These leave-on masks help treat all kinds of skin concerns, from acne to wrinkles.
If you’re dealing with dry skin, wrinkles, acne or just want to get glowing skin, overnight masks are a great way to help combat these issues. They are “meant to be applied before bed and left on skin to allow the ingredients to work overnight,” says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. Though your skin naturally repairs itself while you’re sleeping, these masks are “designed to support that process,” adds Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.
In their most recent test of overnight masks, our Institute Beauty Lab scientists recruited a panel of six testers to try 22 overnight masks over the course of 15 days. Top performing products from that test, as well as a few Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winners and editor picks, are all included in this roundup of the best overnight masks you can buy.
At the end of this guide, you can learn more about what to look for when shopping for an overnight mask, whether you should apply moisturizer before your overnight mask and more. Curious about other options for face masks? Check out our guides to the best blackhead masks and best sheet masks.
1
Best Overall Overnight Mask
Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 Prime Sleep Tight Mask
Although on the pricier side, this Osmotics pick was a winner in the GH Beauty Lab’s overnight mask test, earning a high score for raising skin’s moisturization levels by an impressive 45% in Corneometer measurements. The Lab was also impressed by its high level of sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid) to boost hydration and copper peptides to help stimulate collagen production. Some found the product a little sticky upon application, but no one noticed any stains or residue on their pillow in the morning, which the Lab appreciated.
Skin type | All, particularly aging skin |
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Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid |
2
Best Value Overnight Mask
Burt’s Bees Hydrating Overnight Mask
Featuring skin soothers like avocado oil and prebiotics, Burt’s Bees hydrating mask comes in at a great price point. As added bonuses, “this mask soaks in nicely and helps smooth out crepey skin texture,” says GH Beauty Director April Franzino, who also loves that it’s made with plant oils and butters. However, one online reviewer shares that the mask made their face break out, so take note of this if you have acne-prone skin.
Skin type | Dry |
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Key ingredients | Avocado oil, prebiotics |
3
Best Overnight Mask for Wrinkles
Perricone MD Multi-Action Overnight Intensive Firming Mask
If you’re looking to fight fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Garshick recommends this creamy overnight mask. It “incorporates coconut oil for hydration, DMAE [dimethylaminoethanol] to firm the skin and alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant that helps to fight free radical damage,” she explains. “Together, this combination works to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while firming and toning the skin.” The anti-aging mask is expensive, though a worthy investment for someone looking for intense overnight repair.
Skin type | All, especially aging skin |
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Key ingredients | Coconut oil, DMAE, alpha lipoic acid |
4
Best Overnight Mask for Glowing Skin
Pipette Overnight Brightening Mask
A Beauty Award-winning pick, this translucent gel mask exfoliates and illuminates skin overnight thanks to a combination of lactic and malic acids. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and squalane comfort and hydrate skin. In a study, 82% of users agreed that it improved the look of discoloration and gave skin a healthy glow, Lab data analysis confirmed. Take caution if you have sensitive skin, though, as some online reviewers share that it made their skin itch or burn (likely due to the exfoliating ingredients).
Skin type | Dull, discolored |
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Key ingredients | Lactic acid, malic acid, glycerin, squalane |
5
Best Overnight Mask for Acne-Prone Skin
Skinfix Recovery+ Antioxidant Tetrapeptide Soothing Treatment
Dr. Garshick likes this mask to “help calm the skin and reduce blemishes and redness that can go along with breakouts,” she says. She advises that this mask “can be used following retinoid treatment to help soothe the skin overnight.” It contains skin-loving ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides “to support the skin barrier,” she adds. Plus, she notes that “it won’t clog pores or worsen breakouts.” However, some online reviewers find it didn’t help with their redness, so you may need to incorporate additional treatments to reduce that.
Skin type | Acne-prone, redness-prone |
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Key ingredients | Green tea, honey and peptide complex |
6
Best Overnight Mask for Sensitive Skin
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask
Recommended by Dr. Garshick, this classic overnight mask is especially great for sensitive or dry skin types. GH analyst Grace Wu loves the “jelly-like texture and that it leaves my skin smooth and glowy,” she says. “It’s so lightweight and has a soothing feel on my skin.” Dr. Garshick credits the inclusion of Centella asiatica, a staple of the brand, for the product’s “calming, soothing and hydrating” properties. She also notes that it soothes the skin barrier and locks in moisture. Note that some online reviewers feel that it doesn’t absorb into skin very well.
