In the realm of beauty, the night holds immense potential for rejuvenation and repair. From skin-soothing sleep masks to nourishing hair masks and even restorative foot treatments, overnight beauty products can boost your routine from head to toe.
As board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern of?Manhattan Dermatology in Manhattan Beach, California, notes, “The skin is connected to all the other cells in our body, and they know what to do at night. It’s important to have a nighttime routine so that your skin cells (and all your cells) maintain their routine and daily cycle.
“What’s great about overnight beauty treatments is that you can mix and match targeted products to address your specific hair or skin care needs based on your [body’s] ever-changing concerns,” she continues, adding that overnight beauty products work seamlessly with no added time to your daily routine — all while gaining maximum results.
In order to find out which treatments will actually upgrade your beauty sleep, we spoke to skin care and hair care experts to find the best overnight masks and treatments for the face, hair and body.
Overnight skin care
In addition to a typical nighttime skin care routine, there are plenty of treatments and face masks that can enhance skin overnight. According to Shamara Bondaroff, celebrity esthetician and founder of SB Skin, these nighttime products typically focus on hydration but can also target specific concerns such as signs of aging, pigmentation and acne.
“While you’re sleeping, your body and skin have the chance to relax, detox, regenerate and recover,” Magovern says. “Using these kinds of products overnight as the body and skin cells repair themselves assist you in maintaining a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.”
And if you’re worried about getting a face mask on your sheets, the experts recommended waiting a while for the product to dry and set a bit before going to bed.
With flavors like Gummy Bear and the limited-edition Cotton Candy, this fan-favorite lip sleeping mask is truly a treat. It feels silky smooth and helps hydrate and soften the lips overnight.
“The single best product to have on hand for DIY treatments is Aquaphor,” Bondaroff says. “It’s great to slather on dry hands, cracked heels and peeling lips before bed, and it’s also an excellent soothing and reparative treatment for eczema.”
Another multitasking favorite, Vaseline is my personal pick for slugging. If you're not familiar, the technique involves applying a layer of an occlusive, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor, over all of your other skin care products to seal in their benefits and prevent transdermal water loss.
This vitamin C- and niacinamide-infused brightening treatment has a whipped oil texture that feels like a gel. Because of its oil-rich formula, it's best to use it as the last step of your nighttime skin care routine and let it act as a slugging layer to lock in the hydration and benefits from your water-based moisturizers and serums.
“This is the perfect blend of retinol and calming, hydrating ingredients,” Magovern says. According to the dermatologist, retinols are a gold-standard nighttime treatment, as they increase cellular turnover and stimulate fresh, healthy skin.
This seawater-infused face mask is one of Bondaroff’s favorites. “The mask can be used as a quick fix for 15 to 20 minutes or for all night, which is how I use it,” she shares.?“It penetrates into the skin nicely, so it doesn't feel heavy or sticky when you are sleeping.”
“The skin goes into repair mode as we sleep, and allowing beneficial vitamins and minerals to absorb into the skin deeply during those hours can make a big difference,” says Tammy Fender, holistic aesthetician and founder of Tammy Fender skin care and spa. “I especially love to recommend trying Restorative Radiance Masque overnight, giving skin the chance to drink in strengthening remedies.” The mask is made with rose, lotus and baobab, which purify the skin in a lightweight mineral-clay base.
Made to sync up with the skin's biorhythm (no, really), this advanced formula releases alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids timed to optimize cellular turnover. This means it works with your skin overnight so you wake up with renewed, glowing skin.
Bondaroff calls this mask a must-have for stressed skin. It contains soothing botanicals such as cucumber, thyme and olive extracts, as well as hyaluronic acid. “It’s a great hydrating mask and a very effective calming and soothing treatment for skin post-laser treatment or sunburn,” she says.
“This mask uses micro-cone technology to deliver vitamin C and hyaluronic acid directly into the skin. These micro-cones dissolve overnight, targeting areas like under the eyes and nasolabial folds, ensuring that the entire formula penetrates deeply for maximum effect,” explains Amy Peterson, medical aesthetician and founder of Skincare by Amy Peterson medspa in Miami, Florida. “This results in diminished lines and wrinkles, in addition to a noticeably brighter, more volumized complexion. It's an innovative solution for those looking to enhance their skin's appearance with precision and efficiency overnight.”
In addition to rest, the body needs nutrients to sustain its health. This face oil is like food for the skin. “It’s literally brewed for five days — with a milk extraction, water extraction and oil extraction — and it has nothing else in it except for plants, foods and minerals,” shares Martha Stoffer, the founder of Surya. Add it as the last step of your nighttime skin care for an ultra-nourishing, 100% natural layer of skin food.
“This is one of my top recommendations, especially for sensitive skin types,” Peterson shares. “It works to even out skin tone and brighten the complexion while targeting dark spots and hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more uniform and radiant skin tone overall. It is also formulated to nourish and keep the skin hydrated overnight.”
This superpowered eye cream is one of Magovern's picks, and it includes a familiar bedtime ingredient: melatonin. “I love the addition of melatonin in skin care; it keeps the skin’s daily cycle in check, and it’s a powerful antioxidant,” she says.
