I Used Overnight Face Masks For A Week

For a lot of people, the arrival of summer means it's time to put down the moisturizer for a few months. However, that's not necessarily always the case. Even if you don't have perpetually dry skin, it's important to have a good moisturizing routine year-round — which is where I find that overnight face masks can really step up your game. Sun damage and constant air conditioning, among other factors, are sure to dry out and irritate your skin during the summer. If you keep up with your skincare routine, you'll have much happier, healthier skin by the end of the summer. That said, it's understandable to not want to slather on moisturizer in the morning when it's already 80 degrees and you're also putting on sunscreen and possibly makeup as well. Even those with dry skin will end up with a shiny face before noon.

Hence, overnight face masks are a surprisingly good option for the summer. I'm not talking about sheet face masks (the kind that make you look like a serial killer), but rather extremely hydrating cream masks that you leave on overnight. When you think of night cream, you probably think of it as an addition to your winter skincare routine — and while it's definitely a good thing to use during the colder months, there's a reason why you should rely on a good overnight moisturizer in the summer. You can put it on at night and go to bed, letting your skin soak up all the hydration, and then when you wake up in the morning there's no need to worry about putting on moisturizer and dealing with a shiny face all day. Your skin will already be hydrated and all ready for makeup (or no makeup at all, if you prefer).

So now that I have you on board, here are a few awesome overnight masks that I tried out on my dry, sensitive skin. I decided to test a different one every night for a week, and here's how it went down.

1. Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Overnight Creme Mask

Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Overnight Creme Mask, $40, Amazon

This Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Overnight Creme Mask is an excellent budget-friendly option. I also like it because it's cruelty-free and is made up of almost entirely natural ingredients such as virgin coconut oil, avocado oil, and cocoa seed butter. It does include artificial fragrance (which can potentially irritate sensitive skin) but since it's at the very bottom of the ingredient list the amount is probably minimal.

As for my experience with this mask, I thought it gave great results for the price. It was very hydrating but absorbed quickly without feeling too sticky or greasy on my skin. The next morning, my skin was soft and hydrated, and it didn't irritate my skin or make me break out. I've definitely used both coconut oil and avocado oil on my face before, but I much prefer using this mask because it doesn't feel as greasy as straight-up oil and it also includes additional benefits that I wouldn't get from just one oil alone.

2. H20+ Beauty Infinity+ Overnight Wrinkle Reducing Mask

H20+ Beauty Infinity+ Overnight Wrinkle Reducing Mask, $35, Amazon

The next night I tried this H20+ Beauty Infinity+ Overnight Wrinkle Reducing Mask. The first thing that I noticed was the pretty packaging. I appreciate little things like that, especially if it's something that's going to be sitting out on my bedside table. The second thing that I noticed is that this mask promises to reduce wrinkles (I mean, it's right there in the name). Since I'm only 25, wrinkles aren't exactly a huge concern for me yet, but that doesn't mean that I can't benefit from this mask's ingredients, which include water, red algae extract, and camellia japonica oil. My dry skin always happily soaks up anti-aging moisturizers and this one was no exception.

This mask also includes artificial fragrance, but it quickly dissipates after application. It felt a little tacky right after applying it but it dried fast; this is not a greasy moisturizer by any means. The next morning, my skin felt smooth and looked calm. There was no tacky residue or leftover shininess. I did feel like there were a few dry patches left in some places but I can imagine those would disappear quickly if I used this mask regularly. I would say this mask is best for those with normal, combination, or even oily skin.

3. L'Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask

L'Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask , $17, Amazon

L'Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask has quite an intense name, and I think it's safe to say that it lives up to it. This mask has a very thick, bouncy, almost jello-like consistency but it didn't feel too heavy on my face. It felt extremely hydrating and emollient. This mask contains hyaluronic acid, which is a powerful humectant — it draws moisture into your skin and helps prevent moisture loss.

