Overnight Face-Masking

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Overnight face masks are among my favorite skincare products. I mean OK, I love all face masks; cream, wash-off, exfoliating, multi-step, sheet masks… but the truth is that I’m also a little impatient and don’t always feel like waiting 15-20 minutes for my masks to work its magic.

This is why I have so much love for overnight face masks- they’re all a part of my lazy girl pamper routine.

Let’s start with my all-time favorite overnight mask: Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Memory Sleeping Mask. This is one of the most effective hydrating overnight masks I’ve tried so far. Everything about it feels extremely luxurious. It has a very unique formula that at first looks quite thick, but it just melts into the skin as soon as it comes in contact with it. The gel formula feels cooling and refreshing and whenever I have any dryness or tightness, it goes away within minutes of this product absorbing. Because the formula is so lightweight, the moisture it delivers feels very soft, smooth and not greasy. Usually, I’m not a fan of fragrance in my skincare products, but the soft and very light scent just sort of completes the whole dreamy experience (and, most importantly, doesn’t irritate my skin). This is hands down, one of my favorite high-end skincare products- both because it feels amazing, and because it delivers. It’s my little “spa” in a jar and one of those skincare bits I reach for when I need a little pick-me-up.

Belif Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask*– The memory formula in this sleeping mask is very similar to that of Erno Laszlo’s Memory Sleeping Mask, so if you don’t want to splurge, this might be a nice alternative. It’s sort of a soft, bouncy jelly-cream texture that skin absorbs very easily. The key is to not apply too much product- otherwise, it can leave a bit of a sticky residue and take some time to absorb. I’ve not noticed any improvements in my skin’s texture as promised, but my skin does feel well-balanced and hydrated and supple in the morning. As long as you don’t apply too much product, you don’t have to worry about anything transferring to your sheets or pillowcases.

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask– I’ve been loving the Black Tea range from Fresh (especially the Kombucha Essence and the Instant Perfecting Mask). This overnight mask has a really intense formula, quite different from everything else included in this post. It’s quite rich and thick, so you really don’t need a lot of product. I wouldn’t say that it “contours” my face, as it promises to do, but it definitely does help with elasticity and adds radiance and hydration. The only issue I happen to have is when my skin feels extremely dry or irritated- that’s when I tend to stay away from this one as it does *tingle* in those irritated areas (and I’m not talking about the “good” tingle you get from some AHA treatments, this feels more like simple irritation). Other than though, it’s a really great mask, but perhaps not the best for very sensitive skin types.

Perricone MD Multi-Action Overnight Treatment– now being sold as Multi-Action Overnight Intensive Firming Mask. Just like the Black Tea Overnight Mask, this has quite a rich formula, but it feels much lighter on the skin. I cannot attest to its effectiveness on fine lines and wrinkles, but it does help with dryness and dullness. After you wash this off in the morning, you kind of want to keep touching your face, because of how smooth and soft it feels (but you know… don’t). This treatment is great to reach for when your moisturizer doesn’t seem to be enough to help with dry skin. It does contain coconut oil, but thankfully, it doesn’t cause any breakouts for me- love using coconut oil on my hair and body, but my face usually freaks out when it comes in contact with it.

Patchology Restoring Night CloudMasque– this is one of my favorite skincare products from the guys at Patchology. It does wonders for dry skin and takes care of any flakes and dry patches overnight- love using it in winter. It has a thick yet lightweight to feel, whipped, almost cloud-like formula that feels very hydrating. Not only does it do a very good job at hydrating, but it also smooths and softens the skin. My only wish is that it came in a tube- but that sort of goes for all face masks, in general.

Lierac Hydragenist Rescue Mask– I think this was one of the first hydrating masks I fell in love with. I just love the way my skin feels and looks after using it- it always gives me that nice, healthy glow. You can either apply it and wash it off after 10-15 minutes, or leave it overnight. The only (big, in my opinion though) downside to this mask is the strong fragrance. I don’t find that it irritates my skin, but I’m just not a huge fan of fragrance in skincare, especially not when it’s so strong. Yes, it’s a pleasant rose-y scent… but still, unnecessary. If this were to come in a fragrance-free version, I’d stock up on it for months.

Paula’s Choice Rehydrating Moisture Mask– out of all the face masks mentioned here, this is the best option for both dry and sensitive skin types. This is actually one of my favorite things about Paula’s Choice- I’ve used countless products from them, and never had a problem with irritation and sensitivity, as all of their products are free of fragrance. This mask, in particular, is kind of “plain” but sometimes that is just what your skin needs. It feels just like an intense cream or moisturizer that works great with dry and dehydrated skin. Another bonus is that it plays nice with other products, so you can layer away.