Overnight Masks vs. Night Creams: What Are The Differences?
To maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin, incorporating skincare into your daily routine is essential, especially at night, as the skin naturally repairs and regenerates itself while you are sleeping. This makes it more important for you to use your nighttime skincare products consistently.
Wondering what skincare products to incorporate in your nighttime skincare routine? Overnight masks or night creams? In this guide, you will discover and learn more about these two sleeping masks for your face, the differences and whether you need both!

What are Overnight Masks?
Overnight masks and night cream may seem similar, but they both have different purposes in your skincare routine. Overnight masks are intensive skincare treatments that are designed to be applied to your face before bedtime and left on the skin throughout the night. They are typically worn overnight to hydrate and nourish your skin while you sleep.
These overnight masks are formulated with rich active ingredients that can deeply hydrate and repair your skin. Apart from that, they often have a rich texture and are meant to be applied several times a week rather than daily. Applying an overnight sleeping mask for the face allows you to wake up to plumper and radiant-looking skin.
What are Night Creams?
Night creams, on the other hand, are formulated for daily use to help support your skin’s natural overnight repair process. Just like your daytime moisturiser, night creams are typically richer moisturisers that focus on hydration and replenishment during your sleep. These creams are also used to target specific skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven skin tone, resulting in brighter and youthful-looking skin when used consistently.
Differences Between Overnight Masks and Night Creams
Overnight masks and night creams differ in many ways. Below are the differences between the two nighttime skincare products in terms of texture, absorption, skin type, ingredients and intensity:
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Texture
When it comes to the texture, overnight masks have a lightweight gel-like texture compared to night creams that have a thicker and heavier texture. Night creams have a thicker texture due to their formulation, which aims to lock in moisture and replenish nourishment during your sleep.
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Absorption
Due to the lightweight and gel-like texture of overnight masks, they are designed for quicker absorption, providing a boost of hydration and active ingredients, whereas night creams tend to stay on the skin longer, releasing moisture and active ingredients at a slower pace throughout the night.
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Skin Type
Depending on your skin type and needs, you may benefit more from one over the other. For instance, overnight masks can be more beneficial and effective for anyone with oily, acne-prone skin due to their non-greasy texture. Night creams are more suitable for anyone with dry or mature skin, providing intense hydration with a richer formula.
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Ingredients
Overnight masks are often packed with high concentrations of active ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, niacinamides and antioxidants. These ingredients are necessary to aid in hydrating and brightening the skin. Night creams contain vitamin C, retinol, peptides and antioxidants that focus on skin health – the repair and the renewal of skin. For a
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Intensity
Overnight creams are considered to be more intensive compared to night creams. The overnight masks are often recommended to be applied one to three times a week, giving your skin a boost of nourishment, such as the Clef Probiotic Nourishing Mask, which gives your skin a boost of nourishment, resulting in softer and smoother skin.

When to Choose Overnight Masks or Night Creams?
If you’re wondering when to use overnight masks or night creams, choose a night cream for consistent hydration and anti-ageing benefits for daily use before bedtime. For the extra glow, hydration and nourishment, use an overnight mask, especially if your skin is feeling dry or stressed as it is designed for occasional deep treatments.
The Clef Multi-Herbal Repairing Mask is suitable for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. Hence, for that extra tender loving care, apply the overnight mask two to three times a week to give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
A combination of both night cream and overnight mask is effective:
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When your skin needs extra hydration, especially in dry weather or air-conditioned environments.
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When your skin is under stress from lack of sleep, travelling or exposure to harsh environmental factors.
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Before an important occasion, when you want your skin to look glowy and radiant.
How to Build the Best Routine and Why You Need Both Overnight Masks and Night Creams
A good and consistent skincare routine can include both overnight masks and night creams. Your go-to product every night before bedtime should be your night cream. For an intensive boost, replace your night cream with an overnight mask one to three times a week. This combination of both nighttime skincare products delivers a good amount of hydration and nourishment to your skin, resulting in moisturised and healthy-looking skin.
Nourish your Skin with an Overnight Mask with Clef!
Overnight masks and night creams both serve their purpose, and incorporating them into your nighttime skincare routine is the best thing you can do for your skin. Use a night cream every night for consistent hydration and nutrients. For a boost of nourishment and that extra glow, switch to one of the powerful overnight masks by Clef Beauty.
These overnight masks by Clef Beauty are packed with skin-loving nutrients and are free from harsh additives, leaving your skin softer, smoother and more radiant. Explore Clef Beauty’s Overnight Mask Collection today and give your skin the love and care it deserves!