Overnight beauty treatments enhance skin and hair health by utilizing the body's natural repair processes during sleep. Skincare treatments target cell turnover, reduce inflammation, and repair UV damage. Haircare treatments restore moisture and repair damage. Effective products include serums, masks, oils, and silk accessories.
Sure, getting a good night’s sleep means you wake up feeling rested and refreshed. But those hours of beauty sleep actually go so much further than getting a few extra Zs. Putting together the perfect evening beauty routine is a must—and, as it turns out, certain products can make your skin and hair look and feel their absolute best while you rest.
“Overnight beauty treatments are often the most effective because your body is already in rest and regeneration mode,” says Amy Wall, aka The Skintessa, of Higher Self Beauty.
To that end, we’ve put together a handy guide of what to know about overnight beauty treatments, along with the best skincare and hair products to give you a gorgeous glow come morning.
Read on to find out more, and add a few new products to your evening beauty regimen!
Benefits of overnight beauty treatments
First of all, why is a dedicated evening beauty routine even important? Simply put, skin and hair need a chance to reset and come back to life during the night—and there are certain products to help them do just that.
“Overnight beauty treatments are often the most effective because your body is already in rest and regeneration mode.”
-Amy Wall, aka The Skintessa, of Higher Self Beauty
Plus, you can mix and match products, or use different ones based on your current concerns. Is your skin feeling dry? Is your hair feeling oily? No matter what’s happening at any current moment, there are overnight beauty treatments that can help.
Overnight skincare
There’s a lot going on with your skin while you’re in REM mode. Skin cell turnover increases, which allows damaged cells to be replaced by newer, fresher cells. Simultaneously, cortisol—aka the stress hormone—decreases, leading to less inflammation and redness.
Additionally, your skin is working overtime while you sleep to repair damage caused by UV exposure and pollution, and increasing blood flow to help aid in the repair process.
“Pairing that with the (hopefully!) eight hours of being in a dark environment, away from environmental stressors, sleep is the perfect time to give your skin a facial-worthy treatment,” says Wall.
Overnight haircare
Similarly to the skin, hair needs time to refresh and rejuvenate itself during the night. “Overnight beauty treatments are an incredible way to restore and rejuvenate your hair while you sleep, especially if you have dry, damaged, or stressed hair and scalp,” says Robin Emtage, a beauty stylist and founder of SILKTÁGE.
The ingredients in your overnight hair masks and other beauty treatments have ample time to sink into strands and help repair damage and other issues like dryness or irritation.
“The convenience of applying the treatment before bed and waking up to beautiful, rejuvenated hair is a big plus, especially when your hair needs extra care,” says Emtage.
Best overnight skincare treatments
When it comes to the best overnight skincare treatments, the list may seem endless. Where do you even begin? Depending on your skin type, you may use a mix of acne treatments, wrinkle treatments, overnight face masks, eye creams, serums, and face oils.
Wall prefers gel masks and rich creams or balms. “Gel masks can deliver concentrated nutrients via bioavailable ingredients, and thick, unctuous creams and balms can seal in serums and strengthen our skin’s protective barrier,” she says.
Wall also notes that it’s important to consider which ingredients you’re using in your evening skincare routine. “Because our body and skin are working overnight to heal and regenerate your tissues, it’s extra important to know your ingredients and stay away from those that increase inflammation and toxic overload,” she says.
She recommends avoiding synthetic fragrances, alcohol, sulfates, phthalates, preservatives, and essential oils as all can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.
Here are some skincare products you can incorporate into your overnight skincare routine.
Serums
Higher Self Beauty The Trinity of Serums
“I love layering these three serums over my entire face, neck, and chest as the ultimate sleep treatment,” Wall says of this serum trio, which contains products with peptides, vitamin A, and vitamin C. She recommends them for most skin types, although those with acne and sensitive skin should steer clear.
Herbivore Botanicals Cloud Jelly Plumping Hydration Serum
Treat your skin to a dose of plumping hydration with a mix of tremella mushroom, vegan collagen, and glycerin.
Overnight masks and face creams
Naturopathica Argan & Retinol Advanced Wrinkle Remedy Night Gel Cream
A combination of argan and advanced retinol work together to smooth, firm, and lift skin to create a more youthful-looking glow. Since retinol can be quite irritating, especially if you’ve never used it before, we recommend using it sparingly—once a week to start, and then build up as your skin tolerates it more.
