The last few ingredients on the Fation Glucose Hydro Mask read like a chemistry quiz: citrulline, uric acid, taurine, formic acid, ammonia. For a shopper scanning the label, ammonia in particular can be alarming. In context, it is the opposite of a warning sign. Those ingredients, along with the long run of amino acids before them and urea, sodium lactate and magnesium PCA, are the building blocks of natural moisturizing factor, the mix of small, water-binding molecules that the skin's own cells produce to stay hydrated. Formulators recreate it in trace amounts to support dehydrated skin, and this mask has one of the most complete versions you will see on a sheet mask label.
The bulk of the hydration comes from more familiar places. Glycerin is second, followed by butylene glycol, betaine, trehalose and polyglycerin-3, a strong humectant foundation. Hyaluronic acid appears in seven forms: sodium hyaluronate, hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate, a crosspolymer, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid, sodium acetylated hyaluronate and hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans. Different molecular sizes and charges help them spread and cling across the skin surface. Panthenol and tocopherol support comfort. Biosaccharide gum-1, a film-forming sugar, and glyceryl glucoside, a glucose-derived humectant, add slip and a smooth finish. A trace of copper tripeptide-1 sits near the end, more as a flourish than an active dose.
The glucose in the name appears around twentieth, where it works as one humectant among many. Fation's Glucose Hydro line uses the idea of a sugar-and-amino-acid hydration complex as its theme, and that is a fair description of the formula as a whole, as long as no one expects the glucose itself to be doing anything special.
Just as notable is what is absent: no fragrance, no essential oils, no alcohol. Many sheet masks add perfume or denatured alcohol for a fresh feel, both of which can sting reactive skin. This one is built entirely around humectants and conditioning agents, which makes it one of the gentler masks available for sensitive, rosacea-prone or post-procedure skin that needs hydration without irritation.
In use, the thin sheet is well soaked in a slightly thick, slippery essence and feels cool on the skin. After fifteen to twenty minutes, skin looks plump, bouncy and glassy, the characteristic sheet-mask result. The leftover essence dries to a soft, slightly tacky layer, which a moisturiser smooths out and seals in. On smaller faces, the sheet can slip slightly around the jaw, a common issue with one-size sheets.
Expectations should stay realistic. Sheet masks work largely through occlusion, holding humectants against the skin so it absorbs more water than it would otherwise. The effect is visible for hours, particularly when sealed with a moisturiser, but it is not a structural change to the skin. For persistently dry skin, the real fix is a consistent routine with a good barrier cream; this mask is a comfortable boost on top.
There are good moments to reach for it: after a long flight, on the day of an event, in winter when heating dries the air, or after sun or wind exposure. Because it is fragrance-free and alcohol-free, it is also one of the safer choices for skin that is temporarily sensitised by retinoids or acne treatments, used on a rest night.
A few habits make each sheet work harder. Apply it to skin that is still slightly damp from toner, so the essence spreads evenly and the sheet clings. Keep it on for fifteen to twenty minutes and no longer; once the fabric starts to dry, it can begin drawing water back out of the skin. Chilling the pouch in the fridge beforehand adds a pleasant cooling effect that helps puffy morning skin or sun-warmed cheeks. Afterwards, press the leftover essence into the neck and the backs of the hands rather than wasting it.
It also fits neatly into a wider routine. On a night off from retinoids or exfoliating acids, the mask gives the skin a rest day that still does something useful. Before makeup, it creates a smooth, hydrated base that helps foundation sit evenly, provided a light moisturiser goes on top and the essence has a few minutes to settle. For people who fly often, packing a couple of pouches for long flights, where cabin humidity can drop very low, is one of the simplest ways to arrive with comfortable skin.
On value, Olive Young Global sells single sheets for about three dollars, and multipacks lower the price. That is mid-range for Korean sheet masks, fair given the depth of the formula. Around seventy reviewers on Olive Young Global have rated it, many highlighting the hydration and gentleness.
Fation, Dong-A Pharmaceutical's derma brand, launched the Glucose Hydro range in 2025, and this mask is its most accessible entry point. As with nearly all sheet masks, no independent clinical data exist.
One note for label readers: hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans are often animal-derived, so the mask should not be assumed vegan.
The verdict is positive. For dehydrated, sensitive or simply tired skin, this is a well-made, fragrance-free hydration sheet with a genuinely skin-identical formula. Just remember to seal it in, and to treat the glow as a lovely temporary lift.
