Martine Cosmetics sits in that sweet spot between cult favorite and under-the-radar find. Beauty insiders praise its playful aesthetic and ingredient savvy while casual shoppers might still be catching up to the buzz. Either way the brand deserves credit for consistently pushing out formulas that feel thoughtful rather than gimmicky.
Enter the whimsically named La Grasse Night Hybrid Cream & Mask, a mouthful that sounds part Riviera holiday part bedtime ritual. Martine touts it as a rich multitasker that doubles as your nightly moisturizer or a thicker mask when skin is crying out for more. The press notes promise smoother features boosted collagen and protection against daily aggressors, all wrapped in a vegan cruelty free formula cleared of most common irritants.
I spent two full weeks with this jar on my nightstand applying it both as a classic cream and in a thicker layer on recovery nights to see if reality lives up to the glossy brochure. The verdict will unfold in the next sections but know that every swipe and observation is mine alone.
Disclaimer: This review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are personal and based on my own experience. Your skin is unique so results can vary.
What Is La Grasse Night Hybrid Cream & Mask?
La Grasse Night sits in the overnight treatment family, a category built for products that do their heavy lifting while you sleep. Overnight treatments usually pair richer textures with slow-release actives so skin can repair itself without interference from sun or pollution. They are popular for anyone who finds daytime routines already crowded or prefers a single step that covers hydration and recovery in one go.
This particular formula is billed as a hybrid: use a thin layer as your nightly moisturizer or swipe on a thicker coat for a mask-level dose of comfort. The texture is intentionally rich to counter nighttime water loss and help soften the look of fine lines by morning.
Key components include plant-derived squalane for a lightweight occlusive seal, seaweed extract for an antioxidant kick and shea butter for extra cushion. The brand also flags its absence of common irritants like essential oils, alcohol, silicones and PEGs which may appeal to sensitive or ingredient-conscious users. Everything is vegan and certified cruelty free, and the label states it is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In short, think of La Grasse Night as a two-in-one solution meant to simplify your p.m. routine while delivering an extra hit of hydration when needed.
Did It Work?
In the name of rigorous beauty journalism I shelved my usual overnight serum stack for a solid three nights before cracking open La Grasse Night. How very scientific of me. All in all two weeks felt like a fair test run and my face served as the full time petri dish.
Night one I went in with a classic pea sized layer. The cream feels dense at first contact but melts quickly once warmed between fingers. There is a faint powdery scent that fades within minutes. By lights out my skin felt comfortably sealed not suffocated. Come morning I clocked noticeable softness around the cheeks with zero tightness along my perpetually thirsty forehead.
For the mask version I followed Martine’s suggestion on nights three six and ten applying a generous coat roughly the thickness of yogurt on toast. It stayed slightly tacky for about fifteen minutes then settled into a balmy film. I expected pillow transfer yet woke up to mostly clean linens and a dewy complexion. Hydration was on point but any illusion of smoother features disappeared once I rinsed off. Fine lines looked temporarily blurred never truly ironed.
By day seven I noticed a subtle uptick in overall suppleness especially around the nasolabial fold where dehydration lines love to camp. No clogged pores or surprise breakouts either which is a small victory given the shea butter content. Still the promised collagen boost remained invisible to the naked eye and my tone did not look markedly brighter. I would rate the protection claim as plausible though unprovable since my skin did not flare up despite a windy cold snap.
Heading into the final stretch enthusiasm plateaued. Each use reliably delivered plush hydration yet the wow factor never escalated. Texture fatigue set in on my combination T zone where the formula started to feel borderline occlusive. When I switched back to my usual gel cream on day fifteen my face did not mourn the absence.
So did it work? It definitely quenched dryness and kept my skin calm which covers half of its promises. The loftier claims about feature smoothing and collagen magic landed softly. I appreciate the ingredient integrity and the pleasant user experience but I will not be clearing permanent shelf space for this jar. If your priority is simple overnight moisture it is an above average option that just stops short of holy grail status.
Main Ingredients Explained
Squalane sits high on the list and for good reason. This plant derived lipid mimics our own sebum so it sinks in quickly, softens rough patches and creates a light occlusive layer that keeps water from escaping overnight. It is also inherently stable which helps the jar stay fresh longer.
