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Esfolio Red Ginseng Essence Mask Sheet for acne-prone skin

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other nourishing masks fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate hydration and antioxidant benefits for your combination skin, as red ginseng extract and sodium hyaluronate provide plumping and moisturizing effects. Panax ginseng extract further supports these benefits with its anti-inflammatory properties.
  • The inclusion of glycerin and allantoin offers general soothing and hydrating support, which is beneficial for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start using your sheet mask 3 times a week, and build up to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply your sheet mask after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer. Relax with it on for ten to fifteen minutes.
  • Take the sheet mask out and gently smooth it over your face so it fits well. Pat any leftover essence into your skin without rubbing.
  • Put the sheet mask on clean and dry skin for the best comfort. This helps your pores take in all the good ingredients.
  • Avoid getting the product too close to your sensitive eye area. Do a small patch test before your very first use to stay safe.

People Say

★3.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this mask is recognized as an affordable, highly saturated sheet mask that provides a quick, revitalizing hydration boost and a temporary plumping effect for tired skin. Its performance is often overshadowed by a very strong, earthy ginseng scent and a sticky finish that some users find unpleasant.

Highlights

  • Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
    • “It is definitely hydrating”
    • “moisturized my skin very well”
    • “leaves skin feeling moist”
  • Generous essence Mostly Mentioned
    • “Packed with essence”
    • “soaked and dripping”
    • “extra essence for neck/arms”
  • Strong scent Mostly Mentioned
    • “Terrible smell”
    • “smells like olives/oysters”
    • “very strong ginseng scent”
  • Affordable price Often Mentioned
    • “budget sheet mask”
    • “great value for money”
  • Plumping effect Sometimes Noted
    • “Has a plumping effect”
    • “skin looked and felt revitalized”
    • “velvety hydration hit”
  • Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
    • “It's like Velcro”
    • “sticky”
    • “disgusting how it makes skin feel”
  • Temporary results Sometimes Noted
    • “Revitalized look is short-lived”
    • “no long term affects”
    • “results are fleeting”
  • Irritating ingredients Rarely Noted
    • “Contains denatured alcohol”
    • “not for sensitive skin”
    • “felt a little tingly”

Sources: lovi.care, wordpress.com, dermapproved.com, youtube.com, makeupstore.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does esfolio Red Ginseng Essence Mask Sheet work for acne-prone skin?

This mask works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, as it offers moderate moisture and soothing benefits through ingredients like red ginseng, glycerin, and allantoin. It is unlikely to cause irritation, though it lacks the targeted acne-fighting ingredients found in the masks that fit this skin best.

Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and allantoin help make this mask a good fit for acne-prone skin by providing soothing and hydrating support. To fit this skin type even better, products of this type need effective hydrating and acne-fighting ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramide NP.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Red Ginseng Extract do for acne-prone skin?

Red Ginseng Extract helps acne-prone skin by reducing oxidized sebum and calming skin redness. It also fights blemish-causing bacteria to improve early and middle-stage acne symptoms.

Phytotherapy Research, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.

Biomedicines, 2025Drug Delivery, 2017

Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This nourishing mask fits into a weekly routine as a hydrating and soothing step after cleansing and before toning, leaving your skin soft and calm. Acne-prone skin works best with sheet masks that provide lightweight hydration and soothing plant extracts without feeling heavy or causing irritation.

Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017

Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this mask alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe and hydrate your skin. This mask is safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin, though this skin type generally benefits more from targeted blemish treatments with soothing ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid.

How often should I use this mask?

This mask can be used weekly as an extra step to give your skin a moisture boost and calm breakouts. To work best for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and lightweight hydration that keep pores clear.

Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it has no harsh ingredients, but acne-prone skin needs products with lightweight hydration, calming plant extracts, and oil-free ingredients.

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • Korean Red Ginseng extract suppressed melanogenesis in vitro, reduced wrinkle formation and collagen degradation in ultraviolet B-irradiated hairless mice, and improved skin resilience, moisture, and tone in humans.

    Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020
  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • A mixture of Panax ginseng and Crataegus pinnatifida prevented skin aging by improving procollagen type I expression, diminishing matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion, reducing skin roughness and photodamage scores, and decreasing loss of skin moisture in human dermal fibroblasts and healthy human skin.

    Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.

    Rejuvenation Research, 2015
  • A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.

    Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022
  • A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.

    Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015
  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015
  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Red Ginseng Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Phyisepipi-17 6 Copolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium Edta, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

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