Original Article

Lest we state the obvious: The Korean skin-care industry is a hotbed of innovation, and the best Korean face masks (in all shapes and forms) are essential in helping us look our glowiest. Whether we're masking once a week or daily—hey, daily sheet masking isn't out of the question—these treatments load our skin with barrier-repairing, brightening, clarifying, hydrating, soothing, and texture-smoothing ingredients we can't get enough of. Best of all? They're as gentle to our wallets as they are to our skin—in fact, none of the masks on this page cost more than $45, with tons of $20-and-under picks. Ahead, our editors give us the low-down on their top picks from Beauty of Joseon, Innisfree, Medicube, Numbuzin, and more. Time to reap in the glassy skin.

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Best for Large Pores: Mediheal Spicule Pore Tightening System

Why it's worth it: If you can handle a little bit of tingle and spice when it comes to your skin care, we suggest looking into Mediheal's two-step Spicule Pore Tightening System. First, you dispense and apply the Spicule Derma Ampoule 1000, a microneedling serum infused with spikey structures derived from marine sponges called spicules that essentially create microchannels in your skin and allow actives—in this case, low molecular weight collagen—to penetrate past the outer layer of skin, as we previously reported. This, coupled with the gel mask you pop on after, will help smooth texture and refine pores. You'll know you're done when the mask turns transparent after about 30 minutes or so.

Editor's tip: If you're ready to level up, Mediheal offers the Tightening System 2 which comes with the Spicule Derma Ampoule 3000 for even deeper penetration.

Key ingredients: low molecular weight collagen spicule (1,000 ppm) | Who it's for: people with uneven texture and large pores | Fragrance-free: yes

P.S. If you're into more traditional hydrating sheet masks, Dr. Chang recommends Mediheal's Vita Essential Mask, which she says is "an amazing brightening sheet mask formulated with three types of vitamins (C, E, and B) that boosts skin hydration and brightens the skin." She adds that the bamboo-derived, biodegradable, and vegan "feels cool and refreshing when applied, helping to soothe the skin."

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