Celebrities Swear By This Plumping Face Mask, But These 7 Are Equally Impressive

My relationship with TikTok beauty recommendations is a little complicated. On one hand, I’m a beauty editor who wants to keep my finger on the pulse of what consumers are genuinely obsessed with right now; on the other, I’m 37 and have accumulated enough half-used serums and moisturisers over the years to know that not every viral sensation deserves a spot on my bathroom shelf. I’m generally pretty good at resisting the urge to buy into every product that takes off on social media, but I have to admit that there’s one that’s been testing my resolve for a while—Medicube’s viral pink face mask.

If you’ve spent any time at all on social media recently, then you’ll probably have seen the PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask too, with the likes of Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez sharing selfies wearing it. The reason it’s such a phenomenon? That instantly recognisable bubblegum pink mask turns from opaque to translucent once it’s finished working, leaving skin plump, firmer-looking and with a glass-skin glow that the best Korean face masks are renowned for. And even if you’re not as chronically addicted to scrolling skincare routines on TikTok as I am, Medicube has been firmly embedded in the mainstream beauty landscape since it launched at Boots last year.

“Medicube was a must-have K-beauty brand we couldn’t wait to introduce to the UK high street. Its transformative skincare, with innovative formulas, easy-to-use formats and targeted yet gentle ingredients, really helped it to stand out,” explains Grace Vernon, director of international retail partnerships, Boots Ignite & Trends. “Social media virality and glowing customer reviews are helping to fuel excitement across Medicube’s entire range, but its face masks are some of the most consistently popular products. Users are loving the immediate and visible results the masks deliver, rewarding them with instant satisfaction and return on their purchase”.

And skincare experts agree. Vernon points out that the viral Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask is one of the best-selling formulas in the Medicube range at Boots—and for good reason. “I can see why this mask has become so popular, and actually, there are some really good ingredients in the formulation,” says Teresa Tan, aesthetic nurse and founder of Tan & Co. “The ingredient that’s getting everyone talking is PDRN, which has become a huge trend in aesthetic medicine because of its potential skin-repairing and regenerative properties”. And Tan can see the benefits of adding a sheet mask to your routine. “There’s a reason that people often notice their skin looking better immediately after using one, and that’s because they help keep hydrating ingredients in contact with the skin, which can temporarily improve moisture levels and leave the complexion looking plumper, smoother and more radiant,” she explains.

As much as I enjoy a skincare trend, however, I’m always more interested in what happens beyond the viral videos. So, in a quest to discover whether the Medicube mask actually delivers the results it promises, I decided to put it to the test along with the other mask formulas in Medicube’s range. “I actually think some of the less talked-about masks in the range are potentially more useful than the ones going viral,” says Tan after looking at the product lineup.

Ahead, after testing them all, is my pick of the very best Medicube face masks. (Spoiler: the viral pink jelly mask actually is worth the hype.)

The Best Medicube Face Masks

• Best Overall Medicube Mask: Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask (£18)
• Best for Congested Skin: Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask (£16)
• Best Medicube Mask for Glowy Skin: Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask (£18)
• Best for Intense Overnight Hydration: Medicube PDRN Pink Caffeine Night Wrapping Mask (£19)
• Best Mask for Before Makeup: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum Mask (£16)

1. Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask

Why We Love It: This hydrogel mask is a great option for all skin types, offering intense hydration, boosting radiance and firming skin over the course of a couple of hours. It feels like a real pampering skincare step.

This is the Medicube mask that I was most intrigued to try after seeing it all over social media, with celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez as reported fans. It’s a hydrogel mask infused with buzzy skincare ingredients like salmon-derived PDRN and collagen, and aims to improve skin elasticity and boost glow.

Editor Review: I love that the mask comes in two pieces, as I often struggle with applying a sheet mask smoothly, and it does stay put once it’s on—somewhat critical when this is designed to be worn for anywhere between one and three hours.

For me, the mask starts to change from pink to clear at around the 60-minute mark (perhaps a testament to how dehydrated my skin is right now), but I know that it takes longer for some, with some people even wearing it overnight. Once I peel it off, I am really impressed by how instantly more hydrated and alive my skin feels. It is noticeably brighter and bouncier, and it feels like I’ve almost had a proper facial. While this isn’t one to go for if you’re after a quick fix, I can see myself incorporating this into my skincare routine as a weekly treatment and can totally understand what the hype is about.

2. Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask

Why We Love It: A great option for congested or oily skin types, this purifying clay mask works deeply to draw out gunk from the pores, dial down excessive shine and gently exfoliate with a blend of acids. Skin is left smoother and clarified afterwards.

Editor Review: I’ve had oily skin for most of my life, and although it’s starting to change now that I’m in my mid-30s, I do still deal with hormonal breakouts and a fair bit of congestion. I tend to be a bit wary about mud masks, however, as while they were great in my younger years for combating excessive sebum levels, I find them slightly drying now. This one, however, leaves my skin feeling pleasantly balanced. It goes on as quite a vibrant blue and then dries down to more of a powdery shade as the mix of clays and exfoliating acids get to work loosening dead skin cells, absorbing excess oil and unclogging pores.

It only needs to be left on for around 5 minutes before rinsing off, and I can immediately see how much more even and refined the texture of my skin looks. It might be a bit intense if you’re very sensitive or dry, but I think this would also work as a brilliant targeted treatment if you only wanted to apply it to your T-zone, chin or any patches where you do find your skin can be a bit congested.

3. Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask

Why We Love It: This is a gentle face mask that boosts luminosity and targets uneven skin tone for a real glass-skin finish.

If your skincare priorities lean more towards radiance and tackling dullness than firming and hydration, this is probably the Medicube mask I’d put on your radar.

