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Any avid Allure reader knows that our editors can’t get enough Korean beauty—Seoul is to skin care what Paris is to fragrance, after all. Medicube’s face masks are the latest K-beauty skin-care find that our editors can’t get enough of. You may be familiar with the brand’s Hailey Bieber-approved face tool or viral peel-off mask, but there’s so much more to discover from this innovative skin-care brand. Since Medicube’s forté is masking, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about our top three favorites from the brand’s lineup. No matter which you choose, expect a glowing, bouncier-than-ever complexion from these concentrated formulations.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask, $19
- Best Brightening: Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Night Wrapping Mask, $22
- Best Brightening: Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask,
$21$18
Best Overall: Collagen Night Wrapping Mask
Why it's worth it: Medicube’s Collagen Night Wrapping Mask reputation on TikTok precedes the rest of the brand’s face mask lineup for one simple reason: It’s truly an IRL hack for glass skin. This peel-off mask applies as a clear gel and dries down to a film of what looks like cellophane, treating your skin with a hard-working combination of the works. In terms of hydrating skin-care ingredients, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide are just the tip of the iceberg. Speaking of icebergs, it feels so relievingly cooling, so it’s a great pick for anyone dealing with a bout of redness or sensitivity.
Fair warning: It can be really messy to apply with just your hands, so we recommend using a face mask brush to create an even film. Also, be careful not to apply the mask onto your hairline to avoid a painful removal process.
Tester feedback: "The way my skin looks with a layer of Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask is exactly how I want my skin to look without it: glassy, glowy, and clear," says features director Dianna Mazzone Singh. "And with each overnight—yes, overnight—application of its niacinamide- and hyaluronic acid-infused formula, I get a little bit closer to that goal. I've been using it once or twice a week and never cease to be delighted by the satisfaction of peeling it away in the morning."
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin, ceramides, vitamin E, collagen extract, adenosine, butylene glycol | Who it's for: all skin types, including sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Brightening: Kojic Acid Turmeric Night Wrapping Mask
Why it's worth it: For skin that shines brighter than Halley’s Comet, apply the Kojic Acid Turmeric Night Wrapping Mask. This intensive cocktail of radiance enhancers includes kojic acid, turmeric extract, and retinol to defy dullness overnight and make skin feel smoother than butter. Though it contains an intensive active ingredient, it doesn’t have a tingly sensation like other active-powered skin-care products, thanks to turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties paired with hydrating, calming collagen extract. Peel it off the next morning, or wash it away with warm water to reveal an impeccably bouncy, bright complexion.
Tester feedback: “Personally, this is my hands-down favorite overnight mask, ever,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “It’s one of the few retinol-infused products that doesn’t make my sensitive skin freak out—in fact, its cooling gel texture makes my redness-prone skin feel comforted and calm. That being said, everyone’s skin is different, and this formula does contain an active ingredient, so try patch-testing before slathering it all over your face. A fair warning that this mask is runny straight out of the bottle, so spills may be inevitable (at least for me), but its ultra-glowy results are well worth the messy application. As long as you apply a thick layer at night, it’s incredibly easy to remove in the morning and comes off in one big peel, minus a few tiny spots.”
Key ingredients: kojic acid, retinol, turmeric extract, collagen extract | Who it's for: dull skin, acne-prone skin, those with dark spots and hyperpigmentation | Fragrance-free: yes
Best During Daytime: Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask
Why it's worth it: If you have a day-of event with no time for a beauty power nap, try one of Medicube’s daytime-friendly options, like the Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask. You’ll still need to dedicate around three to four hours (or whenever it becomes clear). Considering how comfortably this gel mask fits, the time will fly by, and it’s perfect to wear while getting tasks around the home done. A powerhouse team of kojic acid, niacinamide, and turmeric extract brightens, evens tone, diminishes the look of discoloration, and leaves your skin feeling baby-smooth and bouncier than Jell-O. Unlike the peel-off version of this formula, it doesn’t contain retinol or harsh actives, so sensitive skin, do not fear.
Tester feedback: “If I have a big event, I’ll wear this mask during the day to prep my skin,” says Hussein. “I’ll put this gel mask on and take care of errands around my house as I let it seep in, which the brand says usually takes at least three hours, but I’ve gotten away with two. The glow it leaves behind is Golden Hour-level (albeit not as strong as its overnight sister mask), and I’ll follow it up with a dewy serum for all-time-high luminosity. I love that it’s a gel-based sheet mask, which feels more cooling and comfortable on my skin versus a paper one—sometimes I’ll even forget I’m wearing it until I startle my dog with it on.”
Key ingredients: kojic acid, niacinamide, turmeric extract | Who it's for: all skin types, including sensitive | Fragrance-free: yes
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Medicube face masks, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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Now, watch Rachel Zegler walk through her daily glam:
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