Korean charcoal masks have become a staple of today’s skincare. The reason is charcoal’s amazing purifying qualities. It’s capable of drawing out dirt, oil, and sebum from your skin and pores and will leave your face feeling squeaky clean.
If you still haven’t incorporated a Korean charcoal mask into your weekly skincare routine then it’s time to do it now. Here’s a list of the best Korean charcoal masks on the market.
My top 3 picks
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Best Korean Charcoal Mask
LAPCOS Charcoal Sheet Mask, Daily Face Mask with Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree Oil
Lapcos best-selling charcoal sheet mask has a purifying and brightening effect.
The essence that the mask is drenched in contains activated charcoal powder.
Activated charcoal powder detoxifies the skin, draws out impurities, clears out blackheads, tightens pores, and revitalizes the skin.
It also has an anti-aging and even some moisturizing effect.
In addition to that, the mask contains salicylic acid and tea tree oil, which are two of the best anti-acne ingredients.
They soothe inflammations and have antibacterial properties. So they help to clear the skin from any blemishes and redness.
The mask leaves your face radiant and glowing.
Use this mask after you have cleansed the skin and applied toner.
Unfold it, apply the sheet to the face, and keep it on the skin for about 10-20 minutes. After that, toss away the sheet and pat the remaining essence in.
No need to wash your face after using this purifying mask.
Lapcos products are cruelty-free. So they are never tested on animals.
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask
Elizavecca Milky Piggy carbonated bubble clay mask is a very popular product.
This mask contains activated charcoal, bentonite clay, and kaolin clay.
When you take a bit of this product and apply it to your face it produces a foam that dissolves oil, dirt, and sebum.
It cleanses, purifies, detoxifies, and exfoliates the skin, removes blackheads, and tightens pores. It also calms the skin and heals blemishes.
This mask is perfect for oily, combination, or normal skin as it may cause tightness on dry or sensitive skin.
You can use it twice a week.
Apply the mask with a silicone brush or the applicator that’s included in the jar.
Then wait for 5-10 minutes, for the mask to bubble up and the bubbles to pop.
After that, you’ll need to rinse it off gently and all the impurities will go away with it.
Next, apply a moisturizer.
MEDIHEAL Official, W.H.P Brightening & Hydrating Korean Charcoal Mask
This popular Korean sheet mask contains Bichontan charcoal, also known as Japanse white charcoal.
It has a lengthy and difficult making process.
Bichontan charcoal is made by burning wood in a kiln at about 240°C for 120 hours, then raising the temperature to over 1000°C. And the final manufacturing stage is covering it in a mixture of earth, sand, and ash.
This kind of charcoal comes out more porous than regular activated charcoal, so it absorbs impurities much better.
W.H.P. stands for White Hydrating Powder.
It’s Mediheal’s special blend of Niacinamide, açai fruit extract, and charcoal powder.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) hydrates the skin and açai fruit extract brightens it.
This mask will illuminate and moisturize dull skin, absorb oils, clean all the impurities, and tighten pores.
Keep it on your face for about 20-30 minutes and your skin will look smooth and glowing.
This mask is a nice replacement for a spa treatment.
I DEW CARE Space Kitten Korean Charcoal Black Peel-Off Face Mask (T-Zone Only)
The I DEW CARE Space Kitten mask is formulated with activated charcoal, which purifies and detoxifies the skin, and tightens pores.
It also contains volcanic ash. This ingredient has antibacterial properties and fights breakouts.
Even though the mask is black, it looks really pretty because it has glitter mixed in.
The manufacturer promises that the mask has real sapphire powder added to the mix, which gently exfoliates the face.
The product is cruelty-free and also gluten, and paraben-free.
It’s a peel-off mask that comes in form of a gel-like substance. You’ll need to apply it to your face.
You can use a special silicone brush for that.
After that, this mask hardens into a sticky film. And when you peel the film off it takes all the impurities, dead skin cells, and blackheads away with it.
You’ll have to apply the Space Kitten charcoal mask to the T-zone and oily areas of your face only.
Don’t cover your entire face with it and never use it on your eyebrows. Or you may accidentally remove them.
