People are often confused about nighttime skincare- because it can definitely BE confusing! Your skin needs beauty rest just like your body does. These five tips will give you maximum results to help you look fresh and rested when you wake in the morning.
#1- Cleanse your face every single night
Did you know that touching your face unintentionally all day long makes it one of the dirtiest parts of your body? We are often hearing from patients about how they are too tired or simply forget to wash their faces before bed. We know it takes time and discipline, especially when you are wiped out, but please don’t let this one slide!
Clean nighttime skin will give the following benefits:
• Reduces the spread of acne bacteria that may increase breakouts.
• Gives your face a clean palette for applying your nighttime skincare products for maximum performance.
• Your skin will look brighter and clearer in the morning.
#2- Washing your face earlier in the evening is better than later at night
Too tired to wash your skin just before bed? Try performing your nighttime skin routine earlier in the evening, instead of waiting until right before you go to sleep. Why? Research shows that the natural repair processes of the skin happen when the sun goes down. Stem cells in the epidermis reproduce largely at night and are responsible for creating new skin cells. Also, removing makeup products, sunscreen, the day’s germs and sweat earlier than later is beneficial to allow your skin to breathe- and limit breakouts too! For the best beauty sleep, wash your skin and then apply your nighttime products earlier rather than later.
#3- Don’t skip moisturizer at night
Avoiding night cream does not benefit the skin. In fact, when your face is bare, the skin’s moisture evaporates more, resulting in dry skin cell build-up. This then makes the skin look dull and tired. If you need help finding the right moisturizer for day or night or both, we can help!
#4- Change your pillowcases more often
Why? Bacteria and oil may be reintroduced to the skin when you sleep. Especially for people with acne-prone skin, it’s best to sleep on a fresh, clean pillowcase. You can always flip over the pillowcase and get an extra night’s use.
#5- Sleep with your head elevated
Keep your head elevated by sleeping on two pillows if you are prone to under-eye puffiness. This helps to reduce fluid retention in the eye area so you’re less puffy in the morning. If you’re prone to morning puffiness, you’ll also want to drink a lot of water throughout the day and evening and avoid high salt foods for dinner.
Bonus Tip- Use baby washcloths for gentler cleansing
Even if your skin is not sensitive, it’s always a good idea to treat it gently. Regular washcloths can be too aggressive, so instead, opt for gentler baby washcloths for cleansing.