For a routine that works smarter, not harder.
Recently, I was at a party with several fellow beauty editors and the topic of sleep and nighttime routines came up. The group I was chatting with all agreed that their preferred regimen involves a thorough and complete skincare routine (naturally) prior to getting under the covers by 8 or 9pm to read in bed before hitting the lights. When it was my turn to share, I panicked and lied (I know, I know), saying I’m usually snoozing by 10pm. The truth? Time is just a number.
Back in 2018, I actually wrote a story for FASHION about the cultural obsession surrounding sleep — or more precisely, getting the most and best sleep possible. I didn’t get it. “Like a child passionately avoiding nap time,” I wrote (side note: this is suddenly a triggering analogy because I now have my own toddler and the thought of a skipped nap is bone-chilling), “I will happily be awakened any time, anyplace […] I welcome any interruptions from the — pardon the pun — snoozefest that is slumber.”
I know what you’re thinking: Now that I’m a parent, don’t I feel sooo silly for once implying that sleep was boring? Nope. As it turns out, I’m less interested in sleep than ever before. Instead, I’ve become utterly obsessed with milking every second of free time I get. Between working full-time (and then some), walking the dog, daycare pickup and the absolute chaos that is weeknight evenings with a toddler (IYKYK), when everyone’s finally fed and asleep, the last thing I want to do is call the day quits. Not when there are hours of TikTok to finally be consumed, reality TV to be binged, creepy domestic thrillers to be read, late-night existential crises to be had, and so on and so forth.
So as you can imagine, my lengthy evening to-do list doesn’t leave me with a ton of time for a comprehensive beauty routine. But I do want to disguise the fact that I’m a sleep-indifferent monster, which means that over the years, I’ve found the quickest, most effective beauty products that work while you sleep, so I don’t have to spend my precious evenings primping and priming.
Without further ado, you can shop my picks for the absolute best beauty products that work while you sleep, so you can get back to your own pressing evening activities, whatever they may be. See ya on the dark side!
Amika Dream Routine Overnight Repair Mask
Formulated with a trio of moisture-retaining ingredients (hyaluronic acid, bio-fermented coconut water and polyglutamic acid), thanks to this hydration trifecta, you’ll wake up with hair that’s three times (!) more hydrated than it was the night before.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment
If you’re looking for a noticeable difference in the texture of your skin immediately, this is the mask for you. Thanks to this AHA-packed formula, your skin will feel smooth and renewed the next morning. Promise.
Kate Somerville EradiKate Overnight Lotion
Formulated with 2% salicylic acid and retinol, this acne-treatment works while you snooze, so you can target blemishes without doing, well, anything. Immediate add to cart.
Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment
If your skin is feeling irritated, inflamed, or reactive by the time bedtime rolls around (due to stress, environmental factors, or your evening glass of red wine), a swipe of this skin barrier-boosting, microbiome-balancing, calming treatment will work wonders overnight.
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment
Made with encapsulated retinal (meaning it’s wrapped in a protective coating and is only released once passed the skin’s surface, which is twice as effective as free retinal), this serum allows for enhanced stability and targeted delivery, so you can wake up with more supple skin.
Bumble and bumble Bb. While You Sleep Overnight Damage Repair Masque
Why is hair damage so much more noticeable at night? If you’ve spotted a few split ends that weren’t there last week, throw on this hair mask and rinse it out in the morning. No fuss, no muss.
belif Aqua Bomb Overnight Lip Mask with Shea Butter
Who among us isn’t feeling the effects of the cold, dry winter air right now? Our lips often take the hardest hit this season, so show them some love with a hydrating mask that visibly restores dry, chapped lips.
philosophy Hope In a Jar Skin Resurrection Overnight Power Hydrator
This mega-hydrator is clinically proven to boost skin’s nightly cell renewal cycle so that by morning, skin appears deeply hydrated and refreshed.
Grown Alchemist Soothing and Softening Vanilla, Orange Peel and Vitamin E Hand Cream
Even if you’re not a hand cream girlie, you’ll love this blend of botanicals and nourishing plant oils that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave your hands feeling greasy or get all over your silk pillowcase. You’ll wake up with softer-than-ever hands and cuticles.
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch
Pimples, be gone. When it comes to beauty products that work while you sleep, there are few as thrilling as a pimple patch. Who can resist the satisfaction of pulling one off in the morning to find a dot of gunk in the centre of the patch? There’s nothing better.
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