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These days, we’re all looking for ideas to improve our self-care strategies. Did you know that how you treat your skin after the sun goes down is essential for preventing a range of concerns, from acne to premature aging?
While nighttime skincare isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, everyone can benefit from taking a few common-sense steps to establish a foundational evening skincare regimen. Here’s what our experts recommend.
If it’s been a long day and your blankets are calling your name, it can be tempting to fall into bed without attending to your hygiene. But no matter how sleepy you are, take time to thoroughly wash your face before heading off to dreamland. Dirt, oil, and environmental pollutants continue to accumulate on your skin all day long, and if you wear makeup, you especially need to cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser to avoid falling asleep with clogged pores. Clean skin will leave you less susceptible to breakouts and will help you achieve a clearer, brighter complexion in the morning.
After you’ve cleaned your face, apply a generous amount of nighttime moisturizer to your face and neck. The facial cream you use at night should be richer than the lightweight moisturizer you apply for daytime use. At night, when your skin is at rest, it’s more permeable, which allows the beneficial ingredients in the moisturizer to penetrate the skin cells more deeply for optimal restoration and firming.
The thin, delicate skin around your eyes is often the first place to show signs of aging. A serum or lotion specially formulated for eyes will serve as a preventive measure against crow’s feet, undereye bags, dark circles, and sagging eyelid skin. Look for formulas that have peptides, which boost hydration and help firm the skin to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Do you want to wake up to dewy skin every morning? Keeping a humidifier running on your nightstand overnight – especially in dry weather – can help replenish your skin’s moisture barrier. As a bonus, a humidifier can also help you breathe more easily if you have respiratory issues like asthma or allergies.
Over time, your pillowcase can accumulate oil and bacteria. These can transfer back to your face while you sleep. A clean, fresh pillowcase will help you keep your pores clear, which is crucial if you have breakout-prone skin.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends healthy adults get seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Despite this, many of us are chronically sleep-deprived. While you’re peacefully sleeping, your body is hard at work repairing cell damage and replenishing its resources. If you stay up late binge-watching your favorite show, or your sleep schedule is inconsistent, you’re denying yourself the opportunity to enjoy your healthiest possible skin throughout the day. Sleeping well means you’ll wake up refreshed and rested, and your complexion will also look brighter.
Your nighttime skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. But remember that the quality of the products you use can make a world of difference. The Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery offers VCPS néos, our proprietary line of scientifically formulated products that renew and revitalize all skin types and concerns. To learn more and receive your personalized recommendation for skincare products, schedule your consultation with Dr. Eric Desman today.