Design Life-Cycle

Brooke Bahn

Britney Lay, Nikita Gulati

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Beauty Sheet Mask Materials

           Beauty sheet masks are a recent cosmetic trend which can be likened to at-home facials, an accessible shortcut to skin care. The sheet mask, manufactured to the size and shape of a human face, is soaked in a serum, or a mixture of oils, extracts, and chemicals which have restorative and moisturizing skin care properties. The user leaves the mask on their face for a prescribed amount of time to allow the serum to absorb into their skin, and then discards it after a single use. The mask can be made of many different materials because of the variety of products on the market, all of which claim different beauty-enhancing properties. To narrow the scope of this study, three commercially available cotton face masks were referenced to identity ingredients common to this type of face mask (“Burt’s Bees | Hydrating Sheet Mask”; “Peach Slices Hydrate Mask”; “TONYMOLY I’m Real Sheet Mask - Avocado”). These ingredients informed the kinds of materials used throughout a mask’s life cycle. A masks’ typical raw materials consist of waste cotton and linter for the sheet, and the serum ingredients. The most common ingredients used for serums include glycerin, plant matter, sodium benzoate, sorbates, xanthan gum, and disodium EDTA. Waste cotton and cotton linter is processed through machines into a pulp, which is washed, bleached, and spun into sheets before being cut into the sheet mask shapes. To extract the essential oil of plant matter, a steam distillation process is used, requiring water and heat. Fossil fuels indirectly power the electric machines in these manufacturing processes. Distributing and transporting beauty face masks further involves the use of fossil fuels to power truck engines for shipping. Packaging individual masks typically involves multilayer packaging, typically made of several kinds of plastic including polyethylene and polypropylene. The individual packages ship together in cardboard boxes, made from softwood or recycled paper, and sealed with polypropylene-based tape. Due to the single-use nature of beauty sheet masks and the packaging, the product is destined for the landfill after the consumer’s use, and no new material is required to reuse or maintain it. The only new material involved in waste management are the fossil fuels used by garbage trucks to deliver trash to the landfill. 

The raw materials required to produce a beauty sheet mask involves the waste cotton and linter for the sheet, and the chemical ingredients of the serum. Waste cotton can be derived from post-consumer cotton waste, such as discarded clothes, or pre-consumer waste, such as excess materials produced in making other textile products like fabrics (Contributors to Wikimedia projects). Linter is the fuzzy fiber surrounding a cotton seed, a byproduct of growing cotton (Sczostak 45). The serum is a combination of preservatives, plant extracts, and other chemicals or liquids to lend the mask its beauty-enhancing properties. Common preservatives include sodium benzoate, sodium sorbate and potassium sorbate, and disodium EDTA, which can be made synthetically through manipulated chemical reactions in labs (World Health Organization 7; National Center for Biotechnology Information, “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23665582, Sodium Sorbate”, “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23676745, Potassium sorbate”, “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6049, Edetic acid”). Xanthan gum is added as a thickener, lending the beauty mask serum its viscosity (Sworn 186). Because of its moisturizing properties, glycerin is also added to help seal moisture into the skin (Lodén and Wessman 117). Depending on the skin care properties of the sheet mask, varying plant matter from herbs, fruits, or vegetables, is used for extracts. The waste cotton, cotton linters, and plant extracts require further processing to become the final beauty sheet mask.

