Online Reporter
THERE is nothing better than waking up refreshed after a blissful night’s sleep.
But did you know that sleep is also critical to healthy skin function and repair? It is after hours when the magic happens.
Sleep is not just a way for you to rest your tired body and mind, it is actually a means of helping heal yourself physically and mentally.
For your skin, that means your cells. As you rest, your skin cell turnover increases, replenishing dead and damaged skin cells with fresh new ones.
Why so important?
They get damaged throughout the day by free radicals, but thanks to skin cell regeneration, your skin cells are restored. This process occurs at night-time, peaking at 9pm.
Your skin repairs itself overnight, meaning its natural renewal process is most active while you sleep.
This is because moisturisers and hydrating ingredients work best when your skin is not exposed to environmental stressors.
In doing so, it can accelerate fine lines, dehydration, and loss of firmness. So that is why skipping night cream (and yes, that skin-amazing serum), is not a good idea.
What’s the deal with free radicals?
They are basically unbalanced oxygen atoms that randomly go looking for other atoms to steady themselves. They latch onto your skin, causing a chain of damage that leads to premature ageing.
Want to get rid of them immediately?
Then think of your night-time skincare routine as more than removing make up and moisturising.
A good night’s treatment: What does your skin need?
Your skin has its own day and night biorhythm (daily cycle). During the day, it needs protection and hydration; at night, it needs support for its natural regeneration process.
If you wore makeup or sunscreen, double cleansing is key. This method ensures all residue is removed, preventing clogged pores and irritation
Day and night creams should therefore be tailored perfectly with one another. Because the skin is working flat out to regenerate itself at night, night creams are more moisturising and particularly rich in active ingredients.
Choosing the right night cream for your skin is all about treating its condition.
Whether it is boosting its texture (firmness) or pumping hydration. An evening serum treats the skin. In other words, it contains active ingredients able to work deeper within the skin to repair wrinkles for example.
Hydrating and treating the skin overnight helps reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness by maintaining moisture levels and boosting collagen production.
Step-by-step guide: Night-time skincare routine
Good night-time habits mean good skin. Simply follow these five night-time skincare steps to help get your skin ready for overnight rejuvenation:
1. Cleanse. Whether you need to remove a face full of make-up or just the dirt, grime, oil and pollution that settles on your skin during the day, cleansing is one of the most important parts of your night-time skincare routine.
You can use face cloths if you like things quick and easy, or go for a more thorough cleanse and opt for an oil cleanser followed by a gentle, creamy cleanser.
Top tip: After cleansing use a dry cotton pad to wipe your face to check that everything has been removed. This is important, because all the skincare products you’ll use afterward will absorb better and more easily on perfectly clean skin.
2. Tone. A toner is a facial tonic that further primes your skin to absorb the important ingredients you are going to apply later on. If you are adding retinol to your routine, use a hydrating toner to moisturise your skin.
3. Apply eye cream. Eye creams are typically lighter than most moisturisers and are applied on the under-eye area. It’s a good idea to add the lightest cream first in your nightly face routine, which is why this step comes now.
At night, choose a hydrating eye cream that helps repair the skin barrier overnight. If you want to add a dose of retinol around the eyes as part of your nightly skincare routine and gently massage it into the under-eye area.
4. Use a serum. Serums offer concentrated amounts of certain treatments. Popular serums are made with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which hydrates your skin, or nourishing nutrients and antioxidants, like Vitamin C or E.
Find the right one for your skin needs and use it at this step.
Top tip: Make sure you follow the instructions on how often you should use your serum and what you can mix it with.
5. Moisturise. Now comes another essential part of any skincare routine: the moisturiser.
At night, your skin goes into repair mode, so you want a night cream that nourishes and moisturises your skin. Retinol is a super ingredient for this as it leaves your skin visibly smoother and glowing, making fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
Remember, a night skincare routine is the most effective if you stick to it. Be patient, since some products, take more time to have a visible effect on your skin. Find the products best suited for your skin and trust our recommended night-time skincare steps to do their job.
You might actually enjoy these few minutes of pampering to help you unwind at the end of a busy day and get ready for bed. — Online
