Managed to get Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask at a very good deal from The Shilla Duty Free Shop via IShopChangi during the lock down due to pandemic, I believe they’re clearing this as Sulwhasoo just launched a new improved formula Clarifying Mask, I guess the new formulation are with added new ingredients. Despite not able to travel overseas to get duty free/travel exclusive products, Changi Airport Group a well-known manager and operator to world ever-famous Changi Airport have decided to let non-traveler resided in Singapore to be able to purchase duty free product during these periods. I believe this is a countermeasure to boost the declining economy in the travel retail sector due to the travel ban.

✵✵ Product ✵✵

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask is a peel-off type mask that able to removes dead skin and impurities. It is also claimed able to make skin feel soft.

The product comes in a 150ml regular plastic tube, nothing fancy despite the luxury brand behind it. The one I’m getting is a duo set since it’s a travel exclusive set.

The texture is gel-based with an extremely thick consistency. Somewhat replicate a honey texture since honey is also one of the main ingredients. The scent is medicinal and pleasant as well. But do note that the medicinal scent is quite strong as every-time I applied this, my friend would be able to sniff and know that I’m applying this mask.

It’s recommended to apply this after your emulsion before your moisturizer or sleeping mask. It dries up quickly so you must apply it real fast especially when you kinda need to touch up some places but ended up tearing the mask. You need to wait for 20-30mins until it completely dries off and peels it off from your forehead. The peeling is so satisfying and non-irritating or pulling off your skin. It just gently peel-off easily.

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I never try using it right after I wash my skin as I read some review saying that it will be too drying and pulling off your skin and I’m also not sure if that is the right way of using it, since the recommended method si to apply after your emulsion. Unfortunately, alcohol was on the top 3 ingredients. But so far I have no issue with any product that comes with alcohol as I do notice a lot of high-end brand uses alcohol to preserve the product or any other uses.

✵✵ Notable Ingredients ✵✵

As mentioned, unfortunately, Polyvinyl Alcohol is the second ingredient which is a texture enhancer as in this case a gel-based thickener which commonly uses in peel-off facial masks, however, understand that any alcohol uses in skincare product can be offset if there’re other ingredients combined such as glycerin, emollients, or other skin-repairing ingredients.

Some other notable ingredients are :

Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract famously known as Solomon Seal is used widely in Kbeauty known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and good in skin conditioning too.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract AKA Green Tea is a good antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Similarly well-know antioxidant bearer Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract AKA Goji Berries/Wolfberry also has an anti-inflammatory function.

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract AKA Licorice famously used in many skincare due to its abilities to refine uneven skin tone and also is a potent antioxidant and has skin-soothing ingredient.

Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract AKA Lotus Seed extract has skin-soothing and antioxidant properties. Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract has skin-soothing while Panax Ginseng Root Extract AKA ginseng root has numerous antioxidant properties.

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract AKA Honeysuckle is one of the best antioxidants and skin-soothing ingredients and Portulaca Oleracea Extract AKA Purslane similarly a good skin soothing with added anti-inflammation.

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract AKA Snake’s Beard able to protects the skin from dryness by boosting the skin’s moisture-retaining ability and brings a more refined texture.

Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract and Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract AKA Chinese Peony and Moutan Peony both are a good skin conditioning. Similarly, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract skin AKA Chinese Foxglove, Lilium Tigrinum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract AKA Tiger Lilies, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract AKA Job’s Tear, Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract and Adenophora St- Ricta Root Extract AKA Ladybell are also a good skin conditioning

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract AKA Japanese Orange is an antioxidant with a skin-brightening or whitening agent.

Mel/Honey Extract/Extrait De Miel. It has smoothing, moisturizing, and soothing agents while also acting as an emollient to condition the skin.

Bentonite clay’s adsorbent power helps treat acne breakouts and oily skin. The clay can help remove sebum from the skin’s surface, and it may also have a calming effect on inflamed breakouts.

You can see how Kbeauty shared a lot of common ingredients as what I’ve covered in The History of Whoo where 30 percent of ingredient used here is being used in the Gongjinhyang Mi Essential Primer Base as well.

✵✵ Result ✵✵

After using it for one month minimally twice every week, my skin texture has become more refined and smoother. You felt this immediately after the peeling off. Thus I believe it also helps to gently remove dead skin and impurities that were not clear during cleansing. I also felt that it helps in locking all the products applied prior to the mask such as your serum, etc.

However, I don’t see the brightening effect that it claims to have. My skin only brightens and more radiance when I used this Clarifying Mask with Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask which is a great combo I’m using currently in my last step skincare regime. I will be reviewing this newly love sleeping mask in another post.

✵✵ Overall Rating ✵✵

Overall, this is a good product which you may see an immediate effect however in terms of price point this is not a cheap product when it’s just a treatment mask. You can see how good it is that I have to restock it to four tubes even though I’m just on my first tube. I would only repurchase it via duty-free shop by getting travel exclusive set which is so worthy than getting one bottle from their boutique or departmental store.

*I’m an Asian guy with an oily combination skin condition in my early 30s and living a tropical climate with hot and humid weather.
**Reviews are based on my own experience usage, research online and knowledge shared between beauty advisors.