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As Mamamia's designated beauty lab rat, an overwhelming amount of Very Cool products slink their way across my desk.

On any given day of the week, you can find me in a corner of the office (I'm over by the window, you guys) frantically testing everything from fancy $200 creams encased in heavy glass to unsexy chemist staples and whatever contour stick is currently taking over TikTok.

And look, it's a tough job! Some people do open-heart surgery. Some people put out burning buildings. Some look after young children. But, y'know, some people have to sacrifice their skin barrier for journalism, right? All very important roles in society, actually.

Most products are lovely. Some are wildly overhyped. And a rare few make me want to use them again and again and tell the postman/barista/concierge downstairs that they need to try it right now.

Which brings me to today. When I discovered an overnight mask that might genuinely be the single best thing I've put on my face all year. (!!!)

Watch: Speaking of beauty products we're loving right now, check out the $5 concealer Leigh Campbell and Kelly McCarren rate on the You Beauty podcast. Post continues below.

This $5 concealer blew us away | You Beauty

This $5 concealer blew us away | You Beauty

This is it. Daily Skincare Beautydew Sleep Mask, $27.99.

This is she! Daily Skincare Beautydew Sleep Mask. Image: Supplied.

As far as packaging goes, I wouldn't say it's anything particularly exciting (maybe a little boring, actually?). It's a New Zealand brand, if that's something that matters to you. And it comes in a handy squirt tub so you don't have to dip your mitts in.

However, I've used and loved a moisturiser from Daily in the past ( this one that's gloriously rich, creamy, and feels far more luxe than legal for the price) so although it didn't scream PRODUCT OF THE YEAR, I knew it would be worth putting on my face.

And my face! God, my poor little face. Let's talk about that. Because I've had to be really picky about what I put on it, recently.

Between the stress of… everything *gestures broadly*, my skin has been kindly gifted a smattering of eczema. All around my eyes, mouth, cheeks and neck. And with it being cold and, y'know, winter, the dryness has accelerated to a level where my skin is just literally flaking off my face.

Like, in literal pieces.

Stunning.

With this in mind, I've had a solid month of being unable to try everything I usually love trying (serums! foundation! cute primers! anything for your face!).

In an effort to fix the situation at hand, I stripped everything back to basics and rounded up the usual suspects (QV, CeraVe, Avene, etc.) to calm it down.

Alas, the dry patches and eczema flare-ups have continued thriving.

My next step? Steroids. But I hate using steroids on my face and feel like I'm always on a roundabout once I start using them (gets better for a bit, flares up soon after, etc., etc.).

ANYWAY (gosh she knows how to waffle??), I decided to give this a go because it looked gentle enough to try, and my face already looked like sh*t, so how could it possibly get worse?

I slathered a thin layer over my skin (or, lack thereof) right before bed. It said on the packaging to leave it on for a bit before washing it off, but I just left it on overnight because I'm a bit of a bada$$ like that!

It didn't sting (a miracle in itself), didn't feel sticky on my pillow, and felt instantly soothing on my tight, pissed-off cheeks.

When I woke up the next morning, I braced myself for the usual flaky nightmare in the bathroom mirror. Instead? The redness had visibly dialled down, the tight feeling was completely gone, and my skin actually felt... supple.

I'd slathered it right around my eyes and for the first time in months I'd woken up without flaky eyes.

Guys, huge for me.

Fast-forward one week of using this stuff overnight, and my eczema flare-up has officially packed its bags. The dry patches have smoothed out, my makeup no longer clings to random flakes, and my skin barrier finally feels intact again.

Here's my face before and after using the mask:

Before (left) - so flaky and red and sore and pissed off! After (right) - so supple and clear and happy!

In fact, I've only had this tube for two weeks, and it's already nearly empty. Partly because I've been slathering it on like icing, but mostly because I physically cannot stop using it.

For $28 at the chemist, it has completely outperformed every high-end barrier cream currently sitting in my bathroom.

So! If your skin is also currently throwing a tantrum, maybe give it a go? Or don't! Just know I'm over here enjoying my soft, smooth, flake-free skin. Hurrah!

For more tried-and-tested beauty recommendations, subscribe to the weekly You Beauty newsletter, join our You Beauty Facebook group, listen to the You Beauty podcast or watch You Beauty on YouTube.

At Mamamia, we independently curate and write about products we rave about in our group chats and think you should know about too. If you purchase a product we have recommended, we may earn a small commission.

Feature image: Supplied.

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Erin Docherty

Beauty & Lifestyle Editor

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