The waste cotton, cotton linters, and plant extracts go through a variety of manufacturing processes or chemical treatments to take the form of the final beauty sheet mask. Waste cotton in the form of discarded clothes or excess textiles must be prepared for the pulping by removing zippers, buttons, and threads. Then the material is cut up into small pieces, added to water, and processed through a beater machine to produce the cotton pulp (Haule et al. 4445). Linters must also be processed from their original state as a byproduct from the cotton stalk. They are first separated from the cotton seed by a machine, then washed and bleached to remove contaminants. The bleach can involve chlorine, hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of these (Sczostak 50). Then the bleached linters are further processed through beating and pulping machines. Whether it was derived from linter or waste cotton, the pulp is then drained and air dried. Next, the pulp is spun into sheets before another machine cuts them into the shape of faces, with openings for the nose, eyes, and mouth. To extract the essential oil out of plant matter, a steam distillation process is used. Water is heated, and its vapor is allowed to occupy a small space with the plant matter in a flask, where it picks up some of the oil in the plant. Then the vapor is condensed into a liquid and decanted to separate the essential oil and the water (Boutekedjiret et al. 481). The serum is developed by mixing the oil, preservatives, thickener, and glycerin before the cotton sheet is left in the mixture to soak. Finally, the masks are ready to be packaged for transport.

Packaging beauty face masks involves wrapping the individual masks, as well as shipping them together in larger boxes for transport. The masks are typically wrapped individually in multilayer packaging, a composite material made of layers of different plastics and paper to achieve a blend of optimal structural, functional, and barrier qualities. Polyethylene and polypropylene are the two most commonly used materials in multilayer packaging (Anukiruthika et al. 1158). Individual masks are packaged in cardboard boxes, taped, and loaded onto trucks to be distributed to retail stores or for home delivery. Softwood trees are cut down to be chipped and pulped to develop the cardboard boxes, or otherwise recycled paper is repurposed (McKittrick). Packing tape used to seal the boxes is also made from the plastic polypropylene (Maddah 4). Trucks that distribute the masks widely use internal combustion engines, depending on fossil fuels in the form of gasoline (Emadi 20). After packaging and distribution, consumers use the beauty sheet masks once before they must be discarded.

The beauty sheet mask and its packaging are single-use items with no further material requirements for use or maintenance, but require fossil fuels for waste management. After consumers apply the mask for a skin treatment, the product has no further life and it is thrown away. No widespread methods exist to recycle the multilayer packaging, primarily due to the distinct recycling requirements for each layer combined with the present inability to separate these layers. It cannot be recycled, and it must also be discarded with the mask (Anukiruthika et al. 1176; Kaiser et al. 1). From the trash bin, both the mask and its packing are eventually delivered to a landfill by a garbage truck, which relies on an internal combustion engine running on fossil fuels (Emadi 20). At the landfill, the beauty sheet mask is at its end of life.

The materials involved in the life cycle of a beauty sheet mask are mostly centered around the manufacturing of the product and its transport. Waste cotton and cotton linter are used as raw materials in the production of the sheet mask. The serum commonly uses raw materials such as glycerin, plant matter, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate, xanthan gum, and disodium EDTA. The cotton materials are processed through beating and pulping machinery to manufacture a cotton pulp, which is later bleached and spun into sheets from which the masks are cut. Plant matter is put through a steam distillation process to extract the essential oils, requiring water and heat. Then the face masks are packed in multilayer packaging, which consist of several layers of plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Cardboard boxes constructed from softwood or recycled paper are sealed with polypropylene-based tape and fossil-fuel powered trucks distribute the products. After the consumer uses the single-use mask, it is discarded, and no new material is involved in its reuse or maintenance. Garbage trucks powered by fossil fuels deliver trash to the landfill, and the beauty face mask reaches its death. Products that we use briefly in our lives actually have a broad life cycle beyond our use of the products, often with steep environmental impact. While advertising may convince consumers that beauty sheet masks are indispensable for at-home skin care, it is important to understand at what cost they come to earth. In knowing where a product came from and how it was produced, we can make better decisions about what we buy.

Bibliography

Anukiruthika, T., et al. “Multilayer Packaging: Advances in Preparation Techniques and Emerging Food Applications.” Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, no. 3, Wiley, Apr. 2020, pp. 1156–86. Crossref, doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12556.

Boutekedjiret, C., et al. “Extraction of Rosemary Essential Oil by Steam Distillation and Hydrodistillation.” Flavour and Fragrance Journal, no. 6, Wiley, 2003, pp. 481–84. Crossref, doi:10.1002/ffj.1226.

