The Best Nighttime Skin Care Routine According To Top Dermatologists

While you probably know that it’s not the best idea to go to bed without washing your face, a solid nighttime skin care routine is not always common knowledge.

Just as a good night’s sleep is super important for our bodies and brains — a full eight hours keeps us more fit, happy, and focused — the same goes for our skin! In fact, if you follow a proper nighttime skin care routine, you can actually wake up with a healthier glow.

But where do you start? Should you be exfoliating, layering on lotion, cleansing, or a combination of all three? The experts at SiO Beauty are about to break it down for you, so get ready to take some notes!

We’re sharing the nighttime skin care routine of top dermatologists to see what potions and lotions you should slather on before catching the best prescription of all: beauty sleep!

 

Daytime Skin Care Vs. Nighttime Skin Care

With so many products available to you on the market, scouting out your skin care routine could be quite overwhelming — especially since your skin has different needs at different times of the day.

For example, the primary focus of your daily morning skin care routine should be protection. One of the main goals of your daytime routine is to block your delicate skin from the sun, UV damage, and other irritants.

At night, dermatologists suggest that your biggest focus should be restoring your skin by stimulating its collagen production. Nighttime provides you with the opportunity to give your skin the best ingredients to repair itself while you sleep.

So, products like an SPF facial moisturizer are particularly important for your morning skin care routine, while others like SiO Beauty’s comfy, potent, and medical-grade FaceLift patches firm and plump your skin and erase the appearance of telltale aging lines around your neck, forehead, and eyes as part of your nighttime skin care routine.

Since you’re probably more familiar with a concrete morning regimen, let’s dive a bit deeper into the best nighttime skin care routine for beautiful skin.

 

The Best Nighttime Skincare Routine

Keep in mind that at nighttime, your goal is to repair damage from the day’s exposure to the sun, pollution, and stress, as well as to hydrate (since you lose water from your skin as you snooze).

Here’s what you can do every evening to keep your skin looking healthy, young, and gorgeous.

Start With A Good Cleanse

In order to help remove the day’s buildup caused by makeup and other agents, it’s important to wash your face using a cleansing brush and a gentle, oil-free face cleanser. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water to wash off excess dirt and oil, using the cleansing brush to help remove particles stuck in your pores.

Dermatologists remind us, though, that you don’t want to overdo it with the cleansing brush. Over-exfoliation can cause your skin to become oily, irritated, and acne prone. If you notice any changes in your skin, such as redness or irritation, minimize or stop usage immediately and consult with your personal derm before proceeding.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, opt to use nighttime skin care products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Ideally, all topical treatments should be non-comedogenic, meaning that they won’t clog your pores.

Increase Hydration

After a long day, your skin is worn out, dry, and tired! You’ll want to help your skin revitalize itself overnight with a healthy dose of added hydration.

SiO Beauty offers a number of tried and trusted, doctor-approved products made with medical-grade silicone that rejuvenate your skin and increase its natural collagen production. “The SiO Skinpad is an amazing hydrator,” says top dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. “It allows for much-needed moisturization overnight while we sleep.”

All you have to do is thoroughly cleanse (with an oil-free cleanser) and dry your skin before applying each power patch for lasting adhesion. Wear the patch for 6-8 hours (while you get your beauty sleep), and wake up in the morning to glowing, firm, and hydrated skin.

SiO offers patches to target and heal your most delicate areas — around your forehead and browline, near your eyes and smile, your lips, your neck, and even the most dry-prone spots on your body (such as your elbows and knees).

Simply apply SiO Beauty patches before bed to wake up with beautiful, younger-looking skin! “It’s a win-win,” Dr. Dendy says.

Before we go any further, it’s important to note here that you should never wear SiO Beauty patches on top of other products, such as moisturizers or eye creams, as this may cause irritation in some people.

We recommend applying the products mentioned in the sections below after you’ve applied your SiO patches, smoothing the products in around the patches. Or, if you’re using the SiO Beauty FaceLift and it covers most of your facial skin, you can always alternate, wearing your SiO patches one night and, say, a face mask the next.

So for areas that you’re not treating with a SiO patch, here are the rest of the steps in our ideal nighttime skin care routine.

Apply A Soothing Face Mask

Treat your skin to some extra nighttime “therapy” by applying a face mask. There is an assortment of masks that address various needs — from cleaning clogged pores to smoothing fine lines.

While a face mask isn’t necessary every single night (experts suggest utilizing one two to three times per week at most), they are very beneficial for opening your pores and letting active ingredients absorb into your skin.

Go Below The Surface With A Serum

Your skin’s surface isn’t the only thing that may leave it appearing dull. Oftentimes, dull skin isn’t getting hydrated properly.

After cleansing (and potentially opening your pores with a soothing face mask), apply serums that will hydrate and brighten your skin, such as ones containing peptides and enzymes.

Peptides help aid in the overall smoothness of your delicate skin. Enzymes can help break down dull skin, rejuvenate your skin, and give your complexion some extra glow.

Clear Skin With A Retinoid

Before bed, apply a small amount of retinoid cream all over your face, being sure to avoid the areas around your eyes, corners of your mouth, and creases of your nose. A retinoid cream works to brighten and heal your skin overnight.

Top dermatologists explain that over-the-counter retinol products can be identified as containing retinol or retinaldehyde. But be careful — retinoids, especially those that are prescription strength, tend to actually dry out your skin.

That said, the application of a retinoid product should always be followed by a layer of the next step in our nighttime skin care routine: a facial moisturizer.

Apply A Nighttime Moisturizer

The biggest difference between daytime and nighttime moisturizers is that products specifically formulated for the daytime are lighter in consistency and often contain sunscreen. Nighttime moisturizers may not feel as light as your daytime cream, but they will help keep your skin soft and supple.

When searching for a nighttime facial moisturizer, we suggest checking the ingredients label for antioxidants, peptides (remember them?), and vitamins C and A to help repair your skin.

Use A Quality Eye Cream

Incorporating eye cream into your nighttime skin care routine (after you’ve applied the all-over moisturizer) is one simple way to maintain a youthful-looking appearance. Eye cream protects and hydrates the delicate skin around your eyes, which is prone to wrinkling and crinkling.

Look for an eye cream that’s formulated with caffeine, which reduces puffiness, and niacinamide, which increases moisture levels. It will keep your skin from drying out and help ward off wrinkles.

Get Some Sleep

Keep in mind that if your body doesn’t get the rest it so crucially needs, the nighttime skin care products that you use can only go so far to help you. Treat your body kindly, and your skin will benefit! And, yes — we are totally giving you a valid excuse to catch some extra ZZZ’s!

The Importance Of Nighttime Skin Care

Don’t rush through your nighttime skin care routine. Remember to focus on your skin’s needs and give it the time it deserves so that you can wake with skin that looks rested and nourished — ready for another busy day ahead.

Follow the tips outlined above to maintain the best nighttime skin care routine for beautiful, healthy-looking skin. Sweet dreams!