I Used to Import Korean Face Masks From Seoul—These Are the Ones I’d Buy Now

I’ve been a Korean sheet mask devotee for years—long before K-beauty had established its current foothold in the UK. I used to spend hours scrolling Korean beauty sites, adding masks to my basket and then waiting impatiently for weeks for them to make their way from Seoul to my doorstep. At the time, discovering a brilliant Korean skincare product felt like being let in on an insider beauty secret. Now, thankfully, things look very different. K-beauty is having a major moment, and many of the brands and products I once went to great lengths to import are now readily available (and affordable) on UK shelves.

I can’t think of a category that better demonstrates what Korean skincare does so well than face masks. Whether you're looking for an intensely hydrating sheet mask, something to soothe stressed skin, or a formula designed to give your complexion that glossy, bouncy finish that K-beauty does so well, Korean brands have long understood that skincare doesn't always need to be complicated or aggressive to be effective.

At the heart of the Korean approach to skincare is a focus on hydration and supporting the skin barrier. Rather than constantly trying to strip, exfoliate, or “correct” the skin, many Korean skincare routines prioritise keeping it comfortable, well-hydrated, and resilient in the first place. And face masks are perhaps one of the easiest ways to give your skin a concentrated dose of exactly that. They're often packed with humectants, soothing ingredients, and barrier-supporting actives.

It's an approach I think all of us could benefit from adopting. In my experience as an esthetician, dehydrated skin is incredibly common—even amongst people with oily or acne-prone complexions—and an impaired skin barrier can show up in all sorts of ways, from tightness and sensitivity to dullness, excess oil and breakouts. Sometimes, the answer isn't another active ingredient—it's giving your skin the hydration and support it has been asking for. And if there's one thing Korean face masks excel at, it's exactly that. Scroll down to discover 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 become one of the biggest names in the current K-beauty boom, and this overnight wrapping mask is a great example of the brand's innovative approach to skincare. Designed to be applied as the final step in your evening routine, the formula creates a nourishing film over the skin to help lock in hydration while you sleep—which you simply peel off in the morning. PDRN is the star ingredient, alongside caffeine, making this a particularly good choice for anyone looking to wake up with skin that appears plumper, fresher and more rested.

2. Dr. Althea Aqua Blue Hydration Mask

If your idea of a great face mask is one that leaves your skin feeling as though it has had a large glass of water, Dr. Althea's Aqua Blue Hydration Mask will be a treat. As the name suggests, hydration is the focus here, with a lightweight, comforting formula designed to replenish moisture without leaving behind a heavy or sticky finish. This is a perfect example of a classic Korean sheet mask—the sort of product I always keep in my fridge for when my skin is looking dull, feeling tight, or in need of a pick-me-up.

3. Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Face Mask

This Cosrx mask has been a K-beauty favourite of mine for years. The creamy overnight formula uses rice extract (a popular Korean ingredient) to nourish the skin while you sleep, helping you wake up looking noticeably more hydrated (and luminous). It's richer than a typical moisturiser, but as a mask, it's ideal for using once or twice a week, particularly when your skin is feeling dry or lacklustre.

4. Ariul Expert Hyal PDRN Collagen Hydrogel Mask

Hydrogel masks are one of my favourite alternatives to traditional sheet masks, particularly if you find that paper masks tend to slip around your face or dry up quickly. This Ariul mask combines hyaluronic acid with PDRN and collagen, a cocktail of ingredients that caters to a wide variety of skin types and concerns. The hydrogel format clings closely to the face, allowing you to (almost) forget about it rather than have to continually adjust it. Expect skin to look temporarily plumper, bouncier, and more hydrated afterwards.

5. Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask

Clay masks aren't always my top recommendations for acne-prone skin because so many leave the complexion feeling stripped and tight. However, this one takes a gentler approach, combining kaolin clay with red bean powder to absorb excess oil and provide mild physical exfoliation without irritation. It's soothing and cooling on acne, and I love that it leaves my pores looking clearer, but most of all, it leaves my skin feeling so smooth and fresh.

6. Erborian Milk & Peel Mask

Dull skin often needs exfoliation, but that doesn't necessarily mean reaching for the strongest acid treatment you can find. Erborian's Milk & Peel Mask takes a much gentler approach, combining mild exfoliation with nourishing sesame milk to help brighten and smooth the complexion in just five minutes. It's an innovative product—designed to be massaged with wet hands before rinsing, giving you both chemical and physical exfoliation in one step. Expect smooth, fresh and glowing skin afterwards.

7. Real Barrier Extreme Cream Mask

This mask takes inspiration from the brand's cult Extreme Cream, delivering a rich dose of moisture and barrier-supporting ingredients in sheet-mask form. It's the kind of mask I like to save for days when my skin feels tight and flaky, particularly during the colder months.

8. Torriden Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Mask

Torriden's Dive In range is beloved for a very good reason; it understands that hydration doesn't have to mean heaviness (I also rate its hyaluronic acid pads). This mask uses a lightweight and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid-based essence to drench the skin in moisture while still feeling light enough for oily and combination complexions. If your skin is dehydrated but you're wary of rich creams and masks, this will be a game-changer. I find it actually hydrates skin deeply and in the long-term rather than just a quick, surface-level moisture boost.

9. Cell Fusion C Cica Cooling Mask

When my skin is feeling sensitive, I always opt for a cica-based mask—the ingredient helps to soothe irritation and reduce redness. Designed to calm and cool the complexion, this particular mask is a refreshing option for skin that is feeling warm or stressed—it's especially brilliant for accidental sunburn. I would particularly recommend popping it in the fridge before use for an extra soothing effect.

10. Luvum Pore Reset Mud Mask

Oily skin doesn't necessarily need to be dried out, but I have to say there is something undeniably satisfying about a good mud mask when your T-zone is feeling particularly congested. Luvum's Pore Reset Mud Mask combines the efficacy of a mud mask with the simplicity and ease of a sheet mask—designed to absorb excess sebum and refresh the appearance of pores, without drying skin out. It's much easier and more convenient to apply than a traditional mask from a jar.

11. Abib Collagen Gel Mask Sedum Jelly

Mature skin benefits enormously from hydration, and I usually recommend looking for a collagen-focused hydrogel mask. This one is designed to leave the complexion looking plumper, smoother, and more luminous. I really like it before an event or when my skin is looking tired, as the immediate effect is truly visible. Of course, no face mask can permanently reverse lines or restore lost collagen, but the temporary plumping effect can make skin look noticeably fresher.

12. Sungboon Editor Silk Peptide EGF Intensive Gold Mask

Whilst not luxury from a price point perspective, if you're looking for a mask that feels luxurious and indulgent, Sungboon Editor's Silk Peptide EGF Intensive Gold Mask is the one. The thick gel mask is soaked in a formula that combines silk protein water, collagen, and peptides, resulting in a firming and radiance-boosting treatment that leaves behind a glossy, glass-skin finish.

How We Tested

To find the best Korean face masks, I considered a range of formats, from classic sheet masks and hydrogel treatments to wash-off and overnight formulas. I assessed each mask based on its ingredients, texture, ease of use, and how my skin looked and felt afterwards, while also considering different skin types and concerns.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.