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You might be surprised that as much of a skincare junkie as I am, one of my all-time favorite overnight beauty products, is good old Aquaphor. I’ve talked about it numerous times before, most recently, in this post. The idea of using something as sticky as Aquaphor on your skin may seem a bit weird, but I use such a small amount, that I don’t even have to worry about anything getting on my pillows. You can read about exactly how I use it in this post. If you have stubbornly dry skin, sealing your nighttime moisturizer with Aquaphor can help transform your skin.
DRY SKIN
One of my next favorites, on the other hand, is quite pricey at $90.00 a jar, but the good news is that it is worth every penny. Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Sleep Mask has been one of my go-to nighttime treatments for months now. It has a very unique, gel-like formula that’s very lightweight. It has a very delicate scent which I can happily say doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. This Sleep Mask feels very luxurious on the skin and you only need a thin layer to notice the difference in the way your skin feels. Immediately upon application, my skin goes from feeling dry and tight to feeling nourished and hydrated. If you have dry skin, then you know just how good it feels to find something that helps that tightness and dry patches go away!
If you’re looking for that overnight hydration, Lierac Hydragenist Moisturizing Rescue Mask* is also pretty amazing. I love reaching for this baby whenever I’ve had a long day, when my skin feels a bit dull and thirsty. The minute I massage a generous amount into my skin, it feels fresh, soft and supple. Next day it looks visibly plump, smoother, and radiant. You can leave this on for 5-10 minutes, I actually like leaving it on overnight.
If there ever was a product I wish I could apply from heads to toe, every single night, it’s this gem: Patchology’s Restoring Night Cloudmasque.* It has a thick, yet weightless, whipped formula that has a very light fragrance of jasmine night flower. Whenever I don’t have the time or don’t feel like indulging in my somewhat involved nighttime routine, I just tone + use a serum and follow with this mask (which I then seal with Aquaphor) and I wake up to the SOFTEST skin. I’m usually not a fan of fragrance in skincare, but there is something about this jasmine scent that just feels so calming- when combined with the soothing formula of this mask, it’s a perfect product to reach for when you want to unwind, but don’t have time (or are way too tired to) in indulging in a multi-step routine. This mask never leaves my nightstand- because I can just reach for it even when I’m exhausted, already in bed, and it makes my skin feel ahhhmazing. The great thing about the thick + concentrated formula is that you don’t need a whole lot of product- which is great because I honestly wish this stuff came in a bigger jar (or tube!)
Two products that I use when my skin is looking pretty good and well-balanced but still a bit dry, are Clinique’s Moisture Surge Overnight Mask or Paula’s Choice Rehydrating Moisture Mask.* Both are fragrance-free, suitable for all skin types and are an upgrade to your regular moisturizing night cream.
One of my all-time favorite lip treatments and one I love to use at night is Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask, which helped me survive while battling the dry-to-the-point-of-bleeding lips on Accutane. As amazing as that mask is, it’s SUPER sticky. For the last couple of months, I’ve been reaching for Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and it gives similar results, without feeling sticky. This lip mask comes in a solid formula that kind of just melts into your lips and it’s incredibly lightweight while soothing and helping with those dry bits and chapped lips. Also, it smells like fresh berries. Delicious.
DULL (+ ACNE PRONE) SKIN
… and then there are acids! On days when I don’t use Tazorac or Retin A Micro, I love reaching for some of my favorite acid treatments. If my skin is feeling particularly sensitive, then I keep it simple with Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Lotion. It’s gentle enough to use even during daytime, but I tend to only use AHAs during my nighttime routine.
For a quick, overnight beauty fix, there’s REN’s Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial. If some of your concerns include dull skin and uneven skin tone, you might really like this treatment. I’m in love with the tube + pump packaging, not very in love with the scent but the good news is that it doesn’t linger. Of course, it’s what’s inside the packaging what matters most, so here it is: this stuff is the bomb. The results definitely beat the scent, plus, who doesn’t love a product that actually does what it claims to do? This treatment brightens, hydrates and exfoliates, all at the same time. For 48 bucks, I do wish the tube was a little bigger, but the results are worth the splurge.
Speaking of results, I don’t think I’ve ever had a product produce them as quickly as Sunday Riley’s Good Genes. I remember when I used it for the first time a few years ago- I saw brighter skin literally after one use. As someone who suffered from acne throughout most of their life, I was left with tons of scars all over my face. They were all kinds of shades; red, purple, pink, pale pink, some were even brown. Having acne is like a never-ending battle; once you get your acne under control, you have to put up with scarring. Once your scars lighten, you start breaking out again. I’ve tried, used and tested at least 50 different “brightening” treatments over the years, and I have yet to find something that works as good as Good Genes.
How involved is your nighttime routine? Do you like using overnight beauty treatments? What are some of your favorites?