Sheet masks have become so ubiquitous and it’s not surprising why. Those thin, saturated sheets are easy to put on, and only require about 15 minutes to instantly reveal plump, hydrated skin.
However, a new report has got us wondering how clean and sanitised the manufacturing of these sheet masks is. Are they even sterile enough to marinade your face with?
On Reddit, a Seoul-based poster dvaonline22 shared images of dirty manufacturing practices and sheet masks being assembled in private homes.
https://t.co/u0VBbadKyF
상위에서 맨손으로…상처난 손으로….위생관념은 찾아볼 수 없는 수준 pic.twitter.com/yDpDk7znQx— 화장품 오따꾸 (@dotorucom) June 9, 2016
As it turns out, many brands have identified as using at-home labour for folding and stuffing sheet masks into their packaging, even though making market-ready beauty products at home is illegal.
The practice is widely reported in Korea since 2008 and it is apparently fairly common. If you thought all your sheet masks are created with factory machinery, you’re very well wrong. It’s pretty unsettling though..
Images of the masks being folded on cardboard in people’s homes without wearing gloves and placed into packaging to be sealed back at factories are just the start.
Several articles online have cited reports that consumers found an insect, black spots, and hair on the sheet masks.
As it turns out, most of the top selling sheet masks are also folded by hand.
마스크팩 위생상태에 대해 말이 많았지만 메디힐 너마저 그럴 줄은 몰랐다;; 재활용한 종이 쪼가리로 접는 건 너무하지 않나. 시드물이 마스크팩 설명에 백프로 기계공정 어쩌고 강조했던 이유를 이제야 알겠네… pic.twitter.com/KWNjOhGKTe
— 화장품 오따꾸 (@dotorucom) June 9, 2016
Regardless of whether this piece of news doesn’t faze you at all, or you’re all in for supporting ethical and hygienic manufacturing of practices, being educated is key. We’ll leave the judgement to you.