Maya Chia The Advanced Response Complex Regenerating Hydration Face and Neck Cream
The innovative pump already makes this night cream a winner, since you don’t need to swirl your fingers around in an open tub of product. It’s formulated with a host of nourishing ingredients like Plant-Transforming Growth Factor Beta-2, antioxidants, and peptides to boost skin hydration overnight.
Lumene Nordic Hydra Hydration Recharge Overnight Cream
It’s tough to find a night cream that isn’t too heavy, especially for warmer months—but this gel-cream one, with a mix of pure Arctic water, organic Nordic birch sap, and hydra-technology, is exactly that.
Ogee Hydraganics Indigo Dream Renewal Cream
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides hydrate, acmella flower targets signs of aging, and blue tansy calms and soothes irritated skin. Oh, and this night cream smells divine too.
Eye creams
Mario Badescu Caffeine Eye Cream
This little unassuming tub contains an eye cream that’s packed with a host of replenishing and nourishing ingredients—like its hero ingredient, caffeine, which works to depuff and minimize the appearance of bags and dark circles.
Curél Moisture Repair Eye Cream
This eye cream is rich and lush, yet absorbs super quickly, to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Savor Beauty Repair Caviar Eye Cream
Caffeine, CoQ10, and fatty acids combine in this rich eye cream, which sinks into skin immediately upon contact and helps nourish the skin underneath your eyes while you sleep.
Treatments
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
If you’re nervous about using retinol, try this face oil. It’s formulated with the alternative ingredient bakuchiol, which helps soothe and comfort the skin while fighting the signs of aging. The oil sinks into skin and leaves it looking undeniably glowy.
Korres Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink
The name alone is so luscious, and the face oil contained within the bottle is rich, hydrating, and replenishing, leaving skin feeling super velvety by morning.
Eight Saints Lip Trick Vanilla Lip Mask
This lip mask is formulated with a mix of conditioning vitamin E and collagen-boosting amino acids to bring perked-up restoration to your pout. And honestly? It tastes as good as it feels.
Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
From the gleaming silver tube to the precision applicator, this lip mask is a stunner. It’s also unique, since it exfoliates, masks, and shines in one simple step.
Verso Night Cream With Retinol 8
This night cream contains a stabilized vitamin A complex that’s eight times more effective than standard retinol—and, simultaneously, irritates half as much. If you’re looking to firm and tighten skin while you sleep, this is a true winner.
Carter+Jane The Everything Oil
This oil can be used everywhere from your eyes and lips to your face and décolletage, and it’s crafted with sustainably sourced, cold-pressed Moroccan prickly pear seed oil. Plus, it sinks into skin immediately upon contact.
Blossom All-Natural Face Oil
Nine essential plant and flower oils and vitamin E come together to seal in moisture, boost radiance, and reduce redness. Plus, the bottle is filled with genuine flowers. This is definitely a stunner to display on your vanity.
Best overnight hair treatments
“Using an overnight hair treatment can upgrade the way your hair looks and feels,” says hairstylist James Wilson of The Mini Salon and Brdy Jay Salon.
There are many benefits to incorporating a hair treatment into your nighttime beauty routine. Wilson points out their ability to nourish, repair, enhance shine, protect against environmental damage, and improve hair texture.
“Overnight treatments allow hair to absorb nutrients and moisture more effectively, leading to healthier and more hydrated hair,” she says. “By restoring moisture and nutrients, overnight treatments can give your hair a natural, healthy shine.”
Emtage notes that for dry or damaged hair specifically, overnight hair treatments can be a godsend. “They mean reduced frizz, enhanced shine, and improved elasticity,” she says. Look for hair treatments like overnight hair masks, scalp treatments, hair serums, silk pillowcases, and scrunchies.
Here are some hair products you can incorporate into your overnight haircare routine.
Hair masks
Living Proof Restore Repair Mask
This mask, which is designed to repair dry, damaged hair overnight, is one of Wilson’s favorites. “It strengthens hair, restores moisture, and provides long-lasting smoothness without weighing it down,” she says.
