Nighttime skincare routines hold a special place in the realm of beauty since the skin rests and heals itself at night from the stresses of the day.
Whether your skin is normal, oily, dry, combination, or sensitive, the principles of effective nighttime skincare remain universal: cleanse away the day's impurities, nourish with targeted treatments, and lock in hydration for a radiant morning look.
This article recommends nighttime skincare routines for each skin type, explaining how each step helps you maintain healthy and youthful skin.
Note: Skincare routines provide optimal results only when tailored to your skin type. Check out our ultimate skin care guide to determine your skin type and the type of products that suit your skin best.
The Best Nighttime Skincare Routine for All Skin Types
Regardless of your skin type, these are the recommended steps for completing your nighttime skincare routine. While thorough cleansing and moisturization are necessary every day, other steps, such as exfoliation, should only be done two or three times a week.
1. Remove Makeup and SPF
Removing makeup and sunscreen before bed is a crucial step in maintaining the health and appearance of your skin. While it might be tempting to skip this step after a long day, failing to remove makeup can have significant negative effects on your skin's health and contribute to various skin issues, such as skin inflammation, clogged pores, and premature skin aging.
For this step, use an oil-based cleanser such as EltaMD Oil-in-Gel Cleanser. This innovative formula removes water-resistant sunscreen and makeup, excess sebum, and environmental pollutants while preserving the skin barrier and providing a dose of antioxidants.
2. Gently Cleanse the Skin
Even if your skin is product-free during the day, you still need to clean it from impurities and pollutants before bed. Cleansers are best applied with clean hands on a wet face and rinsed with lukewarm or cold water.
For this step in your nighttime skincare routine, we recommend the Osmosis MD Deep Detox Cleanser. This product blends essential oils and coconut to remove deep impurities but is still gentle to the skin and suitable for all skin types.
Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin that is easily irritated, iS CLINICAL Cleansing Complex is an excellent choice. This lightweight cleansing gel is gentle and enriched with antioxidants to soothe and calm your skin.
Natural & Cruelty-Free
If you are looking for a completely natural and cruelty-free cleanser, we recommend the Skinbetter Cleansing Gel. This gel is suitable for daily use and is free of sulfates, parabens, fragrances, and dyes.
3. Apply Toner
The main function of a toner is to gently remove all impurities you might have missed while washing your face with the cleanser. Toners are also formulated to nourish and replenish the skin and prep it for products that will be applied in later steps.
For toning your skin, we recommend the Osmosis MD Infuse Nutrient Activating Mist. This product has moisturizing and cleansing properties suitable for all skin types. It soothes and rejuvenates the skin while keeping the skin supple and glowing.
Note: Learn about the similarities and differences between cleansers and toners, when and how to use these products, and whether to use them both.
4. Exfoliate Occasionally
Exfoliating the skin is a crucial step in a well-rounded skincare routine. Exfoliation involves the removal of dead cells from the surface, revealing fresher, smoother, and more radiant skin underneath.
For the gentle removal of dead skin cells, use AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This exfoliating cleanser improves skin tone and texture and is suitable for all skin types.
Alternatively, you can use a clay mask to exfoliate. Masks do the same for your skin and should be used a couple of times a week for the best results. We recommend the Skinbetter Detoxifying Scrub Mask, a clay-based mask that is completely free of harsh ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and dyes.
5. Apply Targeted Topical Treatments
For this step in your nighttime skincare routine, we recommend applying topical treatments that target specific skin issues you might have, such as acne or acne scars, dark spots, blemishes, wrinkles, etc. These treatments work best when applied on cleansed and exfoliated skin.
Lines and Wrinkles
For treating the first signs of wrinkles and fine lines, we recommend products rich in retinol, such as the ALASTIN Renewal Retinol. This product improves skin texture and brings out a natural glow while also calming and soothing the skin.
Note: The efficacy of retinol depends on the type of product used, the type of skin it's used on, and the concentration of retinol in the product. Discover the differences between a retinol serum vs. cream and how they determine which product you should use.
Oily Skin
If you are struggling with acne or blemishes because of oily skin, try Osmosis MD Clarify Blemish Retinal Serum. This product regulates oil production and is suitable for cystic acne and acne scarring.
