Introduction
Skinfood has long been the go-to K-beauty house for anyone who prefers their skincare served with a side of fruit salad and science. Yet if the brand’s edible-sounding formulas have somehow eluded your shelf, consider this your friendly nudge: their farm-to-face philosophy is more than charming marketing, it is often downright effective.
Enter the Pear Mint Food Mask, a name that sounds as if it belongs in a smoothie bar rather than a bathroom cabinet. Skinfood promises that this creamy rinse-off will deep-cleanse, cool and balance oil in just three to five minutes thanks to a buffet of pear extract, mint complex and kaolin. They even boast that it morphs into a soft foaming cleanser on contact with water, meaning fewer steps and less fuss.
Curious whether a fruit-and-herb concoction could genuinely keep midday shine in check, I devoted a full two weeks of twice-weekly applications to see if this mask could earn a permanent spot in an already crowded routine and, more importantly, justify the spend.
What is Pear Mint Food Mask?
Pear Mint Food Mask is a rinse-off clay formula that sits in the wash-off mask category. Wash-off masks are treatments you smooth on, let work for a few minutes and then remove with water. They offer a short, concentrated hit of ingredients without the commitment of an overnight product, making them handy for anyone who wants targeted results in a tight time frame.
This particular mask pairs 10 percent pear extract with a 5 percent blend of three mint varieties to give skin a quick cooling sensation. Kaolin and bentonite clays lend the deep-clean benefit by soaking up excess oil while tapioca starch and rice powder add a gentle polish as you massage the mask off. The formula is water-based, so it never feels heavy, and when you add warm water it changes into a mild foam that doubles as a final cleanse.
Skinfood positions the mask for oily or combination skin thanks to its sebum-regulating focus, though it can be used as a spot treatment on oil-prone zones for other skin types. A three to five minute window is all that is required which makes it easy to slide into a shower routine or a quick evening reset.
Did it work?
In the name of rigorous skincare research I benched my usual wash-off mask for three days before starting this one, a move that felt tremendously scientific considering it involved little more than doing nothing. Over the next 14 days I used Pear Mint Food Mask every Monday and Thursday night, smoothing on a thin layer after cleansing and letting the steam from my shower keep it supple during the three minute wait.
The first application was all about the chill factor. That minty tingle showed up within seconds and stayed polite rather than eye-watering. Rinsing transformed the cream into a feathery foam that left my T-zone looking pleasantly matte yet not squeaky. I patted on my usual toner and noticed no tightness which is my litmus test for clay masks.
By the fourth day my midday shine dialed back from reflector status to a low glow. Sebum around my nose still appeared but the blotting paper count dropped from three sheets to one which felt like a small victory. I also appreciated the subtle pear-meets-garden scent that vanished once the foam washed away.
Week two was less impressive. The cooling buzz seemed to fade faster, almost as if my skin got used to the menthol party. Pores on my cheeks looked a touch cleaner yet the overall clarity plateaued. A hormonal chin visitor showed up on day ten and the mask, used as a spot treatment, did little more than soothe the redness. I still needed my trusty salicylic gel to send it packing.
By day 14 my verdict was set: Pear Mint Food Mask absolutely delivers a quick matte finish and a refreshing cooldown but the deeper pore-purging benefits felt modest. It is a fun, fuss-free option for an oil reset before makeup or after workouts, just not transformative enough for me to replace the heavy hitters already in rotation. I will happily finish the jar in summer though and would recommend it to anyone craving a speedy cool cleanse without dryness.
Pear Mint Food Mask’s main ingredients explained
The headline act is 10 percent pear extract, a fruit rich in natural sugars and polyphenols that pulls in moisture while lending a gentle antioxidant boost. Because pear is a low acid fruit it refreshes without the sting you might get from citrus based masks, making it a friendly option for slightly sensitive complexions.
Next comes the 5 percent mint complex which blends peppermint, spearmint and apple mint leaf extracts. These botanicals deliver the cool-down sensation through their native menthol content and can help temper surface redness, yet they are still essential oils so anyone with rosacea or a history of botanical allergies should patch test first.
Kaolin and a touch of bentonite clays do the heavy lifting on oil control. They work like miniature sponges, absorbing sebum and debris so pores look tighter after each rinse. The formula also includes tapioca starch, rice powder and a sprinkle of walnut shell powder that add a micro polish as you massage off the mask. While the particles feel soft on my skin, very reactive types may prefer to rinse rather than scrub to avoid over exfoliation.
The base is rounded out by glycerin for lightweight hydration and a trio of fatty acids—palmitic, stearic and myristic—plus lauric acid. All four score moderately on the comedogenic scale, meaning they can clog pores in some users who are already prone to breakouts. If you notice tiny closed comedones popping up around the jaw or cheeks it might be worth rotating this mask less frequently.
Purslane extract provides an anti inflammatory nudge and fermented hibiscus filtrate brings an extra antioxidant edge. CI 42090 gives the formula its subtle aqua tint and there is added fragrance which is pleasant but could be a deal breaker for purists.
The ingredient list appears free of animal derived materials so the product should suit vegans and vegetarians, although Skinfood does not carry an official vegan certification. There are no retinoids, high level salicylates or hydroquinone derivatives so the mask is broadly considered pregnancy safe, but as always expecting or nursing users should run any new topical past their healthcare provider first.
Overall the blend balances gentle fruit hydration with classic clay decongestion, sweetened by that refreshing mint kick. If you have oily skin it checks the right boxes, just keep an eye on those fatty acids if you are highly comedone prone and sidestep if your skin flares at fragrance.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is where the mask shines and where it may miss the mark:
What works well:
- Cooling mint tingle feels refreshing yet stays gentle even on slightly sensitive skin
- Quick three minute window makes it easy to slot into a busy routine or post workout shower
- Kaolin and bentonite give a visible matte finish that lasts a few hours without leaving skin tight
- Pear extract and glycerin offer a touch of hydration so the face never feels stripped
What to consider:
- Oil control gains plateau after the first week so long term pore clarity may be modest
- The menthol scent is pleasant but added fragrance may not suit very reactive noses
- Contains fatty acids that could prompt closed comedones in highly clog prone skin
My final thoughts
Landing on a wash-off mask that tampers down oil while keeping the moisture barrier happy is harder than the internet makes it look. Having cycled through more clay jars than I care to count, I feel I gave Pear Mint Food Mask a fair shake: two full weeks, twice weekly, and no competing actives. My verdict sits at a firm 7/10. It refreshes, mattifies and feels pleasantly chill but it is not the deep pore vacuum some may be chasing.
This mask is best for combination or oily skin that needs a quick three-minute reset before makeup or after the gym. If your main skin gripe is clingy blackheads, cystic breakouts or a nose that rejects fragrance, you will probably want stronger actives or a fragrance-free option.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, conditionally. I would tell them to enjoy the cooling cleanse but keep a salicylic treatment or sulfur spot cream on standby for stubborn bumps.
For anyone curious about alternatives I have a few tried and loved backups. Deascal Pink Clay Glow Mask is my top all-rounder: it gently exfoliates, clears pores, brightens and somehow suits every skin type at a very reasonable price. Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque is the one I reach for when my T-zone feels like an oil slick. Caudalie’s Instant Detox Mask offers a speedy wine-clay combo that tightens pores without drying them. Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask delivers an extra hit of physical polish if you enjoy a mild scrub as you rinse.
Finally a quick note (forgive the over-protective parent tone): patch test any new mask along the jaw or behind the ear first and remember that results are maintenance based, not permanent. Consistent use is the only way to keep that fresh matte finish on repeat.