Sulwhasoo Essential Clarifying Peel-Off Mask
Today’s protagonist is the famous Sulwhasoo clarifying mask! This thing has been blogged by many and I personally got the tester size tube after hearing some really nice feedback from friends. It’s consistently been one of the best-selling items by Sulwhasoo across Asia, and claims to be suitable for all skin types, all ages. But this humble blogger wants to say...maybe not ALL.
The formula is a thick, brown gel with little bits of black in it, and the signature Sulwhasoo Asian-herbal smell is very distinct. How to use: you squeeze it out of the tube like toothpaste, and smear it on as you would a clay mask, and try not to get it on your hair (I always fail at this).
Now I actually didn’t know how thick the mask should be, and applied a thin brown sheet of it across my face. When I peel it off, it looks like that rice paper you sometimes see wrapped around Chinese candy or Korean rice cake. Looking at some of the other reviews on the internet, I may have applied it too thinly...but well, it still worked!
But when I say it worked, I’m not actually sure what I mean. My friend who recommended it to me said ‘your face will feel as smooth as a peeled (boiled) egg afterwards’. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel it.
It could just be my oily-sensitive skin type, but after using this mask the only change I could feel was its mattifying and exfoliating effects. After I peel off the mask, I wet my face towel with warm water and use it to wipe away the left over scraps. The first time I did this, I was pretty happy with how my face felt afterwards - clean.
The praise pretty much stops there, however, because the second time I used it I started getting a stinging sensation after peeling off. The instructions aren’t super clear, but I think it may have to do with the fact that I mildly washed my face before using the mask. Maybe it’s supposed to be a cleanser + exfoliator all-in-one, but for an oily gal like me, the first step to my skincare routine is always cleansing.
Today I’m still using this product, and I’ve been using it for 1 month now, once every 3-4 days. It’s not bad per se, but I much rather use exfoliating gels and clay masks from brands like Primera, Innisfree and Skinfood. More on those next time! Follow kbeauty-life-lessons for more.
