Sleeping mask alternatives for skincare emergencies

The alarm bells are ringing; your face has declared a state of emergency. You’ve had a week (or a month) that’s been, to put it mildly, a bit of a bin fire. Your sleep schedule is a bigger myth than goldfish having a memory span of three seconds. Your hydration consists solely of lukewarm coffee and your face — oh, your face — looks like it’s been neglected longer than Whitby Abbey. Flaky patches, dullness so profound it could rival a total eclipse and pores the size of manhole covers. You look in the mirror and utter: "I want to erase myself and start again." Well, you can — with the hero of this story, the sleeping mask.

You'll never guess what you can use as a sleeping mask in an emergency!

If  you are not clued up on what a sleeping mask is, let me enlighten you. It’s a comforting, often gel-like elixir designed to swoop in and rescue your dermis from your own terrible choices. A good sleeping mask is like a guardian angel for your skincare. Here’s why…

You’ve spent precious time, and let's not forget money, layering on serums and essences, patting them in with the reverence of a monk. The sleeping mask’s job is to create a physical barrier, a kind of cling film for your face, that locks all that goodness in and allows it to do its stuff overnight. It prevents the active ingredients from evaporating into the ether and puts an end to your pillowcase thieving expensive serums while you dream of better days (or a date with Chris Hemsworth). 

The result? You wake up looking like a better version of yourself. A well-rested, hydrated and, dare I say, smugly revitalised person. Get it?

Don’t own a sleeping mask?

What happens when you’ve run out, or you’ve never actually invested in a sleeping mask? If you’re at that juncture where you’ve discovered a tube is squeezed dry, a jar is scraped clean and you're just downright desperate to put the bounce back into your skin, I can help. And, for this strategy, it doesn’t matter if the shops are shut! We’re in the trenches together for this face-saver.

The trick I’m going to impart will come in especially handy if you need to look presentable for a meeting, a date, or just to face the postman without flinching. It’s in these dark moments that we must get creative. Yes, it's time to raid the unexpected corners of your beauty cabinet.

So what are the surprising alternatives to a sleeping mask? Well, as a starting pistol, you could use a gel moisturiser. But how about a gripping makeup primer? Now, I know what you’re thinking. Primer? That stuff you use before you put on foundation? The very same. 

But hear me out. Gripping primers are specifically formulated to create a tacky, slightly sticky surface on your skin. They’re designed to make makeup cling on for dear life, to ensure your foundation doesn't make a break for it by lunchtime. This very tackiness, this stubborn refusal to be anything but adherent, is precisely what makes it a stellar emergency sleeping mask.

Think of it this way: the primary function of a sleeping mask is to seal everything in. The tacky primer does the same thing, just with a different intended purpose. After you’ve applied your serums and moisturisers, apply a generous, even layer of your gripping primer. Don't rub it in like you're trying to polish a brass door knocker; instead, pat it on gently. You'll feel it immediately — that telltale, slightly clingy sensation.

Now, you might look a bit like a fly who’s just landed on flypaper, but trust the process. You're creating an occlusive layer that will trap all the hydrating and nourishing ingredients underneath, forcing your skin to drink them up all night long. The only downside is that you might find your hair sticking to your face if you toss and turn, but that’s a small price to pay for waking up with plump, dewy skin.

Tip: Always keep your hair tied up, away from the face for 15 to 30 minutes after applying anything tacky to your skin at night.

Most gripping primers are gel based, making them an excellent alternative to a sleeping cream.

Another sleeping mask alternative

Don't own a gripping primer? You don’t have to dwell on it, especially if your primer is of the silicone-y, velvety smooth variety that feels like a whisper and wouldn't grip a thing. Girl, there is another option. Cast your eyes to the other side of your dressing table, where your tacky face creams are hiding. You know the ones. They’re the thick, luxurious moisturisers that feel a bit too heavy for daytime use, the ones that leave a slight sheen and a faint stickiness that takes an age to sink in. These are your friends in an emergency.

Most people have at least one of these lurking around. They’re often marketed as ‘rich’ or ‘intense’ moisturisers, meant for those with truly parched, Sahara-desert-level skin. By applying a generous, almost ridiculous amount of one of these creams, you’re essentially creating a makeshift sleeping mask. The thickness of the cream will act as a physical barrier, preventing moisture loss and ensuring your serums get a full night's shift without clocking out early. The tackiness, just like with the primer, will help seal everything in. You’ll be slathered in a glorious, tacky layer of cream, but you’ll be doing your skin a massive favour.

Tip: Face creams with either a sticky or wax-like finish work best. My faves are Plump Me Pretty by PLouise and Peach Glow jelly moisturiser by Boots.

Another sleeping mask alternative is to use a rich moisturising cream. See tips above.

The real deal to skin salvation

Now, a word of caution. These are emergency alternatives. They are not meant to replace your beloved sleeping mask forever. Sleeping masks are specifically formulated to be non-comedogenic and to work synergistically with your other skincare products overnight. Using a makeup primer or a super-tacky face cream every single night might lead to clogged pores or other unwanted skin adventures. But in a pinch? When your face is in crisis and you’re looking down the barrel of a big day, these unconventional heroes are your ticket to skin salvation.

So, the next time your skin is in a state of all-out rebellion and your sleeping mask is nowhere to be found, don't despair. Look to your gripping primers and your thickest face creams. They may not be the heroes you expected, but they’re the ones your skin needs right now. Feel free to rescue your face — tomorrow is waiting, and it’s going to be utterly radiant.

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