“Burt’s Bees | Hydrating Sheet Mask.” Burt’s Bees, https://www.burtsbees.com/product/hydrating-sheet-mask/VM-792850901377.html. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Cotton Recycling - Wikipedia.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 13 Nov. 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_recycling.

“Cotton Pulp Making.” Paper Pulp Mill Machinery, Paper Pulper, Pulp Digester, Vacuum Washer For Sale, http://www.paperpulpingmachine.com/applications/cotton-pulp-making/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

Emadi, Ali. “Transportation 2.0.” IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, no. 9.4, 2011, pp. 18–29.

Haule, L. V., et al. “Preparation and Physical Properties of Regenerated Cellulose Fibres from Cotton Waste Garments.” Journal of Cleaner Production, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2016, pp. 4445–51. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.08.086.

Kaiser, Katharina, et al. “Recycling of Polymer-Based Multilayer Packaging: A Review.” Recycling, no. 1, MDPI AG, Dec. 2017, p. 1. Crossref, doi:10.3390/recycling3010001.

Laboratory Beater “VALLEY” . Frank-PTI, https://www.frankpti.com/content/documents/en/11.pdf. Accessed 17 Nov. 2021.

Lodén, M., and W. Wessman. “The Influence of a Cream Containing 20% Glycerin and Its Vehicle on Skin Barrier Properties.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, no. 2, Wiley, Dec. 2001, pp. 115–19. Crossref, doi:10.1046/j.1467-2494.2001.00060.x.

Maddah, Hisham. “Polypropylene as a Promising Plastic: A Review.” American Journal of Polymer Science, no. 6.1, 2016, pp. 1–11.

McKittrick, Ryan. “What Is Cardboard Made Of?” Expert Manufacturer, 18 Jan. 2019, https://expertmanufacturer.com/what-is-cardboard-made-of/.

Mohamed, Khayet. “Dope Solution.” Encyclopedia of Membranes, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2016, pp. 584–86, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44324-8_1177.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6049, Edetic Acid.” PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Edetic-acid. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

---. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23665582, Sodium Sorbate.” PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-sorbate. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

---. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23676745, Potassium Sorbate.” PubChem, 2021, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Potassium-sorbate.

“Peach Slices Hydrate Mask.” Peach & Lily, https://www.peachandlily.com/products/hydrate-mask?variant=39449987907655&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

Sczostak, Axel. “Cotton Linters: An Alternative Cellulosic Raw Material.” Macromolecular Symposia, no. 1, Wiley, June 2009, pp. 45–53. Crossref, doi:10.1002/masy.200950606.

Sworn, Graham. “Xanthan Gum.” Handbook of Hydrocolloids, Woodhead Publishing, 2021.

“TONYMOLY I’m Real Sheet Mask - Avocado.” Lookfantastic USA, https://us.lookfantastic.com/tonymoly-i-m-real-sheet-mask-avocado/11783033.html?affil=thggps&switchcurrency=USD&shippingcountry=US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping&shoppingpid=MD15. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021.

World Health Organization. Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate. World Health Organization, 2000, p. 7.

Britney Lay

Brooke B. & Nikita G.

DES040A

Professor Cogdell

1 December 2021

Beauty Sheet Masks: Energy 

Ever since the Korean skincare boom in the United States that occurred in 2016, the most talked about and raved item was the beauty sheet masks. Beauty sheet masks were something that not most U.S. beauty and skincare brands produced (Kim). In the U.S., there were beauty masks produced, however these were almost always found in a thick-pasty like form package in a jar that had to be applied by hand and washed away in order for it to be used. Using a beauty mask was a whole process that people might consider doing on a special night. Koreans had these beauty sheet masks which became popularized in the U.S. due to its ease of use. All you had to do was take it out of it’s packaging, put it on your face, wait fifteen to twenty minutes and no wash off was necessary. It was convenient and it could become a part of one’s daily skincare routine.

