Is the thicker the face mask essence, the better? The ingredient carbomer is causing trouble!!!
09/15/2025 17:23:28
Do sisters all think that the more essence and thicker the gel in a face mask, the better it is? Quickly check if your drawer of face masks contains the chemical ingredient "Carbomer." An appropriate amount of Carbomer helps our face mask retain moisture, but an excessive amount of Carbomer can cause our pores to clog. Now you know why it is recommended to massage the mask in after application and then wash it off! Let's learn about Carbomer through face masks!
What is carbomer?
Carbomer is a type of polymer with the chemical name β-propionyl-α,2-dimethoxyacrylic acid. Its main components are acrylic acid bonded to allyl sucrose or pentaerythritol allyl ether. It has the following characteristics and applications:
1.Main Features
- Thickening and Stabilization: Can significantly increase the viscosity of liquids, commonly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to regulate texture and prevent ingredient separation.Moisturizing and Lubrication: The molecular structure contains hydrophilic groups that can absorb and lock in moisture, forming a gel film, used in skincare products and eye care.
- Delayed Release: Forms a gel network in pharmaceutical formulations, delaying the release of drugs and reducing the frequency of medication intake.
2.Common Application Fields
- Pharmaceutical field: Used in the production of gels, creams, artificial tears, wound care products, etc., to promote drug release and absorption.
- Cosmetic field: Added to lotions, face creams, facial masks, etc., to improve moisturization, thickening, and stability.
- Food field: As a food additive, used to regulate the texture and stability of food products.
The role and efficacy of carbomer in facial masks
Carbomer is a very commonly used thickening agent. Adding a bit of carbomer to a facial mask will increase its thickness. The carbomer ingredient itself is very safe, but because it is slightly acidic, it may cause some irritation to the skin when used. Therefore, after applying the facial mask, if there is any residual carbomer in the mask solution, it is recommended to wash it off.
How to Judge the Quality of a Facial Mask
- Look at the ingredient list
The components that are ranked higher have a higher content. If glycerin, polyols, and trehalose, which are moisturizing ingredients, are at the forefront, then congratulations on choosing the right one. If xanthan gum and carbomer are among the top components, it indicates that the thickening agent in the mask is high, and other effective ingredients are less abundant.
- Smell the odor
Open the face mask and smell it. If the scent is light and natural, it's likely a good face mask. A pungent or 'strong' fragrance usually indicates that it's not a good one.
- Observe the mask cloth
Pay attention to the residual essence in the face mask bag. If there is too much essence that flows around, people think this is a sign of rich essence content, but in fact, it's because the quality of the membrane material is poor and its water retention is not good, which prevents the membrane from effectively holding onto the essence.
