Sheet Mask Materials Compared: Nonwoven to Bio-Cellulose

Sheet mask materials fall into five common groups: nonwoven fabric, cotton, lyocell, hydrogel and bio-cellulose. The first three are fibre sheets that soak up essence; hydrogel is a water-swollen polymer gel; bio-cellulose is a cellulose film grown by bacteria during fermentation.

The material changes how the mask sits on the face, how it carries essence, its weight and how it should be packed, so it is worth sorting your mask range by sheet type rather than treating every “sheet mask” as the same product. This comparison uses published facts about the materials, not prices.

Sheet mask materials at a glance

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

Nonwoven sheets

A nonwoven is a sheet of fibres bonded by friction, cohesion or adhesion rather than woven or knitted. The international standard ISO 9092 defines the term and how to distinguish nonwovens from other materials; the fibres can be natural or man-made, staple or continuous filament.

That breadth is the point to remember: “nonwoven mask” tells you nothing about the fibre used. Fibre type, thickness and basis weight all change feel and essence uptake, so ask suppliers for the sheet composition.

Cotton sheets

Cotton sheets use natural cotton fibre, made either as a nonwoven or as a woven fabric. Composition varies (100% cotton or blends), so confirm it from the specification before you describe it to customers.

Lyocell sheets, and the TENCEL trademark

Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fibre made by dissolving plant-based cellulose, such as wood pulp, directly in an organic solvent and spinning it. The UK charity WRAP’s Clothing Knowledge Hub explains that cellulose is dissolved without forming an intermediate compound and that the closed-loop process recovers more than 99.7% of the solvent.

The same source notes that TENCEL™ is the brand name Lenzing uses for its lyocell. Not every lyocell sheet is TENCEL. If you want to say “TENCEL sheet” in your listings, confirm with the supplier that the fibre really is the branded product and follow the trademark owner’s rules.

Hydrogel sheets

A review in the Journal of Advanced Research, Hydrogel: Preparation, characterization, and applications¹, defines a hydrogel as a water-swollen, cross-linked polymeric network that absorbs large amounts of water without dissolving.

In a mask, the gel itself carries water and ingredients instead of fibres soaking up liquid. Hydrogel masks are therefore heavier and thicker than fibre masks and can soften at high temperatures, so check packing against crushing and heat.

Bio-cellulose sheets

Bio-cellulose (bacterial cellulose) is cellulose made by microorganisms during fermentation rather than extracted from plants.

A 2020 bibliometric review in Biotechnology Reports² describes it as a biocompatible, hydrophilic and biodegradable biopolymer, and summarises studies reporting a dense three-dimensional microfibre network and high water retention.

It also cites research in which bio-cellulose masks adhered well to the skin. The authors note that research in this field is still limited.

Bio-cellulose sheets are thin and wet, so they tear easily when unfolded. Clear instructions on peeling the backing film help reduce complaints.

What to check before ordering sheet masks

• Material claims: make sure the sheet named on the pouch matches the specification, and get evidence for any trademarked fibre name.
• Ingredient list: the essence is a cosmetic and its full ingredient list must appear on the pack under Article 10 of Korea’s Cosmetics Act³; check your own market’s rules too.
• Wording: describe the sheet’s material and structure, not effects. Article 13 of the same Act bars labels or ads that could be mistaken for a medicine. Do not turn study findings about a material into product claims.
• Storage and shipping: control weight and temperature for hydrogel and bio-cellulose; check pouch seals for fibre masks. See cosmetics storage conditions.

SEONGWOO GLOBAL is the Official Distributor of Arocell, a Korean bio-beauty brand focused on sheet masks and slow-ageing skincare.

Related pages: Arocell · Brands we supply · FAQ · Contact us · What slow ageing means · Clean beauty definition · Cosmetics storage conditions