Annayake has long enjoyed quiet cult status among skincare aficionados, a label whispered about by those who prize elegant textures and thoughtful Japanese-inspired formulations. If the name has slipped past your radar it might be because the brand prefers understatement to splashy marketing, letting its products do the talking.
Enter Ultratime Night-Balm Mask, a title that sounds part sci-fi part spa brochure and promises an overnight transformation. According to Annayake, this buttery treatment wraps skin in a protective cocoon, drenching it in shea butter, coriander oil and three sizes of hyaluronic acid so you wake to a complexion that is plumped, smoothed and deeply nourished. Toss in wrinkle-mimicking peptides, collagen-friendly kudzu and radiance-boosting rice extracts and the claims edge close to a fairy tale.
I spent a full two weeks putting those promises to the test, using the balm as directed and tracking changes in hydration, firmness and overall glow to see if it merits a spot on your nightstand or if your money is better saved for daylight serums.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid or sponsored review. All observations are my own and, as with any skincare, individual results can vary depending on skin type, routine and a dash of plain genetic luck.
What Is Ultratime Night-Balm Mask?
Ultratime Night-Balm Mask sits in the overnight treatment category, a corner of skincare designed to work while you sleep. These leave-on formulas are applied as the last step in an evening routine, sealing in earlier products and delivering slow release hydration and active ingredients while the skin’s natural repair cycle is at its peak. The idea is simple: by the time you wake up, much of the heavy lifting has already happened.
Annayake’s take on the concept is a balm-to-mask hybrid that aims to create a “protective cocoon” on the surface of the skin. The texture is richer than a standard night cream and the ingredient list leans on classic emollients like shea butter and coriander oil to prevent moisture loss. Three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid target different layers of the epidermis for a more thorough hit of hydration, while a blend of peptides, kudzu extract and rice derivatives is said to tackle firmness, wrinkles and overall radiance.
Usage is straightforward. The brand recommends a thin layer once or twice a week across face, neck and décolleté, smoothing outward for an even film. If skin feels particularly depleted the mask can be used nightly for a week as an intensive course, then dialed back to the standard schedule.
Did It Work?
In the interest of rigorous at-home lab practices, I benched my usual overnight cream for three nights before cracking open Ultratime Night-Balm Mask. Very scientific of me, I know, but it felt important to give Annayake a clear playing field. Two weeks felt like a fair window to judge any real change so I stuck to the recommended schedule of twice weekly, sneaking in a third application on day ten when my skin felt particularly parched.
First impressions were promising. The balm has a soufflé-butter texture that melts on contact, spreading easily without tugging. I used a pea-sized amount for face and neck, pressing a little extra around the nasolabial folds where dehydration lines love to set up camp. The scent leans botanical with a faint ylang-ylang twist and fades within minutes. By the time my head hit the pillow the finish had shifted from dewy to something closer to satin, a welcome surprise given the shea butter heavy formula.
Morning one delivered cushiony softness and a visible bump in surface hydration. My cheeks looked a touch more plump, fine lines on my forehead appeared blurred and makeup glided on without catching on dry patches. So far so good.
Nights three and seven offered a similar story, though I started to notice that the balm occasionally left a slight waxy film that required an extra pass with my cleanser. Not a deal breaker, just something to note if you dislike any residue come sunrise. By day ten the cumulative hydration plateaued: skin felt consistently comfortable but the promised “erased” wrinkles remained merely softened. Firmness? Maybe a subtle uptick along the jawline if I squinted under bathroom lighting but nothing I would label transformative.
The big reveal on day fourteen was… fine. My complexion looked healthy, lines slightly less etched, no new congestion in sight. Yet the results never crossed from nice into must-have. Compared with my regular overnight staple, which delivers similar bounce with less product and no film, Ultratime didn’t carve out a compelling niche.
So did it work? Yes in that it moisturises well, keeps winter tightness at bay and offers a plush sensorial moment. No in that the loftier claims of firming and wrinkle erasure stayed in the realm of polite suggestion. I will happily finish the jar during cold snaps but it will not earn permanent residency in my rotation.
Ultratime Night-Balm Mask’s Main Ingredients Explained
Shea butter leads the formula and behaves like a thick duvet for the skin, delivering triglycerides and vitamins that soften flakes and seal in moisture. Rich textures can be a blessing in winter yet shea sits around a 0-2 on the comedogenic scale depending on refinement level, so those who clog easily on heavier creams may want to patch test. Coriander seed oil rides shotgun, less common than argan or rosehip but valued for linoleic acid that calms inflammation while lending a subtle herbaceous scent once the top notes dissipate.
