reduced the redness on my unwanted lil pimple friends, as well as on my face as a whole. My skin also felt wayyy less oilier, but this isn’t a cure-all for oiliness. I’ve personally accepted that I’m always going to be oily, and I do find that going into reviews with that kind of mindset is more realistic, and leaves me less disappointed in products.
I give this a 5/5 – so far, Naruko has totally been worth the hype.
Have you tried Naruko before?
A x
rating scale
1 – Terrible: Negative effects on skin.
2 – Mediocre: No change in skin/claims not met.
3 – Average: Performs as expected.
4 – Good: Would repurchase unless I try something better.
5 – Amazing: Meets trifecta of perfect packaging, formula, & cost.
