K-beauty has introduced the world to a new style of sleeping mask. When you normally think of sleeping masks you may think of the likes of those pillow eye covers you strap to your face to help your sleep. No, no Korean sleeping masks are different. They are a face care product, but not to be confused with night creams these masks jobs are to nourish and moisturize your skin while you sleep.
Yes, you wear these overnight on your face while you sleep! Won’t it get all over your pillow, and be a sticky mess in the morning? Surprisingly no.
The K-Beauty Sleeping Masks Goal
Korean beauty experts know that while we sleep our body rejuvenates. This includes our skin. What more ample time to feed our skin, nutrients, and vitamins it needs than when our skin is repairing itself from the day. Imagine Korean sleep masks as being a once a week skin healing booster.
Korean Sleep Masks: What’s Inside Them?
Sleep mask ingredients vary depending on the goal they are made out to achieve. There are sleep masks that are beneficial for dry dull skin, combination skin, oily-acne prone skin. They either can be of a creamy consistency, gel, or water-based gel-like consistency.
The creamy texture sleep masks are usually aimed for dry skin and are super moisturizing. The gels-style sleep masks on the other hand are usually best for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin. It all depends so make sure you read the product descriptions. All are anti-pore clogging.
Korean Sleep Mask Usage
Unlike night creams sleep masks or “sleep packs” as they are often referred to act more like a serum as they absorb into your skin, so there is no risk of any sticky residue left on your pillow at all. To use it, you make it the last step in your nighttime Korean skincare routine. Apply a small amount, it is all you need. We say a nickel size is good, then apply all over. You will notice instantly its quick absorption into your skin. This is a good sign. Allow to absorb fully and that is it, go to bed. When you wake up wash it off in your morning wash.
Korean Sleep Masks for Everyone
Sleep masks can benefit everyone (including men!) for every skin type and this includes sensitive skin, acne-prone oily skin, and all in between. When selecting though you want to pick the right one for YOUR skin type. Which ones are the best though and right for you? Find out below as we have brought together the top-rated best. Plus, the skin type they complement the most.
Best Korean Sleep Masks in 2024
The Crème Shop Overnight Gel Mask
Moisturize, hydrate, anti-inflammatory, cooling, fight aging, and brightens your skin all while you sleep in the Crème Shop Overnight Gel Mask. The key target ingredient is hyaluronic acid.
PROS: Safe for acne pro skin.
CONS: None.
Mizon Cosmetics Snail Wrinkle Care Sleeping Pack
Do not let the sticky gooey texture put you off. Once you apply it to your face it is gone absorbing in beautifully to do its skin nutrition magic. You don’t even need to watch it off in the morning. Its mission is to restore skin elasticity and repair damaged skin.
PROS: Leaves skin feeling good. Does not strip the skin.
CONS: None.
KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
Versatile use as a sleep mask or a day moisturizer. Packed with Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Niacinamide this mask moisturizes firms, and nourishes your skin leaving your skin looking illuminated. Vitamin E with its antioxidant power is not the only magic it can do. It can often do wonders for dry, sensitive skin as well.
PROS: Vegan friendly and contains no artificial coloring or synthetics of any kind. Alcohol-free
CONS: None.
COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask
If you like to get full use out of your skincare products COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask gives you 3 uses in 1. Use it as a sleep mask, wash off mask, or as a morning cream. Enhanced with rice extract and Niacinamide, your skin gets plummeted with skin nourishment. Your skin is left feeling moist and looking soft, supple, and bright.
PROS: Can be used as a body moisturizer too. Great for acne-prone skin.
CONS: None.
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
Its pudding gel consistency is to be applied on light as it absorbs into your skin instantly resulting in major hydration for your skin making your skin look so plump and healthy-looking in the morning. Made with hydro- ionized mineral water and using what is called Sleep scent technology it uses calming fragrances like orange blossom, rose, and sandalwood for a calming effect as well.
PROS: Phthalate-free, paraben-free, SLS SLES free
CONS: For those sensitive, the calming scents may be overpowering.
COSRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask
Yes, acne-prone skin can enjoy Korean sleep packs with COSRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask. Containing 87.26S% Propolis extract and natural beeswax which have known antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties this sleep mask is great for healing acne-prone skin. The result is cool hydrated skin in the morning.
PROS: A three in one mask. Can be used to cool sunburn skin or a daily moisturizer. Even reduces acne scars.
CONS: None.
BeauKON Avocado Nourishing Overnight Mask
This overnight mask features skin-nourishing avocado extract and oil for a sleep mask that will bring your skin moisturizing revitalization as your sleep. Avocado is rich in antioxidants, good fatty acids, vitamins A, B, D E, and anti-inflammatory properties that work to benefit your skin. Aimed for dry skin types.
PROS: No SLS. No SLES. Parabens.
CONS: None.
Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask
Filled with traditional skin beneficial Korean herbs, along with pomegranate, and jujube extract, bring to life your skin overnight. Moisturizing and restoring the soft creamy texture is not tacky at all. Restores your moisture overnight and helps keep it there giving your own skin’s protection power a boost.
PROS: Travel size container
CONS: Travel size container, you may wish there was more of it.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Hydrating Sleeping Mask
Meant to restore lost skin moisture this is a major hydrating sleep mask. Its main ingredient is hyaluronic acid this mask consists of 4 types for. Along with the power of Centella Asiatica extract your skin not only gets moisturized but gets aided in skin regeneration as the mask absorbs to reach the deep layers of your skin to bring back skin balance for a brighter glowing skin.
