It’s no secret that having a consistent skincare routine before bed is important. You may be wondering “why is it so important, though?”. Being consistent with your skincare before bed is important for radiant and healthy skin. During the day, our skin can be exposed to a multitude of different environment stressors such as dirt, pollution, and UV rays. The last thing we want is our pores getting clogged and breaking out because we didn’t “wash the day away” before bed. So, when you have a consistent skincare routine before bed, you can ensure that you’re removing any impurities that have accumulated throughout the day. And going a step forward and not just cleansing your face, but using products that will nourish and hydrate your skin overnight while you sleep, can further set you up for radiant and glowing skin!
What Products Should You Use in Your Nighttime Skincare Routine?
1 -Cleanser
Of course the first step to any good skincare routine is using a quality facial cleanser. Just like we said above, throughout the day your skin can pick up various environmental stressors that can cause breakouts such as pollutants and dirt. When you use a gentle yet effective facial cleanser, you can assure that you’re removing these impurities and prepping your skin for the absorption of the subsequent products in your nighttime skincare routine! Using a facial cleanser to remove the impurities that build up throughout the day will also give your skin a chance to breathe at night. Don't ever skip out on cleansing your face with a good facial cleanser, it's an essential step! For a more in depth look at the benefits of facial cleansers, check out our "Top 5 Facial Cleanser Benefits"
2 - Exfoliators
A product that you should be incorporating into your nighttime skincare routine a few times a week is a quality exfoliator. Exfoliating your skin after cleansing takes it a step further to really unclog those pores and get rid of any buildup from not just the environmental factors, but your everyday make up wear and dead skin cells that buildup as well. Remember, we shed skin cells every 2 - 4 weeks, so sloughing off dead skin to make way for brighter healthier skin, is key to achieving radiance. Not only will using an exfoliator help to improve your complexion, but it will further help your skin to absorb the subsequent products in your nighttime skincare routine!
3 - Toners
Using a non drying facial toner as part of your nighttime skincare routine is incredibly beneficial. Not only will using a toner improve the pH balance of your face, but it will also provide extra cleansing and further prep your skin for your subsequent nighttime skincare products! Using a toner can be thought of as the “last step” of the cleansing of your face, and can remove anything that may have been missed when using your facial cleanser weekly exfoliation. Toners can also provide another layer of hydration for your skin before bed, and can even help strengthen the skin barrier. Overall, using a facial toner will help to cleanse, hydrate, balance your pH, and prepare your skin for subsequent before bed skincare products!
4 - Facial Oils & Serums
Using facial oils or serums before bed is so beneficial for your skin and should be a part of your before bed skincare routine. Facial oils and serums have been known to aid in rejuvenating and nourishing your skin overnight. Did you know that our skin naturally begins a natural regeneration process overnight? Applying a quality facial oil or serum can help give a good boost to this process and can help deliver a high concentration of active ingredients that many facial oils and serums are packed with such as antioxidants, vitamins, and peptides to help aid in specific skin concerns!
When it comes to serums, finding a vitamin C serum can really be beneficial because vitamin C has so many benefits for the skin such as anti-aging benefits, and helps to build collagen production which results in a more youthful appearance. According to Annie Chiu MD, “serums typically offer the highest concentration of active vitamin C and tend to have better skin penetration compared to other products, like creams and cleansers” as noted in this article by SELF.
5 - Eye Cream (If Needed)
The addition of a great eye cream can be beneficial to your nighttime skincare routine. If you notice dark circles, wrinkles, and dullness around the eyes, adding in an eye cream is a must! Ensure that the eye cream you choose also has retinol. Retinol promotes collagen production and improves skin tone and texture. The skin around our eyes are thinner and more susceptible to dryness, so incorporating an eye cream with just the right amount of Retinol in your nighttime skincare routine, can give your delicate eye area a much needed boost in hydration and nourishment!
6 - Moisturizer
Make sure to replenish your face as the last step in your nighttime skin care routine with a quality moisturizer. During the day our skin loses moisture and can become dry. When you finish off your nighttime skincare routine with a nourishing moisturizer, you’re not only hydrating your skin, but you’re also giving it a protective barrier that will help to lock in the moisture overnight, and protect the products that you applied beforehand so you can maximize the benefits of each product! Aside from hydrating your skin, moisturizers can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and promote firmness of your skin.
Your Step-by-Step Nighttime Skincare Routine
Now that you know which products you should incorporate into your nighttime skincare routine, let’s get into the exact way you should layer these products and how to effectively use them!
5 Step Nighttime Skincare Routine
- Step 1: Apply a facial cleanser to damp skin. Cleanse the skin thoroughly in a circular motion and rinse with warm water.
- Step 2: Apply your exfoliator to a damp face and start applying at the cheeks upwards toward your nose and forehead, avoiding the eye area. Use on your face and and/or body 2 – 3 times per week for healthier, smoother, more radiant looking skin.
- Step 3: Apply your face serum. Use 1-3 drops to promote hydration and a radiant glow!
- Step 4: Apply your eye cream by using your ring finger to gently tap the product around the eye area. Start at the inner corner underneath your eye, applying small dots in a semi-circle up to your brow bone.
- Step 5: Apply your moisturizer or a beauty balm to hydrate your skin, and create a protective layer over your skin.
- Step 6: Apply your face oil to lock in all the goodness of your products, and to give your skin an added boost of nourishment with cold-pressed seed oils before bed.
After This Dreamy Nighttime Skincare Routine You'll be Ready to Drift Off to Sleep And Wake With Radiant Skin!
Now that you know all of the products you should be using in your nighttime skincare routine, you’re set for bed and are setting your skin up for rejuvenation and a radiant morning glow! And don’t worry, you don’t need all of these products to make a big difference in your skin. We at least suggest a quality cleanser, exfoliator, facial oil/serum, and a moisturizer as part of your simple 4 step skincare routine! Have questions about your current skincare routine or any of our products? Drop a comment below and we’d be more than happy to assist you! And make sure to follow us over on Instagram where we share more tips and tricks regarding your skincare!