Korean clay masks are super-popular today. Mud masks have been used for centuries. And South Korean skincare manufacturers have upgraded them to the next level. Now a Korean clay mask is an essential step in the famous 10-step K-beauty routine.
I’ve tested a number of these masks. And today I’m going to share the best Korean clay mask with you.
My top 3 picks
Best Korean clay mask
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask contains special volcanic ash from the South Korean island of Jeju.
Jeju is a resort island with mineral-rich volcanic soil.
Korean beauty product manufacturers love to use volcanic ash and herbs that grow in that soil as ingredients in their cosmetics.
Innisfree has a whole line of Jeju Volcanic skincare and Korean clay face masks.
This mask comes in a small black jar.
It looks like thick grey clay.
The mineral-rich volcanic ash from Jeju has strong cleansing and purifying properties.
Volcanic ash has anti-microbial and antiviral abilities. It also protects the skin from free radicals.
The mask has a deep pore cleansing effect and is perfect for oily and combination skin.
You can apply it either to all your face (minus the eyes, nose, and mouth) or only to the T-zone.
It tightens pores, absorbs excess oils and sebum, exfoliates dead skin cells, detoxifies the skin, reduces redness, and evens out the skin tone.
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask is effective against acne and reduces breakouts and blemishes.
You’ll get a nice feeling of squeaky clean skin.
A plus of this mask is that it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry and tight.
It also has a pleasant cooling effect, which is nice when you apply it on a hot day. This will help you relax your facial muscles.
Use the pore mask after cleansing and during the exfoliation step of your skincare routine.
The pores can stay clean for 1-1.5 weeks after you use this mask.
So apply it 1-2 times a week. No need to use it more often.
Even though the jar is really small the product lasts for a long time.
The only downside of this mask is that it’s not too easy to wash off, which often happens with clay-based products.
You can use a washcloth or a facial cleaning brush to remove it.
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask
Elizavecca Milky Piggy carbonated bubble clay mask is a foaming mask.
It contains activated charcoal, bentonite clay, and kaolin clay.
The mask looks like a gray porous mousse in the jar.
But when you apply it to the face it turns into foam.
This foam dissolves all kinds of impurities, dirt, excess oil, and sebum.
It’s great for oily, combination skin, and normal skin but may cause tightness if you have dry skin.
The mask has a cleansing, purifying, exfoliating, and detoxifying effect.
It tightens pores, cleans out blackheads, heals blemishes, calms irritation, and improves the complexion.
You need to apply it in a thin layer using a silicone brush or an applicator because the foaming is very strong.
This mask works really quickly. You only need to keep it on the face for 5-10 minutes.
The mask’s bubbles tickle the skin a bit so you have to be patient.
After the mask has foamed up and the bubbles have popped, you can gently rinse it off.
A carbonated bubble clay mask is always easy to wash off and won’t clog the drain.
Use it 1-2 times a week.
I DEW CARE Yoga Kitten Balancing Kaolin Face Mask
I Dew Care Yoga Kitten mask contains kaolin and bentonite clay that cleanse and purify the skin, unclog pores, and eliminate blackheads.
It also contains heartleaf and tea tree extract.
Heartleaf has hydrating and anti-allergic properties that are beneficial for dermatitis-prone skin.
Tea tree extract has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. So it’s effective for healing acne, breakouts, and blemishes.
This product is suitable for oily and combination skin, but at the same time, it’s also great for dry and sensitive skin.
Just use it 1-2 times a week if your skin is sensitive and 2-3 times a week if your skin is oily.
The mask has a mint green color and comes in a small jar.
The manufacturer promises that it’s non-toxic, contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or silicones. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.
The Skin House Perfect Pore Tightening Korean Clay Mask Pack
![[THE SKIN HOUSE] Perfect Pore Tightening Clay Pack...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31-9lt3wiIL.jpg)
The Skin House clay mask contains bentonite and kaolin clay, tea tree oil extract, and green tea extract.
Both types of clay purify the skin, pull out blackheads, oil, and sebum.
Clay also tightens pores.
Tea tree oil is a great natural antiseptic that helps to heal blemishes, acne, and redness.
Green tea extract contains antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals and negative environmental factors.
So this mask has a detoxifying effect too.
The Skin House mask is a great replacement for nose strips.
It’s a gentle pore tightening product with an anti-acne effect.
The mask also contains aloe and shea butter that have gentle skin healing and hydrating properties, and make this product suitable even for sensitive skin.
Use this mask 1-2 times a week and keep it on the face for 15-20 minutes.
MeMe Australian Pink Clay Mask
Australian pink clay is a form of kaolin clay.
Normally, kaolin clay is white, but pink clay gets its color from a higher content of iron oxide.
In addition to looking cute, pink clay is great for sensitive skin.
It’s a lot more soft and gentle than other types of clay because it’s less drying.
Pink clay cleans out the skin deeply but leaves the skin’s natural protective barrier intact.
Australian pink clay is infused with plant extracts rich in vitamins and active components.
In addition to that, the MeMe mask contains aloe vera that moisturizes and soothes the skin.
So this Korean clay mask is suitable for sensitive, dry skin, as well as acne-prone and oily skin.
You need to apply this mask to clean skin, let it dry, and wash it off.
Unlike most clay masks, this mask can be allowed to dry on the face because it contains moisturizing components that won’t let it damage your skin. Plus it’s a lot softer than most clay masks.
