Beauty Sleep: Overnight Masks To Unwind and Relax

Overnight masks are the easiest way to treat your skin to a little pampering, and now has never been a better time to engage in some TLC.

We’ve all heard the old concept of beauty sleep; getting enough hours of shut eye to ensure your skin is refreshed.  

But in this modern world, there’s a way to enhance almost anything and everything – including beauty sleep. Enter overnight face masks.

These are face masks and creams that are applied before your head hits the pillow and left on overnight. Like regular masks, there’s a product out there for almost any skin concern – from hydration, to anti-ageing, to acne or inflammation fighting.

At night, the skin goes into overdrive, repairing and replenishing the skin cells. Additionally, it means skin is highly receptive to the active ingredients found in overnight masks, providing a whole range of beauty benefits.

How many nights per week they are applied depends on the product. Some, with highly potent ingredients, may only need one application per week to leave skin feeling moist and smooth. Additionally, applying a face mask before bed can greatly enhance relaxation and calm the nerves, providing time to unwind and focus on yourself.

The Bondi Beauty team put several overnight face masks to the test, documenting the results, feel and all the important information – such as if the mask transfers onto pillowcases – so you don’t have to find out for yourself.

MERE Skincare Bio Repair Night Guardian Mask, RRP$59

Best suited for: To lock in moisture and repair the skin

Housed in a luxurious black glass pot, this overnight mask promises to provide “future beauty, naturally awoken,” which sounds like a marketing line, but really means your skin is receiving a hit of natural benefits, prepping for the future.

The gel, water-like texture allows for seamless application, the product easily massaging into the skin. It creates a subtle layer over the face that helps to lock in moisture, delivering antioxidants directly to the skin cells for repair and regeneration.

Prickly pear oil provides a concentrated boost of Vitamin E, which helps brighten the skin and reduce hyper-pigmentation. Also giving benefits is Flame Tree Extract, an Australian tree known for its antioxidant properties, which helps stimulate collagen production. Sunflower Extract also stimulates skin cell renewal due to the abundance of phyto-actives that help brighten the skin.

The scent is refreshing, with notes of citrus and florals, which provides a beautiful aroma to fall asleep with.

BB Beauty writer Rebecca put this mask to the test.

“This fabulous new Aussie brand is completely vegan and cruelty-free, and is made entirely of natural ingredients, which have been infused with natural Aussie botanical oils. The fragrance is incredible and reminds me of a walk through a field of gumtrees after it’s rained.

The texture is smooth and heavy enough for a night cream, but light enough to wear in an Aussie summer. If you want glowing dewy skin, this is the night cream you want to use every other night. My skin is so smooth when I wake in the morning and is glowing, which is refreshing to see when I wake.”

RAWW Super Hydrate-ME Night Cream, RRP$29

Best suited for: Hydrating

RAWW Cosmetics is jam packed with vegan-friendly, cruelty free, superfood ingredients, sending a boost of antioxidants to the skin – and this overnight mask is no exception.

A clean scent underpinned by berries and a slight citrus undertone, this contains WildBerry Harvest for clinically proven hydration. Mango Seed Butter helps to reduce breakouts and protect skin from pollution, Apricot Kernel Oil to help smooth the skin and Acai Fruit Oil to help fight premature ageing.

Read BB writer Zoe’s review:

“This overnight mask has a thick, whipped like texture, making it harder to apply than some others – it didn’t melt seamlessly into the skin, but rather created a protective barrier that developed into a subtle mask.

This isn’t a downside though – as it locks in the antioxidants, allowing them to work their magic. The next morning, my skin felt soft and moisturised. No dryness, no inflammation, just hydration.”

KORA Organics Noni Glow Sleeping Mask, RRP$60

Best suited for: Dry skin

From Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr comes KORA Organics, a brand dedicated to high quality, certified organic and natural products to detoxify and nourish the skin.

Containing Organic Silver Ear Mushroom and Coconut Milk, alongside Caviar Lime and Kakadu Plum Extracts, the Noni Glow Sleeping Mask boosts the skin with hydration. Overnight as the skin resets and rejuvenates itself, this added boost of hydration helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while helping reduce inflammation and redness, calming the skin.

Review by Zoe:

“This mask doesn’t disappoint. Cool to the touch and incredibly lightweight, applying this was like an instant boost of hydration that I could actually feel – which was only accentuated overnight. Yet the mask was not heavy, didn’t leave residue on my pillow, and once it was applied, I simply forgot it was there – it was that light.

The clean aroma was also lovely to fall asleep to, leaving me feeling fresh and pampered. In the morning, my skin was incredibly soft. This mask is ideal for dry skin”

Innisfree Capsule Recipe Sleeping Pack in Rice and Green Tea RRP $2

Best suited for: Reducing inflammation, combination skin

Korean Beauty powerhouse Innisfree launched in Australia just last year in 2019 and has already become a cult favourite for their inexpensive, yet quality products.

The Capsule Recipe Sleeping Pack provides a solution to almost any skin problem – from soothing, moisturising, nourishing and boosting skin tone and texture.

Rebecca lists this mask as one of her ultimate favourites:

“Honestly for $2 I could easily buy one of each of these incredible sleeping masks as they have so many different types available.

The Green Tea is designed to restore balance to the skin and reduce inflammation and the rice one is smooth out complexion and even out skin tone. Both of which I constantly require support with, as I have combination skin.

These packs are really easy to use and are for single use only. I find this so convenient, as you don’t always need the same mask twice. Often you only need a boost every few weeks with something specific.

Made with plants which grow on the island of Jeju in South Korea, each product contains mineral rich ingredients which work to give you the best skin possible.”