TL;DR
Our favorite overnight face mask is the Sisley Paris Velvet Sleeping Mask with Saffron Flowers. It has a lightweight, luxurious texture, provides deep hydration, and helps the skin look and feel significantly more plump. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Burt's Bees Hydrating Overnight Face Mask does an excellent job of hydrating the skin.
We’re all aware that proper sleep has numerous health benefits, but what if you could add to that list by incorporating efficacious skincare meant to support your skin overnight? With these overnight face masks, you can. Contrary to most otherface masksworn briefly and then washed off, sleeping masks are applied before bed and left on throughout the night. They come in distinctive formulas that address various skin concerns (sallow skin, acne, and fine lines, to name a few) and make for a low-maintenance addition to anyskincare routine.
To find the best available, we extensively researched andtesteddozens of the most popular and well-loved options, evaluating the application, feel, and resulting look. We used these insights and advice fromDr. Angela Lamb, a New York City-based dermatologist who serves as the head of Mount Sinai West Dermatology, to craft this list of top overnight face masks.
Our Top Picks
Best Splurge:
Best Exfoliating:
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment at Amazon$44
Best Soothing:
Best Firming:
Best Overall
Sisley Paris Velvet Sleeping Mask
What We Like
Lightweight, silky texture
Deeply hydrating with shea butter
Makes skin look and feel plumper
What to Consider
Sweet fragrance
Benefits: Soothing, hydrating | Key Ingredients: Saffron flower extract, thyme honey, shea butter | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Formulated with a blend of rich, nourishing ingredients, like saffron flower extract, shea butter, thyme honey, plant-based glycerin, and more, this deeply hydrating mask is like an instant reset for dull, dry skin. It has a silky but lightweight texture that spreads across the face smoothly before absorbing into the skin, allowing for a comfortable night's sleep as you wear it—no need to worry about it sticking to your pillow.
After two weeks of using this mask consistently, our tester noticed a significant reduction in the frequency of breakouts. She was incredibly pleased, saying that her smooth, soft, and plumped results made her eager to repurchase it.It does have a sweet fragrance that might irk some folks, but she had no problem with it.
Best Budget
Burt's Bees Hydrating Overnight Face Mask
What We Like
Creamy, nongreasy texture
Deeply hydrating
Doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance
Affordable and accessible
What to Consider
Thick consistency takes a minute to rub in
Benefits: Hydrating | Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, prebiotics | Size: 0.57, 2.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re looking for an affordable hydrating mask that you can grab at the drugstore, we can’t recommend this one enough. It’s formulated with avocado oil and prebiotics to nourish and help support a healthy microbiome, and it’s extremely effective at moisturizing dry skin, confirmed by our tester and hundreds of online reviewers. When you squeeze it out of the tube, it does feel thick, but once you massage it into the skin, it absorbs nicely and doesn’t create a tacky texture that sticks to your pillow or clothing.
While many thicker, richer hydrating products often cause folks to break out, this one doesn't seem to (our tester confirmed). Rather it worked to balance out their skin, leaving it moisturized, radiant, and comfortable.
What We Like
Comes in refillable packaging
Lightweight, creamy texture
Helps balance the skin and even tone
Doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance
What to Consider
Leaves a minor tacky feeling on the skin
Small applicator
Benefits: Hydrating, firming, smooths texture | Key Ingredients: Swiss grape, vitamin C, ginseng extract, squalane | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Augustinus Bader products come with some seriously hefty price tags, but considering how excellent this one is, we think it’s worth the splurge. Created to be applied on clean, dry skin and worn overnight, the brand claims this formula hydrates, plumps the skin, provides firming benefits, reduces hyperpigmentation and the appearance of fine lines, and boosts elasticity—all thanks to a blend of botanical extracts, vitamin C, squalane, and hyaluronic acid.
The included applicator is small and a bit awkward to maneuver, so our tester applied the mask with her hands which worked well. The product absorbed quickly and left her face feeling comfortable and hydrated. It felt just the slightest bit tacky but not nearly enough to make sleeping uncomfortable.Throughout the test period, her dull, uneven skin was beginning to appear brighter, more even, and balanced. Though she didn’t see a difference in her deep wrinkles, her skin looked plumper overall—so much so that someone asked her if she had gotten filler or Botox.
