What different kinds of sheet materials are used for sheet masks?

Sheet masks are produced using a variety of fabric types. More advanced mask fabrics are now available with fibers that are produced naturally, through biotechnology processes.

What different kinds of sheet materials are used for sheet masks?

Every company and brand uses a unique type of sheets. 

Mostly, four main materials are used, listed from the first generation to the most recent generation.

TRADITIONAL NON-WOVEN FABRIC

First type of sheet masks were non-woven fabric made from poly ethylene or rayon. 

At that time, the facial mask was just a developing category so not so  many people paid attention to them. 

10 years ago, sheet masks were just a  supplementary skincare rather than one of most important routine of the  skincare like nowadays. 

Anyway, the non-woven fabric was rough and was not  very adhesive to the skin. 

   ★ Flat, porous sheets made directly from separate fibers, molten plastic or plastic film 

   ★ Inexpensive

   ★ Breathable

   ★ Limited capacity to deliver serum deeper into the skin

   ★ Does not adhere to the face too well, making it difficult to move around in them

COTTON

Cotton facial masks are hypoallergenic, non-irritating type of mask that holds good amount of serum. They are generally less expensive than other material so it is adequate for daily mask.

  


  ★ Natural fiber harvested from cotton plant (clothes, towels, etc. use cotton)
  ★ Inexpensive
  ★ Soft and breathable
  ★ Have better absorption system into the skin compared to non-woven fiber
  ★ Does not adhere to the face too well, making it difficult to move around in them

HYDRO-GEL

Hydro-gel is a material synthetically made by cross-linking hydrophilic molecules that can holds moisture. Generally hydro gel is highly absorbent so serum in the mask does not run down or get evaporated easily, so it delivers active ingredient effectively to your skin.

  ★ 3D structured biocompatible polymer network 
  ★ Great absorption system and provides a cooling effect
  ★ Adheres to the face well, making it easy to move around
  ★ Not breathable
  ★ Generally has a top and bottom part of sheets separately
  ★ Chemical during certain types of the hydro-gel manufacturing process can irritate skin
  ★ Normally expensive

BIO-CELLULOSE

Bio-cellulose is a fiber synthesized by specific bacteria. The fiber used in this type of mask is very thin, so it has excellent skin affinity. It also can hold water (or serum) up to 100 times of their dry weight, so it is an excellent type of mask material.

  
  
  ★ A type of non-woven fabric from microbial cellulose rather than plant based cellulose
  ★ Adheres to the skin better than cotton, but still not as good as hydro-gel
  ★ Great absorption system
  ★ Breathable
  ★ Easier to move around in than cotton, but less so than hydro-gel
  ★ Came out after hydro-gel to improve on the negative qualities of non-woven fabric, but   ★ not as comfortable as hydro-gel
  ★ Slightly on the expensive side