Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Overnight Mask as a Moisturizer

Overnight masks are like saviors for your skin — offering thicker textures and focused skin-care benefits. They’re particularly great if your skin is in need of some extra TLC, and options abound to address the appearance of skin — ranging from overnight exfoliation to an intense dose of hydration. Sounds like a dream, pun intended, for your skin, right? With so many advantages, overnight masks may seem preferable to your everyday moisturizer, but the two are not interchangeable, says celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas. So read on before you get any ideas about tossing your night cream entirely.

According to Vargas, it’s okay to use your overnight mask as a moisturizer sometimes — but that doesn’t mean you should abandon your daily moisturizer for a thicker, ingredient-packed formula every night. Masks are formulated to address a variety of unwanted changes to the appearance of your skin, says Vargas, while nighttime moisturizers assist the skin during the body’s natural repair cycle. Our advice is to keep both in your stash and use them as directed, saving your mask for nights when your skin requires a little extra something.

Ready to add an overnight mask to your skin-care routine? We’ve rounded up a few favorites ahead:

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Mask

Meant to be used weekly, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Mask is formulated to re-establish your skin’s water balance through high levels of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Vitamin B5 and is a luxe addition to any skin-care routine.

Lancôme Rose Jelly Mask

If you’re looking for a lightweight alternative to heavier overnight masks, we recommend the Lancôme Rose Jelly Mask, a gel mask that locks in moisture (you can thank the hyaluronic acid for that) and plumps the look of skin overnight.

Youth to The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

Antioxidants are an essential part of any good skin-care routine, so it’s no surprise the Youth to The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask is one of our favorites. It’s formulated with goodies that help the skin’s appearance such as berries like maqui Vitamin C and squalane oil for skin-brightening and hydration.

Kiehl’s Ultra-Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask

We can’t resist a thick cream that promises intense hydration, and the thousands of five-star reviews prove we’re not the only ones. Formulated with squalane, glycerin and fountain plant, Kiehl’s Ultra-Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask offers overnight hydration and addresses dryness, dullness and uneven skin tone.

Read More

#MaskMonday: We Tried the Glow Recipe Watermelon Jelly Mask — Here’s What We Think

These Are the Best Times to Use a Face Mask

Ask the Expert: What Is a Detox Face Mask?