How To Create A Nighttime Skincare Routine
Having a nighttime skincare routine is important and worthwhile! With hundreds of products to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are some basic steps that can help create a sense of clarity and direction.
1. Cleansing Balms and Micellar Water
Both cleansing balms and micellar water are used for initial cleaning to remove impurities. Throughout the day, skin on the face is naturally prone to collect oils and dirt. Pollution, makeup, and sunscreen are also common impurities that can make facial skin dirty.
A cleansing balm is essential for cleansing oils and dirt because it is composed of natural oils. Once applied to the face and mixed with water, a cleansing balm creates a milk consistency that melts the impurities off the face.
Micellar water performs similar tasks. Instead of a balm being applied to the skin, micellar water is applied with a cotton round or eco-friendly reusable makeup pads. Micellar water is made up of particles called micelles. The micelles in the micellar water will gently remove the oils and dirt on the skin. Micellar water is a great recommendation if you have dry skin as well!
2. Cleansers
Using a cleanser is essential to having healthy skin. Simply put, clean skin is healthy skin! While being paired with a cleansing balm or micellar water, a cleanser ensures that pores are clear and dead skin cells are removed. This is the most important step in a nighttime skincare routine if you want healthier skin.
Choosing which cleanser to use can be tedious. There are many different brands with a variety of prices. To pick the best cleanser for yourself, you must understand what your skin type is and what type of formula you need. Brands specifically formulate cleansers based on if you have oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, etc.
3. Retinols
Retinol can assist with multiple skin health concerns. With the benefits of vitamin A to the skin, retinol slows the progression of facial skin aging and sun damage.
Retinol acts as an exfoliant for the skin. This can result in control over acne and an improvement in skin complexion. More specifically, retinol increases the production of collagen and initiates the formation of new blood vessels.
Now more than ever, there are multiple brands to choose from when looking for which retinol to use. Looking at the variety of strengths in retinol and which works best for your needs is essential.
4. Eye Creams
Eye creams are a go-to when your skin needs a quick pick me up! Applying an eye cream can reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Another added benefit of eye creams is it slows the appearance of aging. By applying eye cream, a reduction of wrinkles and fine lines will also occur. Essentially, this is an important step to take due to what that area of your face goes through. Your eye area is what you are most prone to touch or get dirty throughout the day.
Hydration with eye cream is best applied gently with your ring finger in a light pressure sweep under the eye. It’s important to remember that this is one of the most sensitive areas of your facial skin, so treating it with attention is important.
5. Facial Rollers & Gua Sha Tools
Although this seems like a new trendy skin practice, facial rollers and gua sha tools have been effective methods for skincare for many years. The practice of using both tools is known to improve blood flow to the face during your nighttime skincare routine. This improvement in blood flow can help reduce inflammation and redness of the face.
More specifically, gua sha tools are known to initiate lymphatic drainage. This drainage can sustain blood circulation and maintain immune functions. The shape and contour of face structure can also be improved when gua sha tools are added to a nighttime skincare routine.
Facial rollers are great tools to keep cool before being used. Having a mini-fridge near your skincare products can help with this. Having cold facial rollers will reduce puffiness. In addition to this added benefit, facial rollers can also be used to apply skincare ingredients evenly to the face.
Lastly, using facial rollers and gua sha tools is linked to a higher state of relaxation and calmness.
6. Lip Care
Keeping lip skin cells protected at night will ensure that your lips are healthy and smooth. There are many different steps that you could take to care for your lips during your nighttime skincare routine. This step will vary on how sensitive your lips are to certain products.
If your lips are prone to being dry, it’s a good idea to use a night treatment or lip mask at night. In addition to applying intense moisture while you are sleeping, a lip mask will also add specific nutrients and antioxidants to the lips.
7. Acne Treatments
There are many different kinds of acne treatments that one can use. This treatment is most beneficial if an individual has surface-level acne. Adding acne treatments to your nighttime skincare routine will help keep the affected area clean and promote a fast healing process.
There are a variety of acne treatments that one can choose from. Frankly, one acne treatment may work great for someone and do nothing for another. This is all about finding an ingredient that works best for you and your skin.
Pimple patches and acne spot treatments are two great examples of acne treatments. Both will promote quick healing and reduce the chance of acne scarring.
8. Moisturizers
Using a moisturizer is just as important as using a cleanser. Moisturizer helps with hydration and can provide your skin with essential vitamins that protect the skin’s barrier. Reducing the speed of aging on the face and enhancing skin texture and tone are also great benefits of a nighttime moisturizer.
Choosing a moisturizer is a preference that is up to you. There are simple, thin nighttime moisturizers and thick, concentrated moisturizers. The amount of sun exposure, skin type, and age are all variables to consider when you are choosing a nighttime moisturizer.
