Have you ever used a Korean beauty product? You probably have—even if you don’t realize it—because K-beauty has basically taken over the world. South Korean beauty has become an international export so popular that Korean brands are now opening U.S. brick-and-mortar stores.
Etude House, Innisfree, Dr. Jart, Laneige, Iope, Nature Republic, TONYMOLY, Skinfood… these are all brands known by everyone in Korea—and they’re becoming recognizable beyond Asia as well. You’ll find TONYMOLY masks in Sephora alongside Laneige creams. You can go to an Innisfree store in New York City. Air-cushion compacts with foundation and BB cream? That’s Korean innovation.
When shopping K-beauty products, you may see ingredients tailored to every skin type under the sun from dry to troubled and acne prone to oily to hyper-pigmented, but the key to all K-beauty is moisture. For every five Korean beauty products launched, at least one of them is a mask. And while the full-face mask in certainly the most popular, the mask craze goes from head to toe.
Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite masks from a variety of brands—for not only the face, but also the eyes, feet and more. Click through our gallery below to find our favorite masks for dry skin, wrinkles, eyes, and more.
It’ll only take one of these masks to hook you. Dr. Jart was the brand that first introduced BB creams to the U.S. market. As a dermatologist-developed skincare company, the brand’s products focus on specific skin problems. But this mask will help just about everyone: ceramide maximizes absorption by forming a protective layer that plumps the skin as well as reduces redness. Panthenol and Aloe Vera Leaf Juice also help with hydration.
Purchase a single-use mask at Sephora for $6.
JJ Young was developed as a pore-focused sub-brand of renowned Caolion Labs. Rosehip oil controls sebum, making this a winner for those with oily acne-prone skin. With bentonite and kaolin-infused mud, this mask not only helps maintain moisture, but it tightens pores and pulls out impurities. It will also maintain your skin’s coloring and texture. The mud is direct from Korea’s Taean area, known for its nutrient rich earth. JJ Young claims the mud can even draw out micro-dust from pollution.
Purchase a single-use mask at JJ Young for $5.
You may have seen Insta celebrities raving about Hanacure, the $110 “facial in a box” mask pack. Well, Skin1004’s Zombie Pack, the OG, does everything Hanacure does, but for a quarter of the price. The application of the Zombie Pack hurts a little because the product dries SO tight (the result is cracked, “zombie” skin… hence the name), but what’s happening is that it’s visibly lifting your skin and reducing your fine lines and wrinkles thanks to albumin, a natural ingredient extracted from egg whites that helps tighten and lift. Aloe vera helps with hydration and Centella Asiatica will soothe and calm your skin, combining to give you a fresh glow.
Purchase a set of eight treatments on Amazon for $17.59.
Many clinics in Seoul are releasing their own skincare lines and leading skin-care clinic Banobagi is one of them. If you need to firm up your skin and even out your skin-tone, the Face Injection Masks from Banobagi Clinic are miracle workers. The comforting cotton mask contains peptide, which firms skin and evens out skin tone. Elasticity-encouraging ingredients such as sunflower seed oil and soy bean oil are also infused into this mask. The oils help with the ever-coveted “baby face” softness, giving your skin a smoothness thanks to tightened pores and extra moisture.
Purchase a 10-pack set on Amazon for $28.50 or get a four-pack sampler of all Banobagi’s masks on Amazon for $11.99.
Korea is rich in nutrients, and natural healing cosmeceutical Cremorlab has harnessed mineral rich Geumjin hot spring water in all of its products. If you have dull skin and need a serious glow-up, get some hydrotherapy and pearls on your face. Seriously, Cremorlab’s combination of silk and pearl dust will have your skin bright and healthy looking after the first mask. The pearl dust draws out impurities and detoxifies your skin while the amino acids from the silk firms. This mask is filled with vitamins that will make your skin glow.
Purchase a single-use mask at Brush and Powder for $10.
At roughly $20 per mask, these masks are luxe. But they’re worth it. Shangpree, a well respected spa in Seoul that was the brainchild of an esthetician, doesn’t compromise on their rigorously developed skincare line. While normal sheet masks naturally allow some of the serum to evaporate, modeling masks, or rubber masks, create a barrier to keep all the product on your skin. This allows the essence to deeply penetrate your skin and last longer. These sort of masks used to be available only in Korean skin clinics, but are now available directly to consumers. The beeswax in this gold mask offers intense hydration and plumping, and the specially formulated collagen powder with ginseng, ginkgo biloba and gardenia encourages plumping and collagen regeneration.
Purchase a set of five masks at Peach and Lily for $98.
As one of Korea’s most recognized brands, Skinfood is not only organic and eco-friendly, but all of their products are derived from food. If there was one mask I could have for the rest of my life, it’d be their delightful exfoliating black sugar scrub mask. Made with organic unrefined Brazilian dark brown sugar, also known as black sugar, this mask is a vitamin enriched supercharged sugar scrub that removes dead skin cells, but also leaves skin moisturized. Gently rub the mask onto dampened skin, wait 10-15 minutes, wash it off and be amazed.
Purchase a 100g tub at The SkinFood US for $10.
It’s really all about hydration and with 20 years experience and LANEIGE’s Water Science, the results speak for themselves. This Water Sleeping Mask will lull you to sleep with essence of orange flower, rose, and sandalwood, moisturize the heck out of your skin with highly concentrated Hydro Ionized Mineral Water, and brighten and purify with primrose extract as you snooze. This mask is perfect for nighttime because Laneige’s formula has an 8-hour release, which means it will last all through the night as your skin repairs itself.
Purchase a 70ml tub at Sephora for $25.
Eco-friendly Innisfree will help your skin the all-natural way. The Fermented Soybean Bio Cellulose series tackles a whole range of issues with four different masks: brightening, moisturizing, firming and soothing. Known globally as “Second Skin,” this series of masks is loaded with refreshing cellulose from fermented Jeju soybeans, brightening Vitamin C, collagen and Hyaluronic Acid to help moisturize dry skin. Fun fact: Innisfree uses ingredients found on volcanic Jeju, a small island south of Korea.
Purchase the series at Innisfree US for $6 per mask.
Tonymoly is one of the most popular “road-shop” brands in Korea, known for cute packaging and reliable and inexpensive cosmetics and masks. Launched in 2006, it quickly became a staple in K-beauty thanks to a series of viral packaging campaigns like the panda series and Pokemon partnerships. Tonymoly also have a rather unique product; did you ever try a mask… for your feet?
Akin to something out of a horror movie, around 5-7 days after you soak your feet in this mask, all the dead skin that’s accumulated on your feet will peel off, thanks to salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Lavender, peppermint, and argan oil extract prevent irritation and leave your feet baby smooth.
Purchase a two-pack on Tonymoly US for $13.50.
Secret Key is a smaller brand that hasn’t launched in the U.S. yet, but is being sold internationally thanks to their popularity and Amazon. Say goodbye to dark circles, puffy eyes and wrinkles with these eye masks infused with 10mg of Colloidal gold, which is supposed to moisturize and improve elasticity—meaning wrinkles are (allegedly) goners. Vegetable extracts soothe the tender area under the eyes, preventing irritation and reducing puffiness. Also, look at that cute packaging!
Purchase a 90-sheet pack on Amazon for $11.20.
Mediheal is one of Korea’s largest and most trusted beauty brands. The line of masks is extensive and are all dermatologically tested. This mask will make your hair silky soft and enrich it with collagen and nutrients like goat milk, soy protein, jojoba oil and silk extract. After application, the mixture of ingredients warm, infusing all the goodness into your hair and roots. The oil and proteins strengthen your hair while taming frizz.
Purchase a five-piece pack on Amazon for $13.88.
Have you tried Korean beauty products? Are you a fan of masks? Let us know in the comments what your favorites are.
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