Twice-Weekly Overnight Mask for Extra Hydration

My skin usually tells me when the usual moisturizer starts to fall a little short. I notice it in a certain tightness, less radiance, or in that sense that it needs something more, although I don’t want to complicate the routine with five new steps. That’s why I’ve started using a night mask a couple of times a week, a simple gesture I use as a boost when I notice the skin drier or dehydrated.

What I like about this type of masks is precisely that they work while we sleep and don’t force you to elongate the nightly ritual too much. The hydrating formulas can incorporate ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides or squalane to provide hydration and care for the skin barrier. It’s that middle ground between sticking to exactly the same routine and changing it completely when it starts to fall short.

That said, more product or more nights doesn’t necessarily mean a better skin. The frequency depends on the formula, its indications and how our skin responds. I would start by spacing out the applications and observing the result upon waking: if the skin is comfortable, soft and no discomfort appears, there’s no need to multiply the nights. Also, a purely hydrating mask isn’t used with the same logic as one that incorporates renewing actives.

I would also choose the texture according to what the skin is asking for. A gel-cream can feel more pleasant when we want hydration without too much heaviness, while a balm fits better if dryness or flaking starts to appear. For me, that’s where the charm of rediscovering night masks lies: not turning them into another essential to use by obligation, but into a small tweak to the routine to arrive in November with comfortable and hydrated skin.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask has a fresh gel-cream texture designed to provide an extra hydration boost while we sleep. Its formula combines hyaluronic acid with squalane, niacinamide and ceramide, an interesting blend to hydrate and care for the skin barrier. It is used as the last step of the nightly routine and aims for the skin to wake up softer, more comfortable and luminous.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask opts for a balm texture that transforms into an oil when spread over the skin. It contains 10.5% plant-derived squalane and glacier glycoprotein, and is especially designed to combat nighttime hydration loss. It can be interesting when dryness, flaking or a sense of discomfort starts to become more evident.

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask is a cream mask that works during sleeping hours to provide hydration and nourishment. Its oil-free formula aims to replenish the moisture the skin needs without resorting to an overly greasy texture. It is applied to the face and neck as the last step of the routine, avoiding the eye contour.

Biovène Water Mask is a moisturizing night mask with 95 % ingredients of natural origin. It is designed to help preserve hydration while we sleep and to wake up with softer skin and a rested appearance. It also focuses on visually improving texture and radiance, so it fits well when, in autumn, we start to notice the face looking a bit more dull.

Waso Yuzu-C Beauty Sleeping Mask by Shiseido combines the nocturnal masking format with a light and refreshing texture that absorbs quickly. The formula incorporates yuzu and is designed to provide hydration and radiance to skin that begins to show signs of fatigue. Its texture is also designed to minimize transfers to the pillow overnight.