I definitely felt that my skin was 10x more hydrated the morning after using this mask. It might actually have been a little too hydrating for the summer months because I felt like there was a lot of residue on my face the next morning, as if my skin didn't absorb all of the product. I think I might prefer this ultra-hydrating mask in the winter when my skin is really dry. Also, it's worth noting that this mask has a very strong perfume-like fragrance, in case you're sensitive to that sort of thing.

4. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Overnight Mask

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Overnight Mask, $38, Amazon

I really like everything that I've tried from First Aid Beauty and this First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Overnight Mask is no exception. Their products are made with sensitive skin in mind, meaning that they're allergy tested, free of artificial fragrances, and made with gentle ingredients. This mask has a lot of great ingredients such as niacinamide and glycerin (excellent moisturizers) as well as echium seed oil (which is rich in omega fatty acids) and ascorbyl glucoside (which improves skin tone). So not only does this mask hydrate your skin, but it also aims to reduce damage and improve your overall skin tone.

As for how it felt, I thought it was extremely rich and hydrating without feeling greasy. It is a little sticky on your face when you apply it but if you massage it in, it's supposed to help with that. I really liked the texture of it and also liked that although I woke up with a somewhat shiny face the next morning (we'll call it "facial radiance") I couldn't feel any sticky residue on my face. I also appreciate the lack of fragrance. This is a great option if you have sensitive skin.

5. Skin Inc. Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask

Skin Inc. Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask, $25, Amazon

This next product, Skin Inc. Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask, can be used as an overnight mask or simply washed off. Obviously, with my dry skin, I opted to sleep with it on. This is the other mask in this round-up that does not contain any fragrance, which is great if you have sensitive skin (or just a sensitive nose). It contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, as well as Okinawa Deepsea water and soya bean extract to hydrate and brighten the skin.

I would say that this mask is great for any skin type, whether dry, oily, or sensitive. It's a gel that doesn't feel sticky or greasy on the skin, but it's definitely extremely hydrating. The next morning I found my skin to be soothed and hydrated, with a smooth, residue-free feeling.

6. Goodal Anti-Wrinkle Want Night Sleep Cream Pack

Goodal Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Cream Pack, $32, Amazon

This Goodal Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Cream Pack is definitely one of the thickest creams on this list. It's probably best during dry winter months, but if you use just a dab it's suitable for the summer too. This cream is packed with nourishing, natural ingredients like lavender oil, grapefruit peel oil, caffeine, and fermented argan oil. You can definitely smell the lavender oil: it's a natural scent that really helps to encourage a calming atmosphere before bed.

Like I said, this is a very thick cream. If you don't like the feeling of a thick moisturizer on your face before bed then this may not be for you, but if you can tolerate it then I highly recommend this night cream. I woke up the next morning with extremely soft, hydrated skin. This is a great choice for when you want a serious boost of hydration.

7. TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack

TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack, $9, Amazon

Yep, this TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack looks like a banana and it's adorable. Other than the cuteness factor, I really like the packaging because sometimes jar packaging can cause ingredients to become less stable (and less effective) as they get exposed to air, light, and germ-covered fingers. This squeeze-tube packaging avoids that issue, which I appreciate. Now, this product does have a very strong artificial banana fragrance. I personally enjoy it, especially since it doesn't linger after application, but it's worth noting.

Similar to the Goodal Cream Pack, this moisturizer is extremely thick and heavy. It felt nice on my skin though, and there wasn't any greasy residue left over the next morning. It actually does contain banana as well as chamomile extract for extra nutrients. This leaves my skin feeling very soft, smooth, and moisturized. I was happy to discover that this moisturizer isn't just adorable; it also works really well.

By the end of the week, I was 100 percent sold on overnight face masks. At first I was afraid that they would feel annoyingly heavy and greasy on my face while I tried to sleep, but it wasn't really an issue at all because they all absorbed so quickly. I loved how my face looked glowing and hydrated every morning without having the shiny, slick look of freshly-applied moisturizer. I think the last four masks on the list were my top favorites, but any one of the above would be an excellent choice depending on your skin's needs. So, my conclusion: Try an overnight face mask this summer to get the most out of your beauty sleep.

Images: Kelly Dougher