I tried Medicube's viral salmon PDRN gel mask for glass skin

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I usually steer clear of skincare trends and focus on the ingredients I know work best for me. But after a while, even I could not ignore all the before-and-after videos of people showing off their "glass skin" routines.

In particular, I kept seeing people rave about the Medicube PDRN Collagen Jelly Masks on TikTok. The results spoke for themselves: people would show off their glossy, luminous faces after only a few hours of wear.

It turns out these masks are tied to another buzzy skincare trend known as "salmon sperm facials." One salmon PDRN treatment session can cost hundreds at a medspa, but this mask lets you test out a topical application right at home. In my pursuit of a coveted glass skin complexion, I decided it must be worth the try.

Since caving the first time, I've spent about five more nights wearing these pink jelly masks. Even though they don't offer visibly lasting results, they do really give you glass skin overnight.

What is "glass skin?"

Glass skin refers to a complexion so smooth, poreless, and shiny that it resembles glass. While this K-beauty term has only risen to global fame over the past few years, it's actually a well-established ideal of the South Korean beauty standard.

Today, many skincare labels are creating products that promise glass skin. The mask I tried comes from Medicube (a Seoul-based brand that also makes the best red light therapy wand we've ever tried), which has gone viral for delivering results after just one wear.

They're infused with quality ingredients — including salmon sperm extract — to help boost collagen production

Every viral video I saw sung the praises of these masks, but I wanted to understand exactly why they worked so well. I found that the Medicube collagen masks feature salmon PDRN, niacinamide, and hydrolyzed collagen, a trio of powerhouse ingredients that work together to deliver real results.

The hydrolyzed collagen plumps and firms skin, while the niacinimade calms redness and strengthens the skin barrier.

Then there's the salmon PDRN, also known as "salmon sperm," an ingredient that has a sign of approval from Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston, to name a few, for its regenerative benefits. While it may sound icky, PDRN is a compound derived from the DNA of salmon sperm. It's an increasingly popular skincare ingredient for its ability to boost collagen an repair skin at the cellular level.

If a salmon sperm facial sounds like too much, this mask is a great entry point into the ingredient. However, vegans and those with fish allergies should steer clear.

The masks stay on all night, even if you toss and turn while you sleep

The mask has a rubbery gel texture that's cool to the touch. It comes in two pieces, so you can customize your fit a bit more than your typical face mask. This face mask adheres to your face much better than your typical sheet mask too — this mask has staying power.

When you put the mask on, it's a pale pink color. As your skin absorbs the ingredients, it becomes transparent. Once it's clear, you'll know the mask has worked its magic. For most people, you'll get this result in 3-4 hours, but you can also wear the mask overnight.

There's likely no added benefit of wearing the mask more than four hours, but I prefer the overnight application. I find it hard to do things during the day with a face mask on, so sleep is the perfect time to wear it.

I actually move around quite a bit in my sleep, and I've woken up with this mask totally intact, which says something about its stickiness.

After just one night, my skin looked visibly softer and plumper

I peeled off the mask in the morning, and underneath was my glass skin revealed. My face actually looked and felt more supple, smooth, and hydrated, with the fine lines on my forehead looking much softer than the night before. The results, while temporary, were instantaneous.

The bottom line

Medicube's collagen face masks are worth the hype. They're not something I would incorporate into my daily routine (mostly because they're $19 per pack), but with pretty immediate results, these masks are perfect for putting on when your skin needs some extra TLC. For now, I'll be saving them for special events when I need my skin looking and feeling its best.

Shop more Medicube skincare here.