Collection: Masks

Yes, Korean skincare sheet masks work exceptionally well because they deliver highly nutritious ingredients directly into the skin. Unlike other skincare products that can dry down quickly, sheet masks are designed as a physical barrier that traps moisture against your face, completely preventing it from evaporating into the air. This forces the skin to thoroughly absorb the potent active ingredients that the sheet is enriched with. You may incorporate a hydrating sheet mask into your evening routine to maximise hydration a few times a week.

The frequency with which you should incorporate a mask into your skincare routine depends entirely on the type of mask, as well as the skin concern you are targeting. For example, hydrating, soothing and barrier-repair sheet masks, such as the Village 11 Factory Miracle Youth Sheet Mask Peptide, can be used multiple times a week. However, more intense treatments, such as deep-cleansing mud and clay masks, like the Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask, should be used more mindfully, opting for once a week or whenever necessary to clear impurities.

Although they might seem similar, there is a slight difference between sleeping masks and overnight masks. Sleeping masks are typically lightweight gel or cream formulas applied as the last step in your evening routine. They are designed to deeply hydrate and lock in moisture while you sleep and don’t need to be washed off after 15-20 minutes. In fact, you can keep them overnight and simply rinse them away the next morning. Examples of sleeping masks are the Iunik Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask and the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sleeping Pack. 

Overnight masks, on the other hand, generally refer to treatments specifically designed to be worn throughout the night and removed the following morning. A good example is a Korean collagen overnight mask that starts as a gel-like sheet and gradually becomes transparent as it absorbs into the skin overnight, like the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask. However, more recently, Medicube has introduced an innovative new technology for Korean overnight masks with its Collagen Night Wrapping Mask. This unique formula applies directly onto the skin as a liquid layer for the final step of your nighttime routine, drying into a protective film that is effortlessly peeled off the next morning.

No, you should not wash your face after using either of these. The liquid left behind on your skin after removing a sheet mask is a nutrient-rich essence or ampoule. Instead of rinsing it away, gently pat the remaining product into your face and neck, then lock it in with your favourite moisturiser. Similarly, sleeping packs are specifically designed to be left on all night to nourish your skin while it rests. You only need to wash your face the following morning during your usual routine.

The difference between a Korean wash-off mask and a Korean clay mask resides largely in their specific categorisation. Korean clay masks are a specialised type of treatment usually formulated with mineral-rich clays that absorb excess sebum and gently dry down once applied. Typically, they need to rest on the skin for 15 to 20 minutes before being rinsed away. Because they are rinsed off at the end of the treatment, clay masks technically fall under the broader umbrella of wash-off masks.

However, what we define as Korean wash-off masks is a much broader category that simply refers to any mask you must rinse off after use, without any strict rules regarding texture or composition. Instead of a drying clay base, traditional wash-off masks focus on hydrating, exfoliating, or soothing the skin using various textures. At Malkn, we offer versatile wash-off masks that cater to different needs, such as the Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel, which comes in a smooth gel format, or the SKINFOOD Black Sugar Mask Wash Off, which features granulated sugar to gently smooth skin texture.