Eventually these sheet masks were being produced by all beauty brands found in the U.S. and were available everywhere commercially. These sheet masks are produced using  technologies that were originally applied to medical bandages. This technology called electrospinning, changed how the method could be applied to other manufactured items that could be commercially marketed for the public. Beauty sheet masks are made using cotton nanofibers which are electrospun together to allow for a breathable material when applied on the skin. They are then injected with liquid essence which are specifically formulated to target areas of concern. To extract these liquids there are two methods used. One of them is formula mechanical oil extraction, and the other, chemical oil extraction. Although these face masks were technologically innovative, more convenient and well liked by the public, its effect on the environment is not so beautiful.

There are two components to manufacturing a beauty sheet mask. The first component is the base of the mask which is the part that will hold the essence and allow for the user to wear it on their face. These sheet mask bases are made using cotton which are sourced from either India or China. Cotton nanofibers are electrospun together to create a thin and breathable base. The nanofiber obtained for spinning is formed by “dissolving water-soluble polymer material together with a functional material in solvent of water or alcohol.” (“Cosmetic”). This process will allow the extracted liquid to be absorbed into the skin without having to wash or wipe it off. The cottons are electrospun together using a weaving method called plain weave in order to allow air to pass through the cottons that are being stitched together, creating a breathable material (Panzavolta). The nanofibers are also the reason why sheet masks could be used daily without stripping the skin of its natural moisture because it penetrates deep into the pore without breaking the skin’s barrier (Cheng).  Electrospinning nanofiber also allowed the material to be more absorbent than other methods of production by composing a 2:1 ratio of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) to (hydrophilic polyethylene glycol) PEG “result shows that CAB/PEG composite nanofibers have 2-fold higher tensile strength” (Tan). Which lets the base hold quite a bit of liquid without drying out. 

This method was more commonly used to create medical bandages used to treat open wounds and aid in faster healing. These electrospun bandages are “Acrylonitrile-based nitric oxide-loaded wound dressing,” (Lowe et. al.) which are made with water-soluble polymer materials.  These enhanced dressing wounds showed significant healing progression when they were applied and reapplied to wounds daily. Sheet mask developers took this technology and applied it to beauty sheet masks which were able to bring commercial value. These cotton sheet mask bases are then injected with liquid essences extracted from plant materials and perservatives to create the final product.

The second component to manufacturing these sheet masks are injected the cotton base with chemicals preservatives and liquid essences. The essences that are injected into these sheet masks can vary from plant matter to animal byproducts in order to target the certain functions it was made for i.e. moisture, anti-wrinkle, anti-sebum etc. There are two methods used to extract plant matter: mechanical extraction and chemical extraction. Mechanical extraction uses a screw press to carefully extract oils for a lower cost with low yield. It is not as effective as chemical extraction which uses n-hexane as a solvent. Chemical extraction performed oil extraction consistently with high volume yields. However despite being the better extraction method, it cost a lot more to use because of the cost of the solvent (Jahirul). These extracted plant materials are applied to the mask using two different methods as well. One method uses machine operated syringes which injects the completed liquid formula into a tube. This tube is then packaged with the cotton sheet mask base separately and sold to consumers as a “DIY” sheet mask. They are incorporated together when opening the packaging which automatically releases the formula into the sheet mask base. This method is not common but the most well known brand to use it is Dr.Jart +, a Korean skincare brand. 

The other more commonly used method is using thermal heating application. Thermal heading is used for both extracting the chemicals necessary for preserving the product and for applying the extracted liquid essences. The extracted liquids are applied using thermal energy to bring the fluids up to temperature, which depends on the material, in order to thoroughly infuse into the cotton base sheet mask. For example, one of the most common targeted concerns for people is moisture. For moisturising matter, “Ethanolic solution and mesoporous silica were prepared and electrically processed at 30 ul min-1” (Mehta). This method allows “low vapor pressure, low toxicity, high thermal stability and recyclability,” (Fabre). The low toxicity and recyclability allows for leftover or unused liquids to be recycled for other purposes which helps the manufacturing production to produce less waste. Although, other steps of the sheet mask making process are much more wasteful. After applying the extracted liquid essences to the cotton base sheet masks, the products are then packaged in cardboard boxes ready to be shipped.

