OVERNIGHT FACE MASKS: ARE YOU USING THEM WRONG?
- Soph
- Feb 14, 2022
- 4 min read
If caring for your skin is as important to you as it is to me, you'll know how difficult it is to find a product that actually works for you. It's a tiresome and expensive process, not to mention how it can potentially damage your skin if you try a product that doesn't work with your skin type. For this reason, I wanted to talk about night time face masks for this week's skin chapter, as I have heard many mixed opinions about them.
Now, I'm not a dermatologist. Despite this, I know that depending on your skin type, there are products and formulas that you should not use, no matter how expensive and designer the brand. Skin care is not 'one size fits all'. It's important to know when a product isn't doing you any good, and if so, to stop using it. Like this, there are right and wrong ways to use these products. For instance, if you're using a cream and you aren't noticing any changes, you may not be using it correctly.
My friend has extremely sensitive skin, and uses many products on a daily basis to soothe it. She once mentioned using a serum from The Ordinary, that despite slightly hurting her skin when she applied it, 'seemed fine' in her words. I immediately told her to stop applying the serum if it hurt her, especially because of how sensitive her skin is. It seemed obvious at the time, but seeing as The Ordinary is a well known brand that has many great reviews, she overlooked it. I'm not saying that The Ordinary is a bad brand, it works absolute miracles for me. All I'm saying is that just because the brand or product has good reviews, doesn't necessarily mean it'll work for you. I actually wrote about my experience with this brand, click here to read it.
Bearing this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about night time skin products, specifically overnight masks. I have had a few conversations with friends about this subject, some of them swear by these masks, and others see no difference after using them.
How do overnight masks work?
These masks are basically a moisturizer, just stronger and more protecting. There are two main functions: the first is to deeply penetrate your skin with goodness and whatever element your mask uses (such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, etc), and secondly, to act like a barrier, to protect your skin from any dirt and dust that might clog up your pores. These masks are designed to stay on your skin for up to 8 hours after appying them.
What's the best way to use a night mask?
As I mentioned, night masks create a barrier that closes your skin off for the duration of your sleep (or at least until you remove it). This means that anything under the mask stays there for hours. You can use them on their own, just applying them normally and going to sleep (but wait for it to dry!), however an even better way of using them is to make the most of the protective barrier and apply any night time skin care products you have to your skin before applying the mask. This way not only is the mask working it's magic, but you get more out of your night products, by giving them a better and longer time on your skin.
This being said, if your night mask contains acids or retinol, and any of the skin care products do as well, it's important not to use these products with the mask as it could irritate your skin.
Why your night mask may not be working.
There are many possible answers to this. Here are a few things to consider:
Are you washing your face before applying the mask?
Remembering that it acts like a sealant on your skin, anything that's under it, stays there for hours- even dirt. So if you haven't washed your face properly, this dirt makes it's way into your pores and stays there.
Does the mask include drying ingredients?
This could be alcohol, fragrances, glycolic acids or salicylic acids.
Is the mask designed for overnight use?
This one is so important to look out for. If you're applying a normal face mask to your skin and using it as an overnight mask, stop! Short use face masks are designed for just that- short use. Usually on the packaging it will say for how long to leave them on (the normal time ranges from 10 to 30 minutes). If you exceed the recommended time, you actually risk drying out your skin, and even damaging it. So if you want to leave a product on overnight, make sure it's actually designed for it.
Does the mask contain hydrating ingredients?
Although the main purpose of these products is to hydrate, some masks lack hydrating ingredients. You're on the safe side if you find any of these ingredients written on the packaging: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, fatty alcohols such as cetyl and stearyl, petrolatum, squalane, lactic acid, aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil and vitamin E. To find out more about these ingredients and why they're beneficial, read Sarah Jacoby's post on Self by clicking here.
Although these ingredients are listed as moisturizing elements, if you have never used them before, patch test to be sure they don't cause you any negative reactions.
So there you have it: the do's and dont's of night masks. If you're thinking of incorporating overnight masks into your skincare routine, like with any product, it's important that you gradually consolidate it in, slowly but surely.
I hope that this was helpful and that you found the answers you were looking for!
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