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Just as you would not go to work in your pajamas or head to bed in jeans and a cashmere sweater, it is ill advised to apply your morning skincare products at night. Using the same skincare products in the morning as you do in the evening is not the best approach to maintaining and enhancing your complexion. Certain skincare ingredients work their best in the evening when the skin is in repair mode. Plus, there are some skincare ingredients that are photosensitive (meaning sun exposure can cause skin sensitivity and lead to irritation), so those should be reserved for the evening. Here is why you’ll want to have a separate nighttime skincare routine.
How do I make a night skin care routine?
"The evening is the perfect time to treat your skin to game changing active ingredients like retinols and exfoliants," says esthetician Alicia Barnes. "For this reason, I always recommend having your routine specifically customized by a skincare professional based on your skin type, current condition and overall skin goals." Seeking out the advice of a dermatologist or esthetician is always the best way to create a skincare routine, but here are some important steps to keep in mind:
- Layer your skincare products from lightest to heaviest
- Consistency is key: "It's vital to protect and replenish daily for the healthiest functioning skin," says Barnes.
- Remember the morning skincare routine is about preparing and protecting the skin, while evening skincare routine is all about repairing and correcting the skin.
- Cleansing the skin is the first step for both a morning and night skincare routine
- Use a separate eye cream
What's a basic day and night routine for a beginner?
An effective skincare routine need not be confusing or labor intensive. All you need are a few key products for both morning and evening.
For a good morning skincare routine, follow these steps:
- Cleanse (Try HydroPeptide Cleansing Gel for a fresh-faced, moisture-rich lather minus the parabens and sulfates). As an alternative, use micellar water to cleanse your skin in the morning (Try HydroPeptide HydroActive Cleanse Micellar Cleansing Cloths)
- Toner (Try HydroPeptide Pre-Treatment Toner to brighten and balance the skin)
- Moisturizer (Depending on your skin type, choose an oil-free moisturizer such as HydroPeptide Aqua Boost to deliver hydration to acne-prone skin or HydroPeptide Face Lift to protect the skin from environmental stressors.
- SPF (Try HydroPeptide Solar Defense Tinted SPF 30 for the extra benefit of hiding any imperfections on your skin).
The ideal night time skincare routine should look like this:
- Remove makeup (Try HydroPeptide Makeup Melt Botanical Cleansing Balm, a hydrating balm cleanser that gently removes makeup without stripping skin of its natural oils)
- Cleanse the skin (If your skin is on the drier side, try HydroPeptide Cashmere Cleanse)
- Use a toner
- Treat the skin with a serum (There are many different types of serums; find one that helps target your specific skincare issues. Try HydroPeptide LumaPro-C Serum to brighten the skin and help face any sun spots or Power Serum, which has six unique peptide complexes to deliver anti-aging results to the skin).
- Moisturizer: Use a powerhouse moisturizer containing active ingredients that will work while you sleep, such as HydroPeptide Power Luxe Moisturizer, which contains retinol-alternative Bakuchiol along with four layers of hyaluronic acid and collagen boosting peptides.
How do I layer my skincare routine properly?
Always layer your skincare products from lightest to heaviest. While many people like to finish their skincare routine with SPF, you can also apply sunscreen before your moisturizer. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, as long as your sunscreen is at least SPF 30, broad-spectrum and applied at least 15 minutes prior to going outdoors, it doesn’t matter in what order it is applied.
Should your skincare routine be consistent?
Yes, your morning and evening should be consistent for optimal results. "Consistency
is key," says Barnes. "Our skin is constantly under attack from free radicals and environmental stressors." However, adding in a powerhouse treatment product a few nights a week will help take your skin to the next level. A gentle peel product, when left on overnight, can help encourage cell turnover and target fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.
Which night time skincare products do you use?
Besides the basic elements for an evening skincare routine, such as cleanser, moisturizer and serum, investing in a couple specialized hero products to really upgrade your skin graduates you from skincare novice to skincare pro. We created Triple Acid Peptide Peel to do just that. With a gentle blend of hydroxy acids and peptides, the unique self-neutralizing peel softens and plumps the skin while also fading hyperpigmentation. Rotate it into your night time skincare routine 2-3 times a week along with the HydroPeptide Hydro Lock Sleep Mask for a professional-grade treatment.
Should I apply sunscreen at night?
The one skincare product you do not need at night is SPF. But you do need to use a separate eye cream at night. The skin around the eyes is thinner and needs more support than other skin on the face. Your regular moisturizer is not thick enough to be used around the eyes, plus eye creams are specially formulated to be safe for use around the eyes. Try HydroPeptide Eye Authority to help relax crow’s feet; reduce the look of puffiness, dark circles and under eye bags.
