I Tried Mamonde’s Calming Shot Suncream and Mask—and Flower Power Delivered

I’ve always been vocal about my obsessions with flowers and K-beauty. One began with two bouquets from my dad on my first birthday; the other, with a beauty pilgrimage to Seoul. So it made perfect sense that I got a little too excited when Mamonde finally landed at Korendy, one of my favorite destinations for beauty discoveries (and the occasional research-fueled scroll).

A cult K-beauty brand since 1991, Mamonde—part of Korea’s leading cosmetics group, Amorepacific—builds its philosophy around the healing and beautifying powers of flowers. They even have their own botanical garden, where resilient blooms are grown to one day become part of creams, masks, toners—you name it. One of their signature ingredients, Blossoming Energy, is derived from flowers known for their ability to stay hydrated under harsh conditions, delivering a floral kind of resilience to the skin. They’re pros at blending flower power with Korean skincare science and clean, thoughtful formulations. And the packaging? Pastel heaven.

Since it was spring and peak allergy season, I naturally gravitated toward something calming for my first Mamonde experience. This time of year, my skin is especially reactive: surprise redness, lingering sensitivity, and a general mood of “handle with care.” My morning routine, in particular, needs to be protective and soothing. Think: gentle toner, hydrating serum, and a sunscreen that plays defense without triggering any new drama.

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Enter Mamonde’s Calming Shot collection. The Azulene Suncream (SPF 50+ PA++++) fit the brief perfectly and quickly became part of my daily lineup. Most people underestimate how much sun exposure contributes to long-term skin sensitivity by weakening the barrier. This sunscreen protects, but it also shows up for my skin in other ways.

The star ingredient, azulene (derived from chamomile), has anti-inflammatory properties and an instant cooling effect. That first hit of freshness? My skin and I were pleasantly surprised. It also contains niacinamide to help brighten and fortify, chamomilla flower extract for extra soothing and antioxidant support, and a hyaluronic acid complex that delivers serious hydration. Tocopherol (vitamin E) rounds it all out with environmental protection.

One of my favorite parts? The texture is featherlight, sinks in fast, and doesn’t leave a trace. It’s the perfect base for makeup or a light coverage day. It’s subtly scented, which turns daily SPF application into a brief but lovely ritual. Thanks to its hydrating formula, most mornings I skip a moisturizer altogether. The verdict: gentle, non-comedogenic, deeply hydrating, and genuinely soothing. I actually enjoy applying it, which is not something I can say for every sunscreen.

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For an extra de-stressing step, I added the Calming Shot Azulene Ampoule Mask into the mix. Each sheet packs a serum bottle’s worth of ampoule (23 ml, to be exact), and within 20 minutes, my skin looked noticeably calmer, more hydrated, and less red. The ingredient lineup mirrors the sun cream: azulene, niacinamide, chamomilla extract, a ten-type hyaluronic acid complex, allantoin, and beta-glucan. One last wow: the sheet itself is made from Centella Asiatica, a calming botanical in its own right. In other words, the mask is made from flowers. Honestly, give me a bouquet of Mamonde anytime.