This Overnight Mask Doubles As a Makeup Primer for Super Dry Skin

Going on my fourth month of Accutane treatment for acne, it’s safe to say my skin is the driest it’s ever been. Now that never leaving the house without at least three different hydrating lip products and a moisturizer has become part of my routine, I’d almost completely given up on being able to wear face makeup successfully. No matter how many primers I tried, my dry skin would cause my makeup to cake and flake almost immediately.

But, when a friend of mine at Orveda Luxury Skincare told me that the brand’s Overnight-Skin Recovery Masque ($235) was her secret to applying makeup without caking while she was on Accutane, I knew I had to give it a try. To say she was right would be an understatement. Using this mask as a primer has me channeling my inner Hailey Bieber and has my makeup looking better than it ever has before.

My skin type:

Normally, combination, but with the effects of Isotretinoin stopping my oil production, I’m super dry.

The benefits:

Now, even though I cannot sing the praises of using this product as a primer enough, the benefits of using it for its intended purposes (which I also do) are just as high. Firstly, the mask is vegan and suitable for all skin types, so it won’t irritate. The combination of nine different actives concentrated at 34 percent into a luxurious, “gel-in-oil” texture makes the mask a joy to apply. Using the included applicator to brush the product onto my face either before makeup or before bed makes me feel like I’m at a spa.

Most importantly, the highly concentrated formula in Orveda’s Recovery Masque makes it incredible at reducing signs of fatigue and fighting dehydration. In fact, in clinical trials, users saw signs of skin fatigue reduced by up to 73 percent, natural overnight water loss reduced by up to 87 percent, and skin’s natural glow increased by up to 75 percent after regular usage. Having used this mask under my makeup and/or at night almost nightly for just over a month now, I can attest that the numbers don’t lie. Plus, the product is scented with the Orveda’s signature “green” scent—created specially for the brand by a Parisian perfumer—and as someone who is sensitive to fragrance, I can assure that it’s the perfect amount of clean scent to make you feel like you’re in a spa every time you open the jar.

How to use:

Use nightly on its own or over the brand’s The Healing Sap ($150), another one of my now-staple products. Enjoy how luxurious it feels to apply the super-silky mask to your face and then simply hit the hay, no rinse necessary. If you’re looking to harness the power of Orveda’s mask as a primer, like me, I recommend applying a thin layer and waiting around 10 minutes before going about your makeup routine as usual.

The bottom line:

I really thought my hopes of having glazed-donut makeup looks were in the past, but this mask has completely changed the game for me in terms of being able to wear face makeup again. Not only has the mask given me the extra bit of hydration my parched skin needs overnight, it’s also become a staple part of my makeup routine, and it’s safe to say I’m never going back.