Sleeping Mask vs. Night Cream: What’s the Difference and Which One to Use

If getting quality shut-eye made it to your top resolutions this year, right up there with eating more vegetables and hitting 10,000 steps a day, you are on the right track. Sleep helps our bodies recover and repair itself from all the stress and cell damage we experience during the day. Aside from flushing out neurotoxins, a process that gets activated during sleep, our bodies also produce fewer stress hormones (cortisol) and more body-repairing hormones when we get proper rest.

Because our skin—the largest organ in the body—also performs its reparative functions during sleep, your nighttime skin care regimen is nothing short of sacred. Luckily, there are skin care products specifically designed to help boost cell renewal and collagen production while we sleep, making us look more radiant and well-rested the next day. We’re talking about sleeping masks and night creams. While both these products are great at what they do, both aren’t one and the same. Here’s everything you need to know about these two nighttime skin heroes.

What Are Night Creams

Chicago-based dermatologist Dr. Toral Patel explains: “Night creams are the same as night moisturizers. They typically contain ingredients that hydrate the skin in addition to delivering active ingredients that can help with anti-aging concerns.”

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Lortscher adds that night cream formulas are typically thicker than your daytime creams, and contain ingredients you can’t normally wear during the day, like retinol. “The consistency of a night cream tends to be too heavy to wear during the day and may be targeted for night because they contain retinol, which is best used at night.”

What Are Sleeping Masks

On the other hand, sleeping masks, which have taken Western skin care by storm, are adapted from the Korean skin care routine. “Typically formulated for overnight use, sleeping masks are meant to be massaged onto the skin, allowing time for your skin to be soothed and more intensely hydrated. Ingredients in sleeping masks are mild enough for your skin to tolerate overnight,” Dr. Lorstcher explains.

Used as a final part of your night regimen, sleeping masks are formulated depending on your skin type and skin concern. “Sleeping masks are used to seal in your facial serums, creams and oils. Those with dry skin would immensely benefit from ingredients like argan oil, lavender and ceramide that hydrate and help repair the skin’s barrier while keeping it smooth and plump,” says Dr. Patel.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, dryness may not be your top concern, so Dr. Patel recommends choosing sleeping masks with light moisturizers like hyaluronic acid as this hydrates the skin without clogging the pores, reducing the likelihood of breakouts. On the other hand, sleeping masks with retinol and vitamin A derivatives are best for aging or mature skin, says Dr. Lorstcher, as these ingredients help in improving the skin’s texture and elasticity.

When to Use Which

Because they often share similar ingredients, Dr. Lorstcher says using either night creams or sleeping masks—or both alternately—can effectively boost your nighttime regimen and help address the signs of aging. “Ideally, sleeping masks should be used two to three times a week, but you can use it in place of your moisturizer as long as your skin can tolerate it,” she adds.