The packaged sheet masks are usually made with plastic which are made from fossil fuels consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene, and sometimes mixed aluminum. They are then packaged into cardboard boxes made from softwood which comes from gymnosperm frees sourced from either Canada or Russia. They are then loaded into distribution trucks that run on fossil fuels which are mined from the earth’s crust and heated in order to make gasoline that powers those trucks. If not considering the packaging aspects of the beauty sheet mask, the other components of the sheet mask are recyclable. However, “‘because [the packaging is] made out of complex material in the form of multiple plastic types or a combination of aluminum and plastic, rendering it too difficult to separate and process,’” (Harrington). Thus, making beauty sheet masks as a whole non-recycle. They are also non-usable as they are single used products. 

Beauty sheet masks are made using cotton nanofiber electrospun together, then injected with liquid essence which are specifically formulated to target areas of concern. These finished products are then packaged using mainly plastic and mixed aluminum which creates the final completed product. This final product is then packed into individual cardboard boxes then into bigger cardboard boxes to be shipped to stores worldwide. Although beauty sheet masks are commonplace in our lives today, it is not the most environmentally friendly product out there. In lieu of using sheet masks, creating a natural face mask made of honey, sugar and lemon is more sustainable. Another alternative to a sheet mask is to buy a silicone sheet mask that you can wash and reuse by putting your own serum before applying the silicone sheet mask in order to help soak in the essence. In spite of the fact that there are more sustainable alternatives to beauty sheet masks, it will be more difficult realistically to stop consumers from buying them because of their convenience and high effectiveness. Beauty and skincare companies can look for alternatives to plastic packaging which is a more sustainable material instead. 

Works Cited

Cheng, Yan, et al. “Moisturizing and Antisebum Effect of Cosmetic Application on Facial Skin.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 24 Aug. 2007, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00323.x. 

Fabre, Elaine, and S M Murshed. “A Review of the Thermophysical Properties and Potential of Ionic Liquids for Thermal Applications.” Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 9, no. 29, 2021, pp. 15861–15879., https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ta03656d. 

Harrington, Jessica. “Are Sheet Masks Nearing the End? Sustainability Experts Weigh in on This ‘Imperative’ Shift.” POPSUGAR Beauty, 23 Mar. 2021, https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/sheet-masks-environmental-impact-48224791.

Jahirul, M.I., et al. “Optimisation of Bio-Oil Extraction Process from Beauty Leaf (Calophyllum Inophyllum) Oil Seed as a Second Generation Biodiesel Source.” Procedia Engineering, Elsevier, 7 May 2013, https://www.sciencedirect.com/article/pii/S1877705813005225. 

Kim, Dakota. “How Korean Beauty Took over U.S. Markets.” Shondaland, 2 Nov. 2021, https://www.shondaland.com/live/beauty/a36505089/

Lowe, A., et al. “Electrospun Nitric Oxide Releasing Bandage with Enhanced Wound Healing.” Acta Biomaterialia, Elsevier, 23 Nov. 2014, https://www.sciencedirect.com/article/abs/pii/S1742706114005261.

Mehta, P., et al. “Engineering Optimisation of Commercial Facemask Formulations Capable of Improving Skin Moisturisation.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 3 Oct. 2019, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ics.12560. 

“Osmetic Sheet Formed from Nanofiber with Controlled Dissolution Velocity and Method of Manufacturing the Same.” Google Patents, Google, https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150272855A1/en. 

