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The 6 Best Korean Face Masks For Bouncy, Extra Dewy Skin
Fast-track your way to a glassy, velvety soft complexion
Next to Korean serums and milky toners, Korean face masks are arguably the most spoken about skincare category when it comes to K-Beauty.
Often, it is the sheet masks that are closely associated with Korean skincare, but there are plenty of cream and jelly mask formulas now available, and they are just as efficacious as a sheet mask with the added advantage of not being a single-use product. Plus, you won't have to battle with them sliding off your face the minute you decide to do more than just lie down.
The Best K-Beauty Face Masks, Tried And Tested
Why Are Korean Face Masks So Special
As the facialist Mina Lee previously told ELLE UK, '[Korean skincare] often use ingredients rooted in traditional herbal medicine, refined with modern cosmetic science', which means you'll find things like rice extracts and red bean nestled in between skin-loving ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Similar to their serum formulas, Korean masks also tend to focus on repair and deep hydration, as well as calming the complexion. Rather than going hard with potent actives, it treats the skin with velvet gloves so the natural complexion barrier stays strong. This is why you'll find soothing powerhouses such as cica and panthenol in most Korean masks.
How To Use A Korean Face Mask
You may notice that many Korean face masks go by the term 'sleeping mask'. This simply means that it functions as a more intensive night cream that doesn't need rinsing off. These are usually loaded with hydrators to lock in moisture and ease redness so you wake up with noticeably softer skin. It's a useful product to have in winter too, when our complexions tend to feel tighter and drier.
For combination to oily skin types, jelly textures are ideal as they deliver lightweight hydration without clogging pores. There are also rinse-off versions laced with kaolin and cica to rebalance excess oils without leaving it stripped dry.
Most Korean face masks are gentle enough for daily use, or try incorporating them once or twice weekly to see how your skin reacts.
Ahead the best Korean face masks to try now
Brimming with nourishing squalane, fermented probiotics and skin soothers such as cica and allantoin, this cushiony overnight mask promises to calm any red patches while delivering a blanket of moisture. It feels just like a plush night cream and will have you waking up with noticeably softer skin.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | Squalane, probiotics, niacinamide |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
| Best for: | Sensitive skin, dry skin, hydration, plumping, softening, soothing |
Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Hydro Plump Overnight Mask
Thirsty complexions, listen up. Brimming with hydrating glycerin and meadowfoam seed oil, this gel mask floods the skin with moisture without clogging the pores with heavy ingredients. For combination skin, use it in lieu of a night cream or layer on top of your moisturiser should you need extra hydration.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
| Best for: | Combination skin, dry skin, fresh hydration |
Honey is well-loved for its anti-bacterial properties, which means if you're experiencing sore breakouts or irritation, this is a useful formula to have on hand. It also contains nourishing allantoin and panthenol to ensure you wake up with plush, hydrated skin.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | Propolis extract, panthenol, allantoin |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
| Best for: | Breakouts, combination skin, hydration, redness |
Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask
Oily skin types will enjoy just how refreshing this clarifying mask is. It uses a combination of red bean and kaolin to rebalance excess oils, refine the skin texture and help with painful blemishes while fruit extracts ensure it stays comfortable so the skin doesn't feel stripped.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | Kaolin, red bean extract, pear extract |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
| Best for: | Very oily skin, rebalancing, refining, breakout-prone |
If the sensorial 'jelly-pudding' texture doesn't entice you, the promise of waking up with plusher, well-hydrated complexion will. The overnight mask contains glycerin and rosehip oil to quench thirsty skin types, while niacinamide adds brightening benefits. It sinks in quickly, so you don't risk greasy pillowcases.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | Glycerin, rosehip oil |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes, but with essential oils |
| Best for: | Hydration, overnight treatment |
This creamy face mask comes features rice powder, which gives it a fine, gritty texture. It helps to slough away dead skin cells without causing redness or micro-tears in the skin, making it a useful mask for pre-make-up application or for a deep cleanse at the end of the day. It's cushioned with cica and ceramides, so skin stays soft and calm.
Product specifications
| Key ingredients: | RIce powder, glycerin, shea butter |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free: | Yes |
| Best for: | Gentle exfoliation |
How We Test
Here at ELLE, we put each product through its paces by testing it on various skin types and needs. To find the best Korean face masks, we consider the ingredients list, texture, sensorial experience and overall results on our complexions.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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