Overnight face masks are the low-effort skincare step your evening routine might be missing. Applied before bed and left on while you sleep, these leave-on treatments help lock in moisture, support the skin barrier and leave skin looking refreshed by morning.

From lightweight sleeping masks to intensive hydrogel treatments, we have selected the standout formulas for hydration, glow, sensitivity and a plumper-looking finish.

What Is An Overnight Mask?

An overnight mask is a leave-on treatment applied as the final step in your evening routine. Also known as a sleeping mask, it is especially popular in Korean skincare and is designed to support the skin while you rest.

Think of it as a more intensive alternative to your usual moisturiser, helping the complexion feel softer, smoother and more refreshed by morning.

What Does An Overnight Face Mask Do?

An overnight face mask works while you sleep to give your skin an extra boost of hydration, comfort and glow. Depending on the formula, it can help lock in moisture, support the skin barrier and leave dull, tired-looking skin feeling fresher by morning.

Helps Boost Hydration Overnight

If your skin feels tight, dry or dehydrated, a hydrating overnight mask can deliver overnight hydration while you sleep. Look for moisture-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, aloe vera and ceramides to help skin feel softer and more comfortable.

Supports The Skin Barrier

Barrier-supporting overnight masks are ideal when skin feels stressed, dry or easily irritated. Ingredients such as ceramides, cica, panthenol, niacinamide and oat extract can help comfort the skin and lock in moisture.

Helps Dull Skin Look Fresher

For tired-looking skin in need of a glow boost, ingredients such as niacinamide, rice extract, antioxidants and vitamin-rich botanical extracts can help your complexion look brighter and more radiant by morning.

How To Use An Overnight Face Mask

Cream and gel sleeping masks are usually applied as the final step in your PM routine, while wrapping and hydrogel masks should be used according to their individual instructions. Cleanse your skin, apply toner, essence or serum if using, then smooth a thin layer of mask over your face.

If your skin is very dry, apply moisturiser first, or skip this step if the mask is rich enough on its own. Leave on overnight, then rinse or cleanse as normal in the morning. Just make sure the product is designed to be used as an overnight mask or sleeping mask.

The Best Overnight Masks For Every Skin Concern

Whether your skin needs hydration, glow, comfort, barrier support or a plumper-looking finish, these are the formulas to add to your PM skincare routine.

Best Overnight Mask For Glowing Skin: COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

If your skin looks lacklustre, tired or uneven, the COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask is a glow-boosting overnight face mask to have on your radar. Enriched with rice extract, it helps nourish the complexion while you sleep, leaving skin looking more balanced, radiant and refreshed by morning.

Suitable for: Dry, dehydrated, lacklustre and uneven-looking skin

Best Overnight Mask For Glass Skin: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask

The Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask is made for skin that needs a serious overnight glow-up. Powered by a Triple Collagen Complex, peptides, ceramide NP, hyaluronic acid and nourishing plant extracts, this sleeping mask helps prevent moisture loss while leaving skin looking smoother, supple and luminous.

Suitable for: Dry, tired-looking skin, or skin lacking firmness

Best Overnight Gel Mask For Plumper-Looking Skin: Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask

The Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask is ideal for skin that looks tired, textured or in need of a firmer-looking finish. Infused with salmon PDRN, hydrolysed collagen and multi-peptides, this hydrating gel mask helps improve the look of elasticity, texture and fine lines while leaving skin looking plumper and more radiant.

Suitable for: Dehydrated or textured skin, or skin lacking elasticity and radiance

Best Overnight Mask For Dry Skin: Biodance Collagen Real Deep Mask

The Biodance Collagen Real Deep Mask is a great option for dry and dehydrated skin that needs a more intensive leave-on treatment. With bio-collagen, oligo-hyaluronic acid, galactomyces and probiotics, this collagen mask helps deliver deep hydration while supporting a smoother, plumper and more radiant-looking complexion.

