The 21 Best Korean Face Masks

Technically, this is a “mask,” but you could also just call it a deeply hydrating lip balm. It’s truly loved on the internet for its ability to soothe cracked and parched lips. It has over 11,000 five-star reviews on Sephora.

A good sleeping mask does all the work for you. This intensive formula from Cicapair’s tiger-grass line is best for anyone looking to up their sleeping game. The green gel also balances out redness, and reviewers with rosacea and eczema say it worked wonders to even out their skin tone and texture.

We all want our masks to make us look more moist, but sometimes we’d like them to target a few other skin nuisances while they’re at it. This pore-clearing mask has won over many fans (including Meghan Markle’s makeup artist) because it harnesses the powers of volcanic ash from Korea’s Jeju Island and salicylic acid to deep clean without stripping skin dry in the process. And unlike every other mask on this list, it comes in a mess-free can that dispenses the formula right onto your fingertips — though it’s more of a thick clay than an extra-fluffy mousse.

This product became cult in Korea because it was one of the first sleeping masks ever. Allegedly, one is sold every 12 minutes. It doesn’t feel creamy or cloying — it’s nice and cooling. It has a watery gel texture, and applying it before bed feels like the equivalent of placing a glass of water next to the nightstand. From personal experience, if you have a red bump emerging and need it banished, slather this on your face the night before and you just might wake up with it gone.

The name says it all. Parched skin will love a cooling “aqua bomb” sleep mask from this Korean-inspired brand, which uses herbs to smooth skin and reduce inflammation. And it’s packed with hyaluronic acid for intense hydration and a dewy sheen. Some reviewers say it can feel sticky, but most say it leaves no residue, and it has a solid 4.5-star rating on Sephora.

If you still want to try a sheet mask, why not go for the best-selling one in Korea? The brand allegedly sells five sheet masks every second and has even partnered with the mega-popular K-pop band BTS on an exclusive line of BTS products. Amazon reviewers love how great these masks make their makeup look as well as their hydrating and glow-enhancing powers. The Cut’s beauty expert Rio particularly recommends the tea-tree-oil version for sucking up the redness of zits.

The best part about a sleeping mask is that it requires zero work. “On super-packed days, sleeping masks require zero extra time. Apply like a night cream and wake up effortlessly with a stunning glow,” says Yoon. “In the Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask, vitamin-C-rich yuzu and niacinamide brighten skin and leave you glowing and looking well rested.” Plus it smells better than the actual fruit.

If your face feels especially thirsty, rough, or as if it just needs to spend some quality time encased in a hydrating cloud, try this creamy mask that is known for its revitalizing powers. The formula of conditioning rice extract and brightening niacinamide leaves all skin types feeling deeply moisturized but never greasy. Smooth it on before you hit the hay, and you’ll wake up with soft, dewy skin.

The jellylike consistency of this wash-off mask from Peach Slices is sure to leave your skin feeling refreshed. Yoon recommends it on days you need to prep for an event: “If you’re preparing for a big day, the trick to a camera-ready glow is using ingredients like snail mucin and cica that’ll help keep breakouts at bay and plump skin up with hydration while soothing skin.”

If you love the best flavor of Jolly Ranchers (watermelon, obviously), then this is for you. It contains real watermelon extract (rich in aminos), hyaluronic acid, and AHAs gently hydrate and exfoliate. This is a night treatment with a gel texture that you put on over your moisturizer and wash off in the morning.

According to Cho, this “professional grade facial mask makes a little go a long way.” It’s blended with glycolic and lactic acids, which work together to lift dead skin cells, leaving the texture of skin immediately feeling softer and happier.

This under-$20 mask features tea tree, Centella asiatica, and licorice to help soothe and calm sensitive and irritated skin, making it perfect for someone prone to acne.

If you hate scented sheet masks, these are for you. Since Yoon has eczema, it was important for her to create skin care she could use, so these are formulated to be especially great for sensitive skin. They’re free of denatured alcohol, synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and formaldehyde.

If you have $200 to spare, this sleeping mask from Sulwhasoo has highly concentrated Korean red pine that makes skin firmer and more radiant.

Formulated with 17 ingredients, this mask is one of Cho’s favorites and a best seller at Soko Glam because “it manages to soothe sensitive skin but also keep your skin barrier healthy and moisturized,” Cho says.

Vitamin C is arguably one of the most important ingredients to have in your skin-care routine. A daily dose of vitamin C does wonders. And when your skin is looking a little dull and in need of a glow-up, this mask is rich in antioxidants and will brighten, resurface, and balance the skin. The clay texture will gently exfoliate while boosting moisture and ridding your skin of excess oil. Trust that your skin will feel squeaky clean and refreshed post-use.

Hence the name, this mask will make your skin feel like it just drank a tall glass of green juice. It’s meant to be worn overnight for optimal beauty sleep, thanks to vitamin E, which quenches dry skin with maximum moisture. It also contains niacinamide, which has regenerative properties.