Panzavolta, Silvia, et al. “Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers: Optimization of Genipin Cross-Linking to Preserve Fiber Morphology after Exposure to Water.” Acta Biomaterialia, Elsevier, 21 Nov. 2010, https://www.sciencedirect.com/article/pii/S1742706110005283. 

Tan, Hui-Li, et al. “Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Butyrate/Polyethylene Glycol (CAB/PEG) Composite Nanofibers: A Potential Scaffold for Tissue Engineering.” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Elsevier, 9 Dec. 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/article/pii/S0927776519308574. 

Nikita Gulati

Brooke B. & Britney L.

DES040A

Professor Cogdell

1 December 2021

Beauty Sheet Masks: Wastes & Emissions

It is common to find influencers using sheet masks. Most of us haven’t thought about the environmental impact of that little mask. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remain ignorant of said impact, consumers need only gaze upon their bursting garbage bins to realize the product is problematic. (Jesica Defino Elle) Sheet masks are always problematic because they have been designed as a single-use item and need to be packed in an outer sleeve that can be difficult to recycle.

Diverse types of fabric are used for the sheet mask’s base. Non-woven fiber, Cotton, Hydrogel, and Bio-cellulose are some examples. We have chosen to analyze the life cycle of cotton sheet masks. Raw materials involved in making the cotton face masks are cotton nanofiber base; preservatives like sodium benzoate, sorbates like polysorbate, and sodium sorbate; xanthum gum; disodium EDTA; plant extract oils; and glycerin. Global cotton production requires over 250 billion tons of water annually. Pesticide-laden dust is blown into the air every year. Sodium benzoate & Potassium sorbate are liquid cosmetic preservatives. This preservative system is acceptable to the Soil Association for use in products that are looking for Soil Association accreditation. (naturallythinking.com).  With its high water-retaining capacity, xanthan gum ensures optimum moisture retention for a long-lasting fresh skin sensation. (jungbunzlauer.com) The use of xanthan gum (XG) as a thickener increases solution viscosity, and therefore, the cost of subsequent processes such as fluid transportation and purification. As EDTA is water-soluble and not volatile, it is eventually released into the environment with wastewater effluent. In general, EDTA has a low toxic impact on both humans and natural environments. There are some concerns, however, about its poor biodegradation in conventional wastewater treatment plants and natural environments, and its effect in mobilizing heavy metals from solid phases to pose a risk to groundwater. To begin with, producing essential oils requires vast amounts of natural resources. It takes 30-50 roses to create a single drop of rose essential oil. (Nikki Yeager earthisland.org). Aside from the environmental impacts associated with producing essential oils, essential oils themselves can have an impact. Each pure oil comes with its own set of potential ecological and disposal issues. Each essential oil should have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that provides toxicity information, flammability warnings, and disposal directions. Many oils are toxic to aquatic life and can have long-lasting impacts on marine ecosystems according to their MSDS sheets. For producing sheet masks; obtaining and producing these raw materials is a toll on the environment.

Sheet masks undergo the following stages of production: Bacteria Cultivation, Mask Cutting, Ingredient filling, sealing, and packaging. Sheet mask production used to be done manually especially in Korea where face masks are in high demand. The manual folding of masks aroused a hygiene threat. Now sheet mask production lines are fully automatic and produce everything from nonwoven fabric to a finished sheet mask. This production line will automatically add material without stopping or slowing down, while simultaneously eliminating folded waste. Patented cutting knife technology triples the service life over traditional knives. Quantitative filling system, deviation of filling quality: ±1%. (pack-automation.com). Power supply: 3Ph4W (A, B, C, PE),380Vac±5%, 50/60Hz, Installation capacity: about 37KW, Air supply:≥0.5MPa, Air consumption: ≤200LPM. Ready face masks are then shipped to the consumers.

