The Difference Between Night Creams and Night Masks

A well-rounded evening skin routine should always start with a solid cleanser to rid the skin’s surface of the dirt and impurities still lingering from the day. It’s simple: Skin that’s bogged down with grime has a tougher time repairing itself overnight, putting our coveted beauty sleep in serious jeopardy. Thus, daily cleansing is certainly a concept we can fully get behind, no questions asked. Where things can get a little confusing is moisturizing at night. There are night masks — also referred to as leave-on overnight masks and sleeping masks — and then there are night creams. Both offer hydrating benefits, but which one is better for you? And more importantly, what’s the difference? To find out, keep reading. 

What Are Night Creams?

Because skin does the bulk of its repairing and regenerating while we snooze, night creams are generally formulated to help tackle a bevy of skin concerns, from the appearance of wrinkles to dryness. They won’t make up for a lack of sleep altogether, but they can help your skin look less dull come morning. Common ingredients found in night-cream formulas include retinol, glycolic and hyaluronic acids, as well as deeply-nourishing and protective emollients, vitamins and minerals. The textures of night creams are typically thicker and heavier than their daytime counterparts and won’t offer any SPF protection since UV damage is not a factor at night.  

Our favorites: Vichy Idéalia Skin Sleep, Garnier Miracle Anti-Fatigue Sleeping Cream, Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream

Editor’s Tip: Are you applying your night cream the right way? A celebrity facialist — and Skincare.com expert — shares the essential steps, here!

What Are Night Masks?

Night masks, also known as sleeping face masks or overnight masks are applied the same way as a night cream — onto the skin as the last step in your evening routine. Because they are intended to stay on the skin overnight, they typically are formulated with gentle ingredients that absorb quickly and work while you’re sleeping. Like night creams, they are nourishing and hydrating to help you achieve a healthy-looking complexion.

Our favorites: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque, Lancôme Énergie De Vie Night Mask, Youth to the People Superberry Dream Mask

The Difference Between Night Cream and Night Masks

If night cream and night masks are sounding pretty similar to you right now, that’s because they are. The biggest difference between the two boils down to the formula and how often they’re meant to be applied. Night mask formulas are often more concentrated with hydrating and anti-aging ingredients, similar to what you’d expect from a serum. That’s why we recommend using a night cream as your daily source of evening hydration and incorporating a night mask a few times per week as a treatment. 

Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn 

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