Article by BR Natalie
Night creams. When I was younger I thought they were stricly for nannas, but with my 30s flying by, and leaving a trail of age on my face I decided it might be time to invest in a night cream (best decision ever) It turned out there was a lot to consider!
Why use a night cream?
The general consensus of night creams seems to be that women of a certain age use them to slow down ageing. There are in fact two main reasons to use a night cream.
Anti-Ageing night creams use ingredients like retinol, retinyl acetate and glycolic acid to firm or lift the skin or reduce wrinkles. These 'anti ageing' ingredients actually boost the cell production of the skin, meaning 'old' skin is replaced more quickly.
It's actually incredibly important to use anti ageing night creams at night as these key ingredients can cause sensitivity which increases with exposure to the sun's UV rays.
Intensive Moisturising night creams will restore, nourish and hydrate to a more intensive level than a regular day cream. Generally they contain higher amounts of emollients than their daytime counterparts and so are more moisturising.
It's less important to use a solely moisturising night cream only at night - however you might find they absorb less quickly than a moisturiser and nobody likes the greasy apres-moisturising look right? Also a night cream will not contain SPF!
What kind of night cream is right for my age?
The need for night cream increases with age and it's actually quite important you choose the right cream for your time of life.
Twenties: Unless you have a serious skin issue such as chronically dry skin, a night cream is more to compliment your daytime skincare routine. Look for a light and natural cream with ingredients like aloe vera, honey or essential oils.
Thirties: By the time you check this box you'll want to start using a night cream to specifically target skin problems such as fine lines, dark circles and puffy eyes. Look out for ingredients such as antioxidents, amino acids and vitamins.
Forties: It's time to start thinking anti-ageing ingredients, so look for retinol, peptides and soy extracts to fight wrinkles, pigmentation and puffiness.
Fifties: Nows the time to kick things up a gear. For your fifties and beyond you'll want a night cream that ticks all the boxes - anti ageing and intensively moisturising, so your skin looks and feels healthy.
What night cream is right for my skin type?
Just like your daytime moisturiser it's very important to choose the right night cream for your skin type. You don't want to be slathering your skin in the wrong stuff while getting your 8 hours beauty sleep.
Dry skin: Glycerine-based creams are perfect for packing a moisture charged beauty punch. Avocado and almond oils, as well as the classic shea butter are great intensive moisturisers!
Oily skin: If you have oily skin you're going to want a cream that isn't going to add to the oilyness or trigger any flare ups. A lighter night lotion or an oil-free cream may be best. But don't forget - as we discovered last week, Jojoba Oil is actually fantastic for oily skin and can slow down oil production.
Sensitive skin: For sensitive skin you'll want to avoid perfume based creams and look for calming and soothing ingredients like aloe vera or tea tree. Remember - if you have sensitive skin, do not use an anti ageing night cream when you will be exposed to UV rays!
How do I apply a night cream?
Duh. At night. Kidding!
Keep it on your dresser and apply it around twenty minutes before you go to sleep. You don't want it to rub straight off on to your pillow do you?!
Ensure your face is cleansed and dry and apply your night cream of choice in upward, circular motions using your fingers. Don't forget your neck and décolletage
Avoid using it around your eyes, unless it is specifially mentioned on the label that it is suitable for use in that area. (Even then you might want to limit the time you rub it in around your eyes to minimise dark circles.)
Never considered any of these things will bookmark this one.