Suitable for: Dry, dehydrated and mature skin

Best Lightweight Sleeping Mask: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sleeping

If you prefer a lightweight, non-greasy texture, the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sleeping Pack is a brilliant choice. This gel sleeping mask combines hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica to help moisturise and soothe the skin, while niacinamide and adenosine support a brighter-looking finish.

Suitable for: Sensitive, stressed, dehydrated, dry or combination skin

Best Overnight Face Mask For Sensitive Skin: Q+A Cica Overnight Face Mask

If your skin feels stressed, sensitive or easily unsettled, the Q+A Cica Overnight Face Mask is a strong choice for soothing sensitive skin. This gel-textured cica overnight mask helps calm stressed skin, reduce the look of redness and support a brighter, more resilient-looking complexion.

Suitable for: Sensitive, stressed or redness-prone skin

Best Overnight Mask For Oily Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

Oily skin can still become dehydrated, especially after exfoliating or clarifying treatments. The Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask uses an oil-free formula to deliver a moisture boost, while aloe vera and panthenol help soothe and support the skin barrier. Its fragrance-free formula also suits easily unsettled complexions.

Suitable for: Oily, combination, dehydrated or sensitive skin

Best Budget Overnight Mask: Biovene Water Mask Super Hydrating Overnight Treatment

For an affordable addition to your evening routine, the Biovene Water Mask Super Hydrating Overnight Treatment helps lock in moisture without feeling heavy. Its lightweight formula works to soften and brighten tired-looking skin while helping minimise the appearance of enlarged pores, making it a great option for normal, dry and combination skin.

Suitable for: Normal, dry or combination skin, especially when dullness or visible pores are a concern

Best Overnight Mask For Tired-Looking Skin: Huxley Sleep Mask; Good Night

When your complexion looks tired or feels in need of extra comfort, the Huxley Sleep Mask; Good Night delivers lasting hydration through a comfortable gel-like texture. Prickly pear seed oil helps soften and nourish the skin, while centella asiatica helps calm the complexion and reduce the look of fatigue. Despite its nourishing formula, the mask is designed to sit comfortably on the skin without feeling overly heavy.

Suitable for: Normal, dry or sensitive skin that looks tired or feels uncomfortable

Can You Use An Overnight Mask Every Night?

This is dependent on the formula. Lightweight hydrating masks may be suitable for regular use, while collagen, sheet and hydrogel masks are usually best used a few times a week.

Always follow the product instructions, using leave-on masks as the final step in your evening routine and removing timed treatments as directed. Some formulas can also be worn for a few hours during the day.

Are Overnight Masks Worth It?

Yes, overnight masks can be worth it if your skin feels dry, tired or in need of more moisture than your usual night cream provides. They are particularly useful during colder weather, after travelling or whenever your complexion needs a quick hydration boost.

Depending on the formula, an overnight mask can replace your moisturiser or be layered over it to help lock in hydration. While not essential for every routine, the right mask can make a noticeable difference to how soft, smooth and refreshed your skin feels by morning.

Overnight Mask FAQs

Do you wash off an overnight mask? 

Most overnight masks are designed to be left on while you sleep, then either peeled off, rinsed away or left without needing to be washed off, depending on the formula. Always follow the instructions for your chosen mask. 

Is an overnight mask the same as a sleeping mask? 

Yes, a sleeping mask is another name for an overnight face mask. Both are designed to be left on the skin while you sleep. 

Do I use an overnight mask before or after moisturiser? 

Most overnight masks are used as the final step in your evening routine. You can use one instead of moisturiser or layer it over moisturiser if your skin is very dry. 

Can I use an overnight mask with retinol? 

Yes, but choose carefully. Avoid layering retinol with overnight masks that contain strong actives unless the product directions say they are suitable together. 

What is the best overnight mask for dry skin?

 The best overnight mask for dry skin contains hydrating and nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides and squalane. 

What is the best overnight mask for glowing skin? 

For glowing skin, look for an overnight mask with ingredients such as niacinamide, rice extract, antioxidants and moisture-boosting humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin.