Our body repairs itself while it sleeps, and our skin is no different! This is the best time to nourish our skin and make sure it gets the attention it deserves. If you have a day time routine, you still want to switch things up and have a different night time skin care routine because your needs are different during the night.
Aside from our number one tip (never sleep with makeup on!), we’ve outlined some basic steps to incorporate into your night time skin care routine.
Remove Eye and Lip Makeup
Even before you start cleansing your face, make sure to remove heavy eye and lip makeup beforehand. Sometimes, cleansers don’t remove all traces of makeup, especially when you’re using waterproof mascara and loads of eyeliner or shadow. The same also applies to your lips when you’re rocking a red or vampy lip.
Use a cotton pad and an eye makeup remover to erase stubborn traces of makeup. You can also go for a natural alternative and use extra virgin coconut oil or olive oil.
Cleanse
Now that you’ve removed most of your makeup, you can proceed to cleansing. The type of cleanser you choose will highly depend on your skin type. For those with oily skin, go for a cleanser with salicylic acid. For those with dry skin, choose a cleanser that is mild and moisturizing. Make sure you use lukewarm or cold water to rinse.
Exfoliate Every Other Day
Every 2 to 3 days, use a micro-exfoliating scrub to get rid of dead skin. This leaves your skin feeling smooth, fresh, and looking new! Make sure you choose a non-abrasive facial scrub. If you have sensitive skin, you can forego this step.
Tone
Toner helps restore your skin’s pH balance which is affected right after cleansing. Again, your choice of toner should depend on your skin type. A toner with alcohol is suited for oily skin types, while non-alcohol toners are great for dry skin types. A natural alternative would be to use witch hazel extract.
Moisturize
Now that your skin is clean and free from excess oils, it’s time to bring back moisture to your face by using a rich cream. Your night cream should be richer than your day cream.
Eye Cream
The skin around your eye area is very delicate. It does not naturally produce as much oils as compared to the rest of your face, so it deserves extra attention. Use an eye cream targeted to your problem – whether it’s dark undereye circles or fine lines and wrinkles.
Lip Care
Don’t forget your lips! Moisturize your lips before you sleep by applying a hydrating lip balm.
Skin Care Extras
If you’ve already got the basics covered, you might want to incorporate the use of a serum before your moisturizer. Serum is easier absorbed by your skin and is therefore more effective than a moisturizer. If you are focused on anti-aging, you can also apply retinol-based products after putting on your moisturizer and eye cream. Take it further by doing a weekly facial mask!
That might seem like a lot of steps for a night time skin care routine, but it’s going to be so worth it in the years to come! After all, prevention is better than cure.
Did you enjoy this article?
