Whatever you call them—overnight masks or sleeping masks—I've never really liked them. I realize this might be a surprising statement, considering I'm a beauty editor and I'm here to gush about one, so let me explain. I have dehydrated, redness-prone skin. Even though I sound like someone who could use an overnight mask, I never found one that worked for me. In the past, most of the overnight masks I tried were too heavy or fragranced for my sensitive skin. After using them, I would only see more redness, more irritation, and (surprise!) clogged pores in my T-zone. It's like they were doing the opposite of what an overnight mask should do.
I had all but given up on them completely until I saw one that was trending on TikTok. The reviews were so convincing that I decided to give it a shot. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I'm going to anyway: I love it. After one use, I woke up with calm, glowing skin. Keep scrolling to see the overnight mask that has become a staple in my skincare routine.
The funny thing is that this isn't technically an overnight mask. Instead, it's a multi-purpose, skin-soothing balm that can be used like one. Like all other La Roche-Posay products, this balm contains thermal spring water rich in minerals and antioxidants. There's also vitamin B5, shea butter, glycerin, copper, zinc, and maganese. These ingredients lock in moisture to support the skin barrier and soothe dryness and irritation. It's so gentle it's even safe for babies.
It can be used on the face, lips, hands, and body, but I was only interested in using it as an overnight mask. I first tested it on the back of my hand, and honestly, I wasn't all that impressed. It felt like any other moisturizer. However, I had seen the TikTok videos, and I knew I had to apply it liberally. So, that's what I did. I applied it over my serum, making sure it was thick enough to still look white on my skin. Did I look a little funny? Yes. Did I care? No. I waited about 20 minutes until my Netflix show was over, and then went to bed. For reference, my skin is dull and irritated from starting a new, high-percentage retinol. It's also dehydrated, yet oily in my T-zone. In general, it could use some improvement.
This is a filter-free photo I took in the same place with the same light the very next morning. The first thing I noticed was my skin looked substantially less red and it felt less irritated too. It also looked smoother and more moisturized—so much so, that I felt like the fine lines around my eyes and between my brows had been plumped up. Not only that, but my skin had a pretty spectacular glow. I had two different people compliment me because of it. The real kicker was the softness. I don't know what magic this mask worked, but my skin felt petal-soft. And guess what? I see no new clogged pores even though my face marinated in a mask all night. Success. After my test, I can confirm that this product works well as an overnight mask. In other words, I get the hype. Since winter is always hard on my skin, I'm going to keep using this 2-3 nights a week for the foreseeable future to keep redness, irritation, dryness, and fine lines away.
If the La Roche-Posay product is my favorite, this one is a close second. The gel-like formula is so lightweight and hydrating that it basically splashes into my skin when I apply it.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the brand's other sleeping mask. This one is just as good as the Water Sleeping Mask—maybe even better if you struggle with redness and sensitivity. The hypoallergenic formula contains fermented forest yeast extract to relieve dryness, redness, and irritation. Because of this, I'll rotate it in and out of my routine. If my skin is dry and dull, I use the Water Sleeping Mask. If it's red and irritated, I use this one.
Maybe you're like me and you've been burned by overnight masks in the past (i.e. they clog your pores and you wake up with breakouts). Trust me, I know how disappointing and annoying that is. I also know how scary it feels to use another overnight mask...but this one should give you some assurance. It contains mandelic and kojic acids to gently exfoliate and keep pores clear, while arnica soothes red and inflamed skin. Altogether, it's a good option for acne-prone skin.
To me, this is an incredible no-frills overnight mask, because it's fragrance-free and contains 10% squalane as its star ingredient. It reminds me a lot of the brand's Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream ($38), which just so happens to be one of my favorite moisturizers.
If your main concern is a loss of firmness and elasticity, this overnight mask is for you. With black tea ferment, blackberry leaf extract, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, it promises to redefine facial contours while you sleep for a more lifted and sculpted appearance over time.
Fans of the brand's The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Moisturizer ($38) will love this overnight mask, which hydrates just as well, if not better than the moisturizer. It uses hyaluronic acid, Lady's mantle (a moisturizing herb), and Scottish heather (an anti-inflammatory herb) to drench the skin in moisture.
I love a vitamin C-rich skincare product, and in all honesty, I would bathe in it if I could. This one packs a punch of vitamin C to brighten and even the skin overnight while hydrating ingredients go to work to smooth and plump the surface of the skin.
This is a retinol alternative. Translation? It works like retinol without containing any actual retinol. Apply it at night, and it will resurface your skin as you sleep, so you wake up with a smooth, even, and plump-looking complexion.
Okay, so this isn't technically an overnight mask, but just like the La Roche-Posay one, it can work like one. It contains geothermal and bioactive Blue Lagoon seawater that's rich in minerals. Apply it at night, and it'll strengthen your skin barrier while you sleep.
I keep two lip masks on my bedside table, and this is one of them. I personally love the vanilla one, but you can't really go wrong with any version.
This is the second lip mask I keep on my bedside table. It makes my lips feel silky-smooth by morning.
