James Welsh has looked at more than 20 masks and peels, and he approved most of them, with a handful of mixed takes and a few he skipped. His approval rate for the category sits at 59%, which puts masks and peels in the middle of his range. He named no single product a category winner, but several got genuinely warm words from him.
What does James Welsh recommend in masks & peels?
The products he keeps coming back to warmly are the ones that do something specific and do it gently. He praised the Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel as a gentler way to exfoliate, especially for easily sensitised skin or mild rosacea. Its 8% cellulose lifts dead cells without roughing up the skin. That is the key point he made: physical exfoliation does not have to be harsh. He loved the I'm From Honey Jelly Mask enough to say it is something he will use forever, and he gave similarly warm words to the Abib Rice Probiotics Overnight Mask Barrier Jelly, calling it a really unique product that deserves more attention. Sheet masks built around a serum he already trusts, like the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Capsule Serum Sheet Mask, also got his approval. Across all his approving takes, he favours masks with a clear, honest purpose and a texture that delivers on it.
In his words
"Their honey mask is a product that I'm going to love like forever."
"It's a very unique texture but it's so so nice. Whenever [...] I use thick masks I will wash my face the next day but to me that's just a sign that my overnight mask did a good job. Really unique, a really nice unique product. I feel like ABIB haven't been getting the attention that a lot of their products deserve and this could potentially [...] be their big viral product."
"My favorite reusable sheet mask is from Experiment."
"The Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel gives me like really nostalgic feelings. I feel like peeling gels are overlooked nowadays. If you have easily sensitized skin or mild rosacea like myself, peeling gels are a great way to exfoliate without overly hassling your skin. Still to be used once or twice a week. However, this peeling gel contains 8% cellulose which boils up as you rub it on your skin and it's that cellulose that gently exfoliates away all those dead skin cells."
"Sungboon Editor's collagen masks, the other versions, I absolutely love."
"I love the Anua PDRN hyaluronic capsule serum. So I just wanted the sheet mask in them too again for when I'm feeling extra dehydrated."
How many masks and peels has James Welsh reviewed?
James Welsh has reviewed 29 masks and peels, for an approval rate of 59%. 17 approved, 6 mixed, and 6 skipped.
What has James Welsh skipped in masks & peels?
Where James Welsh skipped a product, roughness was the most common reason. He described the SKKN Exfoliator as feeling like finely milled glass on the skin, saying it hurt during use and left his skin red and stinging afterward. He was just as direct about the Kylie Skin Walnut Face Scrub, noting that dermatologists were warning about the risk of micro tears, irritation, and long-term damage from that kind of physical scrub. He also called out the Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brightening Mask for being marketed as a collagen product when, in his view, it contains no actual collagen. The Lindsay Modeling Mask was a different story: not a safety issue, he just found the format too time-consuming and never felt he got the benefits the product promised.
"They also launched an exfoliator which was $55, a double mechanical and again enzymatic exfoliator that helps promote skin resurfacing. This was horrible. This felt like shards of finely milled glass poking into your face. It wasn't gentle at all. It hurt while using it. It made my skin red and stingy when I applied products after it."
"Kylie's Walnut Face Scrub was marketed as a gentle exfoliator, but skincare experts and dermatologists were pretty alarmed to see that this type of physical exfoliant was included in the product lineup. Dermatologists were warning about how a physical scrub like this could cause micro tears in the skin, irritation, inflammation, and long-term possible damage. Some skincare experts even called it a disaster in a bottle. The product was immediately compared to the notorious St. Ives apricot scrub."
"Dr Dennis Cross skincare is selling a line of fake collagen products that actually don't contain any collagen"
"I know the Lindsay modeling masks are the more popular ones, but I just don't like modeling masks in general. They take a lot of time, they stick to my facial hair and eyebrows even when I try to avoid them, and I never get the benefits they're offering. [...] If anything it's a nice occlusive layer to trap in moisture, [...] but I find it a waste of time to be perfectly honest with you."
What should you take from James Welsh's picks?
James Welsh is a reliable guide in this category if you want to know what a gentle exfoliant can actually do and which ones he thinks cross a line. He is direct about products that cause irritation, and just as direct about the ones he genuinely loves. His 59% approval rate tells you he takes the skips seriously rather than waving everything through.
Watch James Welsh say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- SKKN ExfoliatorSkipped itWatch at 8:55
- Kylie Skin Walnut Face ScrubSkipped itWatch at 3:59
- Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brightening MaskSkipped itWatch at 9:42
- Lindsay Modeling MaskSkipped itWatch at 86:59
- Laneige Bouncy & Firm Sleeping MaskSkipped itWatch at 63:41
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling SolutionSkipped itWatch at 8:11
- I'm From Honey Jelly MaskRated itWatch at 1:30
- Abib Rice Probiotics Overnight Mask Barrier JellyRated itWatch at 1:52
- Experiment Avant Garde Reusable Sheet MaskRated itWatch at 6:22
- Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling GelRated itWatch at 27:24
- Sungboon Editor Deep Collagen Power Boosting MaskRated itWatch at 89:44
- Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Capsule Serum Sheet MaskRated itWatch at 11:58
- Fenty Skin Cherry Dupe Bright 5% AHA Face Mask with Salicylic Acid and Vitamin CRated itWatch at 15:20
- Walgreens Watermelon AHA MaskRated itWatch at 1:44
- Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel MaskRated itWatch at 89:52
- Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing MaskRated itWatch at 8:08
- Skin Rocks ExfoliantRated itWatch at 13:44
- Bubble Overnight Hydrating Sleep MaskRated itWatch at 19:39
- Laneige Water Sleeping MaskRated itWatch at 15:48
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night TreatmentRated itWatch at 6:24
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantRated itWatch at 9:10
- Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore Smooth Blur DropsRated itWatch at 12:59
- Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping MaskRated itWatch at 19:41
About this expert
See everything James Welsh has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what James Welsh said across his videos about 29 products in masks & peels, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.