Perfect Night Skincare Routine

Is a night skincare routine important?

In a nutshell, yes. Since nighttime is when the skin shifts into repair mode, it’s helpful to use formulas that support and enhance this process, and help skin cells on their way. “It’s also the perfect time to undo the day’s free radical damage,” says Hind Sebti,  the founder of skincare brand Whind. Said damage occurs as a result of exposure to everything from pollution to sunlight. Plus, it’s also really important to cleanse away the day’s make-up and surface grime, to prevent clogged pores, congestion and irritation.

What is the best night skincare routine?

“The most effective nighttime skincare routine should be focused on regeneration, because at night the skin isn’t using precious resources to defend itself against UV, so there’s lots of bandwidth for repair,” explains dermatologist Dr. Sam Bunting. It is also better able to absorb topically-applied ingredients, so if the aim of daytime skincare is to protect, at night it’s all about treating your skin concerns. The skin also suffers increased transepidermal water loss – or dehydration – during the night, so at the very least it’s important to prevent this by locking in hydration.

How to create the ideal nighttime skincare routine? Here, a run-down of the five key steps that can be adapted based upon your skin’s needs – plus how to effectively layer all of your skincare before bed.

1.Cleanse

First step: cleanse. Whether you wear make-up or not, cleansing away the the day’s accumulated grime, surface pollution and so on is key for healthy skin. A gentle cleanser which won’t disrupt the skin barrier (too much – all of them do to some degree), is your best bet, especially if two cleanses are required to thoroughly remove make-up and then clean the skin.

2.Toner or essence

Toner may have dropped out of your skincare routine in recent years, it is important to use a balancing formula post-cleanse to reset the skin pH (which should sit between 4.7 and 5.75). When we cleanse and use water, the skin’s natural pH – and barrier – is impacted. Just ensure the toner you opt for doesn’t contain alcohol. Essence are another option to balance, hydrate and prepare the skin for any formulas to come.

3.Eye Cream

If your work involves long days spent staring at a screen, you’ll be familiar with the concept of eye strain. Since the evening allows us a little more time to perform a more thorough skincare routine, pair your night eye cream with gentle massage, to ease out any tension and work the product into skin. 

4.Retinoid or other serum

Here’s where you make a choice based on your specific skin concerns and the products you enjoy using. As many of us know, at night is the ideal time for using retinoid products, mainly because the majority don’t marry well with sunlight. It is at this point in your routine that you would apply one, whether retinol or tretinoin. “Retinoids do so much – the term ‘gold standard’ is well deserved,” explains Dr Bunting. “And there’s one for every skin type.”

After you’ve found the right one for you, it’s important to apply it consistently for the best results. “Ingredients like retinoids stimulate the production of key structural proteins, such as collagen, and this takes time – so expect really major benefits, like fewer fine lines, from six weeks and beyond,” she says, adding that using a retinoid as a single power step (followed by a barrier repair hydrator) at night is enough for super healthy skin.

5.Moisturizer, face oil or overnight mask

The final step is to lock it all in using an occlusive formula. Moisturizer, face oil or overnight mask, just pick what’s best for your skin type – the important thing about this step is to lock in your treatment step and ensure the skin stays hydrated overnight, so if you want to use more than one product here, that’s up to you. 

The best night cream for the job won’t necessarily be specifically labelled as a night cream, either. You can use the same moisturiser you use for day (if it doesn’t contain SPF), although mostly it’s wise to opt for a slightly thicker formula come evening to support the skin barrier and ensure you wake up glowing.