Bronwyn Barnes, Commerce VP with dull skin and wrinkles: “I have noticed a difference in the brightness of my skin. My skin tone looks more even overall. I have fewer dry and oily patches, and my skin just feels more balanced to the touch.”
Best Hydrating
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Mask
What We Like
Deeply hydrates
Rich consistency absorbs easily
Brightens and boosts radiance
Comes in recyclable packaging
What to Consider
The narrow shape of the jar is a bit tricky to scrape product out of
Benefits: Hydrating, brightening, plumping | Key Ingredients: Antioxidant-rich superberries, vitamin C | Size: 0.5, 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Adding a moisturizing overnight mask into your skincare routine can make a real difference if you regularly experience dry skin. This hydrating and radiance-boosting overnight mask contains maqui (an antioxidant-rich berry,) hydrating squalane and hyaluronic acid, and THD ascorbate, a stable form of vitamin C to help brighten and protect your skin while you sleep. The powerful ingredients are housed in a rich, body butter-like texture that quickly melts into the skin, leaving it dewy, hydrated, and soothed.
Our tester, who deals with dry skin and a bit of melasma, raved about how incredible this mask is, saying that it worked beautifully to moisturize her skin and even helped fade some of her redness. She also explained that while she typically needs to reapply moisturizer every few hours during the cold months, she could forgo this during testing because the mask kept her face hydrated and nourished enough. At the end of the two-week testing period, her skin was softer and more balanced, and she noticed a real improvement in the radiance of her complexion.
Abby, tester with melasma-prone skin: “This mask promises hydration and glow, and it has delivered on both! Oscillating between the cold, windy outside air and the dry artificial heat inside is the perfect storm for tight, dehydrated skin. However, I haven't been dealing with it to the extent that I normally do this winter, and I certainly believe this mask is to thank!”
Best Exfoliating
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment
What We Like
Lightweight, water-gel texture
Absorbs quickly
Provides hydration
Works to smooth uneven skin texture
What to Consider
Can be slightly sensitizing on sensitive skin
Benefits: Exfoliating, hydrating, brightening | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, quinoa peptide, watermelon enzymes | Size: 0.8, 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you peruse TikTok, chances are you’re familiar with this viral face mask. And we can confirm: it lives up to its praise. The water-gel texture is bouncy and extremely lightweight, making it comfortable to wear as you sleep, and the formula delivers on its claims. Created with a blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, and watermelon enzymes, this formula hydrates the skin, promotes radiance, and gently exfoliates.
Although our tester found the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow slightly sensitizing when she used it more than one night in a row, using it just two to three nights per week was the sweet spot for her—plus, it helped her achieve some impressive results. After her first use, she immediately noticed a reduction in texture on her chin the next morning. With continued use, her skin was more hydrated, even, bright, and smooth. We highly recommend checking it out if you’re dealing with uneven skin texture, dullness, or skin dehydration.
Sarah, tester with textured, dull, dry skin: “My face is smoother, softer, and firmer than before I started using the mask. And it's definitely more radiant—my skin also looks more plump and hydrated. This has totally transformed my winter skin—it's like an at-home facial!”
What We Like
Helps to soothe redness
Makes skin feel more hydrated
Smooth, creamy texture
What to Consider
Similar results to more affordable facial moisturizers
Benefits: Calming, soothing | Key Ingredients: Floral extracts, vitamin C, squalane | Size: 1, 3.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Whether it’s the result of harsh weather, over-exfoliating, or an allergic reaction, sometimes our skin feels irritated, hot to the touch, or inflamed. If you experience these sensations often, having a product in your skincare stash that can help soothe stressed skin is so valuable. This one is a fantastic option—it’s formulated with soothing passionflower and cornflower extracts as well as vitamin C and squalane to brighten, smooth, and hydrate the skin. The texture is a dense cream that feels really nourishing and pillowy on the skin (but not greasy or oily), and it’s comfortable to sleep in so long as you don’t over-apply it.
