The 12 Best Overnight Skin-Care Products For Any Bedtime Routine

Welcome to Sleep Week! We're dedicating five days of content to one of our absolute favorite activities, and the products that make catching zzz's that much more enjoyable. Get ready to sleep tight.

An effective nighttime skin-care routine doesn't have to be a major undertaking, but it can make all the difference in the morning. Before collapsing into bed at the end of the day, applying overnight skin-care products can help to address and correct a multitude of skin challenges — all while you're sleeping.

"Nighttime routines are great because it's finding its way onto your skin while your body is in rest mode," Sofie Pavitt, a New York City-based licensed esthetician and founder of Sofie Pavitt Face, tells Fashionista. "You're not exposed to UV [light] and pollution like you are in the daytime. Your body is at rest, so the actives can get to work without disruption."

Overnight skin care isn't a one-routine-fits-all proposition, and customization is key, she says: "Find a high quality product to address your own skin concerns. For example, if you're concerned with aging, a retinol or growth factor is great. If you're dealing with acne, a gentle exfoliator or anti-blemish product is ideal. It's all about finding what works for you."

It may be tempting to pack as many active ingredients as possible into a single skin-care routine, but Pavitt warns against going overboard. Dr. Shereene Idriss, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City, agrees.

"When it comes to retinoids and exfoliation, the goal is not to go wrong and strong every single day, but space it out throughout the week and get a little bit of everything on a weekly basis," Dr. Idriss says.

Pavitt alternates Medik8 Crystal Retinal and her Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum within her nighttime skin-care regimen, followed by Epi.Logic's Master Plan Collagen Renew Growth Factor Serum. Dr. Idriss's routine targets hyperpigmentation by using her brand's Major Fade Hyper Serum and Active Seal Moisturizer twice a day (both of which are formulated with brightening ingredients), as well as prescription tretinoin to aid in evening skin tone and stimulating collagen production.

One of Dr. Idriss' nighttime skin-care hacks is to head to bed after applying her Major Fade Flash Mask: "I let the mask sit overnight as a one-step skin-care routine and wake up to baby soft skin the next morning. I do this on occasion the night before a special event or, honestly, if my skin is just craving it." But when her skin is feeling dry and inflamed, she reaches for Triple Paste Diaper Rash Ointment. (Fashionista's beauty director also now swears by this trick.) A method developed by Dr. Idriss, "face basting" consists of layering the diaper rash cream (which is packed with zinc oxide for its anti-inflammatory properties) over top moisturizer to quell irritated skin.

Above all else, Dr. Idriss' main advice for any nighttime skin-care routine is rather simple and self-explanatory: "Always, always, always wash your face at night."

Below, we've rounded up the best overnight skin-care products for a hydrated morning glow.

Best for hydration: Bubble Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask, $20, available here

Best for reducing redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Sleepair Intensive Soothing Repair Night Mask, $45, available here

Best for brightening: Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream, $46, available here

Best for hydration: Loops Dream Sleep Nighttime Slugging Face Mask 5 Piece Set, $35, available here

Best for anti-aging: Medik8 Crystal Retinal, $54, available here

Best for firming: Peach & Lily Overnight Star Night Cream, $45, available here

Best for anti-aging: Shani Darden Retinol Reform, $89, available here

Best for acne: Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum, $54, available here

Best for reducing the appearance of pores: Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Night Oil, $55, available here

Best for hydration: Naturium Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream, $25, available here

Best for brightening: Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Dark Spot Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer, $58, available here

Best for firming: Epi.Logic Master Plan Collagen Renew Growth Factor Serum, $230, available here

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