Next comes the classic hydrating trio of glycerin, butylene glycol and pentylene glycol. All three are humectants that pull moisture from the environment and deeper skin layers toward the surface, plumping cells for that morning pillow face glow. They are safe for sensitive or acne prone skin and rarely trigger irritation.
Shea butter gives the cream its cushiony feel and acts as a long wear comfort blanket, especially useful in dry climates or during retinol cycles. Worth noting however that shea ranks moderately on the comedogenic scale meaning it can block pores for some users prone to congestion. Comedogenic simply describes an ingredient’s likelihood of causing blackheads or breakouts so patch testing is smart if your skin clogs easily.
The seaweed star, Laminaria Ochroleuca extract, is rich in antioxidants and minerals. Lab data suggests it can calm inflammation and reinforce the skin barrier making it handy after wind burn or over exfoliation. Combined with tocopherol (vitamin E) the formula gets an antioxidant duo that helps neutralize free radicals formed during daily pollution exposure.
Saccharide isomerate acts like a moisture magnet that stays bound to the stratum corneum even after cleansing, prolonging hydration beyond the night shift. Allantoin and arginine round things out with soothing and repair benefits so redness is kept at bay.
The fragrance sits mid list which means you will notice it, though I experienced no sensitization. If you are firmly in the fragrance free camp this could be a deal breaker.
Vegan readers can rest easy: every component is plant sourced and the product is certified cruelty free. The label also flags itself as pregnancy and breastfeeding safe, yet dermatologists still recommend running any new topical by your physician during those stages just to be safe.
Finally the formula skips essential oils, alcohol, PEGs and silicones which sensitive skin often prefers, but it does contain stearalkonium hectorite, a clay derived thickener that can feel heavy on very oily skin. Overall the ingredient deck reads as thoughtfully composed with hydration front and center and only one or two potential pore cloggers to watch.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Cushiony texture locks in moisture overnight without feeling greasy on normal to dry areas
- Ingredient list focuses on barrier support with squalane, glycerin and seaweed extract which kept redness at bay during a cold snap
- Fragrance is subtle and dissipates quickly making bedtime use pleasant
- Versatile cream or mask format saves counter space for minimalists
What to Consider:
- Rich occlusive base may sit heavy on oily T zones especially in humid weather
- Claims of visible line smoothing are short lived so results lean more maintenance than transformation
- Price lands in the mid to high bracket for an overnight hydrator
My Final Thoughts
La Grasse Night Hybrid Cream & Mask lands in that respectable middle ground where pleasure and performance meet but sparks do not quite fly. After two weeks of faithful use I can vouch for its reliable overnight cushioning, the next morning bounce and the absence of drama on my sometimes picky skin. I cannot swear my collagen was poppin’ like confetti or that my fine lines packed their bags, yet I also cannot dismiss the brand’s loftier promises outright because skin biology moves at a glacial pace and two weeks is only a teaser trailer. What I can say with confidence is that this is a strong contender for anyone whose nighttime priority is barrier comfort over blockbuster transformation, especially if you value a formula that behaves well around sensitivities and pregnancy.
Those with combination or oily zones might find the texture creeping toward heavy after a few consecutive nights, while true desert-dry faces may fall head over heels for the balmy seal. If someone asked me at brunch whether I would recommend it I would respond with a measured yes, but I would also add the caveat that a 50 ml jar will set you back more than a basic hydrator so weigh expectations accordingly. On my personal scoreboard it sits at a solid 7/10 – a dependable supporting actor rather than a lead who steals the scene.
Because no product exists in a vacuum a quick word on alternatives I have rotated through and loved. The Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is my default Swiss-army-knife night cream – lighter than La Grasse yet still packed with lipids and a friendlier price tag. If your skin craves a similar plush feel but you want less occlusion, BIOSSANCE’s Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue hands you calm and hydration without the rich cloak. Prefer a spa like pillow mask vibe? LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask offers a buoyant gel-cream that firms gently while sidestepping heaviness. And for those chasing a slightly more indulgent, collagen leaning experience the ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream remains a classic that actually justifies the hype with steady firmness over time. All four have been in my rotation long enough for me to empty at least one jar or tube each.
Before you dive in a quick PSA – sorry to sound like the over-protective parent – patch test behind the ear or along the jaw for a couple of nights, especially if you are acne prone or fragrance sensitive. Remember results only stick around with consistent use, slip up for a week and the newfound glow is likely to ghost you.