Choosing the right night cream may actually be the closest thing to a treasure hunt. Searching and wishing for that glowy, velvety smooth, rich in vitamins skin is the main quest of every skincare enthusiast.
Because during the day our skin acts as a barrier against external potentially harmful factors, such as UVA/UVB rays, allergy triggers, dust, iritating products and so forth, it is crucially important to recover itself during the night. Luckily, your skin is already naturally ecquiped to generate and sustain this cycle of repair. For example, the human growth hormeone or HGH is the lead captain of cells reconstruction.
You may also want to take into account that during night hours, your skin is more prone to dehydration, as it becomes more permeable. However, there is one great news here – it is during the nighttime that your skin will be more eager to absorb all that juicy, nutritive ingredients from a perfectly chosen night cream. So why not give it a hand – pun intended – and apply a soothing, moisturizing night cream?
However, even though you may have your skin’s best interests at heart, as I am sure you want to be a glowy skin queen during the day, you may actually do more harm rather than good, if you don’t find a night cream that is suited for your skin type.
` How do I know which is my skin type?`
At times your skin may seem like is playing tricks on you. Perhaps today it looks oily and greasy, the next few days it has dry patches and for the next week it decided to be even drier than the Sahara Desert. Even if this may be happening to you, rest assure that your skin type is pretty consistent and all you have to do is observe it on a regular basis.
These are the options you will have to choose from: dry skin, acne-prone skin, combination skin, oily skin, sensitive skin and – if you won the lotery of skin types – normal skin (*please cue Halo by Beyoncé if the latter one is the case for you*).
Do you notice during the day or after taking a shower, that your skin is feeling tight, itching? Does it peel off or is prone to flaking? If so, then you may have dry skin.
Acne-prone skin is best described by almost always present pimples. It is as if your teenage years continue to torture you with hormonal level changes and out of the blue zits.
Your skin can be considered oily if you feel like using a blotting sheet to wipe away the sebum produced by sebaceous glands. Also, if you feel the need to wear a mattifying long lasting foundation, it may be a clue that you have oily skin type.
Combination skin is a mix of oily and dry skin. Thus, you may notice that your T-zone is greasy, whilst the rest of your face looks rather dry. Also, the T-zone pores may look bigger than the others.
If you have or ever had eczema, rosacea, if you are allergic to new products, if you are getting itchy or inflamed, it is most probable your skin is sensitive . While a couple of new skincare products may trigger a skin reaction, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have sensitive skin. What matters the most is the repetitiveness of these symptoms.
Does your skin look almost flawless and feels smooth to the touch? Does it look glowy and it doesn’t breakout as easily? If your answer is yes, then you have normal skin type.
Now that you have figured out what is your skin type, the next step towards a healthy skin is finding the most perfect night cream to offer it some much needed TLC.
` How do I choose a night cream for my skin type?`
The secret factor when choosing a suitable night cream for your skin is balance – you would want to create a balance between your skin’s characteristics and the benefits provided by your cream.
1. Oily skin
Finding the right night cream for oily skin may seem tricky, as most creams will tend to moisturize your skin. However, because your glands overly produce oil (sebum), your face definitely does not need any more of it, or else you will be left dealing with clogged pores and breakouts.
Oily skinned women should look for a hydrating night cream that is lightweight enough to not load the skin with unnecessary substances. A gel like formula may be best suited for this type of skin, as it creates a refreshing feeling whilst maintaining the skin moisturized.
2. Acne-prone skin
Acne-prone skin is more demanding and it requires a little bit more attention, especially if you dream of a soothing effect. It would be wise to purchase a night cream that nourishes the skin and is lightweight at the same time. When reading the labels, you should be searching for Neurosensine, which is naturally produced in the skin and reduces discomfort or soreness while also having a restoring effect.
Salicylic acid is another key night cream ingredient to be looking for if you have acne-prone skin. Its main responsibility is to clear the pores and to offer anti-inflammatory properties.
A natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory fighter is tea-tree oil, which is known to help with calming the effects of having acne-prone skin. However, even though its benefits are to be reckoned with, it is best advisable to avoid this ingredient if your skin is sensitive.
3. Dry skin
Women who have dry skin should create their own mantra: `Wake me up hydrated and moisturized`. Fine lines, dry spots, uneven complexion or early wrinkles are some of the effects of dry skin which a carefully chosen night cream could fight off.
Collagen enriched night creams will be your best friends when dealing with aging skin. Furthermore, avoid alcohol-based creams that will only harm your skin, as it literally dries out all of your efforts of keeping your face hydrated during the day.
Ideally you would want to buy a night cream that is full of peptides (to boost the collagen production), vitamin E (to protect you from free radicals, to calm and to strengthen your skin) and other anti-aging components, such as retinoids, to reduce fine lines and to stimulate new blood vessels production for skin color uniformity.
4. Combination skin
A helpful night cream for combination skin should mix key ingredients for the oily skin which is located in the T-zone and for the surrounding dry parts of the face.
This means that the formula shouldn’t be too greasy or too heavy, but instead revitalize the skin. A hydrating night cream should do its part and replenish any flaky or peeling dry spots. To help prevent the accumulation of any free radicals that pile up during the day, a good night cream should also contain antioxidants.
5. Sensitive skin
Because your skin gets so easily inflamed, applying the right night cream before going to bed is essential to providing the much-needed help.
Especially if your skin is sensitive, `free` is the word that should pop-up in your mind: parabens-free, sulfates-free, fragrance-free, mineral oils-free, alcohol-free so on and so forth.
Any night cream formula used for sensitive skin should be hypoallergenic, non-sensitizing and lightweight. Search for natural ingredients to the detriment of artificial ones. For example, you can opt for aloe vera to help hydrate the skin and avoid any ingredients with exfoliating properties, such as citric acids or glycolic acids.
Besides their irrefutable anti-aging effects, night creams aren’t just a part of a skincare routine. A touch of perfectly chosen night cream can transform your evening into a pampering experience.
In the morning, when the sunshine will gently caress your face, your skin will be left replenished, radiant and nourished.
