Nighttime Skin Care Tips

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How you take care of your skin at night can play a huge factor in how it looks during the day. Beyond that, it can also determine how good your skin looks as you age. Since new skin cells grow faster while you are sleeping, you should make nighttime skin care a high priority.  Doing so will help repair your skin from everyday damage caused by pollution, sun and stress. Here are some great tips on how to best take care of your skin before you retire for the night so you can have fantastic skin in the morning and for the rest of your life.

Clean Your Face

Your face gets exposed to a many negative factors during the day. Between dirt and grime that you cannot see and exposure to the sun as well as other factors, your face can take a beating during the day without you knowing it. Add to that all of the makeup you have applied, and it is obvious that your face needs to be cleaned before you go to bed. Use a gentle face cleanser and lukewarm water to get the process going. You can even use a gentle cleansing brush to work off anything that is hard to remove.

Exfoliate

A few times a week, take some extra time to exfoliate your skin. This process will remove the dead skin cells that are on the surface. Focus on your cheeks and nose.

Apply a Face Mask

A soothing face mask will help your skin care products sink in efficiently. There are many products on the market, so be sure to find one that fits the specific needs of your face.

Use a Topical Retinoid and Vitamin A

Using a small amount of a topical retinoid will help to open your pores, even out your skin and promote anti-aging effects. After you clean your face, pat it dry and then apply a small amount of a retinoid all over your face.  Some skin likes a more subtle approach to retinol because retinol is too irritating.  In that case, a natural form of retinol, various forms of Vitamin A and Sea Buckthorn is  a good choice.

Toner

Many women neglect to add toner to their nighttime skin care process. But, it is really a step that should be included. Using toner is essential to balancing the pH level of the skin and preparing it for the ingredients that will be applied later. All you need to do is apply a dollop the size of a quarter into your face. Be sure to dab it on with your fingers rather than swab it on with a cotton ball.

Moisturize

This step cannot be emphasized enough. Using a nighttime moisturizer will help to make your skin soft and subtle. It is especially important to use a moisturizer as most topical retinoids can dry out the skin, and you need to counteract that effect. Before you purchase an nighttime moisturizer, check the labels for the ingredients. Look for a moisturizer that contains antioxidants, peptides and vitamins C and A.

Apply Eye Cream

Adding eye cream to your nighttime skin care regimen will help keep you looking youthful. Eye cream protects and hydrates the skin around the eye, which is quite delicate. If you suffer from puffy eyes, look for eye cream with added caffeine. If your skin is dry, look for eye creams that contain niacinamide, which will increase the moisture level and keep skin from drying out and wrinkling.

Do not Forget About Your Lips

For some reason, women easily forget about their lips when they are taking care of their skin care needs. However, this mistake can be costly. Before you go to bed, soothe your lips with a few splashes of warm water and dry them with a soft towel to remove any dead skin. Then, apply a small layer of lip balm so they stay nourished through the night.

Helpful Tips to get the Most out of Your Skin Care Routine

Although not an official parts of a nighttime skin care regimen, the following tips will help you achieve the most benefits out of your efforts.

  • Change your pillowcase frequently to avoid reintroducing oil and bacteria to your face
  • Use baby washcloths instead of regular ones, as they are gentler on the face
  • Sleep with your head elevated to reduce puffiness around the eyes
  • Only exfoliate two or three times a week to avoid drying out your skin
  • Use a humidifier while you sleep to prevent your skin from drying out
  • Get a good night’s sleep. Skin looks better when it’s well-rested

Looking fabulous does not need to require an intense regimen of nighttime skin care. However, taking a few small steps every night can lead to fantastic results. Go ahead and try these nighttime skin care tips for a week. Your look in the mirror will give you all the proof you need.