Ever questioned how peel-off masks work? I imply, you form of know methods to use them: you apply them in your pores and skin and after 20 minutes, you peel them off such as you would an orange – therefore the title. However what makes this motion doable? Polyvinyl Alcohol. It’s the key juice that makes them magically peel off your pores and skin… and irritate it actual dangerous. Yep, there’s a motive I hardly ever evaluation peel-off masks right here. I’m simply NOT a fan -and this alcohol is an enormous motive for it. Right here’s all the things it’s essential find out about it:

What Is Polyvinyl Alcohol?

Polyvinyl Alcohol is a water-soluble artificial polymer of Vinyl Alcohol . It appears like a white, odourless, and tasteless powder. There actually isn’t way more to say about it.

What Does Polyvinyl Alcohol Do In Skincare Merchandise?

A mulit-tasker, Polyvinyl Alcohol has three jobs in skincare:

• Binder: It holds collectively the components of a compressed pill or cake, so that they don’t crack or crumble again right into a powder or disagreeable texture.
• Movie-former: It reacts with the air to kind a tough, plastic layer in your pores and skin that may be peeled off your face. Actually. That is how peel-off masks work. Whereas it’s at it, this layer additionally retains moisture into the pores and skin, serving to it keep softer and smoother. In fact, the impact is barely short-term.
• Thickener: It will increase the thickness of the oil portion of skincare and private care merchandise.

Need to know what components you really want to keep away from in your skincare merchandise? Signal as much as the e-newsletter under to obtain the “Skincare Elements To Keep away from” cheatsheet:

Polyvinyl Alcohol Aspect Results?

The Beauty Ingredient Assessment Skilled Panel claims Polyvinyl Alcohol is secure and non-irritating. That’s true – in small concentrations. In case you discover some in a moisturiser or lotion, it’s not a motive for concern.

Peel-off masks are a special story. Right here, Polyvinyl Alcohol is utilized in a lot greater concentrations (as excessive as 90%!). That, coupled with the mechanical elimination of the masks (which is traumatic in itself and might take away lifeless pores and skin off your face – and never within the cool, exfoliating approach), makes them irritating.

That’s why I DON’T suggest peel-off masks. I attempted a charcoal masks as soon as and by no means once more. Taking it off damage a lot. Ouch! However when you’d like to make use of one, go for a peel-off masks with hydrating and skin-repairing components, like Hyaluronic Acid and ceramides, that may offset its drying unintended effects a bit of.

The Backside Line

Polyvinyl Alcohol is secure in small doses. However steer clear of peel-off masks. Within the excessive concentrations used right here, it may be drying, irritating, and total dangerous for pores and skin.

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day by day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you work out what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create the perfect skincare routine on your distinctive wants.