Shipping materials associated with online orders generate a huge amount of waste. Transportation of beauty products is also harmful to the environment. Quite a few of the skincare products are made in foreign countries like Korea and Japan and when they are transported to overseas markets, a large carbon footprint is formed. These carbon emissions speed up the processes of global warming which leads to many other environmental problems. In an effort to combat this process, consumers are encouraged to purchase their cosmetics from local companies to even make their own DIY cosmetics. (Sadie green-sail) (prnewswire.com)

The use of cotton face masks is easy. Consumers need to peel off the packaging and apply the face mask as per the instructions given. The issue is with the one-time use of the product. Most sheet mask packaging contains a combination of aluminum and plastic, making it unrecyclable, so it ends up in the trash. Consumers must go for brands that prioritize recyclable, or compostable packaging materials. (inhabitat.com) With the recent overall shift toward sustainability and eco-consciousness, it makes you wonder if single-use sheet masks (with the foil packets, the plastic inserts, the product itself) are worth the use. Also, before composting these single-use masks, it's important to check if they have a synthetic beauty product coating or filler. If they do, the mask won't compost properly and convert into microplastic particles over the years. Water filtering systems are not designed to sift elements smaller than five millimeters. Therefore, the particles contaminate water in oceans and end up being consumed by fish, birds, and marine animals. The unfortunate truth is that the ignorant consumers end up dumping the face masks in the trash from where it is taken to a landfill. A plant-based sheet mask coated in a petrochemical-infused serum will not be able to disintegrate in the soil. Such biological or plant-based components in the soil will lead to the production of methane, and methane emissions from landfills have become a common source of global warming. Since sheet masks cannot be reused, abundant waste is generated with each use.

That upstream impact of constantly having to go back and harvest materials and all the energy, water, chemicals, and other inputs that are used in manufacture are actually the greatest ecological impact. Manufacturers and brands must provide clear instructions for proper disposal of these masks in order to curb the environmental effect caused. Disposal instructions on the product website will give consumers an opportunity to do the right thing.

Works Cited

"Sodium benzoate & Potassium sorbate is a liquid cosmetic preservative". Naturally thinking,  https://naturallythinking.com/sodium-benzoate-potassium-sorbate

NIKKI YEAGER "The Environmental Impact of Essential Oils". Earth Is Land, JULY 26, 2017 https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/the_environmental_impact_of_essential_oils/

FAWNIA SOO HOO "The Not-So-Great Side Effect Of Your Sheet-Mask Addiction". Refinery29, NOVEMBER 12, 2016, 1:00 PM https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/face-masks-bad-for-the-environment

http://www.pack-automation.com/3-1-fully-automatic-sheet-mask-production-line.html

Sadie "How the Beauty Industry Is Harming Our Seas and Oceans". Green sail, February 26th 2020 https://www.green-sail.com/blog/how-the-beauty-industry-is-harming-our-seas-and-oceans

Research and Markets "Global Sheet Face Masks Market 2020: Product Type, Price Point and Distribution Channel Analysis". May 18, 2020, 11:30 ET https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-sheet-face-masks-market-2020-product-type-price-point-and-distribution-channel-analysis-301060741.html

Dawn Hammon "5 Wellness trends that are bad for the environment". Inhabitat, Mar 12, 2020 https://inhabitat.com/5-wellness-trends-that-are-bad-for-the-environment/

Julia Brucculieri "Are Your Beloved Sheet Masks Killing The Planet?". Huffpost, 02/07/2019 05:29pm EST | Updated February 12, 2019 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sheet-masks-not-environmentally-friendly_l_5c5a033ae4b09293b2092685

JESSICA DEFINO "Are Sheet Masks the New Plastic Straws?". Vogue, October 15, 2019 https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/sheet-masks-sustainable-beauty

Melanie Macleod "CAN SHEETS MASK EVER BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?". Get The Gloss, September 6th 2021 https://www.getthegloss.com/article/biodegradable-eco-friendly-sheet-masks

Jessica Defino "Is This The End Of The Sheet Mask?". Elle,  OCT 8, 2020 https://www.elle.com/beauty/a33981861/end-of-sheet-mask-era/