20 Best Picks for Every Budget

We all experienced that puffy morning saggy face, and by Murphy’s law, more often on those mornings when we are in a hurry and don’t have time for a thorough morning skincare routine. If you are not a morning person and would love to skip or have minimal morning skincare maintenance, then overnight facial masks are a perfect solution for you. The idea is to wake up with the best possible skin, so you can just walk out and get on with your day.

You might be thinking that using an overnight or sleeping mask is an unnecessary step in your skin routine, but wait till you see the results! Once you see your skin plump and glowy in the morning instead of dull (or too oily) skin, you’ll see get hooked to the ever-evolving world of overnight masks.

How do overnight masks work?

Sleep masks are not the same as typical face masks. Your regular face mask can serve to lightly peel damaged epidermis, hydrate, and calm down irritations. They are applied for 15 to 20 minutes, whereas sleeping masks are applied for long periods of time and are designed to provide longer more substantial care. Sleeping masks typically contain hydrating or remodeling agents such as hyaluronic acid and retinol, and their consistency is thick but non-comedogenic, meaning they let the skin breathe without clogging the pores.
For many, overnight masks have replaced the need to buy a separate morning and evening moisturizer. It’s a natural 2-in-1, so why not try?

Make the Most of Your Beauty Sleep With Overnight Masks

Before we jump into the selection of our favorite sleeping masks, let’s go over one more time how our nighttime skincare routine should look to get the most out of every product.

Step 1 – Use (Double) Cleanser

To get rid of the day’s grime, dirt, oil, and makeup, some experts recommend removing your makeup first with a dedicated makeup remover before washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Better yet, try double cleansing, which involves using a cleansing oil first to dissolve your makeup and then washing your face again with your regular cleanser. Japanese really nailed this step, as well as the art of “layering” in the skincare routines, so read about the J-Beauty skincare regimen to find out more.

Step 2 – Apply Toners, Essences, and Boosters

At night, some people also like to layer various types of skincare boosters. You’ll see them as either mist, essences, beauty waters, or hydrating (hyaluronic acid) serums. These are infused with different active ingredients, but for the most part, the purpose is mainly to hydrate and nourish the skin.
Since these are lightweight, almost water-like formulas, apply them after washing your face as you would a toner. If using both, apply toner and then essence. Toner is more to clean and essence is more about delivering a treatment. If using multiple boosters, the same rules apply: apply from thinnest to thickest.

Step 3 – Apply Eye Cream

Aside from addressing fine wrinkles and dark circles, eye creams also have another important role and that is to protect your delicate eye area from your other skincare products. Generally, you’d want to apply your eye cream before your treatments to protect your eye area against potent ingredients, which could potentially cause irritation.

Step 4 – And the Last Step – Apply Overnight (Sleeping) Mask

Sleeping masks are best applied as the final step — layered on top of a complete regimen — ideally just before bed. Apply a thin layer of the mask as the last step of your routine after applying your moisturizer. Alternatively, overnight masks can be used instead of moisturizer. Find out what feels good to your skin!
Pat to absorb into your skin, avoiding lips and eyes area (this is where the eye cream comes in handy!) In the morning, wash it off with lukewarm water and reveal bright and smooth skin. For best results, do not use cleansing foam or soap when washing off.