Farmacy has long held a sweet spot in the hearts of skincare enthusiasts, the sort of brand you spot on a friend’s vanity and instantly know they care about ingredients as much as results. With its farm fresh ethos and clever green packaging the company has built a reputation for formulas that feel both science backed and eco minded.
Enter the 10% Niacinamide Night Mask, whose name reads like a lab report yet still manages to promise a spa level snooze. Farmacy markets this overnight treatment as a multitasking hero that balances oil, refines pores, revives dull skin and soothes irritation while you dream. They point to niacinamide for tone, panthenol and beta glucan for barrier support and a dash of upcycled blueberry seed oil for antioxidant flair, all wrapped in clinical stats that hint at near universal approval.
Sounds impressive but glossy claims only get so far. I spent two full weeks slathering on the pastel cream each night, spatula and all, to see if it lives up to the bedtime bragging rights and whether it deserves a place in your routine or just your social feed.
Disclosure: This is not a paid or sponsored review. The jar was purchased with my own funds, all observations are personal and honest and, as always, results can differ depending on skin type, concerns and consistency of use.
What Is 10% Niacinamide Night Mask?
Farmacy positions this jar as an overnight treatment, a type of product meant to replace or top off your regular night cream so it can work while skin is in repair mode during sleep. Unlike a rinse-off mask, you apply a thin layer after cleansing and leave it on until morning which makes it more akin to a concentrated moisturizer than the peel-off or clay masks many people picture.
The headline ingredient is niacinamide at 10 percent, a well-studied form of vitamin B3 often used to even tone, reduce visible pores and temper excess oil. Supporting that are 3 percent panthenol, known for strengthening the moisture barrier, and beta glucan, a soothing polysaccharide that can calm redness. To counter dullness the formula includes blueberry seed oil, an upcycled by-product rich in antioxidants and fatty acids.
Farmacy cites a four-week clinical test in which over 90 percent of participants reported smoother tone and improved overall appearance. Those numbers set expectations high but in practical terms the mask is simply a leave-on cream designed to multitask overnight by hydrating, balancing and comforting skin in one step.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my trusty ceramide sleeping cream for three nights before starting the test drive, which felt very clinical given that my lab coat is really just an old robe. Fourteen days seemed like a fair window to judge results without tipping into placebo territory.
Each evening I scooped a pea sized amount with the spatula, warmed it between my fingertips then pressed it over freshly cleansed skin. The pastel cream melted down quickly, leaving a satiny film that never felt greasy but definitely lingered past the Netflix episode I fell asleep to. There is a faint herbal scent that dissipates within minutes so scent sensitive users should be safe.
First impression after night one: great hydration. I woke up to cheeks that felt bouncy instead of tight, a nice surprise since my apartment heater is as drying as desert air. By night three oil production along my T zone appeared a touch calmer and a tiny hormonal blemish on my chin looked less angry.
Heading into week two the mask continued to ace the comfort test. No redness or stinging, even on the nights I layered a mild retinoid underneath. Texture looked a tad smoother under bathroom lighting and my pores around the nose seemed slightly blurred in the mornings, though the effect faded by late afternoon.
Where the formula underdelivered was tone. The lingering post acne marks on my jaw remain about the same and any brightening is subtle at best. I also noticed that around day ten the hydration boost plateaued; skin felt good yet not markedly better than when I use a regular rich moisturizer.
So did it live up to Farmacy’s multitasking hype? Partially. It soothed, cushioned and curbed midday shine, which earns solid points. It did not noticeably fade discoloration or transform pore size beyond a temporary blur. At a mid tier price I need more wow to oust my current standby, so I will finish the jar but will not press reorder.
Main Ingredients Explained
Niacinamide sits at a confident 10 percent and that is a sweet spot most dermatologists like. At this level B3 can visibly smooth texture, temper excess sebum and reinforce the moisture barrier. Because it is water soluble it plays nicely with almost any routine and rarely causes irritation which explains why I had zero redness even on retinoid nights.
Next up is 3 percent panthenol, a workhorse humectant that converts to vitamin B5 in skin. Think of it as a sponge that pulls water into the upper layers then locks it in by supporting the lipid matrix. Beta glucan adds another layer of calm by signaling skin to dial down inflammation while forming a thin film that prevents transepidermal water loss. The duo explains the plush, well rested feel I noticed each morning.
