Kiehl’s Overnight Mask With 10.5% Squalane Review 2022: It Transformed My Tired, Hungover Skin

Okay, so you’re coming home after a long flight or a long night, you look in the mirror, and you just know that tomorrow won’t be pretty. We’ve all been there, right? What if I told you that there’s a product that exists to ensure that your tired, hungover skin never sees the light of day? Allow me the distinct pleasure of introducing you to Kiehl’s overnight mask. Specifically, the Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Face Mask with 10.5% Squalane (…a mouthful). It was picked as the best overnight mask for our SELF Healthy Beauty Awards 2022. Here’s our full Kiehl’s overnight review.

How I Tested

I received a sample of this mask at the beginning of the year, and after a few months of testing, I’ve come to a very scientific and detailed conclusion: This shit rocks. Let me walk you through why. I’ve long been a fan of Kiehl’s products. The brand’s hand salve is my holy grail bedside essential, the 2021 SELF Healthy Beauty Award-winning grapefruit body wash is a mainstay in my shower, and the Creamy Eye Treatment, a delightfully goopy avocado eye cream, is a treat for morning puffiness. So the fact that I fell in love with this mask isn’t really a surprise.

Now that you know how long and why I tested the Kiehl’s overnight mask let me tell you more about it. The Kiehl’s mask has a satisfying balm-to-oil formula, similar to the petroleum jellies used for the ‘slugging’ method. It’s paraben-free and fragrance-free, making it a good option for sensitive skin, but it does have a distinct, slightly odd scent (most likely from the squalane). 

How To Use

The product can be used as an overnight mask, as a cleansing balm, or a 15-minute mask if the idea of leaving it on all night freaks you out. On the label, it says it’s good for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types. Now, I have normal skin that leans oily, and I get pimples if I so much as look at my skin the wrong way, so I was skeptical at first, thinking that this occlusive balm would make me break out. But after reading a few glowing reviews from folks with acne-prone skin, I decided to give it a go. 

After a particularly *ahem* heavy night of drinking (in the name of journalism, of course), I came back to my apartment, removed my makeup, and used my go-to cleanser for a scrupulous face wash. Instead of applying my usual PM skin-care products, I slathered on a thick layer of Kiehl’s overnight mask. It takes some time to soak in, and I did wake up with my skin feeling a little oily from the residual product. However, when I looked at myself in the mirror (after downing Tums, ibuprofen, and dumping two electrolyte packets into my water bottle), I was glowing.