What Is a Bubble Mask and Does It Actually Work?

At first glance, a bubble mask looks just like any other facial mask out there. But as soon as you apply it to your face, you see (and feel) the difference because the mask starts to get, well, bubbly. Bubble masks are formulated with oxygen or carbon dioxide, which makes them gradually foam up on your skin, creating big puffy bubbles that make you look like a fluffy cloud (or a cute monster, you choose).

Bubble masks come in different forms, including creams, clay masks, and sheet masks, but all of them are essentially deep cleansing masks that are designed to make your face squeaky clean, help you get rid of blackheads, and balance your skin’s pH. For this purpose, they contain cleaning and detoxing ingredients.

For example, the famous Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask (that started this whole obsession with bubble masks, by the way) contains white clay (kaolin) and charcoal powder (activated carbon) that have pronounced absorbent and detox properties. Their effect is pure and tighter pores, healthy complexion, clear skin, and normalized sebum secretion.

But what are the bubbles for? First and foremost, they are adorable and fun! If you’ve ever used Korean beauty products, you already know that many of these products contain bizarre ingredients and have weird names and cutesy packaging. This is what makes people so obsessed with Korean cosmetics: for many consumers, the way their skincare products look and feel is just as important as how they work.

So of course bubble masks are first of all natural and effective, but on top of that, they feel nice and are just plain fun. On the other hand, some people don’t enjoy the fizzy feeling, it’s really a matter of taste. We guess the only way to figure out which camp you are in is to go and try the product. If you end up not liking it, you can always give it to a friend who’s into this kind of stuff.

Of course, that’s not everything that’s good about bubble masks. Besides giving you a fizzy, tingling sensation and being perfect for your Instagram and Snapchat selfies, those tiny bubbles are actually good for your skin. They help the key active ingredients of the mask penetrate deeper into your skin, which boosts its nourishing and hydrating effect. Many oxygenated and carbonated products are more nourishing than their regular counterparts formulated with similar active ingredients.

Besides, the bubbles are an equivalent of a gentle skin massage. They improve micro-circulation and lymph flow in the epidermis as well as help provide your skin cells with oxygen. As a result, bubble masks relax facial muscles, improve complexion, and keep the skin looking fresh and glowing for hours after the procedure.

Note that the bubbles can really get out of control, so don’t apply the stuff too close to your nostrils, or you will end up inhaling it. The bubbles themselves shouldn’t cause any irritation, but you might end up being sensitive to other ingredients. Like with any new skincare product, it is important to test for allergies first. Apply a little bit of mask in the crook of the elbow 48 hours before the first use. If there’s no redness, itching or other signs of irritation, the mask is safe to use.