The hydration workhorse is a trio of sodium hyaluronate sizes. Small molecules dive deeper to bind water in the lower epidermis while larger ones linger near the surface to create an instant bounce effect that explains the plumped look I observed on waking. It is a clever stacking strategy seen in more spendy serums and here it justifies the balm’s “mask” title.
Annayake sprinkles in a cocktail of peptides, namely palmitoyl tripeptide-1, hexapeptide-12 and tetrapeptide-7. Think of them as short protein fragments that whisper instructions to skin cells to repair tissue and churn out fresh collagen. Whether they survive the night in meaningful amounts is still up for debate in independent studies but combined with Katrizien, the brand’s own healing-mimic complex, they form the anti-ageing backbone of the product.
Plant actives get a nod too. Kudzu root extract is included for its isoflavones that stimulate collagen synthesis though its mild phytoestrogen profile means anyone pregnant or breastfeeding should show the INCI to their doctor first. Rice bran and germ extracts round things out with antioxidants plus a splash of vitamin E that support barrier resilience.
On the safety front the ingredient list is free of retinoids, high-dose salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide which lowers irritation risk. It does contain essential oils from citrus and ylang-ylang along with listed allergens such as linalool and limonene so very sensitive skin may tingle on first use. The preservatives are standard cosmetic-grade options like phenoxyethanol’s gentler cousin ethylhexylglycerin.
No beeswax, lanolin or other animal-derived materials appear so vegetarians and most vegans should find the formula acceptable though the brand is not officially certified cruelty-free which can be a deal breaker for some. Overall comedogenic risk sits at medium owing to shea butter, hydrogenated coconut oil and cetyl alcohol, ingredients that can trap sebum in acne-prone pores. A quick note on that term: comedogenic simply means likely to clog pores and spark blackheads or pimples.
In short the INCI reads like a well balanced dinner plate of occlusives, humectants and signal peptides with a few fragrance sprinkles for ambiance. It is pregnancy-questionable because of the essential oils and kudzu so medical sign-off is the safest route if you are expecting.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks of night-time testing these are the clear highs and lows that stood out.
What Works Well:
- Delivers a quick hit of lasting moisture thanks to shea butter and multi-weight hyaluronic acid which keeps skin comfortably cushioned till morning
- Melts in easily without heavy greasiness giving a plush, almost satin finish that pairs well with any serum underneath
- Peptide and plant extract blend offers a mild smoothing effect so fine lines look less sharp and overall tone appears a touch brighter
- Flexible use schedule means it can serve as a weekly mask or a one-week intensive for dry spells which adds value to the jar
What to Consider:
- Leaves a faint waxy film that requires an extra cleanse on some mornings which may bother those who prefer a squeaky-clean feel
- Rich occlusives and hydrogenated coconut oil sit mid-range on the comedogenic scale so acne-prone skin might need a cautious patch test
- Contains parfum along with citrus and ylang-ylang oils so very sensitive noses or reactive skin may find the scent distracting
My Final Thoughts
Ultratime Night-Balm Mask lands comfortably in the “good but not life-altering” camp. After two weeks of diligent slathering my skin was undeniably cushioned and looked a notch fresher at breakfast yet the deeper promises of firmer contours and wrinkle vanishing played out like a whisper rather than a drumroll. If you love rich balms, have normal to dry skin and crave a pampering texture that seals in moisture during cold spells this 7/10 performer will scratch that itch. Those with breakout-prone or fragrance-sensitive complexions might find the shea-citrus combo too cosy for comfort, while hardcore actives hunters will probably keep chasing bigger thrills.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, with caveats. I would point them to it as a winter rotation option, not the sole hero of an anti-ageing strategy. And I would nudge them toward a few stand-ins I have also emptied to the last scoop. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is my current all-rounder sweetheart, lighter on the pillow yet still loaded with barrier-boosters at a friendlier price tag. If you lean luxe, ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream serves up a silkier finish with comparable plumping power. For barrier repair nights BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue is a quiet miracle worker that calms redness while you sleep. Finally, LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask remains an affordable hydration bomb for anyone who prefers a gel texture over balm but still wants to wake up dewy.
Whichever jar you choose remember the usual skincare fine print. Patch test first on the jawline or behind the ear, apologies for sounding like a helicopter parent but irritation can sneak up on the best of formulas.