The bestbest overnightovernight miraclesmiracles forfor wakingwaking upup hotterhotter thanthan everever

There is a reason it’s called ‘beauty sleep.’ Getting enough hours in at night can ensure you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed come alarm time. But there are also a host of beauty products designed to help the process along. These are the items you can apply before bed and which do the hard work overnight, so you don’t have to. Welcome to our round-up of beauty overnight miracles.

A classic in this category is a liquid facial exfoliant. Applying one of these by night is a lazy girl’s dream – you can skip the rest of your routine and wake up smooth and glowing. The Alpha-H Liquid Gold is an oldie but a goldie, and a recent fave has been the Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment. Use it once a week at first, then build up over time.

Overnight Miracles: Blemishes

Nighttime is often the perfect occasion to tackle some pesky spots. I have a few products in my arsenal for when breakouts occur. The Kate Somerville Eradi-Kate is a pink, powdery paste that can be dabbed over the affected areas. It’s effective, but hardly something that can be worn by day. In a similar vein is the De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment. This is a thick, sticky, yellow paste – never really suitable for use under makeup, but fantastic at shrinking a painful pimple in hours.

For an intense and throbbing spot, the ZitSticka Killa Patches are incredible. They’re like conventional pimple patches but with dissolvable micro-darts that quickly penetrate the zit and reduce redness and swelling. In an emergency, it’s a reassuring feeling to have these on hand.

Overnight Miracles: Moisturisers

Acne isn’t the only thing that may require overnight help, though. Adding moisture to parched skin is essential to a successful overnight routine – lips tend to be one of the bigger culprits. The Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi Balm is a thick, penetrating lip balm for overnight wear – the Pear scent is my ultimate favourite. 

If your eyes feel slightly dried out, a nice, thick eye cream can be a true overnight pleasure. The Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Boost Multi Correction Eye Balm Gel is lovely for this. One pump creates a soft, hydrating, protective layer that sinks in slowly as you sleep. Expect to wake up looking like you’ve slept for at least twelve hours.

If uneven skin tone is your pet peeve, a strange yet incredibly effective product I’ve been enjoying is the Yüli Cell Perfecto PM. It’s an oil that feels almost like it’s full of grit. I massage it all over my areas of concern at night, then wake to visible improvements. However, due to its sandy texture, this is only suitable for overnight use. Yüli Skin is undergoing company changes, but you can stay up-to-date with product announcements here.

I also love the Filorga NCEF-Night Mask for hydration and healing. Think of this as a nighttime moisturiser turned up to eleven. It treats most skin concerns, effectively plumping, smoothing, and soothing—and even has specific ingredients to help you sleep through the night. 

Miracles For Your Hair

Overnight beauty should never ignore hair. If you’re thinking of washing your hair in the morning, wearing a mask overnight is a genius plan. This gives your hair maximum time to absorb the benefits, allowing it to reap the maximum benefits. The Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 is for those whose hair is damaged by bleach. Even non-damaged locks can benefit from something like the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. 

If you’re on a no-wash day, I highly recommend the Slip Silk Scrunchies. Tie your hair in a top knot with one before bed, and wake up to smooth, untangled, bouncy locks. They’re also a time-saver in hair styling in the morning – meaning more overnight miracles with even more ZZZs. 

Feature image credit: Anastasia Bekker.