Give new meaning to beauty sleep

Here’s what you need to know about the latest skincare craze

Beauty Crew Beauty Editor / April 11 2016

We all know how important it is to get eight hours of sleep a night, to help our bodies repair and recharge for the next day. So whether you’re getting the recommended dose or burning the candle at both ends, here’s how to make your sleep work harder, so you can wake up with fresh, glowing skin.

Enter the overnight sleep mask - a lightweight yet indulgent cream, gel or cloth mask that you slather on your skin right before you hit the hay and wash off in the morning. It’s also intended to be the last step of your skincare routine (yes, on top of your regular serum and night cream) to lock in all the moisture your skin needs, especially if you’ve got the air-con blasting through the night.

Overnight sleep masks are designed to be absorbed immediately by skin, so you’re not left with a sticky residue on your pillow.

A good starting point is Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Overnight Firming Mask, designed for those looking for an extra step to tackle elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll spot a lineup of your favourite ingredients in here, such as hyaluronic acid which can attract and trap moisture in skin; alfalfa extract to support your body’s circadian rhythm of repairing through the night; amino acids to boost your skin’s natural collagen production; and Arden’s signature Ceramide Skin Identical Matrix, which can help replenish skin’s lipids that will reinforce your skin’s protective barrier.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Overnight Firming Mask

Ready to take on the day when you wake up? Continue looking after your skin with a nourishing cleanser. Elizabeth Arden’s Replenishing Cleansing Oil is packed with omega acids and vitamin E to effectively remove impurities and restore radiance and hydration, so you’ll look even more refreshed after your snooze.

Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.