The 12 Best Korean Face Masks for Each Skin Sort

I’ve been a Korean sheet masks devotee for years—lengthy earlier than Ok-beauty had established its present foothold within the UK. I used to spend hours scrolling Korean beauty websites, including masks to my basket after which ready impatiently for weeks for them to make their means from Seoul to my doorstep. At the time, discovering a superb Korean skincare product felt like being let in on an insider magnificence secret. Now, fortunately, issues look very totally different. Ok-beauty is having a significant second, and most of the manufacturers and merchandise I as soon as went to nice lengths to import are actually available (and inexpensive) on UK cabinets.

I can’t consider a class that higher demonstrates what Korean skincare does so nicely than face masks. Whether you are on the lookout for an intensely hydrating sheet masks, one thing to assuage harassed pores and skin, or a method designed to provide your complexion that shiny, bouncy end that Ok-beauty does so nicely, Korean manufacturers have lengthy understood that skincare would not all the time should be difficult or aggressive to be efficient.

At the guts of the Korean strategy to skincare is a give attention to hydration and supporting the skin barrier. Rather than continually attempting to strip, exfoliate, or “appropriate” the pores and skin, many Korean skincare routines prioritise protecting it comfy, well-hydrated, and resilient within the first place. And face masks are maybe one of many best methods to provide your pores and skin a concentrated dose of precisely that. They’re typically full of humectants, soothing elements, and barrier-supporting actives.

It’s an strategy I believe all of us may benefit from adopting. In my expertise as an esthetician, dehydrated pores and skin is extremely widespread—even amongst folks with oily or acne-prone complexions—and an impaired pores and skin barrier can present up in all types of how, from tightness and sensitivity to dullness, extra oil and breakouts. Sometimes, the reply is not one other lively ingredient—it is giving your pores and skin the hydration and help it has been asking for. And if there’s one factor Korean face masks excel at, it is precisely that. Scroll down to find my favourites.

The Best Korean Face Masks

1. Best Overall Korean Face Mask: Medicube PDRN Pink Caffeine Night Wrapping Mask
2. Best Korean Sheet Mask: Dr. Althea Aqua Blue Hydration Mask
3. Best Overnight Korean Face Mask: COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask
4. Best Hydrogel Korean Face Mask: Ariul Hyal PDRN Collagen Hydrogel Mask
5. Best Korean Face Mask for Acne-Prone Skin: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask

1. Medicube PDRN Pink Caffeine Night Wrapping Mask

Medicube has turn into one of many greatest names within the present Ok-beauty increase, and this in a single day wrapping masks is a superb instance of the model’s revolutionary strategy to skincare. Designed to be utilized as the ultimate step in your night routine, the method creates a nourishing movie over the pores and skin to assist lock in hydration whilst you sleep—which you merely peel off within the morning. PDRN is the star ingredient, alongside caffeine, making this a very good selection for anybody trying to get up with pores and skin that seems plumper, brisker and extra rested.

2. Dr. Althea Aqua Blue Hydration Mask

If your concept of an ideal face masks is one which leaves your pores and skin feeling as if it has had a big glass of water, Dr. Althea’s Aqua Blue Hydration Mask might be a deal with. As the title suggests, hydration is the main focus right here, with a light-weight, comforting method designed to replenish moisture with out forsaking a heavy or sticky end. This is an ideal instance of a traditional Korean sheet masks—the type of product I all the time hold in my fridge for when my pores and skin is trying boring, feeling tight, or in want of a pick-me-up.

3. Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Face Mask

This Cosrx masks has been a Ok-beauty favorite of mine for years. The creamy in a single day method makes use of rice extract (a well-liked Korean ingredient) to nourish the pores and skin whilst you sleep, serving to you get up trying noticeably extra hydrated (and luminous). It’s richer than a typical moisturiser, however as a masks, it is ideally suited for utilizing a couple of times per week, significantly when your pores and skin is feeling dry or lacklustre.