Sensitive/Inflamed Skin
Osmosis MD Skin Perfection Elixir is a great choice if you have problems with skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. This powerful elixir boasts a formula that is highly beneficial for various types of dermatitis as it decreases redness and inflammation.
Hyperpigmentation
All skin types that sometimes experience discoloration or hyperpigmentation will benefit from using Lytera® 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum. This highly effective formula improves skin texture and helps you achieve an even tone.
Aging and Damaged Skin
To slow down the aging process and erase fine lines and skin damage, we recommend the Osmosis MD StemFactor Growth Factor Serum. This formula restores a youthful look by nourishing the skin with proteins and stimulating the healing process.
Post-Injectables
Post-procedure skin needs extra gentle care. ALASTIN SKINCARE® INhance Post-Injection Serum with TriHex Technology® is a specially designed serum that minimizes bruising and swelling common after treatments with injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers. It’s formulated to boost collagen and elastin production, helping to enhance the procedure results.
6. Include Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found in the skin and connective tissues. It is a powerful humectant with the ability to attract and retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is essential for removing aging signs and restoring hydration in your skin barrier.
HA⁵® Rejuvenating Hydrator is a product that will efficiently supply you with your nigthly dose of hyaluronic acid. This potent formulation is suitable for preventing wrinkles and fine lines in all skin types.
For instant hydration and locking in moisture, try ALASTIN HA (Hyaluronic Acid) IMMERSE Serum™. This serum instantly restores depleted moisture and improves hyaluronic acid levels over time.
7. Always Apply the Eye Cream
The skin around our eyes is particularly thin and sensitive, which makes it prone to early aging signs. You should dedicate special attention to applying eye cream to remove dark circles or prevent puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles and restore that youthful glow. Eye cream should be applied by gently patting rather than smearing the product in order to avoid stretching the thin skin around the eyes.
To quickly restore the glow under your eyes, we recommend SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream. This eye cream instantly hydrates the area around your eyes and promotes skin healing while you sleep.
For restarting collagen and elastin production around the eyes, try the ALASTIN Restorative Eye Treatment. This proprietary blend of niacinamide and peptides effectively removes dark circles and puffiness while evening out skin tone.
To deeply repair, brighten, and tone the skin around your eyes, use EyeMax AlphaRet® Overnight Cream. This formula removes dryness, puffiness, and dark circles around your eyes while preventing the appearance of new wrinkles and smoothing out existing ones.
8. Always Moisturize
The finishing touch in your nighttime skincare routine should be applying a moisturizer or a night cream that will lock in the active ingredients of all the products used in the previous steps.
If you are looking for a moisturizer with powerful antioxidants and peptides, iS CLINICAL Reparative Moisture Emulsion is a great choice. This formula restores moisture in the skin and keeps it looking youthful, smooth, and tight.
Normal to Dry Skin
If your skin is normal or normal to dry, we recommend moisturizing it with SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream. This cream provides smoothness to your skin and prevents the loss of moisture due to various external factors.
Wrinkles
For locking in the moisture in your face and erasing wrinkles, skinbetter Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream is the newest gold standard. Enriched with retinoids, this formula improves skin texture and brings out youthful-looking skin while causing little-to-no irritation compared with other retinoid-based products.
9. Add Occlusives (Optional)
People with very dry and damaged skin benefit from adding occlusives (oils) to their nighttime skincare routines. Occlusives have a heavy, thick consistency and work by creating a physical barrier that prevents moisture loss. If you have acne-prone skin, make sure the product you use is non-comedogenic (i.e., doesn’t clog pores).
Osmosis MD Nourish – Avocado Facial Oil is perfect for preventing the loss of moisture due to environmental factors. It penetrates deep to enrich the skin and provide complete protection.
Conclusion
Natural renewal and repair processes occur at night. As we embrace the restorative power of sleep, a thoughtfully crafted nighttime skincare routine becomes an indispensable ally in our quest for healthy, radiant, and youthful skin.
Regardless of your skin type, creating and following a nighttime skincare routine is essential for preserving skin health and glow.
To design a nighttime skincare routine for your specific needs and skin type, contact our medical professionals at Vibrant Skin Bar to schedule a consultation.
