For devotees of Korean skincare Skin79 needs little fanfare; its BB creams and playful formulations have long turned late night scrolls into instant purchases. For everyone else consider it the brand that marries cute lab coats with surprising science and a talent for tackling temperamental pores.
Enter the grandly titled Pore Designing Minimizing Mask, a name that sounds like it has a degree in architecture. According to Skin79 this mineral clay treatment sweeps away impurities, reins in excess oil and leaves pores looking as tight as a well pulled drawstring. The promise: clearer calmer skin that keeps its glow long after rinse off.
I spent a solid two weeks putting those claims to the test, working the mask into my evening routine three times a week, stopwatch and notebook at the ready. What followed was a close look at texture, rinse ability, next day shine levels and the way my blemish prone T zone behaved. The results were interesting, occasionally impressive and not without a few caveats.
What is Pore Designing Minimizing Mask?
Skin79’s formula sits in the wash-off mask family, meaning it is designed to be smoothed over clean skin, left to work for a short spell then fully rinsed away. Wash-off masks offer a targeted hit of ingredients without the risk of lingering residue, making them useful for oily or congestion-prone complexions that need a quick but thorough detox.
This particular mask uses a duo of mineral clays, kaolin and bentonite, to draw out surface oil and grime while tightening the look of enlarged pores. Added botanical extracts claim to soothe redness and refine skin texture, and there is a low level of chemical exfoliation thanks to willow bark. The goal is not long-term hydration but a same-day reset: clearer pores, reduced shine and a smoother canvas for the rest of your routine.
Application is straightforward: apply an even layer to freshly cleansed, toned skin, wait ten minutes, gently massage the T zone then rinse with lukewarm water. Skin79 advises using the mask a few times per week which puts it firmly in the slot of a maintenance treatment rather than a once-in-a-while rescue product.
Did it work?
In the name of very serious science I benched my usual clay treatment for three full days before cracking this one open, convinced that such rigorous protocol would give me a clean slate. Fourteen days felt like a fair trial so the mask went on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night after cleansing and toning, each time sitting for the prescribed ten minutes before a lukewarm rinse and a pat dry.
First impressions were encouraging. The moment I washed it off my skin felt lighter, the post cleanse squeak you get from kaolin without the tight cardboard sensation that sometimes follows. Sebum levels the next morning were trimmed back; my forehead needed blotting at noon instead of ten which counts as a small victory in my book. Redness around a healing breakout looked slightly calmer too, although not dramatically so.
By the fourth application the mask had settled into a predictable routine. Immediate clarity? Yes. Pores around my nose appeared marginally smaller for the evening but the effect softened by breakfast. I kept an eye on new blemishes and still welcomed two hormonal intruders during week two. They did seem to flatten a little faster, likely thanks to the willow bark, yet the mask did not halt them in their tracks.
The biggest plus came in oil control. Across the fortnight my midday shine cut down by perhaps thirty percent, enough that powder touch ups dropped from twice to once a day. Texture felt smoother to the touch though enlarged pores remained visible under good lighting. Comfort wise the formula never stung or over dried, even on the drier patches of my cheeks, which is more than I can say for some heavy duty clay options.
So did it live up to its promises? Partially. It cleansed thoroughly and curbed sebum, offered a fleeting pore tightening effect and kept irritation at bay. It did not deliver a transformative pore edit or the kind of clarity that makes you skip concealer. I will happily finish the pot for pre event polishing but I am not rushing to slot it permanently into my routine. Still, for a quick reset on an oily day it remains a likeable ally.
Main ingredients explained
This formula leans heavily on a classic clay duo. Kaolin is the gentler of the pair, prized for soaking up surface oil without stripping water from the skin, while bentonite swells on contact with fluid to pull debris from pores. Supporting them is Moroccan lava clay which adds a mineral kick and helps explain the instant matte finish mentioned earlier. Together they account for the mask’s fast acting detox effect yet avoid the chalky recoil that can leave skin feeling papery.
Skin79 tucks in a scattering of plant extracts to calm the potential irritation that clays sometimes provoke. Witch hazel water, lotus and camellia flower extracts bring mild anti inflammatory benefits and a touch of antioxidant protection. Willow bark extract provides a natural source of salicylates which can promote gentle exfoliation and help keep new blemishes at bay. Oleanolic acid teams with enantia chlorantha bark extract in a patented complex shown to temper excess sebum output over time, a claim partially supported by the reduced midday shine I noticed.
Hydration is not the mask’s headline yet glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and beta glucan sneak in enough moisture binding activity to keep the post rinse feel comfortable. There is also sweet almond oil and butyl avocadate which offer skin softening lipids. Be aware that sweet almond oil scores around a 2 on the comedogenic scale, meaning it has a low to moderate chance of clogging pores for those extremely prone to breakouts. Comedogenic simply refers to an ingredient’s tendency to block pores and potentially trigger blemishes.
On the safety front the formula is free from animal derived ingredients, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and it is devoid of added silicones or parabens. It does contain fragrance plus a small amount of denatured alcohol which some sensitive skins may find triggering. As for pregnancy use, while none of the listed actives are outright prohibited during gestation the inclusion of willow bark (a natural salicylic acid source) and essential oils means it is best to seek personalised medical advice before using.
One last note for ingredient purists: the mask employs perfluorocarbons like perfluorohexane which can enhance oxygen delivery yet have raised environmental concerns. If you are trying to minimise the use of fluorinated compounds in your routine this is worth factoring into your decision.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick tally after two weeks of masking:
What works well:
- gives an immediate fresh clean feel without the tight aftermath common to clay formulas
- noticeably cuts shine for several hours which makes midday blotting less urgent
- offers a short lived but visible soft focus effect on pores, handy before events
- stays comfortable on drier patches and never triggered stinging or redness
What to consider:
- pore blurring fades by morning so long term refinement remains modest
- fragrance, denatured alcohol and perfluorocarbons may not suit ultra sensitive skin or strict ingredient purists
- will not stop hormonal breakouts in their tracks, only helps them settle a touch faster
My final thoughts
Finding a wash-off mask that strikes the balance between instant gratification and long-term benefit is tricky, and after a fortnight of steady use I feel confident giving Pore Designing Minimizing Mask a fair verdict. On oily or combination skin that wants a same-night clean sweep and a few hours of reduced shine it performs well. If you are chasing permanently blurred pores or expecting it to head off every breakout at the pass you will likely be underwhelmed. I sit in the middle: impressed by its comfortable clay finish yet aware that the results, while pleasant, are fleeting. My rating lands at 7/10. I would suggest it to a friend who loves a quick pre-event polish or needs a reliable midweek detox but I would pair that suggestion with realistic expectations.
For those who want to shop around, a few alternatives deserve mention. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is an excellent all-rounder that exfoliates, brightens and calms in one step and its performance-to-price ratio is hard to beat. Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask offers a gentler mineral blend that doubles as a targeted treatment on stubborn blemishes. NIOD’s Flavanone Mud delivers a more active resurfacing effect that lingers past the rinse, ideal for seasoned acid users. Finally The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque keeps things straightforward with a wallet-friendly formula that helps decongest without drama. I have rotated each of these through my routine in the past year and can vouch for their strengths depending on your skin goals.
Before you dive into any of the above, remember a few basics. Perform a patch test behind the ear or along the jawline, particularly if your skin is reactive (apologies for sounding like an over-protective parent). Keep in mind that clarity and smoothness need upkeep; skip regular use and the benefits will quietly backtrack. With that in mind happy masking and may your blotting papers gather dust.