PROS: Suitable for women and men. All skin types, even aging skin. Fragrance-free.
CONS: None.
Isntree Clear Skin PHA Hydrating Exfoliating Sleeping Mask
This Isntree sleep mask has PHA and exfoliate away dead skin cells to hydrate and let that new restored skin shine through. You wake up to amazing soothe skin that can’t stop fawning over. Its goal is to help replenish your skin. Moisturize it and regulate the skin’s oil balance as the mask melts deep into the layers of your skin.
PROS: Non-pore clogging ingredients. Helps heal acne scars over time. Works great for women and men. Fragrance-free.
CONS: None.
BeauKON Watermelon Soothing Overnight Mask
Another great sleeping mask by BeauKON. This time it is infused with the wonderful power of watermelon extract this time. This formula offers hydration and a soothing feel that creates a barrier over the skin to help keep those moisturizing ingredients in. The watermelon extract provides vitamin C, A, and B6 along with a ton of antioxidants that help battle against inflammation and gives this cream its soothing feel.
PROS: Cream is light-weight and absorbs skin quickly. Sulfate-free and Parabens free.
CONS: None.
Mizon Good Night White Sleeping Mask
Here is a sleep mask that will moisturize and brighten your skin all while you sleep. Mizon Good Night White Sleeping Mask contains a lovely scent of lavender for your senses while the true ingredients such as Niacinamide, Broussonetia, and Mulberry root do their work to better your skin that you will see and feel in the morning.
PROS: No need to wash off in the morning.
CONS: May not be suitable for those with acne-prone skin or sensitive skin.
Too Cool for School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack
Do you like pumpkin spice lattes? How about a pumpkin overnight sleeping mask? Don’t let the cute fun packaging fool you. This stuff packs a moisturizing punch. Packed with fermented pumpkin extract this pumpkin mask is full of skin embracing vitamins like vitamin A, C, and good old Beta carotene. Apply this gel mask letting it work overnight to wake up to restored healthy-looking skin.
PROS: Has a mild exfoliation factor that works as your sleep. Works great as a moisturizer for oily skin.
CONS: Does not smell like pumpkin pie.
TONYMOLY Panda’s Dream White Sleeping Pack
Totally adorable packaging, but it has a purpose. Formulated with bamboo shoot sap and the bamboo extract the Panda’s Dream White Sleep Pack and its cute panda container make all the sense now of course! Along with lavender, rosemary, and berry extracts, this mask helps to calm skin, reduce dark spots, and even out skin tone. Overall brightening the skin while delivering hydrating moisture.
PROS: No parabens, GMO, phenoxyethanol, or triethanolamine. Only a small amount needed to get results. Light-weight.
CONS: May take a while to see skin brightening results.
Oh K! Overnight Hydration Sleep Mask
This creamy formula mask gives your skin full hydration, softens, exfoliates, and nourishes your skin thanks to its key ingredient Hyaluronic acid. Look out for better, softer brighter skin as your aftermath.
PROS: Great to use year-round to bade off dry skin.
CONS: None.
Dr. Jart+ Good Night Firming Sleeping Mask
Skin firming action while you sleep with Dr. Jart+ Good Night Firming Sleeping Mask. Containing a Bio-peptide complex and a Night Magnet technology the mask improves the elasticity in your skin and texture.
PROS: Creamy texture. Moisturizing. The product lasts up to 40 applications
CONS: None.
MISSHA Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask
Restore your skin with the amazing healing, nourishing magic of snail slime extract. Moisturizing as well as restoring skin damage this sleep mask uses baobab tree extract and deep-sea water to splash your face with soothing hydration to refresh your skin.
PROS: Contains the botanical Callus extract that is said to help control blemishes.
CONS: None.
THE SKIN HOUSE Multi-Function Sleeping Pack
Use as an overnight sleep mask, or as a wash-off mask. You can even incorporate this as a daily moisturizer. The Skin House Multi-Function Sleeping Pack is truly multifunctional. Its light cream texture features anti-aging properties and is dosed up with skin embracing nutrients like adenosine, red ginseng, Korean mushrooms, propolis, macadamia seed oil, and cacao. Friendly to combination skin, and great for dry skin. Your skin is left reinvigorated, quenched, and youthful-looking.
PROS: Cream absorbs into your skin. Not sticky. Multi-function use. Works well with sensitive skin as well.
CONS: None.
Conclusion
Korean sleep masks give that old saying, “I need my beauty sleep” a whole new meaning. Sleep masks ( sometimes called sleep packs) perhaps are what they are referring to. Meant to help nourish your skin at its more critical time sleep masks’ main goal is to hydrate and nourish your skin. Many also have skin beauty bonuses such as anti-aging and skin whitening ingredients in their products as well. Remember, these are not to be used every night. You just switch it up once or twice a week in your end-of-the-day skincare routine depending on your own skincare needs as it is meant to replace your normal nightly moisturizer as you empower your skin’s health while you sleep.
Sources:
1. https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-korean-sleeping-masks/
2. https://stylestory.com.au/korean-sleeping-masks-101/
3. https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-korean-sleeping-masks/