Farmacy’s eco angle comes through in the upcycled blueberry seed oil. Rich in linoleic and alpha linolenic acids plus a hit of vitamin E, the oil helps counter free radical stress and softens rough patches. It is lightweight yet any oil can worry acne-prone readers so note that shea butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride and cetearyl alcohol also appear high on the list. These ingredients score moderate on the comedogenic scale which measures the likelihood of a substance to clog pores, so if you battle persistent blackheads you may want to patch test first.
The formula is free of animal derived components and Farmacy confirms the mask is suitable for vegans although the presence of fermented extracts may give strict vegetarians pause if the growth medium is a concern. There is no added fragrance, only a mild botanical scent from plant extracts, and the pH hovers around 5 which keeps skin enzymes happy.
Regarding pregnancy safety, niacinamide and panthenol are generally viewed as low risk topical options but the mask does contain a bouquet of botanical extracts whose effects have not been extensively studied on expecting skin. Out of an abundance of caution anyone pregnant or nursing should clear this with their dermatologist before adding it to the nightstand.
One final note: the jar arrives with a spatula which helps limit bacterial contamination but remember to clean it or you will defeat the preservative system’s effort to keep microbes at bay. A small step yet one that preserves the integrity of all those thoughtful ingredients.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is my quick take after two weeks of nightly use
What Works Well:
- Instant cushiony hydration that kept cheeks comfortable even under aggressive indoor heating
- Noticeable reduction in T zone shine by morning which carried through most of the next day
- Gentle formula played nicely with retinoids and acids with zero redness or tingling
- Light cream texture spreads easily with the included spatula and sinks in without greasy residue
What to Consider:
- Brightening of post acne marks is subtle so those targeting discoloration may want a dedicated serum
- Pore smoothing looks good at breakfast but fades by late afternoon making results feel temporary
- Contains shea butter and fatty alcohols that might be too rich for very clog prone skin types and the price sits in the higher middle range
My Final Thoughts
Overnight treatments are the workhorses of a routine, clocking in while we’re drooling on the pillow and smoothing the evidence of the day’s stress by sunrise. After two weeks in rotation I can say Farmacy’s 10% Niacinamide Night Mask is a solid teammate rather than an MVP. Hydration and oil control? Absolutely. Long-term tone correction and pore rehousing? Not so much. On my personal applause meter it lands at a respectable 7/10 which translates to “I’ll finish the jar but I’m not composing poetry about it.” I’d suggest it to friends with combination or mildly dehydrated skin who crave a gentle, fuss-free buffer over actives yet aren’t chasing dramatic brightening.
If your skin is bone dry, extremely congestion prone or your discoloration goals resemble an HGTV makeover, you may feel underwhelmed. And if you already own a rich niacinamide moisturiser, the leap in performance here may not justify the extra spend. Still, the calm comfort it supplies is welcome and I never woke up with mystery milia or mid-sleep itchiness, which is more than I can say for half the night creams lounging in my empties bin.
Speaking of the bin, a few alternatives I’ve used and loved deserve quick mention. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent covers-all-bases formula at a price that treats both face and wallet kindly. For a silkier yet still barrier-friendly option Advanced Night Restore by Medik8 layers beautifully over retinoids without pilling. Those wanting a lighter gel that delivers a morning-after bounce will meet their match in LANEIGE’s Water Sleeping Mask. And when I crave a cocooning texture that smells faintly of lavender dreams, Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep by IT Cosmetics rarely disappoints. Each brings its own spin on overnight care so matching texture and skin goal is key.
Final verdict: Farmacy’s mask earns a nod for reliability and comfort though it stops short of brilliance. I would recommend it to a friend whose main concerns are hydration hiccups and moderate shine, reminding them not to expect miracle erasers on dark spots. As with all skincare mileage varies so trust your own mirror more than my musings.
Before you slather with abandon, remember a couple of boring yet crucial PSA points: patch test new products behind the ear or jaw for at least 24 hours, keep expectations realistic since results only stick around with consistent use, and store that little spatula somewhere you’ll actually clean it. Sorry to sound like an over-protective parent!