California Naturals Deep Repair Hair Mask
A rich blend of mango, shea, and avocado provides nutrient-rich hydration to every single strand in this overnight hair mask that smells super refreshing.
Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque
“This treatment helps restore hair to its natural condition, repairing damage, improving texture, and adding shine,” says Wilson. She notes that it’s a great option for anyone looking for a more natural formula, too—it’s made with a blend of coconut, fig, shea butter, and argan oil.
Hair oils and serums
SILKTÁGE Repair & Rejuvenate Scalp Oil
“This oil is not just a treatment—it’s a ritual that leaves your scalp feeling balanced and your hair looking incredibly healthy and radiant,” says Emtage. “It works overnight to combat dryness, soothe irritation, and promote healthy hair growth.”
Kerastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
“This serum nourishes and detangles dry hair, making it more manageable and hydrated by morning,” says Wilson says. She also loves that it’s lightweight and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the hair.
$60 at kerastase-usa.com
Scalp treatments
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment
This leave-in soothing scalp treatment is clinically shown to increase scalp hydration by up to 142% percent. “It detoxifies the scalp with charcoal and soothes irritation with tea tree oil, helping to remove buildup and reduce itchiness,” says Wilson.
Act+Acre Daily Hydro Scalp Serum
This serum can be used daily (or nightly, as the case may be). It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and soothe dry scalps and help support hair hydration over a sustained period.
Silk pillowcases and scrunchies
Saatva Silk Pillowcase
Our
silk pillowcase 100% mulberry silk helps protect hair and skin while you sleep
is made from 100% long fiber mulberry silk in a charmeuse weave for an extra smooth and luxurious feel. It lessens friction against skin and hair, prevents creases and skin product transfer on your pillow, and reduces hair frizz.
PMD Silversilk Headband
Pull back your tresses while you sleep with this headband, which is crafted with a blend of silk and silver to help hair retain moisture and reduce tugging.
Blissy Scrunchies Set
There are so many colors to choose from—but whichever ones you decide upon, these genuine silk scrunchies will help keep your hair in place without any pulling or friction during the night.
The Hair Edit Ruched Ribbons
If you want a combo of scrunchies and slender ponytail holders, this set of four ruched satin scrunchies is your best bet.
Protect your skin and hair while you sleep with Saatva
Silk Pillowcase
100% long fiber mulberry silk in a charmeuse weave for an extra smooth and luxurious feel that lessens friction against skin and hair, preventing creases, skin product transfer on pillow, and reducing hair frizz.
shop now
FAQs
What’s good to put on your face overnight?
When it comes to selecting the best overnight skincare treatments, there are lots to choose from. Honestly, it can feel a little overwhelming selecting among the different potions and lotions! There are a host of different products to use—common ones include night creams, overnight masks, eye creams, serums, and face oils.
How do I choose the right overnight beauty product for my skin type?
Choosing the correct overnight skincare treatments comes down to your skin type and concerns. Think about whether you’re dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone…you get the picture.
Once you’ve determined your skin type and concerns, then you can select the right overnight beauty treatments to rejuvenate and repair your skin while you sleep. Wall recommends the following formulas for each skin type:
- Anti-aging: Use balms, creams, serums, or oils.
- Normal: Use balms, creams, serums, oils, or gels.
- Sensitive: Stick to creams or balms.
- Combination: Choose serums, oils, or gels.
- Oily: Look for serums, gels, or non-comedogenic products.
Are there any natural or DIY overnight beauty treatments I can try?
Absolutely! Wall recommends the following DIY overnight skincare treatments:
Honey and aloe vera hydrating sleep mask
Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of raw honey, apply a thin layer to your face, and leave on overnight. “The honey will hydrate and the aloe vera will soothe and repair your skin,” says Wall.
Banana and yogurt brightening sleep mask
Mash ½ a ripe banana in a bowl until it’s smooth, then add 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt until you get a creamy consistency. Apply a thin layer to your face and leave on overnight. “This mask helps to brighten the skin and improve its texture, thanks to the natural enzymes in the banana and the lactic acid in the yogurt,” says Wall.
Is your skin easily irritated? Your bedding choice is just as important as the skincare products you use. Next, check out our guide to the best sheets for sensitive skin.