Editor Review: I’m all about finding products that can make my skin look more bright and radiant, and I’ve also noticed a few dark spots on my skin since I’ve hit my late thirties, so I was really excited to try this mask. Kojic acid isn’t an ingredient that I was hugely familiar with, but it’s used a lot in Korean skincare formulas to help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and dark spots, while the turmeric acts as a natural antioxidant and brightener. There’s also niacinamide in the mix, which further helps to even tone and calm any inflammation.

I leave this on for around 20 minutes, then remove and massage any remaining serum into my skin, and I am genuinely blown away by how glassy and luminous my skin looks. This is one that I’d keep in the fridge and reach for on mornings when I’m looking puffy, tired and all-round exhausted, as it is such a fast and easy way to inject some luminosity back into my skin.

4. Medicube PDRN Pink Caffeine Night Wrapping Mask

Why We Love It: This innovative formula gets to work while you sleep, helping to renew the skin, strengthen the skin barrier and have you waking up to plump, juicy, well-rested skin.

I’m inherently lazy when it comes to beauty routines, so I’m always a big fan of skincare that does most of the work for me—an overnight mask that does it while I’m snoozing away was always going to appeal. You apply this one as the final step in your evening skincare routine, leaving it to dry for around 15 minutes before you can hit the hay. The idea is that it forms a thin film over the skin, helping to lock in moisture while you sleep, meaning you should wake to more hydrated, plump and healthy-looking skin. It does this through a combination of salmon-derived PDRN to help with skin renewal, caffeine to de-puff and niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to even skin tone and deeply hydrate.

Editor Review: As someone who rarely gets the most restorative sleep, I have to say that I definitely notice a difference in my skin the morning after using this. When you wake up, you can either peel it off or rinse it away (I’ve tried both and find that you have to give your face a rinse either way to remove all of the residue), and find that my skin is noticeably less puffy than usual. It also had the kind of natural radiance that I can normally only achieve with a glowy primer and a ton of concealer, and it feels so incredibly soft and smooth too. I don’t love the faff of waiting for it to dry before bed, but once it’s on, it stays put, and my makeup goes on like a dream the following day.

5. Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum Mask

Why We Love It: This is touted as a weekly skin reset, and it delivers exactly that—a nourishing, skin-strengthening treatment that leaves skin nourished and brighter than before.

We’re all busy individuals and, as such, don’t always have the time to invest in an elaborate evening skincare treatment, which is where this mask comes in. I’d consider this the little sister to the cult long-wear PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask, as this is more of a traditional sheet mask which you can apply when you have 10 minutes to spare, and your skin needs a quick pick-me-up. The mask is infused with a lightweight serum containing salmon-derived PDRN, peptides and niacinamide, with the combination designed to boost hydration, improve skin tone and boost radiance.

Editor Review: I particularly like the idea of this as a pre-makeup treatment, as I find that it delivers a really decent hit of hydration to my skin, which can make all the difference to how my base products sit these days. I wouldn’t say the results of this one are the most long-lasting, but if you’ve got a special event and just want to give your skin a little extra boost of brightness, then it’s a solid option.

6. Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Night Wrapping Mask

Why We Love It: This is a real powerhouse formula, designed to transform any complexion that’s been looking a little lacklustre into a beacon of luminosity. It gets to work overnight, so by morning there will be no dull skin in sight.

Tackling dull skin has to be one of my main missions when it comes to my routine at the moment, especially now that we’re in the dreary autumn/winter months when the natural vitamin D is lacking and the tiredness is really starting to show on my skin.

This is another wrapping mask that you apply as the final step in your evening skincare routine, but the difference in this formula compared to its pink PDRN counterpart is that the formula is focused on boosting radiance and correcting uneven skin tone rather than hydration and firmness. It contains kojic acid, turmeric and niacinamide, a combination that makes sense if your complexion is looking a little flat or you’re concerned about the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation, and there’s also retinol to help with skin cell turnover and vitamin C for a brightness boost.

Editor Review: It works. By morning, I peel it off (which is extremely satisfying, I have to say), and there is an undeniable radiance to my skin that definitely wouldn’t be there naturally on a rushed Monday morning. I can absolutely see myself coming back to this over the winter months to inject some much-needed brightness into my skin.

7. Medicube Collagen Lifting Mask

Why We Love It: There are some days when skin just needs a hit of hydration, and this sheet mask provides exactly that. Rich in collagen, it restores bounce, elasticity and plumpness to skin.

Sometimes I want my skincare to be a little more than just another layer of hydration, particularly when my complexion is looking tired and lacking a bit of bounce. Medicube’s Collagen Lifting Mask is designed with exactly that in mind, combining collagen, hyaluronic acid and skin-conditioning ingredients to leave skin looking plumper, smoother and more refreshed. It’s a traditional sheet mask, so you don’t need to commit to the longer application times of the jelly gel or overnight wrapping treatments elsewhere in the range. Simply apply to cleansed skin, leave for around 10 to 15 minutes and allow the remaining essence to sink in.

Editor Review: The results aren’t hugely dramatic, but my skin is left feeling plump and more hydrated, and while topical collagen won’t replace the stuff that our skin naturally loses with age, it can restore some of that juiciness at a surface level.

How We Tested

I spent weeks putting the range of Medicube face masks to the test, judging their ability to live up to the claims on the packaging against the genuine results. For context, I’m 37-years-old so my skin type has recently shifted away from being excessively oily into something that’s more combination. I am definitely noticing more dehydration in places, a lack of glow and some loss of elasticity, but with over ten years of experience as a beauty editor I’m also confident recommending products that might not have worked for me but that could suit someone else.

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.