The mask is easy to peel off in one piece so the process should be painless.
Apply a moisturizer after you’ve removed this mask.
The SAEM Natural Facial Korean Charcoal Mask Sheet 21ml 20 Pack
The SAEM manufactures a whole variety set of 20 sheet masks.
One of these masks contains charcoal.
The set also includes masks with popular ingredients like pomegranate, avocado, lemon, honey, aloe, green tea, bamboo, shea butter, etc.
The charcoal mask absorbs impurities, excessive oil, and sebum.
It helps to make oily skin matte and cleans out pores.
In addition to charcoal, it contains tea tree oil and chamomile extract for calming and soothing inflammations and breakouts, Centella Asiatica extract for moisturizing the skin, and lemon and grapefruit essential oils for brightening it and for improving the complexion.
Use this black sheet mask after applying toner and keep it on your face for 10-20 minutes.
Nature Republic Bamboo Charcoal Mud Pack
This unique mud mask is formulated with bamboo charcoal, purified mud from the South Sea of Korea, and Deep Sea Kona Water.
Bamboo charcoal is made from bamboo plants that are at least 5 years old.
Pieces of this kind of bamboo are burned in ovens at very high temperatures.
This process creates charcoal that has excellent absorption properties.
Bamboo charcoal has been used in traditional medicine in China and Korea for centuries.
It’s more porous than wood charcoal and more environmentally friendly because bamboo is a sustainable material.
Bamboo charcoal will help to purify your skin and remove blackheads.
Sea mud and seawater are mineral-rich and sea plant extract-rich. They are great for hydrating and nourishing the skin.
Unlike most cleansing masks, this product can be used as the last step in your beauty routine.
You can also leave it overnight.
It will work as a deep cleansing and nourishing spa treatment.
Saranghae Pore Refining Korean Peel-Off Charcoal Mask
This product is another peel-off charcoal mask on this list.
However, you don’t have to apply it to the T-zone only.
The mask is suitable for normal and combination skin types.
It pulls out blackheads, detoxifies and cleanses the skin, prevents breakouts, and improves the complexion.
You need to distribute the mask over the face with a silicone brush. Avoid the eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows.
When it hardens you can pull it off in an upward motion starting from the bottom of the face.
SNP – Ice Bear Korean Charcoal Face Sheet Mask
SNP is a US-based brand inspired by the Korean beauty industry.
This mask comes in cute packaging that features an illustration of a teddy bear made from ice.
So it makes a great gift for any K-beauty fan.
This product is a sheet mask that is drenched in a special water jelly essence with charcoal.
The mask cleanses the skin and clogged pores and controls the skin’s sebum production.
In addition to that, it contains Portulaca Oleracea, Centella Asiatica, Chamomile, and honey extracts that hydrate, nourish, calm, protect, and soothe the skin, and have an anti-aging effect.
Adenosine in the formula helps to fight wrinkles.
It’s great for dry and sensitive skin.
This mask also has a cooling effect. So it’s perfect for summer.
The mask’s lint-free sheet fits any face snuggly, which helps the essence to get absorbed better.
What is a Korean charcoal mask?
A Korean charcoal mask is a mask that contains activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal is made from common charcoal by heating it in the presence of gas.
This creates pores in charcoal that can trap chemicals and toxins.
Activated charcoal is known as one of the best remedies for poisoning and upset stomach if you take it orally.
However, it’s also great for applying to the skin to purify it and heal wounds.
So activated charcoal has become popular in the beauty industry today.
A Korean charcoal mask detoxifies and purifies the skin.
It’s great for cleansing your skin, unclogging and narrowing pores, eliminating blackheads, reducing the production of oil in the T-zone, and preventing breakouts.
Korean charcoal peel-off mask can also exfoliate the skin and remove dead cells.
This mask will leave your skin smooth and your complexion improved.
It’s especially good for oily and combination skin.
Most Korean charcoal masks come in form of peel-off and sheet masks.
However, there are some clay wash-off charcoal masks on the market too.
Many masks also contain plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals. So they can have an additional hydrating and illuminating effect.
