It makes a certain sort of sense that the best time to address sun damage is at night, when the sun itself is taking a breather. Of course, the smartest sun-damage strategy is to prevent it in the first place—avoid overexposure to the sun, wear a hat, and smooth on mineral sunscreen every day (and take vitamin D3 while you’re at it). But when, despite our best efforts, the signs of sun damage—from dark spots and uneven skin tone to wrinkles, rough texture, dullness, and oversize pores—show up on skin more than we’d like, the science points to the benefits of overnight treatments.

1. Our newest sun-damage superweapon is designed to work at night, while you sleep, for a number of reasons: Just as our muscles repair themselves while we rest, so, too, does our skin, and we were excited to take advantage of that natural skin-repair function. Cell division and protein synthesis (vital for healthy skin) peak during sleep, as does the rate of healing damaged tissues. Blood pressure and body temperature may be lower, creating an ideal environment for increased cell renewal. Molecules that control the sleep-wake cycle, like melatonin and adenosine, are also thought to help with inflammation and regeneration.

   We designed GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk with a time-released AHA to work with the natural skin-repair functions already going on overnight; we also boosted the formula with moisturizers and skin-soothing ingredients that further treat the skin at night. There’s even a new ingredient that helps tamp down irritated-looking skin—a remarkable feature in such an active serum.

2. 
   
   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

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The results are dramatic: Sleep Milk is clinically proven to improve the look of dark spots (including age spots, sun spots, and surface spots), skin tone, and skin brightness without irritation. And while the results are noticeable right away—you wake up with dewy-fresh, plumped, soft, totally hydrated-looking skin after one use—they build visibly over time, too.*

While the time-released AHA is pretty unique (and allows for a high-acid serum to feel much gentler and more moisturizing on skin), the notion that the best time to treat skin is just before going to bed applies to some of our all-time favorite products.

Overnight Masks

You can leave on a nourishing face mask all night for concentrated, targeted treatment, or once a week, just before bed, swipe on a super active peel pad.

1. Powerful Acid Peel

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW 15% Glycolic
   Acid Overnight Glow Peel
   goop, $125/$112 with subscription

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2. Totally Moisturizing and
   Great to Leave On All Night

   
   

   Tammy Fender
   Restorative Radiance Masque
   goop, $195

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1. 
   
   Clark’s Botanicals
   Deep Moisture Mask
   goop, $75

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2. 
   
   Tata Harper
   Hydrating Floral Mask
   goop, $95

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3. 
   
   Follain
   Ultra Hydrating Mask
   goop, $34

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Night Creams and Oils

Lock in moisture while you sleep with a rich, nutrient-dense face cream or oil.

1. We Use This Supercream as Night Cream (and on the Plane, Too)

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGENES All-in-One
   Nourishing Face Cream
   goop, $98/$86 with subscription

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2. Made to Work with Your Circadian Rhythm

   
   

   Furtuna Skin
   Fior di Luna Nightly
   Renewal Cream
   goop, $285

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3. Antioxidant-Packed for Lift

   
   

   Caudalie
   Resveratrol-Lift
   Firming Night Cream
   goop, $69

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4. Smoothing and Moisturizing
   for Fine Lines

   
   

   Lavido
   Age Away Night Cream
   goop, $49

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5. Brilliant for Sensitive Skin

   
   

   Augustinus Bader
   The Ultimate Soothing Cream
   goop, $280

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6. Overnight Face Oil

   
   

   Balmyard Beauty
   Moonlight Lover Facial Oil
   goop, $95

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Superpowered Serums

Serums deliver a highly concentrated dose of ingredients, and while they hydrate, they’re never heavy or occlusive.

1. Made with
   Time-Released
   Actives

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

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2. Ultimate Hydration

   
   

   Dr. Barbara Sturm
   Night Serum
   goop, $310

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3. For Collagen-Boosting and Nighttime Aromatherapy

   
   

   De Mamiel
   First Fix Serum
   goop, $216

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4. For a Morning Glow

   
   

   KORA Organics
   Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum
   goop, $74

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For Breakout-Prone Skin

1. 
   
   True Botanicals
   Clear Repair Serum
   goop, $140

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2. 
   
   Hero Cosmetics
   Mighty Patch
   goop, $13

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Lip Masks

Steeping lips in nourishing ingredients and deep moisturizers leaves them plump and smooth by morning. Both of these formulas are made with a bit of exfoliant, too.

1. Super Hydrating

   
   

   Alpyn Beauty
   Willow & Sweet Agave
   Plumping Lip Mask
   goop, $28

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2. Ultrarich

   
   

   ILIA
   Lip Wrap Overnight
   Treatment Mask
   goop, $26

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Consider an overnight hair treatment, too

Smooth GOOPGLOW hair serum on before bed and wrap your hair in a towel and your hair will shine like you can’t believe after being washed the next morning.

1. Nourishing Shine-Inducer

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW Restore +
   Shine Hair Serum
   goop, $55/$44 with subscription

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2. Microfiber Hair Wrap

   
   

   Aquis
   Lisse Luxe Hair Turban
   goop, $18

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