Our tester and online reviewers praise its hydrating ability and how effectively it calms redness and enhances the skin’s glow. It’s worth pointing out that it does function similarly to calming moisturizers, many of which are more affordable. However, if you’re looking for a rich, creamy formula specifically created as an overnight mask, you can’t go wrong with this one.
What We Like
Helps create a more firm appearance
Gentle, creamy texture doesn’t leave behind a residue
Hydrates and smoothes skin
Comes with a soft applicator tool
What to Consider
Contains synthetic fragrance
Benefits: Hydrating, firming, smoothing | Key Ingredients: Korean red pine extract, red ginseng | Size: 2.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Noticing a lack of elasticity and bounce back in your skin? Firming skincare products can help. This one has a creamy texture that feels plush and comfortable on the skin, and it's formulated with antioxidant-rich Korean red pine extract (an anti-aging ingredient) as well as red ginseng to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It comes with a high-quality brush applicator that's ultra-soft and adds to the luxurious self-care experience.
Our tester with dry skin said she adored the texture of this mask; it’s creamy and moisturizing but not so much that it feels heavy or oily. She loved applying it with the included brush and mentioned that it layered beautifully over her retinol cream without pilling. At the end of the testing period, her face looked significantly smoother (even her boyfriend noticed), it was far less dry than before, and she noticed a reduction in fine lines. There’s no denying that this overnight mask is pricey, but it’s a truly luxurious product offering an elevated user experience and delivers some impressive results.
Best Brightening
Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask
What We Like
Thick, jelly-like texture is comfortable on the skin
Fragrance-free
Provides deep hydration
Helps to lessen the appearance of fine lines
What to Consider
Leaves some yuzu particles on the skin
Benefits: Smoothing, hydrating, brightening | Key Ingredients: Yuzu, niacinamide, retinol | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Who doesn’t want to wake up with bright, glowing skin? According to our tester (and tons of online reviews), this mask is the secret to rolling out of bed with a radiant complexion. The thick, jelly texture is surprisingly comfortable to sleep in, despite leaving behind some small yuzu particles on the skin. Though not ideal, the particles don't seem to inhibit the experience or make a mess. The mask feels gentle and hydrating, and the combination of antioxidant-rich yuzu, niacinamide, and retinol work together to brighten and smooth the skin while evening the complexion.
Calling it a “facial in a bottle,” our tester raved about how awesome this made her skin look and feel. After her first use, she immediately noticed an improvement in her skin's softness and radiance. Over time, she continued to see these benefits along with a reduction in the appearance of fine lines. Although the mask doesn’t contain an added synthetic fragrance, she noted that it has a really fresh, pleasant citrusy scent.
What to Look for in Overnight Face Masks
- Benefits: You’ll find that a large portion of overnight masks are best for giving the skin an extra boost of hydration, but some options offer additional benefits. Some provide gentle exfoliation in addition to hydrating and brightening the skin. Considering the formula and benefits is essential to ensure that the mask you choose will help you achieve your skincare goals.
- Ingredients: Dr. Lamb recommends choosing a formula that contains hyaluronic acid. “Hyaluronic acid has a low irritation profile and can be very effective for trapping in moisture, especially in the winter,” she says. She also explains that certain ingredients are best avoided. “As with all skincare products, I look for formulations that are free of endocrine disruptors, so you know they're safe for your skin but also your overall health.”
FAQ
What are the benefits of overnight face masks?
“Overnight face masks permit higher penetration and efficacy of active ingredients while your body is resting and recovering while you sleep,” explains Dr. Lamb. Compared to face masks that are meant to be washed off, she says overnight options are better for moisturizing and providing anti-aging benefits.“ Rinse-off face masks are geared towards acne and exfoliation because their impact needs to take place in a shorter period of time,” she says.
How many times a week should you use an overnight mask?
“I would not recommend using them more than once weekly,” says Dr. Lamb. “Overusing them may result in skin irritation such as dryness, flakiness, itchiness, redness, and other skin issues. You will reap the benefits when you use it sparingly once a week as part of your regular skincare routine.”
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. An avid skincare product user, she has a deep knowledge of nighttime face masks and has tried several on this list so she can attest to their efficacy. She interviewed Dr. Angela Lamb, a New York City-based dermatologist who serves as the head of Mount Sinai West Dermatology, for this story.