While you might feel like flopping into bed after a long day, don’t hit the sheets without addressing your skin. During the day, your skin is in protective mode, working hard to ward off environmental aggressors like sun exposure and pollution. Your skin goes into a reparative state at night. Studies have found that the repair of damaged skin cells peaks at night, especially between 10 p.m. and midnight, all the more reason to get that beauty sleep!
With that in mind, a solid nighttime skincare routine complements sleep because your skin can fully reap the benefits of active ingredients and aid the reparative process. While it takes more effort than simply using a cleanser to wash away the debris from the day, a p.m. skin regime doesn’t have to be complicated, either. It just needs to be targeted so you can achieve your skincare goals. Here are four tips to get you set up for success.
Table of Contents
1. Understand Your Skin Type
Before anything else, you must understand your skin type to choose the correct products. If you need more clarification, speak with a skincare professional to avoid mistreating your skin.
Dry
Dry skin produces less sebum (oil) than other skin types, so there are fewer hydrating lipids to protect against environmental aggressors like pollution and sun exposure. The skin looks rough, dry, dully, flaky, scaly, and feels tight and itchy. While pores are less visible, fine lines and wrinkles are more prominent.
Oily
Oily skin produces more oil than usual. It’s characterized by a shiny T-zone (forehead, nose, cheeks), blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and enlarged pores.
Combination
When you have combo skin, the T-zone is oily, but the rest of the face is normal or dry. Pores are more visible in oily areas and may be accompanied by blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes.
Sensitive
Redness, dry patches, rashes, and hives are telltale signs of sensitive skin. In addition to feeling tight and itchy, skincare products can cause a stinging or burning sensation.
2. Identify Your Goals
Your goals are primarily determined by your skin type and age. For example:
- If you’re oily, your goal is to balance the skin and control breakouts and clogged pores.
- It’s all about adding moisture to the skin and repairing its protective barrier if you’re dry.
- Combo skin is managing both oily and normal to dry skin.
- Sensitive skin types require gentle, calming formulas to alleviate redness and irritation.
- You can start using anti-aging products as early as your 20s, but those in their 40s-plus should prioritize these formulas if the signs of age (fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, loss of tone) are a concern.
3. Consider Which Products to Buy
Incredible skincare products are available for all budgets, but nobody likes to waste money. That said, clearly defining your skin type and identifying your goals are the keys to choosing the correct products. Look for formulas void of harsh ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and fragrances, and consider going vegan.
Here’s what you need to create a nighttime skincare routine to help you wake up to healthy, glowing skin.
Makeup Remover
Not removing makeup is a major no-no. Your cells work to regenerate while you’re sleeping, which causes natural oils to come to the skin’s surface. Makeup residue traps the oil, leading to breakouts and blackheads. Use a makeup remover or an oil-based cleanser to break down all product traces before moving forward with a cleanser for your skin type.
Cleanser
Even if you’re not wearing makeup, you must cleanse your skin to remove sunscreen, dirt, sweat, and other impurities. While this may seem rudimentary, studies have revealed that 80% of Americans aren’t washing their face correctly. We’re talking about using hand soap or water to attempt to get the job done. Regardless of skin type, choose a cleanser that won’t strip the skin of natural oils and disrupt the skin’s protective barrier.
Toner
Toners are often overlooked, but they shouldn’t be. There’s a misconception that they burn, sting, and dry out the skin. While that may have been the case years ago, today’s toners are formulated with some of the same quality ingredients seen in other skincare products to address skin concerns ranging from acne to dryness. A quality toner helps restore the skin’s pH balance while preparing your skin for the remaining steps in your nighttime skincare routine.
Serum
A serum is vital in achieving your skincare goals because it targets concerns on a deeper level. While the consistency is lighter than a moisturizer, serums are more concentrated than moisturizers due to their small molecular composition. Which serum you choose should be based on your biggest skin concern. However, depending on their formulation, some serums treat multiple issues, such as wrinkles and dryness or acne or sensitivity.
Treatment Products
This step varies from person to person and may not be needed at all. Treatment products consist of extras used to target a specific skin concern. For example, a spot treatment for acne, a lip balm treatment, retinol for fine lines and wrinkles, or azelaic acid for hyperpigmentation. Many products are more potent than over-the-counter formulas, so you’ll need a prescription from a dermatologist.
Eye Cream
The skin under your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on your entire body. This area also lacks oil glands, so there’s no opportunity for natural lubrication. That said, an eye cream is essential for providing essential moisture. Most formulas also address common concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. As long as we’re talking about eyes, don’t forget to add an eyelash serum to your nighttime routine to achieve longer and fuller lashes in weeks.
Night Cream
Your skin truly reaps the benefits of a hydrating moisturizer at night because you’re not moving, sweating, or covering it up with makeup. Opt for a nourishing night cream for your skin type to moisturize and repair your skin while you sleep. A few notable ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid, retinol, bakuchiol (a natural retinol alternative), niacinamide, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, lactic acid, glycerin, peptides, and ceramides.
4. Create a Nighttime Ritual
Your entire body, including the skin, repairs itself at night, so it’s vital you get enough shuteye. Studies have found³ that lack of sleep causes the skin to age at a faster rate, so aim to get an average of seven to nine hours a night. To make things a bit easier, turn off all electronics at least one hour before bedtime and create a nighttime ritual in conjunction with your skincare routine. For example:
- Make a soothing cup of herbal tea
- Take a warm bath before bed — use this time once a week for a face mask treatment
- Read a few pages from a book — something light
- Breathe in some relaxing essential oils
- Meditate
To make things easier on yourself, keep your nighttime skincare products in one place that’s easy to access — especially when you’re tired. Also, remember that even after establishing a nighttime ritual, be prepared to make adjustments based on your age and the change of seasons. Always seek the advice of a skincare professional if you’re feeling stuck. Now, go on and get your skin ready for sleep!