Skincare Essentials – How to Create a Nighttime Routine

All day long, your skin is exposed to stressors, like dirt, oil, and pollution. Sunlight and other factors can also break down collagen, which is your skin’s main structural protein. This eventually leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In order to help keep your skin looking its best, you need a nighttime routine. The goal is to cleanse the skin of dirt, oil, and other impurities, treat any skin issues that you may have, and replenish your skin’s moisture. This will help to support your skin’s natural repair processes, to help keep you looking your best.

1.   Cleanse

The first thing is to remove anything that’s built up on your skin during the day. If you wear any makeup, take it off first. Going to bed with even traces of makeup on your skin will clog your pores and lead to breakouts. Some makeup can be difficult for regular cleansers to fully remove, so you may need to use makeup remover, which is specially formulated for this purpose.

Next, use a gentle cleanser. Choose one that’s formulated for your skin type, so it cleanses effectively without drying out your skin. Rub it gently into your skin and then rinse with lukewarm water.

To enhance your skin care routine, apply a mask once or twice a week. Do this after you use your makeup remover and cleanser, but before adding any of the other products. After you apply the mask, you leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off. Masks can help to pull out impurities and detoxify the skin, remove excess oils, soothe irritation, and hydrate the skin.

2.   Tone

Using toner has huge benefits for your skin. It cleans that last bit of gunk out of your pores, tightening pores and helping to reduce breakouts. It also balances your skin’s pH, evens out skin tone and texture, and prepares your skin to absorb your moisturizer and other products.

After cleansing, sweep a toner across your skin with a cotton ball. Different toners are formulated for different skin types, so be sure to choose the right one for you. For example, some toners are more hydrating, while others are more astringent (good at removing oil and preventing breakouts).

If you have any active breakouts, you can spot treat them with salicylic acid after using your toner.

3.   Apply serum

To protect against aging, you should apply a serum to your skin each night. This is a liquid that contains active ingredients to nourish and protect your skin. Each serum is formulated for particular effects. You can find a serum for anti-aging, evening out skin tone and texture, restoring skin hydration, or clarifying the skin. Rub a small amount of serum gently into your skin.

4.   Apply eye cream

The undereye area is very delicate. Eye creams are specially formulated for this part of the body. Using an eye cream helps to hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some eye creams also help to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

To apply your eye cream, use your ring finger (because it has the gentlest touch). Gently tap the product into your undereye area. Avoid rubbing this area too vigorously, so you don’t damage the skin and cause inflammation and puffiness.

5.   Apply night cream

The final step is to lock in all the benefits of your skin care routine with a night cream. This helps to moisturize the skin, and also helps to make your other products more effective by helping them penetrate into your skin. At night, your skin makes less of its natural oil – this is why many people find their skin looking dull and dry when they first wake up. A night cream helps to keep the skin hydrated while you sleep.

You’ll want to choose a product that is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores. Some night creams also offer additional benefits, such as anti-aging ingredients.

Take care of your skin with a nighttime routine

It’s essential to have a skincare routine that you follow every night. If you’re diligent about your skin care, it will absolutely show. Not only will your skin look smoother, clearer, and more glowing now, but you’ll also slow down the process of visible aging so that you continue to look your best over the years to come.