The idea of overnight masks and balms has always appealed to me (soothing and moisturising skin as I sleep? Yes, please), but the reality has often left me waking up to pimples and mini Mount Vesuviuses, which was not part of the plan.

While the thick, jelly textures appeal to my dry patches, it seems to be too much for the oilier areas around my forehead and cheeks, which is where the problem occurs. I’ve tried a number of them over the years, each promising to have me waking up with an undeniable glow, but invariably the end result is me having to work some concealer magic.

I almost gave up on the skincare category altogether, but I made one last exception when Révive’s Rescue Balm Overnight Mask landed on my desk. 

Packed with peptides (the building blocks of our skin barrier), hydrating shea butter and soothing aloe, this butter claims to target rough patches, inflammation and stressed-out skin – it’s basically a system reboot as you slumber. If you’ve recently felt like your skin barrier isn’t happy with you, this is a great product to introduce.

My skin is sensitive, combination and breakout-prone, so I was keen to see whether this formula would strike the perfect balance. 

While my skin plays well with peptides, shea butter is often a red flag for those who suffer from breakouts. However, it is believed to be non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores) and a pro at de-escalating any inflammation and reducing redness. 

My skin has been feeling particularly lacklustre as of late. Partly due to the gloomy weather and me being short on time when it came to my skincare routine (whoops). Due to the latter, I opened up the jar, slathered my face with the lilac butter and went to bed, hoping for the best.

Not only was I pleased by the absence of angry pimples, but my skin felt silky soft – like ‘just been for a facial’ softness. There was no irritation to report, and it was the perfect overnight primer for my make-up application in the morning. 

Two months on, it’s now become a staple in my skincare routine. It’s an easy swap-in to make, considering the results. The instructions suggest using the Révive Rescue Balm Overnight Mask up to three times a week, so I swap it in for my moisturiser every other night.

My skin feels happier and looks glowier. Even better is that it’s given my skin the comfort it needs to maximise the benefits of sleep without the need for a pimple patch in the AM. 

Image: Charlotte Bitmead; RéVive