Look At Me Mud Mask Minis (2-Pack) Green Tea with Kaolin and Bentonite Clay
Look At Me makes a line of 6 mini packages with clay masks that contain kaolin and bentonite clay and are infused with various plant and fruit extracts.
You can choose a mask that contains green tea, lemon, and mint, pomegranate, lotus, aloe, or blueberry.
All these Korean clay masks have a purifying and cleansing effect.
They detoxify and exfoliate the skin, pull out blackheads, remove dirt, oil, sebum, and tighten pores.
Plant and fruit extracts improve skin radiance, brighten up the complexion, hydrate and calm the skin.
The masks come in small convenient packages with tight caps.
This kind of packaging lets the mask stay fresh longer because it prevents it from drying.
Just squeeze the necessary amount of the creamy product out of the packaging and apply it to your face.
The manufacturer promises that their masks have a special formula that prevents them from overdrying your face.
So your skin won’t be feeling tight after you use these clay masks. Instead, the product can soothe and refresh it.
Silicone Brush
Opiqcey Store 2 PCS Silicone Face Mask Brush Set
I recommend using a silicone brush for applying Korean clay masks and for distributing them over your face.
This is a very convenient and hygienic way to apply a mask.
No need to do it with your fingers.
Silicone brushes are easy to handle and are very easy to clean.
You can just rinse them with soap and warm water.
No product gets left on a silicone brush after you wash it. So no bacteria will get into the jar or onto your face when you use the brush next time.
What is a Korean clay mask?
Clay masks are face masks that contain mineral-rich clay as one of their main ingredients.
People have been using mud masks for improving the health of their skin since ancient times.
Clay masks have excellent cleansing, exfoliating, and skin purifying qualities.
The most commonly used types of clay are kaolin clay and bentonite clay.
Kaolin clay is white and works as a gentle cleanser for all skin types.
It absorbs excess oil and sebum, pulls out all impurities, and prevents inflammation, redness, acne, and breakouts.
Cleopatra loved to use white clay for making face and body masks.
Bentonite clay is a darker colored clay that forms from volcanic ash.
It also absorbs impurities and oils, cleanses the skin gently, and has a brightening effect.
It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities and can prevent breakouts and help to heal acne.
When and how often should I use Korean clay masks?
The best way to use a Korean clay mask is by incorporating it into your skincare routine. So that it can work together with other beauty products to make your skin perfect.
A clay mask should be used during the cleansing and exfoliating steps of your skincare routine.
I’d recommend implementing them into the Korean 10-step skincare routine.
It’s a great skincare regimen originating in South Korea that you should perform in the morning and the evening every day.
This routine has all the steps necessary for keeping the skin clean, moisturized, and nourished 24 hours a day.
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)
Some of the steps, such as exfoliation or certain types of masks and creams shouldn’t be used daily.
Clay masks mostly perform an exfoliating and deep cleansing function.
You should only incorporate them into this routine once or twice a week.
Always consult the manufacturer’s instructions on the mask’s packaging.
How to use a Korean clay mask?
Most Korean clay masks are ready to use out of the jar.
No need to mix any clay powders with water.
Just open the mask’s packaging and apply it with a brush in a thick layer either all over your face or just to the t-zone.
A thick layer is needed to prevent the mask from drying on your face too soon.
Don’t apply it to the area around the eyes.
You can use a special silicone brush for applying your mask.
It’s very convenient and easy to clean.
You’ll be able to control the application process better with this brush.
If your mask contains bentonite clay silicone brush is perfect for applying it because bentonite clay should never come in contact with metal.
So don’t use a metal spatula for cosmetics with bentonite clay masks.
Silicone brushes often have metal parts on the handle but these areas don’t come in contact with the product.
How long should I keep the mask on my face?
Keep it on the skin for the amount of time indicated on the mask’s packaging by the manufacturer.
However, don’t hold it for too long, and never let Korean clay masks dry on your face.
Why?
If the clay gets dry while you’re still holding the mask on your face it will start extracting moisture out of your skin.
So it will dry out your skin instead of pampering it.
To prevent the clay mask from getting dry you’ll need to:
Apply the mask in a thick layer. This will make the drying process slower.
Avoid overusing the mask.
Rinse it off when the time is up or just before it dries.
When the mask feels firm and solid on the face it’s definitely the right time to remove it.
How to wash the mask off?
Clay masks are notoriously difficult to remove.
You can use a washcloth or a facial cleansing brush to ease the process.
Take a washcloth, wet it with lukewarm water, and gently rinse the clay mask off your face.
Remove the clay from your eyebrows, hairline, and nostrils.
It’s safe to wash most clay masks down the drain. They usually don’t clog pipes.
If your mask is very thick and comes off in large pieces you can place a mesh or a piece of cloth in the sink to catch these pieces. Then just dispose of them properly.
After you’ve removed the clay mask, perform the next step of your skincare routine. For example, apply toner.
How to store Korean clay masks?
You can store a clay mask in the fridge because it usually contains natural ingredients and can go bad at room temperature. Especially if you live in a hot and humid climate.
Mini-fridge for storing masks
AstroAI Mini-Fridge
The best and most stylish way to store your cosmetics is by keeping them in a special mini tabletop fridge.
If you use this unit you won’t need to store clay masks with food.
This fridge also maintains the right temperature for storing beauty products and looks really cute on a vanity table.
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