Are you a sheet mask fanatic? Beware, girl! Your sheet mask obsession might turn out to be deadly for your skin. Shocked? We also were surprised to know it! The sheet mask has recently become the biggest craze in beauty as it is a super convenient facial treatment with extreme efficacy and fast results. But once you know the ‘ugly truth’ about this sensational Korean beauty trend, you might question your daily skincare regimen. Are you curious to know the terrifying truth about facial sheet masks? We will tell you the sheet mask secrets that industry people will never reveal. Keep reading:
Expectation Vs. Reality
Face sheet masks have swept the globe in the last few years. If you are a skincare junkie, chances are big that you have already used a lot of variety of these masks and even planning to give a try a few more. Reason? We expect a LOT from those thin cotton sheets, and they live up to their claims. At least we have not found any adverse effects of using face sheet masks. All they do is exfoliate, brighten, smoothen, and soften our skin to a great extent and sometimes do even more to give us a gorgeous appearance, right?
So, it is pretty evident that we picture these face sheet masks to be made in a pristine, clean factory with all hygiene and safety standards maintained. Well, in reality, the situation is far different. Leaving only a few high-end names apart, most of the so-called popular Korean sheet mask brands do not have proper factory setups for the processing and packaging their products. A considerable number of these brands use at-home labor for packaging the masks, which is highly unhygienic. (1) (2)
Also Read – Recipes To Make Lemon And Baking Soda Mask For A Clean, Flawless Skin
The Racked Report…
The sheet mask truth might have never been revealed if a Seoul-based Korean woman had not shared her experience with us on Reddit, according to the report published by Racked, the Reddit user dvaonline22, who claimed to be a part of the beauty industry, shared a post on the Asian beauty page of the social news aggregation portal regarding the unsanitary processes of packaging of facial sheet masks. She even uploaded pictures of these masks manufactured and packaged in private homes using unclean and unhygienic methods.
Racked also reported, “Several brands have been identified as using at-home labor for folding and stuffing sheet masks into their envelopes. Because there are so many small cosmetic brands, it is fairly common, and the practice has been widely reported in Korea since 2008.”
Why Should You Be Worried?
We know that not all skincare brands are identical, so we told you to consider the highly recognizable brands apart. But needless to say, we should be concerned about purchasing face sheet masks from other smaller brands. It is said that even the cleanest-looking face sheet masks may not be as sterile and hygienic as they seem. So, it is of utmost importance that you inspect your beloved sheet masks to know what you are putting on your face. Well, if you are still not sure about how these products are wreaking havoc on your skin, here is a list of things that will leave you bothered:
Also Read – 10 Super Effective Homemade Mud Face Mask Recipes For Acne
- Most facial sheet masks are being made using unsterile and unsanitary practices, which is an entirely illegal practice.
- Dry sheet masks and their envelopes are sent to the houses of packagers (these random strangers are called ‘mask employees’ or ‘laborers’), where they are guided to fold up the sheets and put them in envelopes.
- Then, the envelopes are picked up from the houses of the packagers and taken to the factories, where they are filled with serum and sealed as well as essence to make the final products ready.
- It is a popular part-time job for homemakers and others seeking extra income, paid in pennies!
- The at-home packagers wear no gloves during the process of packaging.
- In most cases, the final products are not run through microbial checks, which is extremely dangerous for our skin and causes several mild to significant skin issues.
- Envelopes are usually not sterilized, which leads to hair, dust, dirt, and other debris inside the masks.
- It has been reported that the packagers keep on smoking cigarettes while making the masks, which makes the masks smell like nicotine.
- It has also been reported that dead insects have been found in sheet mask packets, and there is no explanation for why they are unhealthy for our skin.
Isn’t all this information unsettling enough for us? Play safe and love sheet masks from well-known brands that will love your skin, too.
Summary
The global fascination with face sheet masks may take a disturbing turn as revelations expose unsanitary practices in their production. Despite consumer expectations of pristine manufacturing conditions, many popular Korean sheet mask brands allegedly lack proper hygienic standards. Reports highlight the use of at-home labor for packaging, presenting concerns about sterility. The situation, disclosed by a Reddit user and reported by Racked, indicates unsterile manufacturing practices, lack of microbial checks, and potential contaminants, urging consumers to scrutinize the brands they trust for these beauty products.