How often should I use Korean charcoal masks?
You shouldn’t use these masks too often.
This mask has a deep cleansing and exfoliating effect.
That’s why it’s best to use it only twice a week for people with oily and combination skin. And if your skin is dry or too sensitive use it once a week.
If you use it more often you risk over-exfoliating and irritating your skin.
This can have the opposite effect on your skin and lead to breakouts.
Never apply Korean charcoal masks every day.
When to use a Korean charcoal mask?
Use this mask as part of the famous and super-effective Korean 10-step skincare routine.
The 10 steps are:
- Oil cleanser
- Foam/cream cleanser
- Exfoliator
- Toner
- Essence
- Ampoule/Serum
- Sheet Mask
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen (morning) or night cream (evening)
You need to perform this skincare routine twice a day — in the morning and the evening.
A peel-off or bubble mask should be used in place of an exfoliator.
If charcoal is included as an ingredient in a moisturizing or brightening sheet mask you can use it after the toner and serum when it’s time to apply a sheet mask.
Still, no need to use a charcoal sheet mask every day, since it has a purifying and cleansing effect.
How to prepare your face for the application of a charcoal mask?
The first thing you should do is cleanse your face.
Korean 10-step skincare routine requires a 2-step cleansing process.
First use an oil cleanser to dissolve oil-based impurities.
After that, use a cleansing foam to get rid of dirt and sweat.
You may also want to use a facial steamer to open pores so that they are easier to cleanout.
Next, you can apply a charcoal peel-off mask or a carbonated bubble clay mask.
If your mask is a sheet charcoal one, apply toner, essence, and serum. And use the sheet mask after these products but before the moisturizer.
How to apply Korean charcoal masks?
If the charcoal mask comes in form of a sheet mask you just need to remove it from the package, unfold it, and place it on your face.
Align the holes of this mask with your eyes, nose, and mouth.
After that, hold the mask in place for a few seconds to let it stick to the face and to prevent it from sliding down.
Try to keep your face relaxed while you’re wearing the mask so that it doesn’t wrinkle or fall off.
If you are using a peel-off, bubble, or a wash-off mask you’ll need to apply it to your face with a silicone brush or a special applicator that usually comes with the mask.
Just don’t use your fingers.
Using a silicone brush is the easiest and the most hygienic way to apply a mask to your face.
These brushes are easy to wash with soap and water.
They are very soft and gentle on the skin.
Silicone Brush
Opiqcey Store 2 PCS Silicone Face Mask Brush Set
Apply the mask to cover the entire face, but avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Avoid the eyebrows if you’re using a sticky peel-off mask You wouldn’t want to depilate them.
You’ll need to relax your facial muscles when you’re applying a peel-off or a wash-off mask to the face.
Keep the Korean charcoal mask on the face
Always keep the mask on your face for the amount of time that’s indicated in the mask’s instructions on the packaging.
These amounts can range from 5-10 minutes for a bubble mask to 20-30 minutes for a sheet mask or a peel-off mask.
A bubble mask must be removed as soon as it foams up and all the bubbles pop.
A peel-off mask must be kept on the face until it solidifies and can be peeled off.
If it’s a clay mask or a sheet mask don’t let it dry on your face or it may make your skin lose moisture.
In any case, let the mask do its job but don’t use your charcoal mask for more than 20-30 minutes.
How to remove a Korean charcoal mask?
If your mask is a wash-off product just rinse it off and the impurities will go away with it.
If it’s a sheet mask, toss away the sheet and pat the remaining essence into the skin gently. It will moisturize and brighten your skin.
If it’s a peel-off mask slowly peel it off, starting from the bottom of your face.
It’s best to pull it away in one piece if you can.
And wash the remaining bits off with lukewarm water.
How to store Korean charcoal masks?
The best way to store your Korean charcoal masks is to keep them in a dark cool place. For example, in the fridge or a special mini-fridge for cosmetics.
Some charcoal sheet masks have a cooling effect.
So they need to be kept in the fridge.
The storage time of any mask is always indicated on its packaging.
Mini-fridge for storing masks
AstroAI Mini-Fridge
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