Skin type | Dry, sensitive |
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Key ingredients | Centella asiatica, glycerin, niacinamide |
7
Best Overnight Mask for Dry Skin
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask
Aptly named, this Origins mask is like a gulp of hydration for even the driest skin. A top performer in Lab testing, it increased skin moisturization levels by 36% in measurements with the Corneometer machine. It’s also one of Butler’s favorites, who calls it an “amazingly hydrating product.” She likes the refreshing scent of the mask and finds it “so comforting for skin affected by dry winter air and incredible at soothing dry patches.” One downside is that “it can feel tacky on skin,” she adds.
Skin type | Dry, normal |
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Key ingredients | Swiss Glacier water, hyaluronic acid, avocado butter |
8
Best Korean Overnight Mask
Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask
A widely-loved Korean skincare brand, Sulwhasoo’s selection of luxe products includes this lightweight yet hydrating overnight mask. Butler loves that this mask “never makes my skin feel suffocated,” adding that it keeps her “skin hydrated like an overnight mask but feels like a regular moisturizer.” Featuring emollient ingredients like squalane and shea butter alongside antioxidant-containing fruit extracts, online reviewers claim this pricey mask is worth the investment.
Skin type | All, especially dry |
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Key ingredients | Squalane, pomegranate extract, jujube |
9
Best Fragrance-Free Overnight Mask
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask with 10.5% Squalane
Containing an impressive 10.5% squalane, this mask is loved by both Franzino and Dr. Garshick for locking in moisture overnight. They both note that it’s fragrance-free, with Dr. Garshick adding that it “leaves the skin feeling softer and smoother and helps to strengthen the skin barrier.” Franzino reaches for it when her skin “is feeling extremely parched and reactive,” she says, describing the texture as “butter-like.” Some online reviewers don’t love the buttery texture, though, as they find it a bit greasy.
Skin type | Dry, normal |
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Key ingredients | Squalane |
How we test overnight masks
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab tests thousands of beauty products every year, including overnight masks.
In our most recent overnight mask test, we recruited a panel of six testers to test the moisturization efficacy of 22 overnight masks over the course of 15 days. Using the Corneometer machine, scientists took baseline measurements at 10 different points and repeated the process six hours after initial application to calculate the change in moisturization. From there, products were scored on their ability to hydrate skin.
What to look for when shopping for the best overnight masks
The most important thing to consider when shopping for an overnight face mask is your skin concern.
✔️ Dry skin: Dry skin usually is in need of a hydrating mask. Look for ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, Butler advises. These will “draw moisture in and boost hydration,” adds Dr. Garshick.
✔️ Aging skin: For aging skin, try a mask with retinol to help treat fine lines and wrinkles and boost collagen production. It can be a “great option for someone who may not be able to tolerate a traditional retinol nightly but want to get the benefits of a retinol,” explains Dr. Garshick.
✔️ Dull skin: Dealing with dullness or clogged pores? “Look for masks with exfoliating acids like AHAs or salicylic acid,” notes Butler.
✔️ Sensitive skin: If your issue is sensitivity, it’s “best to stick with hydrating masks that are gentle on the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. You should also “avoid fragrance if you have sensitive skin,” she adds.
Should you apply moisturizer before an overnight mask?
Though it’s not necessary to apply a moisturizer before an overnight mask, you can do so if you’d like. “Most overnight masks are designed to be a last step of a nighttime routine. In some cases they are meant to be applied to clean dry skin,” says Dr. Garshick. But, if you’re feeling extra dry, a hydrating mask “may be applied on top of a serum or moisturizer to really help lock the moisture in,” she adds.
How often should you use an overnight mask?
“Most overnight masks are meant to be used one to two times per week,” Dr. Garshick says, especially those with harsher exfoliating ingredients. But, check the instructions on the packaging, as it’s possible that some “hydrating masks can be used every night,” adds Butler.