Let me set the scene for you because this whole experience was honestly kind of wild in the best way. Right now, I’m sitting in a tiny Airbnb in Kyoto, Japan, sipping a canned peach soda, and typing this with the most hydrated skin I’ve had in weeks. The reason? A very yellow face mask I picked up in Seoul a few days ago, completely on a whim.

So back in Seoul, I was on day four of my trip. I’d spent hours wandering through the chaos that is Myeongdong, dipping in and out of skincare shops, swatching way too many foundations on my wrist, and trying to pretend I didn’t want to buy everything. My skin was not okay. The dry winter air had wrecked it, and my usual moisturizer just wasn’t cutting it. I ducked into an Olive Young near Hongdae to look for help, and one of the store employees saw the desperation in my face and handed me a pack of masks from a brand called numbuzin. The one she recommended was labeled No.5, and the name was something like Vitamin C Glutathione Fizzing Mask.

She promised it was hydrating, brightening, and kind of famous lately. I didn’t know anything about it, but at that point, I would’ve tried anything. So I grabbed it. It came as a four-pack in individual sachets, and the packaging looked fancy enough to convince me.

Fast forward to my first night in Japan. I had just landed in Kyoto and my skin felt like paper. That tight, flaky feeling after a long flight hit hard. I remembered the mask and decided to try it out before bed. As soon as I tore open the packet, I had to laugh. The sheet mask was neon yellow. Like seriously, banana peel yellow. I’ve used charcoal masks and green tea masks, but I’d never put something this brightly colored on my face. It looked like something straight out of a cartoon.

Even funnier, the sheet itself was dry, and the bright yellow came from powder that had been sprinkled on top. No synthetic dyes, apparently. The serum came in a separate compartment, so I had to squish and mix everything together like I was back in middle school science class. Weird, but fun.

Once the sheet was soaked and ready, I applied it, and to my surprise, it smelled super neutral. Maybe a faint citrus scent if you really tried to detect it, but overall, very gentle. The texture of the serum was thick and jelly-like, a little slippery like seaweed gel or snail mucin. It took some effort to unfold the sheet because it was so gooey, but once I got it on my face, it gripped like second skin. I even blow-dried my hair while wearing it and it didn’t budge once.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I could not stop laughing. I looked like a glowing yellow alien, or maybe a low-budget Minion. But hey, skincare is supposed to be fun, right?

After twenty minutes, I peeled it off and felt my skin. It was instantly smoother, bouncier, and way more hydrated. The flaky patches around my nose and cheeks were gone. I was actually shocked. I didn’t even feel the need to follow up with a heavy cream. Just a bit of toner and eye cream and I was good.

The next morning, I checked the mirror and my skin still felt soft and looked fresher. Not necessarily brighter in a dramatic way, but definitely less dull. I had this healthy sheen, and my foundation went on way better than the day before. My skin felt calm and balanced, not greasy or sticky.

I sent a selfie to my friend back in New York, and she immediately messaged back, asking for the brand name and where to buy it. I had to explain the yellow situation, but once she saw the before-and-after glow, she was convinced.

I actually found another box of it in Japan at a Don Quijote store for around 1,090 yen, which comes out to about seven dollars and some change. That’s less than two dollars per mask, which honestly feels like a steal considering the quality. I know it’s more expensive online in the US, but I’m already planning to hunt it down once I’m back home. I only have three masks left and I’m trying to pace myself.

If you care about ingredients, this mask is loaded with Vitamin C, Glutathione, and Niacinamide. All of those are known for helping with brightness, dullness, and overall skin tone. My skin leans dry and gets very blah when I travel, and this definitely brought it back to life.

Here’s my breakdown.

Things I like:

Extremely hydrating, without being greasy

Hilarious and unique yellow color makes it fun to use

Stays firmly on your face without sliding off

No artificial scent or irritation

Skin felt soft and plump the next morning

Things to watch out for:

The color might freak you out if you’re not expecting it

Unfolding the slimy sheet was a little tricky

Not easy to find outside of Asia, and it costs more online

In the end, this is one of those random travel finds that I didn’t expect to love as much as I do. I thought it was going to be a gimmick, but it turned out to be a legit skin-saver. If your skin is parched, dull, or just plain tired, this little yellow mask might surprise you too. And yes, I will absolutely be that girl on the plane back to New York doing her skincare mid-flight with a yellow sheet mask on. No regrets.

Let me know when you're ready for the second story. I’m excited for that one too.