Dermatologists and aestheticians agree that Sun protection is the number one anti-aging strategy for the skin. However, good skin care does not end once the sun sets. Your nighttime skin care regimen is just as important as daytime protection. While we mostly focus on skin protection during the day, nighttime is all about nourishment and giving your skin the benefits of well-deserved beauty sleep. If you need guidance on how to take care of your skin during the night, here are just 7 ways to take care of your skin during nighttime.
1. Cleanse your skin
Most of us are too lazy at the end of a busy day to thoroughly cleanse the skin, but not cleansing your skin before bedtime can lead to morning breakouts. Cleansing your skin removes sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria that have accumulated on the skin’s surface during the day. It is best to use the gentlest cleanser possible no matter what your skin type is according to an article published in Dermatology Research and Practice. Avoid cleansers containing sulfates and choose oil-based cleansers instead.
2. Exfoliate from time to time
Exfoliators are skin care products containing mostly alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), such as salicylic acid. These ingredients speed up cell turnover and remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. They were also found to rejuvenate the skin and remove the signs and symptoms of wrinkles and other changes to the skin. However, limit your use of these products to up to three times a week to avoid drying out your skin. While most over-the-counter exfoliators contain only around 2% acid content, this still is sufficient enough to irritate and dry out the skin.
3. Use a nourishing serum
Serums are far too often portrayed as unnecessary skin care products. However, serums are unique because they contain a concentrated number of nourishing ingredients such as antioxidants and cell regulators. A review of popular serum ingredients was published in a 2012 issue of Dermato-Endocrinology. According to this review, there is ample evidence that ingredients like vitamins C and E, niacinamide, retinol, and peptides penetrate the skin and support its structure. A well-formulated serum is best applied at night as sunlight tends to degrade some of these ingredients. Besides this, skin shows greater penetrability during nighttime.
4. Apply a moisturizer for your skin type
Many say that they like to skip applying moisturizer at night to allow their skin time without any products on. However, because you probably use makeup and wash your face every night, the chances are that you are stripping your skin of its protective lipid layer. Applying a nighttime moisturizer can prevent your skin from dehydration as you sleep. Make sure to choose a nighttime moisturizer according to your skin type. Dry skin types should choose richer and thicker moisturizers while oily skin types may benefit from lightweight moisturizers.
5. Consider eye creams
Eye creams are often overlooked as yet another unnecessary skin care product. But when you think about it, the skin around your eyes is much thinner and has less sebaceous glands than the surrounding skin. This is also where the first signs of aging tend to appear. Eye creams contain ingredients that nourish this delicate area and studies even show that eye creams applied at night were effective making them one of the best anti-aging products.
Also watch video on: 5 Best Nighttime Skincare Routine
6. Change your pillow case
Changing your pillow case often will prevent unnecessary breakouts and clogged pores. Besides this, it would be a good idea to keep your hair away from your face during sleep as well. This is especially valuable advice for oily skin types and those suffering from acne. Sweat, sebum, dead skin cells, and dust can build up on your pillow and sheets faster than you think. Good hygiene is important for sensitive skin types, and it goes beyond daily skin cleansing.
7. Get your beauty sleep
A study carried out by researchers from the University of California – Irvine found that our skin cells tend to proliferate more during the night which is controlled by the circadian rhythm. This happens because skin cells are more sensitive to DNA damage during certain stages of cell division which is why skin cell division happens during the hours when there is no sunlight to cause DNA damage. Getting your 8 hours of beauty sleep will ensure your skin has enough time to renew itself.
Conclusion
Taking care of your skin both during the day and during the night will prevent premature aging. Cleansing your skin, exfoliating, and using nourishing and moisturizing products should become a part of your night time routine. Also, make sure to introduce cell regulating products such as Skin Element cream and make sure to get your beauty sleep.
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