10 Best Korean Face Masks 2025, Tested and Reviewed | Glamour UK

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As far as popular K-beauty products go, the best Korean face masks is a category that continues to impress. From traditional sheet masks and hydro-gel iterations that claim to rejuvenate the skin overnight – to collagen-infused peel-off masks that have become synonymous with “glass skin” – it’s safe to say that the appeal is very much there.

Whether your goal is to hydrate, purify, de-puff or calm your complexion, you can easily find a face mask that best suits your skin’s needs. After all, innovation is at the core of the best Korean skincare. That said, as a journalist who spent the last three months in Seoul researching all things Korean beauty, I can also tell you first-hand that the market has become intensely competitive – with over thousands of K brands available in the Western beauty space.

So, to help you find the best Korean face masks, I quizzed dermatologists and trusted industry experts (such as veteran product developers who clued me in on their most-used masks). I found some that were so good, I bought a second suitcase to haul them all home from Seoul.

Be it an innovative tingly pore treatment to smooth out skin texture or a mask that doubles as a vitamin C serum for brightening and addressing hyperpigmentation, I’ve tried the very best options for every skin type so you don’t have to. Pro tip: for the full Korean skin-care routine, I’d recommend pairing them with one of my favourite Korean toners, a depuffing Korean eye cream, and a great Korean moisturiser. Here's everything you need to know.

SKIP TO FAQs: Which brand’s face mask is most popular in Korea? | Do dermatologists recommend face masks? | Our full reviews

Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask

Boots

Amazon

Why we love it: “Sheet masks and overnight masks dominate the [K-beauty] market right now,” says Hwang Wonuk, MD, a cosmetic physician at Cheongdam LeBelle Dermatologic Clinic in Seoul. According to Dr. Hwang, sheet masks are “favoured for their convenience,” while overnight masks have become “increasingly popular for their intensive hydration properties.” This Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask, which falls under both categories, has been trending on both TikTok and Hwahae. (It took over TikTok as the sheet mask you wear while you sleep, although dermatologists and the brand both say you can remove it after three to four hours when the hydrogel turns from white to clear.)

Dr. Chang says the ingredients (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and galactomyces ferment filtrate) are great for “deep hydration” and to “help repair the skin, brighten, and calm.” Collagen also helps moisturise, says Dr. Hwang, “but the effectiveness may be limited to superficial hydration.” If you’re looking for a mask that treats fine lines, he recommends looking for ingredients like “retinoids or peptides,” but this is the one to pick for intense hydration. Grab this when your skin’s dehydrated or getting rough. “It leaves my face feeling plumper and softer for days,” says Dr. Chang.

GLAMOUR contributor Sarah Y. Wu also loves its impressive radiance-boosting effects. “I remember seeing people use this all over my FYP,” she says. “They’d take it off and have immediate glass skin. I can now confirm that’s not a filter; you leave it on for so long that it really traps the moisture in your skin. I rarely have the patience to do a three-hour long face mask, but the nice thing about the hydrogel is that it comes in two pieces that cling to my face. That means I can wear it while working and still chug coffee without the mask falling off. The most impressive thing about this is that by the time it turns clear and I take it off, my skin doesn’t even feel damp anymore but somehow still has that glassy glow.”

Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Mask With Soothing Allantoin

Space NK

Amazon

Why we love it: This soothing hydrogel face mask from Dr.Jart is everything you need to instantly soothe irritated skin and help strengthen your skin's barrier. Infused with the likes of allantoin, prebiotics, glycerin and algae extract, this calming mask offers a two-step treatment which includes a two-piece hydrogel mask and an ampoule.

“As a longtime Dr.Jart obsessive, I consider myself a veteran when it comes to the brand's coveted Cryo Rubber face mask range. My favourite to date has to be the soothing iteration, which is a great pick-me-up for whenever I feel like I need to calm my mild rosacea. I love the two-step system: the potent ampoule feels nice and hydrating, while the mask has a gentle and cooling effect. Just 15 minutes later, and my redness is significantly reduced, and I'm left with the most glass-like glow. A must for anyone suffering from a damaged skin barrier,” says GLAMOUR Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet.

Roundlab Camellia Collagen Mask

Superdrug

Yes Style

Why we love it: Roundlab is popular in South Korea for its Dokdo Toner, a household staple made with locally sourced seawater. The brand’s most recent launch, the Roundlab Camellia Collagen Mask, is also worth adding to your routine. Dr. Hwang says this mask focuses “on hydration and elasticity” and is recommended for “dry or mature” skin. While he notes that topical collagen like this won’t “significantly change skin structure over time,” the ingredients are great for “immediate” hydration. Dr. Chang also likes the rest of the ingredients list, which includes “camellia extract, quercetin and niacinamide to brighten, soothe, and hydrate.”