4. Ariul Expert Hyal PDRN Collagen Hydrogel Mask

Hydrogel masks are one in every of my favorite options to conventional sheet masks, significantly when you discover that paper masks have a tendency to slide round your face or dry up shortly. This Ariul masks combines hyaluronic acid with PDRN and collagen, a cocktail of elements that caters to all kinds of pores and skin varieties and issues. The hydrogel format clings carefully to the face, permitting you to (virtually) neglect about it relatively than have to repeatedly modify it. Expect pores and skin to look briefly plumper, bouncier, and extra hydrated afterwards.

5. Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask

Clay masks aren’t all the time my high suggestions for acne-prone pores and skin as a result of so many go away the complexion feeling stripped and tight. However, this one takes a gentler strategy, combining kaolin clay with purple bean powder to soak up extra oil and supply delicate bodily exfoliation with out irritation. It’s soothing and cooling on zits, and I like that it leaves my pores trying clearer, however most of all, it leaves my pores and skin feeling so easy and contemporary.

6. Erborian Milk & Peel Mask

Dull pores and skin typically wants exfoliation, however that does not essentially imply reaching for the strongest acid therapy you will discover. Erborian’s Milk & Peel Mask takes a a lot gentler strategy, combining delicate exfoliation with nourishing sesame milk to assist brighten and easy the complexion in simply 5 minutes. It’s an revolutionary product—designed to be massaged with moist palms earlier than rinsing, supplying you with each chemical and bodily exfoliation in a single step. Expect easy, contemporary and glowing pores and skin afterwards.

7. Real Barrier Extreme Cream Mask

This masks takes inspiration from the model’s cult Extreme Cream, delivering a wealthy dose of moisture and barrier-supporting elements in sheet-mask type. It’s the sort of masks I like to avoid wasting for days when my pores and skin feels tight and flaky, significantly through the colder months.

8. Torriden Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Mask

Torriden’s Dive In vary is beloved for an excellent purpose; it understands that hydration would not should imply heaviness (I additionally charge its hyaluronic acid pads). This masks makes use of a light-weight and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid-based essence to drench the pores and skin in moisture whereas nonetheless feeling gentle sufficient for shiny and mixture complexions. If your pores and skin is dehydrated however you are cautious of wealthy lotions and masks, this might be a game-changer. I discover it really hydrates pores and skin deeply and within the long-term relatively than only a fast, surface-level moisture enhance.

9. Cell Fusion C Cica Cooling Mask

When my pores and skin is feeling delicate, I all the time go for a cica-based masks—the ingredient helps to assuage irritation and cut back redness. Designed to calm and funky the complexion, this specific masks is a refreshing possibility for pores and skin that’s feeling heat or harassed—it is particularly sensible for unintentional sunburn. I might significantly suggest popping it within the fridge earlier than use for an further soothing impact.

10. Luvum Pore Reset Mud Mask

Oily pores and skin would not essentially should be dried out, however I’ve to say there’s something undeniably satisfying a few good mud masks when your T-zone is feeling significantly congested. Luvum’s Pore Reset Mud Mask combines the efficacy of a mud masks with the simplicity and ease of a sheet masks—designed to soak up extra sebum and refresh the looks of pores, with out drying pores and skin out. It’s a lot simpler and extra handy to use than a conventional masks from a jar.

11. Abib Collagen Gel Mask Sedum Jelly

Mature skin advantages enormously from hydration, and I normally suggest on the lookout for a collagen-focused hydrogel masks. This one is designed to depart the complexion trying plumper, smoother, and extra luminous. I actually prefer it earlier than an occasion or when my pores and skin is trying drained, because the instant impact is really seen. Of course, no face masks can completely reverse strains or restore misplaced collagen, however the momentary plumping impact could make pores and skin look noticeably brisker.

12. Sungboon Editor Silk Peptide EGF Intensive Gold Mask

Whilst not luxurious from a value level perspective, when you’re on the lookout for a masks that feels luxurious and indulgent, Sungboon Editor’s Silk Peptide EGF Intensive Gold Mask is the one. The thick gel masks is soaked in a method that mixes silk protein water, collagen, and peptides, leading to a firming and radiance-boosting therapy that leaves behind a shiny, glass-skin end.

How We Tested