6 Steps To Maximize Your Night-Time Skincare Routine
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Unless you’re Beyoncé, chances are, you did not ‘wake up like this’. ‘This’ – referring to perfect skin, flawless complexion and no need for any kind of skincare routine to make yourself glowing and youthful in the morning. The rest of us mere mortals need to perform a bit of TLC before bedtime in order to wake up with fresh skin! And let’s be frank – at the end of a busy day, many of us just want to hit the pillow without spending 20 minutes cleansing and prepping our skin for sleep. But, deep down, we know that we need to and that our skin will suffer if we don’t look after it properly.
Removing your make-up at the end of the day can be a tiresome chore, and according to a recent survey, over half of American women skip their night-time cleanse because they are too tired, too busy or don’t understand the importance of it. This statistic is scary, as many of us know that the skin on our face is one of the most delicate and sensitive areas of the body, and is usually the first to show any signs of damage or aging. Our face is prone to acne, breakouts, wrinkles, dark spots, blemishes and redness – and they are just the visible effects!
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to control these issues with the most effective products on the market, sometimes our busy lives just get in the way of a holistic skin care routine we can stick to. So, if you’re struggling to commit to a cleansing regimen or find that you’re neglecting your complexion, this blog is for you.
We’ve come up with some simple tricks to maximize your night-time routine that are affordable and easy to follow. Clearing the day’s dirt, oil and make-up from your face is essential before you hit the hay – so here’s how to do it well…
A Reminder Of Why Washing Your Face Before Bed Is Important
Gets rid of unwanted oils, dirt, toxins and make-up residue:
This is probably THE most important reason for you to perform a night-time skincare routine. As we go through the day, our skin comes into contact with a lot of pollution – from the air, from our hands, from clothing and even from products – and we need to make sure we remove all of this build-up before we settle down for the night. If left unwashed, the dirt and oils can clog your pores, causing you to breakout or leaving your skin dull and lifeless. Not only this, but your poor pillowcases will become extremely dirty, and then transfer this dirt back to your face the following night – not a nice thought!
Prevents wrinkles and premature signs of aging:
Free-radicals in the air around us can damage our skin if not removed, and impair the protective layer of our dermis. This can result in rapid dehydration and loss of elasticity, leading to wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots on our face. By cleansing our skin properly of the day’s residue, we can control the hydration and condition of a healthy complexion.
Cel’s Tips For Maximizing Your Skincare Routine
1. Knowing Your Skin Type
One of the best ways to get the most from your skincare routine is to ensure you understand your skin type. Most products are designed to perform specific tasks for different skin types, so knowing what works best for you will help you consolidate what you need. There’s no use using an oil control serum if you don’t suffer from oily skin. Similarly, why waste time and money on acne treatments if your skin isn’t prone to breakouts?
There are 5 skin types, and each of us will fall under one (or sometimes two) of these categories;
- Normal
- Dry
- Oily
- Combination
- Sensitive
Learn about your skin type, and how this affects the products you need. By knowing what you need, and more importantly, what you don’t, you can stick to a smaller, more concise routine that’s cheaper, less time-consuming and more effective.
Related Read
The Ultimate Skincare Routine For Your Skin Type
2. Double Up!
The best way to clear your skin before bed is to double up on your cleansing. This may sound like double the effort, but it could save you a lot of time in the future! Your first cleanse will remove traces of dirt, oil and make-up, but the second cleanse is where the real nourishment happens. The second cleanse is when the product can really penetrate the skin, and work its magic. Introduce micellar water or oil cleanser for your second step, as these products easily attract any leftover oil and dirt, washing them away whilst adding moisture to the skin.
3. Exfoliate Weekly
Exfoliating is excellent for removing unwanted dead skin cells from the surface and leaving a glowing, fresh complexion underneath. But be warned: there are some rules! Make sure you use a gentle, natural exfoliator – for example, oatmeal, coffee grounds, or sugar – as these will be less damaging to the skin, and to the environment. Also, don’t exfoliate too often. Weekly is plenty. This gives the new skin time to settle and won’t leave you with red, inflamed cheeks!
4. Use Serums and Oils
Your night-time routine is the perfect time to use serums and oils, as they have longer to sink into the skin as you sleep. Applying oils in the morning should be avoided, as they won’t have the time to truly work if you coat them in make-up shortly after. Instead, use your nocturnal hours to really benefit from skin-saving serums.
5. Layer Correctly
Sounds simple to some, but shockingly, over 37% of women admitted that they didn’t know what order to apply their skin care products for best results. Understanding how to layer your creams, serums and lotions will ensure you are getting the most out of the products you buy. The trick? Start with the thinnest products (like cleansers, toners and serums) and work your way up to thicker ones (like moisturizers)! Thin products like eye serums aren’t able to penetrate the skin once a thick moisturizer has been applied!
Related Read
A Foolproof Guide To Skincare Layering
6. Drink Water!
Lastly, and maybe the most effective for overall health and wellness (not just improved skin!) is drinking lots of water! Try to drink a large glass of water every night before you sleep to hydrate and restore your skin overnight. Not consuming enough water throughout the day can leave your skin dry, dull and desperate for nourishment. Drinking water is the simplest way to look more youthful every single day!
Final Thoughts
Keeping up with a regular skincare routine can be tedious and unexciting. Sometimes, we just want to sleep! But – when you scale-down your routine and start seeing the results of a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion, adding these few simple steps in before bed seems totally worth it! So, give them a try for yourself, and start enjoying the confidence of healthier, more glowing skin!
