Introduction
Q+A might not yet enjoy the household-name status of some legacy skincare giants, but its ingredient-centric formulas and refreshingly transparent ethos have earned the brand a loyal following among beauty insiders. If you have been sleeping on this Norfolk-based label, consider this your gentle nudge to take notice.
The product at hand, Cica Calming Overnight Face Mask, wears its intentions right on the tin: calm, coddle and repair while you catch up on sleep. The name is admittedly a bit of a mouthful, yet it speaks to the brand’s no-nonsense habit of putting hero ingredients and promised benefits front and center.
According to Q+A, this overnight treatment drenches skin with moisture, tones down redness and fortifies the barrier thanks to a cocktail of Centella Asiatica, a sugar-derived complex and a touch of Bacillus Ferment for brightness. The texture, they say, is a light gel that sinks in without fuss so you can hit the pillow worry-free.
Armed with those claims and a healthy dose of curiosity, I put the mask through its paces for a full two weeks, using it nightly after my regular moisturizer to see whether it delivers enough calm and hydration to justify its place in an already crowded bedtime routine.
What is Cica Calming Overnight Face Mask?
This product is classed as an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to be the final step after your evening moisturizer and left on while you sleep. The idea behind overnight formulas is simple: when skin is in repair mode and shielded from daytime stressors like UV and pollution, active ingredients can work uninterrupted and water loss can be minimized.
Q+A’s take on the category is a lightweight gel mask that aims to increase hydration, reduce visible redness and reinforce the skin barrier. It does this by pairing Centella Asiatica, known for its calming properties, with a sugar complex intended to lock in moisture and Bacillus Ferment to help even tone. The mask is meant for regular use rather than an occasional treat, so the brand positions it as a nightly companion rather than a once-a-week indulgence.
Did it work?
In the interest of rigorous skincare journalism, I benched my usual overnight treatment for three nights before starting the mask so my skin could hit a clean baseline. Very scientific of me, right? Over the following 14 days I applied a grape-size blob as the last step before lights out, resisting the urge to layer anything else on top.
Night one was uneventful, which I count as a win. The gel cooled on contact and absorbed within a minute so no sticky cheeks on the pillow. By morning my skin felt pleasantly plump but not wildly different from a rich evening cream.
Things became more noticeable around day five. I get recurring flare ups of redness across my cheeks and while they did not vanish, the blotchiness looked less angry when I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Hydration held steady through the day too. Normally I need a midday mist to keep tightness at bay but I skipped it without consequences.
The second week revealed both strengths and limitations. Texture wise my skin felt smoother, almost glassy, and fine dehydration lines around my mouth softened. However, any claims of an “even tone” were modest at best. I still relied on a green corrector for video calls. The sugar complex clearly locks in moisture and the Centella does soothe, yet the brightening from Bacillus Ferment was subtle enough that only I, armed with a magnifying mirror, would notice.
By day 14 I concluded that the mask delivers consistent hydration and a gentle calming effect but stops short of transformative. It is a solid option for anyone craving a fuss free moisture top-up with bonus calming benefits, though it will not replace my trusted overnight powerhouse. I will finish the pot gladly, perhaps reach for it after sun exposure, and happily recommend it to friends with easily ruffled skin even if it will not become a permanent resident on my shelf.
Main ingredients explained
First up is Centella Asiatica extract, the cica of the name and a well documented skin calmer thanks to its madecassoside and asiaticoside content. Think of it as a botanical first-aid kit that helps dial down redness while nudging collagen production to keep skin resilient. Partnering with it is a sugar complex made from xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol and xylitol. These sugars act like mini sponges, pulling water into the upper layers of the skin and then locking it there so you wake up with that sought-after bouncy feel.
Bacillus ferment handles the tone-evening brief. It is an enzyme derived from probiotic bacteria that ever so gently sloughs away dull surface cells, which explains the faint brightening I noticed after a week. If you are sensitive to stronger exfoliants this is a friendlier option.
For barrier support the formula leans on glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and betaine, plus a plant-derived lipid blend of caprylic/capric triglyceride and coco-caprylate/caprate that gives the mask its silky slip. These emollients are generally rated low on the comedogenic scale, though the inclusion of shea butter polyglyceryl-4 esters may pose a clogging risk for those with highly congestion-prone skin. Comedogenic simply means the tendency of an ingredient to block pores and potentially trigger breakouts.
The soothing roster is rounded out by bisabolol (from chamomile) and aloe vera juice, both excellent for taking the sting out of irritation. Tripeptide-29 sneaks in as a collagen-mimicking peptide aimed at firming over time, while honeysuckle extracts, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin keep microbes in check so the gel stays fresh without added fragrance.
No animal-derived ingredients appear on the list so the mask is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. There are also no known pregnancy red-flag actives like retinoids or high-dose salicylic acid, yet it is always wisest for expectant or nursing users to run any topical past their healthcare provider first.
Lastly the formula is free of added perfume and essential oils, a small mercy for reactive skin. If you are hunting for a nightly hydrator that plays nicely with most routines this ingredient lineup is solid, just remember to patch test if you are prone to clogged pores.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick rundown of the highs and lows after two weeks of nightly use.
What works well:
- Lightweight gel absorbs quickly and leaves zero residue on pillowcases
- Reliable overnight hydration that lasts through the following afternoon
- Noticeable calming of cheek redness within the first week
What to consider:
- Brightening effect is subtle so uneven tone may still need makeup back-up
- Shea derivative could be a clogging trigger for very acne-prone skin
- Results plateau around week two which might feel underwhelming for more advanced routines
My final thoughts
After two weeks of nightly use I land at a comfortable 7/10 for Q+A’s Cica Calming Overnight Face Mask. It hydrates reliably, tempers mild redness and plays nicely with the rest of a routine that leans on acids or retinoids. If you have combination to dry skin that acts up in cold weather or after a retinol binge this is a soothing safety net. Those chasing dramatic brightening or firming, however, may wish to keep this as a supporting act rather than the headliner.
I have rotated through more overnight treatments than I care to admit, so I feel confident the mask received a fair shake. It did not bowl me over but I will gladly recommend it to friends who want a simple calm-and-hydrate step without fragrance or heavy occlusives. Oily and very acne-prone skin types should patch test first because the shea derivative could prove a wildcard. If your chief skin woe is stubborn pigmentation or you crave the bounce only actives like retinoids can deliver, this formula may leave you politely unimpressed.
Should you wish to shop around, a few tried-and-tested alternatives deserve consideration. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent allrounder that streamlines hydration, barrier support and gentle resurfacing into one wallet-friendly step no matter your skin type. For nights when collagen support is top priority, Overnight Bio-Collagen Recovery Mask by Peace Out gives a plumping payoff that borders on morning-after filler. If your skin laughs at mild formulas and demands a punchier active, Superstar Retinol Night Oil by Pestle & Mortar delivers a silky dose of Vitamin A without the usual dryness.
Before you slather anything fresh on your face please patch test on the jawline or behind the ear (sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent). Remember that overnight masks are maintenance products not magic erasers so consistent use is key to keeping results in play.