I spend a few nights a week testing out overnight masks. It doesn’t take me the whole night to test them, obviously, I just slap them on (takes approximately twenty seconds) and then go to sleep. It’s one of the easiest jobs in the world, unless there’s a job that just involves going to sleep and not even applying a face mask…

Anyway, I record my results in the morning and jot everything down in my little notebook of face things and then, if I’m not impressed, I move on to the next mask. If I am impressed then I’ll put the mask to one side and test it out a load more times before it joins a little shortlist and then I do a sort of “X Factor Six Chair Challenge” thing, except that there are only five chairs, because, for some reason, it’s always “top five”, isn’t it? Or top ten?

So here are my top five overnight masks. The ones that I find really hydrate and plumpify and leave the skin looking juicy and gorgeous in the morning. Truthfully, I don’t think that there’s much difference between a lot of these overnight masks and a rich night moisturiser, or rich any moisturiser, but two thoughts:

1. you probably apply a little more of a mask than a night cream, merely because that’s what you do with masks, and so perhaps it’s slower to absorb and the hydrating powers are a little more long-lasting
2. many of them are much cheaper, per ml, than night creams and appear to do the same job, so who on earth cares? Give me the cheaper option of the same thing any day of the week!

My first mask (and please do watch the video for a bit more info on each of the products) is the Drink Up Intensive from Origins (£24 here). It’s just a little on the perfumed side for me, and I have to say that in terms of lightweight-yet-powerful hydration I find that the Kiehl’s pips it to the post, but it beat a hell of a lot of other masks to make it into the final five! It’s rich but not claggy, leaves the skin soft and I like that it comes in a tube. Easy to travel with.

The Khiel’s Ultra mask (£28 here) is an old favourite – you can read more about it in this post, if you fancy. Very fresh and light in feel, sort of like a cream-gel, you can properly feel the effects of this the next morning. No crazy perfume, just a plain-looking pot of mask that does the trick if your skin is wintery-dry. Good for people who don’t want a heavy cream – perhaps their skin is oily or spot-prone.

Liz Earle’s Superskin Overnight Mask (£42 here) is a new one, both to me and to the beauty market in general. It’s only just hit the shelves, but it was a hit with me from the word go! My skin in the morning after a generous application of this was like post-facial skin. Really. I’ve tested it numerous times since, just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.. My skin felt as though it had been massaged for half an hour with a really good oil – but no massage needed, I just slept! Marvellous. Brilliant for dry, lacklustre skin that needs a bit of an oiling!

The Alpha-H Power Peel is packed full of ingredients such as retinol and glycolic to brighten, tighten and improve the overall appearance of the skin. Great for those with pigmentation, fine lines, adult blemishes, deeper wrinkles, dullness, just about any skin gripe. It’s £54 here – if you want to give your skin a serious boost then this is a wise investment. This is the powerhouse of the bunch – really incredibly effective, with definite overnight results. You’ll notice brighter skin the next day, if you’re paying attention. Wonderful for just about anyone, though it’s advised you sidestep retinol when pregnant…

L’Oreal’s Revitalift Laser Renew Night Cream* is sort of a secret mask, really, because (on my packaging at least) you have to look pretty hard to find the word “mask”! In a way, this just reaffirms my point that there’s little difference between lots of overnight masks and night creams – neither needs to be removed, you just apply and go to sleep whilst the magic happens. Anyway, this is a great affordable option – I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, I’ve been using it since the late spring. Bouncy in texture, it sort of gels to your skin and you still have a little residue in the morning, though it’s not at all greasy. It’s very moisturising and really inexpensive, especially if you find it on offer – at the time of writing, it’s £13.33 at Amazon here.

Right, here’s the video, should you wish to hear me waffle on about masks – please click here if you can’t see the screen…

Products Shown:
Link to Kiehl’s Review: https://www.ruthcrilly.co.uk/2015/…

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask: http://bit.ly/2fFoXkI

Kiehl’s Overnight Mask: http://bit.ly/2fFfVEf

Liz Earle Superskin Overnight Mask: goo.gl/r7yKnv

Alpha-H Power Peel Beauty Sleep Mask: http://bit.ly/2fFlT81

L’Oreal Revitalift Cream Night Mask*: http://amzn.to/2eoGr2E

Makeup in this video: Dior Forever Foundation in shade 20, Estee Lauder blush in Nude Nuance (discontinued) and the Wine and Chocolate Collection from Bobbi Brown, out 10th November.

My chunky knit gilet is REALLY old and from Nicole Farhi!

*please note that I have been recently announced as being part of the new L’Oreal Beauty Squad, creating skincare content for the next year. Any work I do in relation to that role will be clearly marked “AD”, otherwise the inclusion of a product – as in this video – is purely editorial, unsponsored and unpaid.