“The first thing I noticed about this mask was how comfortable and cushy the hydrogel felt,” says Wu. “Like the viral Biodance mask, it also comes separated into two pieces so I can get a perfect fit on my face. You can leave it on for up to two hours, but I usually do a shorter half-hour treatment, which is enough time to make my skin feel calm, plump, and hydrated. Hydrogel masks like this one often come with two or three extra circular patches. A lot of people layer them on their smile lines under the mask, but I chose to stick these on my neck lines. Whatever works for you!”

Abib Mild Acidic pH Sheet Mask Heartleaf Fit

Amazon

Why we love it: Abib’s soothing heartleaf line is a steady seller at Olive Young; the Abib Mild Acidic pH Sheet Mask Heartleaf Fit is so popular, it won an Olive Young Award twice in a row in 2021 and 2022. Try this Korean sheet mask if you’re breaking out or need to rebalance your skin. It comes soaked in a full bottle of clear, watery essence (again, you should definitely consider repurposing the extra formula). The hero ingredient is heartleaf extract, which studies have shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties perfect for soothing, calming, and toning down redness.

“I love how gentle and calming this sheet mask feels,” says Wu. “I had a stray forehead pimple while testing this mask and the last thing I wanted to do was dry my skin out and further irritate it. I recommend this mask to friends who are acne-prone or experiencing active breakouts, but also have sensitive skin. It feels incredibly refreshing as soon as I put it on, and I douse my neck and arms in the leftover essence while I wait for it to do its job. This and a dab of spot treatment over breakouts is my magic formula.”

PRMR Vitatinol Serum Gel Mask

Yes Style

Why we love it: Dr. Chang loves the hero ingredient behind this mask: Vitatinol, a “proprietary retinol ingredient fused with vitamin C, my two favourite youth-boosting ingredients,” she says. It’s “designed to deliver intense hydration and plumping benefits.” Dr. Hwang says this mask is a useful pick “for those looking to address early signs of aging,” although anyone with especially sensitive skin may want to do a patch test first.

“I tested so many overnight gel masks recently, and this was one of the few that stood out,” says Wu. “I’m already a fan of PRMR’s Vitatinol Serum, and this mask feels like an even more concentrated treatment. I’m incapable of wearing sheet masks in my sleep, but I do love this for a shorter treatment during the day. I’m happy with the brightening effects even if I just leave it on for 30 to 40 minutes instead of the full three hours. My skin is so picky with retinol and can’t tolerate high concentrations, but I’ve never had any irritation with this formula.”

Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask

Boots

Beauty Bay

Why we love it: Here’s another mask inspired by the Joseon-dynasty practice of washing your face with rice water. Anyone who’s scrolled through K-beautyTok already knows this brand for its viral Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Prebiotics sunscreen. If you’re already a fan (or if you’re new to the brand), we recommend adding the Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask to your collection. It’s infused with rice powder and extracts, along with makgeolli lees (upcycled ingredients from Korean rice wine). You’ll also find honey in the formula (a known anti-inflammatory), along with kaolin clay, a gentle ingredient for treating acne, pores, and sebum levels.

“This mask contains so many things I love, like honey, rice extracts, and clays,” says Wu. “It’s a do-it-all formula for days when I know my skin needs an extra boost but doesn’t have one specific concern. It feels like a thick paste, so I definitely scoop it out over my bathroom sink to avoid mess. I’ll leave it on for around 20 minutes — I personally recommend using a cleanser to rinse it off because it’s so thick. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and balanced, and never dries it out or causes irritation.”

Numbuzin No.3 Tingle-Pore Softening Sheet Mask

Yes Style

Why we love it: Numbuzin’s No.3 Tingle-Pore Softening Sheet Mask is one of Olive Young’s bestsellers and also won a Hwahae 2024 midyear award, which is where we discovered it. “It’s formulated with bifida ferment lysate and galactomyces ferment filtrate to hydrate and brighten,” explains Dr. Chang, who also loves the inclusion of “other hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, brightening antioxidants like niacinamide, and anti-inflammatory ingredients like witch hazel and Camellia sinensis.” She recommends it for a range of skin types including “acne-prone skin.” Dr. Hwang is also familiar with the mask’s popularity in South Korea. “It offers a cooling sensation while targeting pore refinement,” he says. According to Dr. Hwang, the mask’s signature tingling sensation makes it “refreshing for some,” but he says it might not be the best pick for “sensitive” or “more reactive skin.”

“I definitely noticed the tingle right away, so I can confirm this mask lives up to its name,” says Wu. “I was worried it would be too much for my sensitive mid-face area, but it didn’t cause any irritation and I’d rank the tingling sensation as mild. If you compare it to something like an acid peel that actually stings, this is low on the scale. I did notice that the pores in my T-zone looked slightly less noticeable, but the more noticeable results for me were the overall smoothing, brightening effect."

Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask

Amazon

Why we love it: If you want to know how popular Medicube’s Collagen Night Wrapping Mask is, the brand says it’s been counterfeited so many times, they’ve recently updated the packaging from translucent to opaque to avoid fakes. (If you have an old version, don’t panic: Just check that it matches the brand’s official product images.) Dr. Hwang says this collagen-based mask is “suitable for dry or aging skin,” since it contains multiple hydrators. These “powerful” hydrating factors include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, as well as antioxidants like vitamin E and niacinamide, says Dr. Chang.

Unlike other overnight masks, Medicube’s formula goes on as a clear gel and dries down in 15 minutes, “wrapping” your skin in moisture as you sleep. “It should be applied with a brush or spatula,” advises Dr. Chang. “You can peel it off in the morning and rinse your face. It’s comfortable to sleep in and leaves skin feeling softer and smoother.”

“TikTok got me again with this one,” says Wu. “The effect when it dries reminds me of Pat McGrath’s porcelain doll makeup at Maison Margiela. It balls up as I peel it off so I don’t feel like I’m taking a layer of my skin with it, and makes my skin look more hydrated and glowy the next morning. Sometimes I leave it on overnight—you really can sleep with this one without noticing it since it dries down—and sometimes I peel it off after half an hour. It’s definitely the most fun face mask I own.”

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Clay Stick Mask

Yes Style

Why we love it: If you’re not a fan of overly messy clay masks, it truly doesn’t get more streamlined than this one. The Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Quick Clay Stick Mask lets you apply your mask as a swipe-on stick that you rinse off after a few minutes. Dr. Hwang recommends it as “an excellent choice for oily or acne-prone skin” because the clay base helps “absorb excess oil.” Dr. Chang confirms that the “five types of clay help cleanse clogged pores.” Who should avoid it? Anyone with very dry or dehydrated skin, since clay masks can be drying. The formula shouldn’t feel stripping on any other skin types, especially since it pairs clay with hydrating aloe and centella asiastica (also known as cica), an ingredient “known for its soothing properties,” says Dr. Hwang.

“I have combination skin, so I swipe this on across my T-zone like an extra-large glue stick,” says Wu. “It’s great on my nose, forehead, and chin. It’s so easy to apply and target specific areas that I start questioning why I used to mix my own clay masks. It only takes a few minutes to dry down — no more than five — probably because you apply it in such thin layers. I can feel it immediately soaking up all the excess oil on my T-zone, and my pores look less noticeable as soon as I rinse it off, especially on my nose.”

Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Mask

Amazon

Why we love it: Mediheal’s toner pads are all anyone talks about in South Korea; just walk into any Olive Young (South Korea’s most popular beauty retailer) and you’ll see them flying off the shelves. Turns out the Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Mask is just as effective, previously winning a coveted Olive Young Award in 2022. Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City, highly recommends this K-beauty sheet mask if you want to make blemishes go away faster. “It’s formulated with hydrating factors and tea tree oil to reduce inflammation in the skin,” she says. Tea tree oil is a common acne fighter because of its “known antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that may help prevent and improve acne,” says Dr. Chang, who personally uses the mask when she’s breaking out. “It feels cool on the skin and helps soothe, especially when I have active breakouts,” she says. “It doesn’t clog pores, and you can use your normal acne medications afterward.”

TikTok is a good place to start to search for Korea’s most popular skin-care products, but some of them don’t go viral globally. If you want a better idea of what’s currently trending in South Korea, we recommend checking the Olive Young Awards and Hwahae. “The Olive Young Awards and Hwahae are key platforms that represent the landscape of skin-care products in South Korea,” explains Hwang Wonuk, MD, a cosmetic physician at Cheongdam LeBelle Dermatologic Clinic in Seoul.

Olive Young issues its coveted awards every year, relying on “sales data and customer reviews” to confirm what’s most popular, says Dr. Hwang. Hwahae also announces its awards twice a year, every year, but the app tracks leading products in real time. “It’s a user-driven app that aggregates reviews and ratings, providing insights into current trends and ingredient transparency,” he says. “Together, these platforms reflect evolving trends in K-beauty.” To compile this list of best Korean face masks, we searched the Olive Young and Hwahae awards, as well as TikTok-viral hits, Glamour editor favourites, and dermatologist recommendations.

The short answer: Yes, they do. “Face masks can be beneficial for a wide variety of people and skin concerns,” says Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City. These at-home treatments can do everything from providing “a boost of hydration” to “improving acne-prone skin, inflamed skin, dull skin, or photoaged skin.” While they may not deliver the results of a dermatologist visit, they’re meant to do more than your daily skin-care routine. “I recommend face masks if your skin is feeling particularly dry, if you need a boost of active ingredients, or if you just feel like being pampered for the evening,” says Dr. Chang.

This article originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.