Overnight hair care
According to the two hair experts I consulted, there is high reward and little risk when it comes to overnight hair masks. Jenna Spino, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, Illinois, says that every hair type can benefit from leaving a hair mask on overnight once a week. Moreover, Stephanie Angelone, master stylist at?RPZL?Hair Extension & Blowout Bar in New York City, New York, confirms that leaving a hair mask on for six or more hours benefits the hair’s integrity, “locking in moisture, hydration and shine.” Spino also suggests pairing an overnight treatment with a heatless style, such as braids.
For those looking for a natural remedy, both Spino and Angelone mention doing a coconut oil treatment. “Coconut oil has so many natural benefits to the hair, skin and nails,” Angelone says. “It absorbs very quickly into your hair, helping with breakage, frizz and dehydration.”
This leave-in treatment conditions, strengthens and repairs the hair with patented peptides, leaving it smooth and soft. Angelone says it's great for treating brittle, broken or dull hair and for hair loss. You may feel a difference after just one treatment.
If you're worried about getting a hair mask on your linens, Spino recommends using a satin bonnet. “This will keep your hair off your pillow and away from your face while also protecting your hair from friction,” she explains.
As someone with naturally straight hair and not much skill when it comes to hot tools, I think these heatless curlers are a lifesaver. Spino also recommends this option from Kitsch. “Wrap your damp hair around this satin foam rod, secure it with the scrunchies and wake up in the morning like you just curled your hair,” she explains. The first time I tried it, I was worried about being uncomfortable as I slept, but the cushioned rod is virtually weightless.
Sometimes sleeping with a hair mask and rinsing it out feels like too much work. For those instances, Spino recommends this leave-in treatment instead. “It reduces frizz by 84% and straightens the hair," she says. "By morning the hair is soft, moisturized and easy to style.”
I love this leave-in treatment from Joico for similar reasons. It boosts strength and shine overnight in a weightless formula that you don't have to rinse out, and it won't leave your hair feeling greasy. You can even apply it on dry hair, which makes it even more effortless.
Spino recommends this mask for those with damaged hair. Olaplex is known for its bond-building formulas, which repair the hair while adding moisture and shine. It can be left on overnight for a deeper treatment.
“With a coconut oil base, this is perfect for anyone who has dryness, inflammation or dandruff of the scalp, and anyone who just wants to nourish the scalp and improve their hair’s health and shine,” Magovern says.
Peterson raves about this hair mask, which she uses weekly and says is one of the best overnight treatments to truly repair and nourish the hair. “This changed my hair!” she shares. “I love to sleep in this hair mask. The next morning, after I wash my hair, it feels hydrated without being weighted down.”
Spino says this regular hair mask can be used as an overnight treatment and is especially great for those with curls. “It has coconut and almond oils to moisturize and reduce damage and frizz,” she explains.
If wearing a bonnet isn't your thing, Spino says this scrunchie works too. “It is silk, which makes it safe for sleeping with,” she says. The unique design was created to help lengthen the life span of a blowout, according to Angelone, and can also be used to add heatless curls and volume. The hair can be wrapped around the scrunchie's arch, then secured with the elastic part, creating a bun. When it's time to take your hair down, you'll have luscious curls.
Angelone loves this hydrating mask (another rinse-free option) from Amika. She calls out the formula's hyaluronic acid and coconut water, which help boost moisture.
If your hair gets greasy like mine, this overnight dry shampoo is a lifesaver. Like a typical dry shampoo, it helps absorb excess oils, keeping your hair looking fresh. Some dry shampoos leave an ashy cast on my dark hair, but since this has time to fully absorb overnight, I don't have to worry about it with this product. In the morning, I simply give my hair a quick brush and it looks just as good as it does on wash day.
Overnight body care
While overnight hair and face masks are quite common, there are other parts of the body, such as the hands and feet, that deserve beauty sleep too. With ultra-restorative formulas and rich textures that sink in overnight, these products will help bring health and comfort back to the skin south of your chin.
I'm a big fan of this brand's beauty products that double as sleep aids. Infused with “functional fragrance” — an aromatic blend with calming lavender — this silky body cream melts into the skin, relaxing your body and mind.
“I love using hydrating, firming or restoring products overnight to address other areas of the entire body,” Magovern says. She likes this retinol body treatment, calling it a “smart formulation for skin renewal.”
I like to apply a thick layer of this exfoliating ointment to my heels and any areas of my feet with callouses. Then, I put socks on to seal everything in and go to bed. When I wake up, my feet are noticeably softer and any dryness is gone.
Fender says bedtime is a great opportunity for an extra-thick application of a restorative body cream on the hands and feet. Let them soak up this luscious body lotion to awaken with softer skin.
Not the most glamorous-sounding beauty product, but it really works. This hand lotion (that can also be used on the feet) relieves dry, cracked skin with a nongreasy formula that seals in the moisture. It works best if you reapply it regularly, but you can also apply a thicker layer before bed so it can soak in and repair the skin overnight.
