Melumé Skinscience may not yet hold household-name status, but within industry circles the brand is whispered about for its lab-centric formulas and no-nonsense packaging. I have admired their quietly confident approach for some time, so when the intriguingly named Nightly Morphing Mask landed on my desk I was ready to put its shape-shifting promises to the test.
The brand calls this overnight treatment a 360° rejuvenator that plumps, nourishes, brightens and generally coaxes tired skin back to life. It arrives in a squeeze tube topped with a built-in brush so you can swipe the pale yellow cream straight on without dirtying fingertips. Melumé touts a long list of perks from smoothing texture and fine lines to tackling pigmentation, all while you sleep.
To see if the reality lives up to that impressive résumé I devoted a full two weeks to nightly use, tracking any changes in tone, firmness and overall glow. What follows is an honest account of how the mask performed and whether it deserves a spot on your nightstand or stays a nice idea on the shelf.
Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored or paid for by Melumé Skinscience. All opinions are my own and results can vary depending on individual skin type and condition.
What Is Nightly Morphing Mask?
Nightly Morphing Mask is an overnight treatment from Melumé Skinscience designed to stay on the skin for the full eight-hour sleep window rather than being rinsed off like a traditional wash-off mask. Overnight formulas give active ingredients extended contact time, allowing them to work with the skin’s natural nighttime repair cycle when cell turnover is highest and environmental stressors are at their lowest.
This particular mask is positioned as a 360° rejuvenator that aims to plump, nourish and brighten dull or uneven complexions. The cream base carries a mix of retinoid, acids and hydrators intended to refine texture, soften fine lines and reduce the look of pigmentation while boosting moisture levels. Although the formula may develop a yellow tint over time, that color shift is a normal result of high-strength retinol and does not signal degradation.
The brand highlights a 91 percent naturally derived ingredient list, a biomimetic approach and an “intelligent delivery system” meant to move actives where they are most effective. The built-in brush tip is there for direct application, sparing fingers and keeping the product sealed off from air until each use.
In short, it is a leave-on night mask whose promise centers on multi-angle skin renewal through a blend of exfoliants, antioxidants and barrier supportive moisturizers.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my usual overnight serum for three full days before starting the test, which felt very controlled study of me if I may say so. Fourteen nights then felt like a fair window to see whether the shapeshifting claims had real teeth.
I applied a pea sized squeeze each evening after cleansing, painting it on with the built in brush then massaging the excess with my fingertips. The first three nights delivered a fleeting tingle around my nose and chin, nothing dramatic but enough to remind me that retinal and acids were busy under the hood. I woke to skin that felt nicely cushioned with moisture yet looked normal rather than post facial radiant.
By night five a faint brightness began to peek through, most noticeable on the tops of my cheeks. Texture felt a touch smoother when I ran my fingers along my forehead, though the pores on either side of my nose looked pretty much the same. A small dry patch popped up on my left temple around day seven which subsided once I added an extra pump of moisturizer on top.
The back half of the trial was steady if unspectacular. Fine lines at my smile area were still there, perhaps softened half a hair, and a pair of stubborn sun spots on my right cheek held their ground despite the promised hyperpigmentation assault. What did improve was overall suppleness, my skin bounced back faster when pinched and never felt tight in the morning. No fresh breakouts appeared, a pleasant surprise given the rich buttery base.
On night fourteen I compared before and after photos under the same bathroom lighting. The difference was subtle: a mild uptick in glow, slightly refined texture, hydration holding strong. Impressive given the short time frame yet not quite the full 360 degree turnaround printed on the box.
So did it work? Partially. Nightly Morphing Mask is a comfortable, low effort route to smoother, better moisturized skin but it stops short of the transformative results its name suggests. I will finish the tube because I enjoy the plush feel and convenient brush but I will probably not buy a replacement once it is gone.
Nightly Morphing Mask’s Main Ingredients Explained
The star of the formula is retinal, a next-step vitamin A that converts quickly to retinoic acid once it hits skin so you get most of the smoothing and collagen-nudging benefits of prescription retinoids with less sting. It is joined by a trio of glycolic, lactic and citric acids that loosen dead cells at the surface, making way for the brighter tone I started seeing around the five-night mark. Niacinamide appears high on the list to steady pigment and reinforce the barrier while zinc PCA helps keep oil in check. Hydration comes from a buffet of glycerin, shea butter, jojoba and hyaluronic acid which explains why the mask never left me parched despite the active punch.
As for the supporting cast, a ferment of chlorella and lupin delivers antioxidant defense, panthenol and allantoin calm any early tingles and a handful of plant extracts pitch in with extra soothing. The formula is 91% naturally derived and contains no obvious animal byproducts so it reads as vegan and vegetarian friendly, though the brand does not carry a formal vegan certification so strict plant-only users may want written confirmation.
On the flip side a few ingredients rank moderately comedogenic, namely shea butter, decyl oleate and the C10-18 triglycerides. Comedogenic simply means an ingredient can clog pores for those with congestion-prone or very oily skin. I did not experience breakouts yet anyone battling frequent blackheads may prefer spot testing first.
Because retinal is a vitamin A derivative the mask is not considered pregnancy safe. Dermatologists generally advise avoiding any topical retinoid while pregnant or nursing so check with a doctor before adding this to a prenatal routine. The same caution applies to the blend of alpha hydroxy acids which can raise sensitivity.
Lastly you may notice the cream deepening from pale butter to full-on mustard over time. That color shift is normal and tied to the high level of uncoated retinal, it does not signal spoilage. Store the tube away from direct heat and you will keep potency on point until the last squeeze.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick breakdown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Built in brush makes application tidy and surprisingly pleasant at bedtime
- Hydrating cushion from shea butter and glycerin keeps skin comfortable even with retinal and acids in play
- Fragrance free formula delivered a mild glow boost with zero redness or breakout for me
What to Consider:
- Rich creamy texture may feel heavy on very oily or congestion prone skin
- Improvements in tone and fine lines are present but subtle so patience is required
- Price sits at the premium end which may feel steep given the moderate results
My Final Thoughts
Nightly Morphing Mask sits comfortably in the respectable middle of the pack. It is fuss free to apply, kind to my barrier and does tick a fair few boxes on the rejuvenation checklist, yet it never quite morphs you into the lit-from-within version the marketing copy hints at. After two weeks I’m giving it a solid 7/10: better than basic, not quite a blockbuster. I would recommend it to friends who enjoy a plush overnight cream and want a gentle retinal entry point, especially those with normal-to-dry skin that craves cushion. If you are hunting a pore vacuum or lightning fast pigment eraser you may feel underwhelmed. Super oily or very sensitive types might also prefer a lighter or fragrance-free acid first approach.
Of course an evening routine is only as good as the product you can stick with so here are a few tested alternatives I rate highly. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is the dependable all-rounder I reach for when my face refuses to choose between hydration, resilience and firmness, and its friendlier price tag never hurts. For a featherweight gel-cream finish the Water Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE is unbeatable at bottling that eight-hours-of-sleep glow. If you want a richer texture that still plays nicely with actives, Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS feels like pulling on a cashmere jumper for the skin. And for retinol lovers who like their results dialled up a notch, Olay’s Retinol24 Night Cream has consistently nudged my fine lines faster than most pharmacy options.
Before you rush to add any of the above to basket remember the sensible stuff. Patch test new formulas behind the ear or along the jawline, yes I know I sound like your over-protective parent but irritation will ruin even the fanciest mask. Keep expectations realistic, maintain nightly use and accept that any gains you see need ongoing commitment or they will glide softly back into the realm of wishful thinking.